Exercise Induces an Augmented Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response in a Mouse Model of Obesity Produced by a High-Fat Diet.

Increase in body fat contributes to loss of function and changes in skeletal muscle, accelerating sarcopenia, a phenomenon known as sarco-obesity or sarcopenic obesity. Studies suggest that obesity decreases the skeletal muscle (SM)'s ability to oxidize glucose, increases fatty acid oxidation and reactive oxygen species production, due to mitochondrial dysfunction. Exercise improves mitochondrial dysfunction in obesity; however, it is not known if exercise regulates the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) in the SM. Our study aimed to determine the mito-nuclear UPRmt in response to exercise in a model of obesity, and how this response is associated with the improvement in SM functioning after exercise training. C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal diet and high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. After 8 weeks, animals were subdivided into sedentary and exercised for the remaining 4 weeks. Grip strength and maximal velocity of mice submitted to HFD improved after training. Our results show an increase in the activation of UPRmt after exercise while in obese mice, proteostasis is basally decreased but shows a more pronounced increase with exercise. These results correlate with improvement in the circulating triglycerides, suggesting mitochondrial proteostasis could be protective and could be related to mitochondrial fuel utilization in SM.

Presence, Co-Occurrence, and Daily Intake Estimates of Aflatoxins and Fumonisins in Maize Consumed in Food-Insecure Regions of Western Honduras.

Foodborne mycotoxins are a significant food safety risk in developing countries. Our objective was to determine the occurrence of and exposure levels to aflatoxins (AFs) and fumonisins (FBs) in maize intended for human and animal consumption in food-insecure regions of western Honduras. Total AFs and FBs were quantified with a monoclonal antibody-based affinity spectrofluorimetric method. FBs were detected in 614/631 samples of maize destined for human consumption at 0.3 to 41 mg/kg (mean, 2.7 mg/kg). Of the 614 positive samples, 147 had FB levels exceeding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory threshold of 4.0 mg/kg. AFs were detected in 109/631 samples of maize for human consumption with concentrations between 1.0 and 490 µg/kg (mean, 10 µg/kg). AF levels in 34 samples exceeded the FDA regulatory limit (i.e., 20 µg/kg). The average probable daily intake of AFs in western Honduras ranged from 0 to 260 ng/kg body weight/day, and for FBs, the average probable daily intake ranged from 17 to 53 µg/kg body weight/day. AFs and FBs co-occurred in 106/631 samples with 60 samples containing both toxins at levels greater than the FDA regulatory levels. Samples of maize intended for animal feed had significantly higher AF (mean, 22 µg/kg) and FB (mean, 7.6 mg/kg) contamination levels than those observed in samples destined for human consumption. Thus, the maize supply chain in western Honduras is contaminated with mycotoxins at levels that pose health risks to both humans and livestock. More effective mycotoxin surveillance and implementation of effective mitigation strategies are needed to reduce mycotoxin contamination and exposure.

Properties and Characterization Techniques of Graphene Modified Asphalt Binders.

Graphene is a carbon-based nanomaterial used in various industries to improve the performance of hundreds of materials. For instance, graphene-like materials have been employed as asphalt binder modifying agents in pavement engineering. In the literature, it has been reported that (in comparison to an unmodified binder) the Graphene Modified Asphalt Binders (GMABs) exhibit an enhanced performance grade, a lower thermal susceptibility, a higher fatigue life, and a decreased accumulation of permanent deformations. Nonetheless, although GMABs stand out significantly from traditional alternatives, there is still no consensus on their behavior regarding chemical, rheological, microstructural, morphological, thermogravimetric, and surface topography properties. Therefore, this research conducted a literature review on the properties and advanced characterization techniques of GMABs. Thus, the laboratory protocols covered by this manuscript are atomic force microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic shear rheometer, elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Consequently, the main contribution of this investigation to the state-of-the-art is the identification of the prominent trends and gaps in the current state of knowledge.

Rheological Behaviour of WMA-Modified Asphalt Binders with Crumb Rubber.

Crumb rubber (CR) is one of the materials most widely used in the road infrastructure industry due to its mechanical and environmental benefits as an asphalt binder modifier. Nonetheless, CR decreases the workability of mixes by increasing the viscosity of the binder, leading to an increase in the production temperatures of asphalt mixes. However, warm mix technologies can reduce the temperature demand associated with these processes. The preceding explains the growing interest in producing rubberised asphalt binders incorporating warm mix asphalt (WMA) additives. In this research, the mechanical and rheological properties of a 60/70 penetration grade asphalt binder modified with CR (at a dosage of 15, 18 and 21% by the wet process) and WMA chemical additives (Evotherm M1 and Iterlow T) were investigated. Laboratory tests included penetration, softening point, rotational viscosity, frequency sweep through dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) tests. The results indicate that CR increases the stiffness of the asphalt binder, which is reflected in a lower penetration grade and improved softening point. It also improves its rutting resistance but decreases fatigue performance. Furthermore, it has been shown that under the conditions studied, the higher the CR content, the more elevated the degree of stiffness and performance of the asphalt binder. On the other hand, WMA technology decreases asphalt stiffness and performance at high temperatures.

Update on early warning scores.

Early warning scores (EWS) have the objective to provide a preventive approach for detecting those patients in general wards at risk of deterioration before it begins. Well implemented and combined with a tiered response, the EWS expect to be a relevant tool for patient safety. Most of the evidence for their use has been published for the general EWS. Their strengths, such as objectivity and systematic response, health provider training, universal applicability and automatization potential need to be highlighted to counterbalance the weakness and limitations that have also been described. The near future will probably increase availability of EWS, reliability and predictive value through the spread and acceptability of continuous monitoring in general ward, its integration in decision support algorithms with automatic alerts and the elaboration of temporal vital signs patterns that will finally allow to perform a personal modelling depending on individual patient characteristics.

Influencia de la dentina en el efecto antibacteriano de 2 concentraciones de hipoclorito de sodio en el crecimiento de Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 / Influence of the dentin on the antibacterial effect of 2 concentrations of sodium hypochlorite in the growth of Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212

Este estudio in vitro evaluó la influencia de la dentina sobre el efecto antibacteriano contra Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 de dos concentraciones de Hipoclorito de Sodio (NaOCl) 2,5 % y 5 %. Se empleó polvo de dentina a partir de dientes humanos (84 µg/ml) y la supervivencia de la bacteria se evaluó realizando recuento de unidades formadoras de colonias (UFC) a los 10, 30 y 60 segundos. Los datos se analizaron con la prueba estadística ANOVA factorial no encontrándose diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos con dentina y sin dentina. En conclusión, la dentina en este estudio no influyó en el efecto antibacteriano del Hipoclorito de Sodio en ninguna concentración, ni en los tiempos.

This in vitro study evaluated the influence of dentin on the antibacterial effect against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 of two concentrations of Sodium Hypochlorite NaOCl 2.5 % and 5 %. Dentin powder was used from human teeth (84 mg/ml) and the survival of the bacteria was evaluated by counting colony forming units (CFU) at 10, 30 and 60 seconds. The data were analyzed with the statistical ANOVA factorial test, finding no statistically significant differences between the groups with and without dentin. In conclusion, the dentin in this study had no inhibitory effect on antibacterial activity of Sodium Hypochlorite and any concentration, nor over time.

Efecto de la suplementación con melaza o melaza aurea sobre peso y consumo en caprinos alimentados con heno de baja calidad / Supplementation effect with motasses or molasses urea on weightand consumption in caprines consuming hay of low quality

Dieciocho caprinos en crecimiento fueron distribuidos en tres grupos. Los tres grupos recibieron un heno de baja calidad de pasto Estrella de Puerto Rico (Cynodon nlemfuensis) y una mezcla mineral comercial ambos as libitum. El grupo 1 no recibió suplementación adicional, el 2 fue suplementado con melaza, mientras que el recibió suplementación con melaza y urea. La melaza fue usada a razón del 10% de las necesidades de materia seca, mientras que la urea fue suministrada a razón del 1 por ciento de las necesidades de materia seca. Los tres grupos perdieron peso. Los animales del grupo con urea perdieron menos que los del grupo suplementado con melaza (P<0,01), y éstos menos que los del grupo no suplementado (P<0,01). El grupo con melaza-urea consumió más heno que el suplementado con melaza (P<0,01), pero no difirió del grupo no suplementado (p<0,01). La suplementación con melaza y urea en caprinos que consumen forrajes de baja calidad disminuye las pérdidas de peso