First report of Phytophthora niederhauserii causing root rot of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) in Spain.

Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a crop native to the Mediterranean Basin mainly being used as livestock feed, in pharmaceutical industry, and also a valuable source of human food due to the high dietary fibre and sugar contents. In January 2023, one-year-old 'Duraio' carob trees grafted on 'Rojal' rootstock on pots showing dark brown to necrotic lesions on the secondary roots, decline symptoms and leading to the death of some plants, were detected in a nursery located at the Valencian Community region in Spain. Disease severity was 40 to 50% of root area and disease incidence was approximately 50% on approximately 1000 plants. Six representative plants were randomly collected. Roots were washed under running tap water to rinse the soil away, and small symptomatic pieces were cut, disinfected with 70% ethanol, and then dried on absorbent paper. Two-mm-long segments were plated on CMA-PARBPH, a Phytophthora-selective medium, and incubated at 25ºC. After 2-3 days, growing colonies were transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. A Phytophthora-like organism was consistently isolated (50% of root segments, n= 120). Colonies were whitish with irregular margins, had coenocityc mycelium, irregularly branched hyphal swellings, and chlamydospores were absent. Sporangia were non-papillate, persistent, ellipsoid and measuring 25 to 40 × 50 to 90 µm (average: 35.5 × 74.7 µm, n = 50). They proliferated internally with both nested and extended proliferation. These morphological features were similar to those of Phytophthora niederhauserii (Abad et al., 2014). Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and cytochrome c oxidase I (COX1) regions of a representative isolate CF3 were sequenced to confirm the identity. Both sequences were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers OR763816 for ITS and OR783697 for COX1. OR763816 showed 99.87% sequence identity to P. niederhauserii strain Ex-type MG865552 and OR783697 showed 99.85% sequence identity to P. niederhauserii strain Ex-type MH136944 (Abad et al., 2023). Pathogenicity test was performed on one-year-old carob tree seedlings (Duraio/Rojal) grown in 13 cm-diameter pots to fulfill Koch's postulates. The inoculum was prepared in 1 L glass flasks with a mixture of 200 ml vermiculite, 20 ml oat grains, and 175 ml of V8 broth (20% V8 juice and 0.2% of CaCO3 in demineralized water) (Jung et al., 1996). Glass flasks with vermiculite/oat/V8 mixture were autoclaved three times for 20 min at 120 ºC. These mixtures were inoculated with the isolate CF3 which was previously grown on V8 agar medium and incubated for six weeks in the dark at room temperature (Pérez-Sierra et al., 2013). For inoculation, twenty-gram inoculum were mixed with 200 g autoclaved potting mix (peat, vermiculite and sand; 1:1:1, v/v/v), and added to the pots to plant the seedlings. Seven plants were inoculated and non-infested vermiculite/oat/V8 mixture was used to prepare seven control plants. Two months after inoculation one of the inoculated plants died. Six months after inoculation, only the inoculated plants showed decline symptoms with dry leaves and root necrosis. Isolates resembling P. niederhauserii were recovered by plating the roots from all inoculated plants on CMA-PARBPH, and the identity of the isolates was confirmed as P. niederhauserii based on ITS and COX1 sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. niederhauserii causing root rot on carob tree. The detection of this pathogen in nurseries is relevant because its dissemination to orchards could have a negative impact in carob crop production.

MiRNAs that target amyloid precursor protein processing machinery in extracellular vesicles and particles derived from oral squamous cells carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Considering that microRNAs (miRNAs), extracellular vesicles and particles (EVPs) and the amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing have been shown to be altered in oral squamous cells carcinoma (OSCC), it is possible that miRNAs that target APP processing pathways in EVPs are impacted in tumor cells. Our aim was to evaluate miRNAs that target APP itself or disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain 10 (ADAM10), which generate a trophic compound, sAPPα, in EVPs derived from OSCC cell lines, an aggressive and non-invasive, compared to normal keratinocytes. METHODS: We used two OSCC cell lines, an aggressive human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line (SCC09) and a less aggressive cell line (CAL27) compared with a keratinocyte lineage (HaCaT). Cells were maintained in cell media, from which we isolated EVPs. EVPs were evaluated regarding their size and concentration using Nanotracking Analysis. We measured the levels of miRNAs which had as potential downstream target APP or ADAM10, specifically miR-20a-5p, miR-103a-3p, miR-424-5p, miR-92b-3p, miR-31-5p, and miR-93-5. RESULTS: There were no differences on size distributions and concentration of isolated EVPs. OSCC cell lines-derived EVPs miR-20a-5p, miR-92b-3p, and miR-93-5p were upregulated in comparison to HaCaT-derived EVPs; while miR-31-5p was reduced in EVPs obtained from CAL27 cells. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate changes in miRNAs that target APP machinery processing in EVPs derived from OSCC cell lines of different aggressiveness, which may be involved with abnormal miRNA expression in OSCC tissue and/or releasing tumor suppressor miRNA.

Cell contractility drives mechanical memory of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Matrix stiffening is ubiquitous in solid tumors and can direct epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer cell migration. Stiffened niche can even cause poorly invasive oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines to acquire a less adherent, more migratory phenotype, but mechanisms and durability of this acquired "mechanical memory" are unclear. Here, we observed that contractility and its downstream signals could underlie memory acquisition; invasive SSC25 cells overexpress myosin II (vs. noninvasive Cal27 cells) consistent with OSCC. However, prolonged exposure of Cal27 cells to a stiff niche or contractile agonists up-regulated myosin and EMT markers and enabled them to migrate as fast as SCC25 cells, which persisted even when the niche softened and indicated "memory" of their prior niche. Stiffness-mediated mesenchymal phenotype acquisition required AKT signaling and was also observed in patient samples, whereas phenotype recall on soft substrates required focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activity. Phenotype durability was further observed in transcriptomic differences between preconditioned Cal27 cells cultured without or with FAK or AKT antagonists, and such transcriptional differences corresponded to discrepant patient outcomes. These data suggest that mechanical memory, mediated by contractility via distinct kinase signaling, may be necessary for OSCC to disseminate.

Pathogenicity of Oomycete Species to Different Prunus Hybrid Rootstocks.

Diseases caused by soilborne oomycetes are a limiting factor for the cultivation of Prunus spp., which makes the choice of a suitable rootstock a key factor. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of 12 oomycete species belonging to the genera Globisporangium, Phytophthora (Ph.), and Phytopythium (Pp.) to three Prunus hybrid rootstocks: 'Garnem', 'GF-677', and 'Rootpac-40'. These three rootstocks are widely used to grow stone fruit and almond in the Mediterranean Basin. Pathogenicity tests were conducted using 15 oomycete isolates and 1-year-old rootstock seedlings. Ninety days after inoculation, disease symptoms were evaluated on a severity scale, and the area under the disease progression curve and the survival probability of the inoculated seedlings were calculated. Moreover, root dry weight was recorded. All the isolates included in the pathogenicity tests were pathogenic on the rootstock seedlings and were reisolated from root lesions. Large differences in virulence were detected among the different oomycete species and isolates of Ph. niederhauserii for each rootstock. Phytophthora multivora and Pp. helicoides were generally the most virulent species. The results of the present research offer substantial contribution to increase our knowledge about the pathogenicity of several oomycete species that are frequently isolated in Prunus orchards and the potential risks that they pose for Prunus spp. crops.

Effects of different protocols of defocused high-power laser on the viability and migration of myoblasts-a comparative in vitro study.

The aim of the present study was to analyze for the first time the effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) using defocused high-power laser (DHPL) in myoblast cell line C2C12 viability and migration and compare them with low-power laser therapy. Cells were divided into 9 groups: Sham irradiation 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS); Sham irradiation 5%FBS; low-power laser 0.1 W; DHPL 810 1 W; DHPL 810 2 W; DHPL 980 1 W; DHPL 980 2 W; DHPL dual 1 W; DHPL dual 2 W. To simulate stress conditions, all groups exposed to irradiation were maintained in DMEM 5% FBS. The impact of therapies on cell viability was assessed through sulforhodamine B assay and on cells migration through scratch assays and time-lapse. Myoblast viability was not modified by PBMT protocols. All PBMT protocols were able to accelerate the scratch closure after 6 and 18 h of the first irradiation (p < 0.001). Also, an increase in migration speed, with a more pronounced effect of DHPL laser using dual-wavelength protocol with 2 W was observed (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the diverse PBMT protocols used in this study accelerated the C2C12 myoblasts migration, with 2-W dual-wavelength outstanding as the most effective protocol tested. Benefits from treating muscle injuries with PBMT appear to be related to its capacity to induce cell migration without notable impact on cell viability.

New Reports of Phytophthora Species in Plant Nurseries in Spain.

The plant nursery industry has become an ideal reservoir for Phytophthora species and other soilborne pathogens. In this context, isolation from tissues and soil of ornamental and forest plants from nurseries in four regions of Spain was carried out. A high diversity of Phytophthora species was confirmed. Fourteen Phytophthora phylotypes (P. cactorum, P. cambivora, P. cinnamomi, P. citrophthora, P. crassamura, P. gonapodyides, P. hedraiandra, P. nicotianae, P. niederhauserii, P. palmivora, P. plurivora, P. pseudocryptogea, P. sansomeana, and Phytophthora sp. tropicalis-like 2) were isolated from over 500 plant samples of 22 species in 19 plant genera. Nine species were detected in water sources, two of them (P. bilorbang and P. lacustris) exclusively from water samples. P. crassamura was detected for the first time in Spain. This is the first time P. pseudocryptogea is isolated from Chamaecyparis lawsoniana and Yucca rostrata in Spain.

Impact of Biochar Amendment on Soil Properties and Organic Matter Composition in Trace Element-Contaminated Soil.

The application of biochar as an organic amendment in polluted soils can facilitate their recovery by reducing the availability of contaminants. In the present work, the effect of biochar application to acid soils contaminated by heavy metal spillage is studied to assess its effect on the quantity and composition of soil organic matter (SOM), with special attention given to soil humic acids (HAs). This effect is poorly known and of great importance, as HA is one of the most active components of SOM. The field experiment was carried out in 12 field plots of fluvisols, with moderate and high contamination by trace elements (called MAS and AS, respectively), that are located in the Guadiamar Green Corridor (SW Spain), which were amended with 8 Mg·ha-1 of olive pit biochar (OB) and rice husk biochar (RB). The results indicate that 22 months after biochar application, a noticeable increase in soil water holding capacity, total organic carbon content, and soil pH were observed. The amounts of oxidisable carbon (C) and extracted HAs in the soils were not altered due to biochar addition. Thermogravimetric analyses of HAs showed an increase in the abundance of the most thermostable OM fraction of the MAS (375-650 °C), whereas the HAs of AS were enriched in the intermediate fraction (200-375 °C). Spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses indicate that the addition of biochar did not alter the composition of the organic fraction of HAs, while Cu, Fe, and as were considerably accumulated at HAs.

Susceptibility of Almond (Prunus dulcis) Cultivars to Twig Canker and Shoot Blight Caused by Diaporthe amygdali.

Twenty-five almond cultivars were assessed for susceptibility to Diaporthe amygdali, causal agent of twig canker and shoot blight disease. In laboratory experiments, growing twigs were inoculated with four D. amygdali isolates. Moreover, growing shoots of almond cultivars grafted onto INRA 'GF-677' rootstock were used in 4-year field inoculations with one D. amygdali isolate. In both types of experiments, inoculum consisted of agar plugs with mycelium, which were inserted underneath the bark, and the lesion lengths caused by the fungus were measured. Necrotic lesions were observed in the inoculated almond cultivars in both laboratory and field tests, confirming the susceptibility of all evaluated cultivars to all inoculated isolates of D. amygdali. Cultivars were grouped as susceptible or very susceptible according to a cluster analysis. The relationship between some agronomic traits and cultivar susceptibility was also investigated. Blooming and ripening times were found to be relevant variables explaining cultivar performance related to D. amygdali susceptibility. Late and very late blooming and early and medium ripening cultivars were highly susceptible to D. amygdali. Our results may provide valuable information that could assist in ongoing breeding programs of this crop and in the selection of cultivars for new almond plantations.

Biochar ageing in polluted soils and trace elements immobilisation in a 2-year field experiment.

Biochar application to soils has become a focus of research during the last decade due to its high potential for C sequestration. Nevertheless, there is no exhaustive information on the long-term effects of biochar application in soils contaminated with trace elements. In this work, a 2-year field experiment was conducted comprising the application of different types of biochar to acidic and moderately acidic soils with high concentrations of As, Cu, Pb, Ba and Zn. In addition, representative samples of each biochar were buried in permeable bags that allowed the flow of water and microorganisms but not their physical interaction with soil aggregates. The biochars significantly adsorbed trace elements from polluted soils. However, given the high total concentration of these persistent trace elements in the soils, the application of biochars did not succeed in reducing the concentration of available metals (CaCl2 extractable fraction). After 2 years of ageing under field conditions, some degradation of the biochars from olive pit, rice husk and wood were observed. This study provides novel information concerning the biochar alterations during ageing in polluted soils, as the decrease of aryl C signal observed by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and the presence of O-containing groups shown by Fourier Transform mid-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) in aged biochar which enhanced trace elements adsorption. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed slight changes on surface morphology of aged biochar particles.

Evaluation of Sown Cover Crops and Spontaneous Weed Flora as a Potential Reservoir of Black-Foot Pathogens in Organic Viticulture.

(1) Background. An extensive survey of grapevine-sown cover crops and spontaneous weed flora was conducted from 2019 to 2020 in organic vineyards in six European countries (France, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland). Our main objective was to detect and identify the presence of Cylindrocarpon-like asexual morphs species associated with black-foot disease on their roots. (2) Methods. Fungal isolations from root fragments were performed on culture media. Cylindrocarpon-like asexual morph species were identified by analyzing the DNA sequence data of the histone H3 (his3) gene region. In all, 685 plants belonging to different botanical families and genera were analyzed. Cylindrocarpon-like asexual morphs were recovered from 68 plants (9.9% of the total) and approximately 0.97% of the plated root fragments. (3) Results. Three fungal species (Dactylonectria alcacerensis, Dactylonectria torresensis, Ilyonectria robusta) were identified. Dactylonectria torresensis was the most frequent, and was isolated from many cover crop species in all six countries. A principal component analysis with the vineyard variables showed that seasonal temperatures and organic matter soil content correlated positively with Cylindrocarpon-like asexual morphs incidence. (4) Conclusions. The presence of Cylindrocarpon-like asexual morphs on roots of cover crops suggests that they can potentially act as alternative hosts for long-term survival or to increase inoculum levels in vineyard soils.

Mouthwash with Active Oxygen (blue®m) Reduces Postoperative Inflammation and Pain.

The aim of this case series was to evaluate the effects of blue®m mouthwash on oral surgical wounds. Eleven patients underwent bilateral preprosthetic surgery and were instructed to apply the product only to the right side of the surgery. In this way, the right side corresponds to the test side and the left side (place without applying any type of solution) to the control side. After seven days of using the product (3 times a day), the following parameters were evaluated by means of a visual analogue scale: pain, changes in taste, and acceptance by the patient. Then, the level of tissue inflammation was assessed, by the number of pixels, using ImageJ® software. The main results show that the blue®m mouthwash was widely accepted by patients, reducing their pain. The number of inflammation pixels was lower on the test side (p < 0.05), indicating improved healing. It is suggested that blue®m mouthwash positively influences tissue healing reducing pain and the postsurgical inflammatory process; however, randomized clinical trials should be done to prove this clinical observation.

Revisión narrativa de la técnica de los lavados nasales en pediatría / Literature review of nasal lavage technique in paediatrics

Introducción: Las infecciones de vías respiratorias altas y la bronquiolitis son de las patologías más comunes en la infancia. Dentro de los cuidados del paciente pediátrico la técnica de los lavados nasales es muy utilizada a nivel mundial ya que está recomendada en varias patologías sinusales. Objetivos: Sintetizar la evidencia disponible sobre la técnica de los lavados nasales en el paciente pediátrico. Métodos: Búsqueda bibliográfica en bases de datos MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL y COCHRANE PLUS, utilizando los descriptores: pediatrics, respiratory tract infection, bronchiolitis, nasal lavage. Resultados: Se seleccionaron 11 artículos por su pertinencia y especificidad. En los documentos las recomendaciones se estructuran en cinco epígrafes respecto a la técnica de lavados nasales. Conclusiones: Podemos recomendar según la evidencia científica el uso de suero salino isotónico estéril, la presión positiva baja con volúmenes amplios mediante jeringa desechable. En el futuro, se debería profundizar en el volumen de solución a irrigar, el material para realizar el lavado y la posición del paciente.(AU)

Introduction: Upper respiratory infections and bronchiolitis are among the most common pathologies in childhood. In paediatric patient care, the nasal lavage technique is widely used as it is recommended in various sinus pathologies. Objective. To synthesize the available evidence on nasal lavage technique in paediatric patients. Methods: Literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and COCHRANE PLUS databases, using the descriptors: paediatrics, respiratory tract infection, bronchiolitis, nasal lavage. Results: 11 articles were selected due to relevance and specificity. In the documents, the recommendations are structured in five sections regarding the LN technique. Conclusions: We can recommend, based on scientific evidence, the use of sterile isotonic saline, low positive pressure with wide volumes using a disposable syringe. In the future, the aspects of volume to be used, material and position of the patient regarding the technique should be studied in depth.(AU)

First Report of Diaporthe amygdali Associated with Twig Canker and Shoot Blight of Nectarine in Spain.

Nectarine (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch var. nucipersica (Suckow) C. K. Schneid.) is a fruit crop widely cultivated throughout the Mediterranean basin. In Spain, it is mainly grown in eastern regions of the country. In March 2018, 5-year-old nectarine trees showing twig canker symptoms were observed after a rainy spring period in a 0.5 ha orchard located at Alaior, Menorca island (Spain). Cankers were frequent on affected trees (approximately, 80% of the total trees), thus leading to shoot blight. Ten twig segments of one-year old wood with cankers were cut, washed under running tap water, surface disinfected for 1 min in a 1.5% sodium hypochlorite solution and rinsed twice in sterile distilled water. Small pieces (2 mm) of affected tissues were taken from the margin of the cankers and plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) supplemented with 0.5 g/L of streptomycin sulphate (PDAS). The plates were then incubated at 25 ºC in the dark for 7 to 10 d. Actively growing colonies were first hyphal-tipped and then transferred to PDA and 2% water agar supplemented with sterile pine needles and incubated at 21-22ºC under a 12h/12h near UV / darkness cycle during 21 d (León et al. 2020). Colonies were white at first, becoming light cream, with visible solitary and aggregate pycnidia at maturity. Alpha conidia were aseptate, fusiform, hyaline, multi-guttulated (mean ± SD = 7.4 ± 0.7 × 2.8 ± 0.4 µm, n = 100). Beta and gamma conidia were not observed. The morphological and cultural characteristics of the isolates were congruent with those of Diaporthe spp. (Gomes et al. 2013). The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) region and fragments of ß-tubulin (tub2), the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α) gene regions, histone H3 (his3) and calmodulin (cal) genes of representative isolate DAL-59 were amplified and sequenced (Santos et al. 2017). The BLASTn analysis revealed 100% similarity with sequences of D. mediterranea (Synonym D. amygdali) (Hilário et al. 2021) isolate DAL-34 from almond (ITS: MT007489, tub2: MT006686, tef1-α: MT006989, his3: MT007095 and cal: MT006761). Sequences of isolate DAL-59 were deposited in GenBank Database (ITS: MT007491, tub2: MT006688, tef1-α: MT006991, his3: MT007097 and cal: MT006763). Pathogenicity tests were conducted using one-year-old potted plants of nectarine cv. Boreal, which were inoculated with isolate DAL-59. In each plant, a 3 mm wound was made in the center of the main branch (about 30 cm length) with a scalpel. Colonized agar plugs with 3 mm diameter, which were obtained from active 10-day-old colonies growing on PDA, were inserted underneath the epidermis and the wounds sealed with Parafilm. Inoculated plants were incubated in a growth chamber at 23 ºC with 12 h of light per day. Controls were inoculated with uncolonized PDA plugs. There were twelve plants per treatment, which were arranged in a completely randomized design. Five days after inoculation necrosis development was observed in the area of inoculation. Wilting and twig blight symptoms over the lesion occurred 3-wk after inoculation and pycnidia were detected, while the controls remained asymptomatic. Diaporthe amygdali was re-isolated from symptomatic tissues and identified as described above to satisfy Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of D. amygdali causing twig canker and shoot blight disease on nectarine in Spain.

Literature review of nasal lavage technique in paediatrics. / Revisión narrativa de la técnica de los lavados nasales en pediatría.

INTRODUCTION: Upper respiratory infections and bronchiolitis are among the most common pathologies in childhood. In paediatric patient care, the nasal lavage technique is widely used as it is recommended in various sinus pathologies. OBJECTIVE: To synthesize the available evidence on nasal lavage technique in paediatric patients. METHODS: Literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and COCHRANE PLUS databases, using the descriptors: paediatrics, respiratory tract infection, bronchiolitis, nasal lavage. RESULTS: 11 articles were selected due to relevance and specificity. In the documents, the recommendations are structured in five sections regarding the LN technique. CONCLUSIONS: We can recommend, based on scientific evidence, the use of sterile isotonic saline, low positive pressure with wide volumes using a disposable syringe. In the future, the aspects of volume to be used, material and position of the patient regarding the technique should be studied in depth.

The anti-tumor effects of imidazolium salts on oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Imidazolium salts (IS), ionic derivatives of neutral imidazoles, have properties that can be adjusted by structural modifications to their cations and anions, which makes this particular class of compounds a promising option for developing biologically active compounds. The anti-tumor effects of the IS 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C4 MImCl), 1-n-decyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C10 MImCl), 1-n-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C16 MImCl), 1-n-hexadecyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium chloride (C16 M2 ImCl), 1-n-octadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C18 MImCl), 1-n-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate (C16 MImMeS), and 1-n-hexadecyl-2,3- dimethylimidazolium methanesulfonate (C16 M2 ImMeS) on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have been studied here. METHODS: Oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (CAL27) were incubated with increasing IS doses and then submitted to proliferation (2D), cell death (2D) and spheroid assay (3D). RESULTS: The IS anti-tumor effect was dependent on both its N-alkyl chain length and anion, whereby C16 MImCl proved to be more effective in combination for inhibiting cell proliferation and cell-cell adhesion, outperforming the methylated C16 M2 ImCl derivative and, most importantly, the gold standard-cisplatin. In addition, C16 MImCl had little effect on keratinocytes and more pronounced effects on more aggressive tumor cells. It also exhibited similar effects on inducing cell death when compared to Cisplatin. This compound spread to a greater area of the tumor sphere and produced an enhanced number of apoptotic and necrotic cells in the tumor cell line, demonstrating only a small rise in the healthy cells. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the effect of C16 MlmCl on OSCC is promising, as it is selective for cancer cells.

Chemical, physical and morphological properties of biochars produced from agricultural residues: Implications for their use as soil amendment.

Biochar is a pyrogenous organic material resulting from the pyrolysis of organic residues, which is attracting the interest from researchers and farmers for its potential to sequester carbon and its use as soil ameliorant. Pyrolysis conditions and feedstock determine the properties of the biochars produced. In order to understand the relationship between these variables we analysed in detail the physical, chemical and surface characteristics of biochars produced from three contrasting agronomic residues abundantly generated in South Spain, such as rice husk (RH), olive pit (OP) and pruning remains of olive trees (mainly composed of olive branches and leaves; OB), using a temperature range from 350 to 600 °C and residence times from 0.5 to 4 h. High pyrolysis temperature (600 °C) and time resulted in the greatest pH and C content in the biochars. In general, elemental composition and ash content were dependent on the type of organic waste used as feedstock. 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and thermal (TG-DSC) analyses showed that temperatures ≥500 °C are needed to achieve a high degree of aromatization of the chars. Micro-computed tomography and field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that the structure of RH was preserved during the pyrolysis process, favouring a greater porosity for these biochars. These data are very useful for the production of stable biochars obtained from residual biomass, maximising the value of residual biomass resources. These biochars show physical and chemical properties, such as adequate pH, high water retention capacity or high porosity, of interest for their use as soil amendments.

Flavonoids as anticancer therapies: A systematic review of clinical trials.

Flavonoids have been proposed as potential chemotherapeutic agents because they are toxic against cancer cells but not harmful to healthy cells. This systematic review analyzed flavonoid effectiveness in human cancer chemotherapy. Overall, 22 phase II and 1 phase III clinical trials (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) that used flavonoids as a single agent or combined with other therapeutics against hematopoietic/lymphoid or solid cancer published by January 2019 were selected for analysis. Flavopiridol was the most commonly used flavonoid (at a dose of 50-mg/m2 IV) for all tumor types. Aside from the relatively low rate of complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) with any administration protocol, flavonoids showed higher positive outcomes for hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues (140 patients with CR and 88 with PR among 615 patients in 11 trials) than for solid tumors (4 patients with CR and 21 with PR among 525 patients in 12 trials). However, because of the high variety in administration schedule, more studies are needed to further understand how flavonoids can promote positive outcomes for cancer patients.

Effect of pyrolysis conditions on the total contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in biochars produced from organic residues: Assessment of their hazard potential.

The interest of using biochar, the solid byproduct from organic waste pyrolysis, as soil conditioner is significantly increasing. Nevertheless, persistent organic pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are formed during pyrolysis due to the incomplete combustion of organic matter. Consequently, these pollutants may enter the environment when biochar is incorporated into soil and cause adverse ecological effects. In this study, we examined the content of the 16 United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) PAHs in biochars produced from rice husk, wood, wheat and sewage sludge residues using three different pyrolytic reactors and temperatures (400, 500 and 600 °C). The total concentration of PAHs (∑PAH) ranged from 799 to 6364 µg kg-1, being naphthalene, phenanthrene and anthracene the most abundant PAHs in all the biochars. The maximum amount of PAHs was observed for the rice husk biochar produced in the batch reactor at 400 °C, which decreased with increasing temperature. The ∑PAH value of the wood biochar produced via traditional kilns doubled compared with the wood biochar produced using the other pyrolytic reactors (5330 µg kg-1 in Kiln; 2737 µg kg-1 in batch and 1942 µg kg-1 in the rotary reactor). Looking for a more reliable risk assessment of the potential exposure of PAHs in biochar, the total toxic equivalent concentrations (TTEC) of the 14 produced biochars were calculated. When comparing the same feedstock and temperature, TTEC values indicated that the rotary reactor produced the safest biochars. In contrast, the biochars produced using the batch reactor at 400 and 500 °C have the greatest hazard potential. Our results provide valuable information on the potential risk of biochar application for human and animal health, as well as for the environment due to PAHs contamination.

Survey, Identification, and Characterization of Cylindrocarpon-Like Asexual Morphs in Spanish Forest Nurseries.

Cylindrocarpon-like asexual morphs infect herbaceous and woody plants, mainly in agricultural scenarios, but also in forestry systems. The aim of the present study was to characterize a collection of Cylindrocarpon-like isolates recovered from the roots of a broad range of forest hosts from nurseries showing decline by morphological and molecular studies. Between 2009 and 2012, 17 forest nurseries in Spain were surveyed and a total of 103 Cylindrocarpon-like isolates were obtained. Isolates were identified based on DNA sequences of the partial gene regions histone H3 (his3). For the new species, the internal transcribed spacer and intervening 5.8S nrRNA gene (ITS) region, ß-tubulin (tub2), and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1) were also used to determine their phylogenetic position. Twelve species belonging to the genera Cylindrodendrum, Dactylonectria, and Ilyonectria were identified from damaged roots of 15 different host genera. The species C. alicantinum, D. macrodidyma, D. novozelandica, D. pauciseptata, D. pinicola, D. torresensis, I. capensis, I. cyclaminicola, I. liriodendri, I. pseudodestructans, I. robusta, and I. rufa were identified. In addition, two Dactylonectria species (D. hispanica sp. nov. and D. valentina sp. nov.), one Ilyonectria species (I. ilicicola sp. nov.), and one Neonectria species (N. quercicola sp. nov.) are newly described. The present study demonstrates the prevalence of this fungal group associated with seedlings of diverse hosts showing decline symptoms in forest nurseries in Spain.

Barreiras e facilitadores para o retorno ao trabalho vivenciado por pessoas amputadas de membros inferiores, sob a ótica das diretrizes brasileiras / Barriers and facilitators to return to work experienced for amputees of lower limbs over Brazilian guidelines optics

[{"text": "Introdução: O número de pessoas amputadas de membro inferior é crescente e está relacionado principalmente\r\nao estilo de vida e aos acidentes com meios de transporte. Hoje no Brasil as políticas públicas visam amparar essa\r\npopulação por meio de leis e diretrizes. Objetivo: Conhecer as percepções sobre as barreiras e facilitadores do\r\nretorno ao trabalho das pessoas amputadas de membros inferiores. Método: Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa que\r\nutilizou a técnica Grupo Focal com oito participantes adultos, de ambos os sexos, amputados de membros inferiores.\r\nTrabalhou-se a temática de retorno ao trabalho a partir dos temas geradores: acessibilidade, aposentadoria, trabalho\r\ninformal e mobilidade, e com isso permitiu-se visualizar o consenso e os contrastes das opiniões dos participantes\r\na partir de suas vivências diárias. A roda de conversa foi gravada e transcrita, sendo as falas analisadas através da\r\nanálise de discurso crítica, tendo como referencial as diretrizes e leis relacionadas à atenção à pessoa amputada.\r\nResultados: As percepções revelaram insatisfação relacionada à acessibilidade e inclusão social, dificultando uma\r\nvida ativa e o retorno às atividades profissionais. Aspectos contraditórios entre as percepções e as políticas vigentes\r\nforam percebidos em relação ao retorno ao trabalho. Conclusão: Os participantes não estão satisfeitos com o processo\r\nde inclusão social em relação ao retorno ao trabalho, pois ainda há muitos obstáculos no dia a dia do trabalhador\r\nque apresenta necessidades especiais. As leis e diretrizes para assistência de pessoas amputadas não são suficientes.", "_i": "pt"}, {"text": "Introduction: The number of lower limb amputees is growing and the main reasons are lifestyle and\r\ntransport accidents. Current Brazilian public policies aim to support this population through laws and guidelines.\r\nObjective: To understand lower limbs amputees perceptions on the barriers and facilitators when returning to work.\r\nMethod: This qualitative study used a focus group technique and has eight participants, all adult amputees of both\r\nsexes. We evaluated the return to work from the generating topics: accessibility, retirement, informal work and\r\nmobility. We were able to view the consensus and contrasts of participants opinions based on their daily experiences.\r\nThe discussion was recorded and transcribed, and the lines assessed by critical discourse analysis. We used guidelines\r\nand laws directed to health and amputees as references. Results: Perceptions revealed dissatisfaction regarding\r\naccessibility and social inclusion, hindering an active life and the return to professional activities. Contradictory\r\naspects between perceptions and current policies were perceived regarding the return to work. Conclusion: Participants\r\nare not satisfied with the process of social inclusion regarding their return to work, as there are still many obstacles\r\nin the daily life of workers with special needs. The laws and guidelines for caring for amputees are not enough.", "_i": "en"}]