Septic Shock After Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty: A Post-procedural Complication?

BACKGROUND: ESG is a safe and effective technique in the obesity management, usually indicated in class I and II obesity. It is also an acceptable treatment in patients with class III obesity who have high surgical risk or refuse surgery. This procedure results in a significant weight loss and important improvement in metabolic comorbidities. Nevertheless, there are several procedure-related complications. Few cases of gastric perforation following ESG have been reported. We present a case of septic shock after ESG with preoperative diagnostic uncertainties. METHODS: We present the case of a 54-year-old male with a BMI of 43.6 kg/m2 who underwent ESG 7 days before in an external center. The patient came to the emergency department presenting abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting since the day after the procedure. Physical examination revealed hemodynamic instability, altered level of consciousness, diffuse abdominal pain, and a painful umbilical lump due to a complicated umbilical hernia. Emergent surgery was decided after preoperative assessment. RESULTS: Intraoperative gastroscopy was performed, viewing a gastric ischemic ulcer covered with fibrin and a mucosal defect and suspecting a covered gastric perforation. Firstly, we performed an open approach to the complicated umbilical hernia. Subsequently, an exploratory laparoscopy was performed through the hernial ring, where a fibrin-covered area was evidenced in the anterior face of the gastric body, adhered to the round ligament by a transmural suture of the ESG. Additionally, multiple transmural sutures were observed adhered to the greater omentum and lesser sac and an intramural hematoma in the greater gastric curvature. No intra-abdominal free fluid was evidenced. A laparoscopic barbed suture of the area covered with fibrin was performed, after its release from the round ligament. The adhesions of the sutures and metallic material from the ESG were released. Finally, two abdominal drains were placed in the anterior and posterior gastric face. The patient presented superficial incisional surgical site infection and was discharged 6 days after laparoscopic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: ESG is a novel procedure, which has proven to be an effective alternative in the treatment of obesity. However, this technique may have major complications that can require urgent surgery.

Rbfox1 controls alternative splicing of focal adhesion genes in cardiac muscle cells.

Alternative splicing is one of the major cellular processes that determine the tissue-specific expression of protein variants. However, it remains challenging to identify physiologically relevant and tissue-selective proteins that are generated by alternative splicing. Hence, we investigated the target spectrum of the splicing factor Rbfox1 in the cardiac muscle context in more detail. By using a combination of in silico target prediction and in cell validation, we identified several focal adhesion proteins as alternative splicing targets of Rbfox1. We focused on the alternative splicing patterns of Vinculin (Metavinculin isoform) and Paxillin (extended Paxillin isoform) and identified both as potential Rbfox1 targets. Minigene analyses suggested that both isoforms are promoted by Rbfox1 due to binding in the introns. Focal adhesions play an important role in the cardiac muscle context, since they mainly influence cell shape, cytoskeletal organization, and cell-matrix association. Our data confirmed that depletion of Rbfox1 changed cardiomyoblast morphology, cytoskeletal organization, and multinuclearity after differentiation, which might be due to changes in alternative splicing of focal adhesion proteins. Hence, our results indicate that Rbfox1 promotes alternative splicing of focal adhesion genes in cardiac muscle cells, which might contribute to heart disease progression, where downregulation of Rbfox1 is frequently observed.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy: an unusual route of dissemination of gallbladder carcinoma

A 78-year-old male with high-risk surgical presented severe acute cholecystitis and required cholecystostomy. The patient was referred later for assessment of the surgical treatment. A cholangio-MRI revealed a lesion on the gallbladder fundus with hepatic lesions suggestive of metastatic gallbladder carcinoma, which was confirmed in the histological analysis. The tumor progressed despite the chemotherapy through the cholecystostomy tract and developed peritoneal carcinomatosis. The patient did not respond to chemotherapy and he died 12 months later. (AU)

[Maternal and perinatal morbidities associated to advanced age in pregnant women]. / Morbilidades materna y perinatal asociadas a edad avanzada en gestantes.

Background: Women in advanced maternal age (older than 35 years of age) are at higher risk of obstetric complications and adverse perinatal outcomes than younger women. Objective: To know the maternal and perinatal morbidities associated to advanced age in pregnant women. Material and methods: Analytical cross-sectional study. Women with resolution of pregnancy in the medical unit were included and distributed in two groups: group 1, advanced age, ≥ 35 years, and group 2, < 35 years. Clinical data, maternal and perinatal morbidities of the newborn (NB) were collected from the medical record. Results: We included 240 patients, 120 per group; a significant association of advanced maternal age with maternal morbidities such as diseases prior to pregnancy was demonstrated (p < 0.0001), including diabetes mellitus during pregnancy (p = 0.002), hypertensive disease of pregnancy (p = 0.0001), pregnancy resolution by cesarean section (p = 0.04), obstetric hemorrhage (p = 0.0002), prenatal control with < 5 consultations (p = 0.008), as well as those with perinatal morbidities of the NB: preterm gestational age (p = 0.001), intrauterine growth retardation (p = 0.01), low weight for gestational age (p = 0.001) and admission of the NB to the neonatal intensive care unit (p = 0.007); with multivariate analysis, an association of advanced maternal age with diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disease of pregnancy and obstetric hemorrhage was observed (R2 = 0.9884; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The maternal and perinatal morbidities are associated with advanced age in pregnant women.

Introducción: las mujeres de edad materna avanzada (mayores de 35 años) tienen más riesgo de complicaciones obstétricas y resultados perinatales adversos que las que tienen menos de esa edad. Objetivo: conocer las morbilidades materna y perinatal asociadas a edad avanzada en gestantes. Material y métodos: estudio transversal analítico. Se incluyeron mujeres con resolución del embarazo en la unidad médica, distribuidas en: grupo 1, edad avanzada, ≥ 35 años, y grupo 2, < 35 años. Se recabaron del expediente datos clínicos, morbilidades maternas y perinatales del recién nacido (RN). Resultados: se incluyeron 240 pacientes, 120 por grupo; se observó asociación significativa de la edad materna avanzada con morbilidades maternas como enfermedades previas al embarazo (p < 0.0001), como diabetes mellitus durante el embarazo (p = 0.002), enfermedad hipertensiva del embarazo (p = 0.0001), resolución del embarazo por cesárea (p = 0.04), hemorragia obstétrica (p = 0.0002), control prenatal < 5 consultas (p = 0.008), así como aquellas con morbilidades perinatales del RN: edad gestacional pretérmino (p = 0.001), retraso en el crecimiento intrauterino (p = 0.01), peso bajo para edad gestacional (p = 0.001) e ingreso del RN a la unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales (p = 0.007); con análisis multivariado se observó asociación de edad materna avanzada con diabetes mellitus, enfermedad hipertensiva del embarazo y hemorragia obstétrica (R2 = 0.9884; p < 0.0001). Conclusión: la morbilidad materna y perinatal se asocian a edad avanzada en gestantes.

[Prenatal diagnosis of placenta acretta by ultrasound and its histopathological association]. / Diagnóstico prenatal de acretismo placentario por ultrasonido y su asociación histopatológica.

Background: Anomalous adhesions of the placenta, known as placenta accreta and its variants, are the cause of obstetric hemorrhages that put the pregnant woman at risk. Accretism is strongly associated with a history of uterine surgery (cesarean section, myomectomy, curettage), as well as ultrasonographic signs, such as the presence and size of placental lacunae, loss of the placenta/bladder interface, location on the anterior face of the placenta, and presence of Doppler flow; these markers can be assessed by prenatal ultrasound. Objective: To analyze the association of prenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta by ultrasound with the histopathological result using the Tovbin index. Material and methods: Observational, cross-sectional and analytical study. 63 patients who had placenta accreta data by ultrasound measured with the Tovbin index and by means of the histopathological result obtained from the platform of the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS) were included. The association between the two studies with the presence of placenta accreta was analyzed. Results: 63 patients were analyzed; the Tovbin index was positive in 89% of the patients with a diagnosis of placenta accreta confirmed by histopathology. Both the Tovbin index and the histopathology report showed a statistically significant association with a p value of 0.04 for the diagnosis of placenta accreta. Conclusion: The Tovbin index as an ultrasonographic prenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta has a statistically significant association with histopathology diagnosis.

Introducción: las adherencias anómalas de la placenta, conocidas como acretismo, y sus variantes son causa de hemorragias obstétricas que ponen en riesgo a la gestante. El acretismo se asocia firmemente con antecedentes de cirugías uterinas (cesárea, miomectomía, legrados), así como con signos ultrasonográficos como presencia y tamaño de lagunas placentarias, pérdida de la interfaz placenta/vejiga, localización en cara anterior de la placenta y presencia de flujo Doppler; estos marcadores pueden ser valorados mediante ecografía prenatal. Objetivo: analizar la asociación de diagnóstico prenatal de acretismo placentario por ultrasonido con el resultado histopatológico utilizando el Índice de Tovbin. Material y métodos: estudio observacional, transversal y analítico. Se incluyeron 63 pacientes que tenían datos de acretismo placentario por ultrasonido medido con el Índice de Tovbin y mediante el resultado histopatológico obtenido de la plataforma del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Se analizó la asociación de ambos estudios con la presencia de acretismo placentario. Resultados: se analizaron 63 pacientes; el Índice de Tovbin fue positivo en un 89% de las pacientes con diagnóstico de acretismo placentario confirmado por histopatología. Tanto el Índice de Tovbin como el reporte de histopatología mostraron una asociación estadísticamente significativa con un valor de p de 0.04 para el diagnóstico de acretismo placentario. Conclusión: el Índice de Tovbin como diagnóstico prenatal ultrasonográfico de acretismo placentario tiene asociación estadísticamente significativa con el diagnóstico de histopatología.

[Comparison of unfavorable perinatal outcomes in primiparous adolescents and adults]. / Comparación de resultados perinatales desfavorables en primigestas adolescentes y adultas.

Background: Adolescent pregnancy may be associated with medical complications related to the biological immaturity of the mother, and adult primiparous mothers may present perinatal outcomes associated with pre-existing age-related chronic changes. Objective: To compare unfavorable perinatal outcomes in adolescent and adult primiparous women. Material and methods: Observational, cross-sectional, retrospective and analytical study. Records of adolescent women from 12-19 years and adult women from 20-40 years in their first pregnancy, with a gestation of more than 20 weeks, who entered the Obstetrics Area of a third level hospital for pregnancy resolution were included. Perinatal outcomes were compared using chi-squared, Fisher's exact test, or Mann-Whitney U test. Results: 220 records of primiparous women, 110 adolescents aged 18 (16-19) and 110 adults aged 24 (21-25) were included. Adolescent mothers presented as unfavorable perinatal outcomes newborns (NB) small-for-gestational-age (SGA): odds ratio (OR) 2.95 (95%CI 1.10-7.85), p = 0.04. Adult pregnant women presented more comorbidities (gestational hypertension [11.82 vs. 3.64%] and preeclampsia [10.91 vs. 4.55%], gestational diabetes [6.36 vs. 0.91%], [p = 0.006]) that were associated with prematurity (p = 0.018) and with hospitalization in the NB (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Adolescent mothers presented twice more SGA NB. Prematurity and hospitalization of the NB was associated with the presence of comorbidities in adult mothers.

Introducción: el embarazo en la adolescencia puede estar asociado a complicaciones médicas relacionadas con la inmadurez biológica de la madre y las madres primigestas adultas pueden presentar resultados perinatales asociados a alteraciones crónicas preexistentes relacionadas con la edad. Objetivo: comparar los resultados perinatales desfavorables en primigestas adolescentes y adultas. Material y métodos: estudio observacional, transversal, retrospectivo y analítico. Se incluyeron expedientes de mujeres adolescentes de 12-19 años de edad y mujeres adultas de 20-40 años primigestas, con gestación mayor de 20 semanas, que ingresaron al área de Obstetricia de un hospital de tercer nivel para resolución del embarazo. Los resultados perinatales se compararon con chi cuadrada, prueba exacta de Fisher o U de Mann-Whitney. Resultados: se incluyeron 220 expedientes de mujeres primigestas, 110 adolescentes de 18 (16-19) años y 110 adultas de 24 (21-25) años. Las madres adolescentes presentaron como resultados perinatales desfavorables a recién nacidos (RN) con peso bajo para edad gestacional (PBEG): razón de momios (RM) 2.95 (IC 95% 1.10-7.85), p = 0.04. Las embarazadas adultas presentaron más comorbilidades (hipertensión gestacional [11.82 frente a 3.64%] y preeclampsia [10.91 frente a 4.55%], diabetes gestacional [6.36 frente a 0.91%], [p = 0.006]) que se asociaron con prematurez (p = 0.018) y con la hospitalización en el RN (p = 0.008). Conclusiones: las madres adolescentes presentaron dos veces más RN con PBEG. La prematurez y la hospitalizacion del RN se asoció a la presencia de comorbilidades de las madres adultas.

[Inflammatory indexes and their association with the severity of preeclampsia]. / Índices inflamatorios y su asociación con la severidad de la preeclampsia.

Background: Recent studies have confirmed the relationship between some inflammatory indexes and preeclampsia (PE); however, they have not been analyzed in PE with and without severity criteria. Objective: To know the association between inflammatory indexes and the severity of PE. Material and methods: Analytical cross-sectional prolective study. Pregnant patients were included, divided into group 1 (PE without severity criteria); group 2 (PE with severity criteria); group 3 (normotensive pregnant women). Records were reviewed and inflammatory indexes [(neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], platelet-lymphocyte ratio [PLR], lymphocyte-monocyte ratio [LMR] and systemic immune index [SII]) were calculated. Results: 240 patients were analyzed, 80 per group; age 28 (IQR 27-29) years. A significant difference was observed between group 1, group 2 and group 3, NLR 3.29 (IQR 2.82-3.69), 3.59 (IQR 2.83-4.2) and 3.42 (IQR 3.17-3.92), respectively, p = 0.02; PLR 121.59 (IQR 103.78-132), 108.32 (IQR 92.96-127.43) 136 (IQR 115.18-157.56), respectively, p = 0.01; LMR and SII showed no difference between the groups. LMR made possible to distinguish PE with and without severity criteria, cut-off point of ≥ 3.20, sensitivity 56%, specificity 56%, AUC 0.56, p = 0.01, and cut-off point ≥ 3.24, sensitivity 58%, specificity 58%, AUC 0.57, p = 0.04, respectively; the LMR ≥ 3.24 was associated with PE without severity criteria (OR 2.02 [95%CI 1.08-3.80], p = 0.03). Conclusions: The MLR was the only inflammatory index analyzed that was associated with the presence of PE without severity data. No inflammatory index was associated with PE with severity data.

Introducción: estudios recientes han confirmado la relación que existe entre algunos índices inflamatorios y la preeclampsia (PE); sin embargo, no se han analizado en la PE con y sin criterios de severidad. Objetivo: conocer la asociación entre los índices inflamatorios y la severidad de la PE. Material y métodos: estudio transversal analítico prolectivo. Se incluyeron pacientes embarazadas, distribuidas en PE sin criterios de severidad (grupo 1), PE con criterios de severidad (grupo 2) y normotensión (grupo 3). Se revisaron expedientes y se calcularon los índices inflamatorios (índice neutrófilos linfocitos [INL], plaquetas linfocitos [IPL], linfocito monocito [ILM] e inmunosistémico [IIS]). Resultados: se analizaron 240 pacientes, 80 por grupo; edad de 28 años (RIC 27-29). Se observó diferencia significativa entre grupo 1, grupo 2 y grupo 3, INL 3.29 (RIC 2.82-3.69), 3.59 (RIC 2.83-4.2) y 3.42 (RIC 3.17-3.92), respectivamente, p = 0.02; IPL 121.59 (RIC 103.78-132), 108.32 (RIC 92.96-127.43) 136 (RIC 115.18-157.56), respectivamente, p = 0.01; ILM y ISS no mostraron diferencia entre los grupos. ILM permitió distinguir PE con y sin criterios de severidad, punto de corte ≥ 3.20, sensibilidad 56%, especificidad 56%, AUC 0.56, p = 0.01, y, punto de corte ≥ 3.24, sensibilidad 58%, especificidad 58%, AUC 0.57, p = 0.04, respectivamente; el ILM ≥ 3.24 se asoció con PE sin criterios de severidad (RM 2.02 [IC 95% 1.08-3.80], p = 0.03). Conclusiones: el ILM fue el único índice inflamatorio analizado que se asoció con la presencia de PE sin criterios de severidad. Ningún índice inflamatorio se asoció con la PE con datos de severidad.

A Novel Pathogenic Variant in the MN1 Gene in a Patient Presenting with Rhombencephalosynapsis and Craniofacial Anomalies, Expanding MN1 C-terminal Truncation Syndrome.

Meningioma-1 is a transcription activator that regulates mammalian palate development and is required for appropriate osteoblast proliferation, motility, differentiation, and function. Microdeletions involving the MN1 gene have been linked to syndromes including craniofacial anomalies, such as Toriello-Carey syndrome. Recently, truncating variants in the C-terminal portion of the MN1 transcriptional factor have been linked to a characteristic and distinct phenotype presenting with craniofacial anomalies and partial rhombencephalosynapsis, a rare brain malformation characterized by midline fusion of the cerebellar hemispheres with partial or complete loss of the cerebellar vermis. It has been called MN1 C-terminal truncation (MCTT) syndrome or CEBALID (Craniofacial defects, dysmorphic Ears, Brain Abnormalities, Language delay, and Intellectual Disability) and suggested to be caused by dominantly acting truncated protein MN1 instead of haploinsufficiency. As a proto-oncogene, MN1 is also involved in familial meningioma. In this study, we present a novel case of MCTT syndrome in a female patient presenting with craniofacial anomalies and rhombencephalosynapsis, harboring a de novo pathogenic variant in the MN1 gene: c.3686_3698del, p.(Met1229Argfs*87).

Effects of fresh and field-aged holm-oak biochar on As, Cd and Pb bioaccumulation in different rice growing environments.

Arsenic, Cd, and Pb environmental fate is influenced when the traditional permanent flooding rice production systems are replaced by water-saving and soil conservation practices, urging for additional strategies that avoid their bioaccumulation in rice grain. The aim of this two-years field study was to evaluate the effects of fresh and field-aged biochar on As, Cd, and Pb bioaccumulation, and on As speciation, in rice grain produced in different growing environments (flooding versus sprinkler and conventional tillage versus direct seeding). Biochar produced from holm-oak pruning residues (pyrolysis at 550 °C, 48 h), in a single application (28 Mg ha-1), reduced As bioaccumulation in rice grain in the permanent flooding system to non-quantifiable concentrations (e.g., from 0.178 mg kg-1 to <0.04 mg kg-1, for inorganic-As, respectively), an effect which remained under field-aging conditions, increasing rice commercial value. When adopting sprinkler irrigation, the undesirable increase in Cd bioaccumulation in rice, relatively to the anaerobic system, was counteracted by biochar application, reducing its bioaccumulation in kernels between 32 and 80 %, allowing a simultaneous control of metals and metalloids bioaccumulation in rice. The bioaccumulation of Pb was also prevented with biochar application, with a reduction in its concentration four- to 13-times, in all the management systems, relatively to the non-amended plots, under fresh biochar effects. However, Pb immobilization decreased with biochar field-aging, indicating that the biochar application may have to be repeated to maintain the same beneficial effect. Therefore, the present study shows that the implementation of sprinkler irrigation with holm-oak biochar could reduce the risk of heavy metals(loids) bioaccumulation in rice grains and, thereby, ensuring food safety aspects, particularly under fresh biochar effects.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy: an unusual route of dissemination of gallbladder carcinoma.

A 78-year-old male with high-risk surgical presented severe acute cholecystitis and required cholecystostomy. The patient was referred later for assessment of the surgical treatment. A cholangio-MRI revealed a lesion on the gallbladder fundus with hepatic lesions suggestive of metastatic gallbladder carcinoma, which was confirmed in the histological analysis. The tumor progressed despite the chemotherapy through the cholecystostomy tract and developed peritoneal carcinomatosis. The patient did not respond to chemotherapy and he died 12 months later.

Dose and administration time of indocyanine green in near-infrared fluorescence cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DOTIG): study protocol for a randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: One of the most severe complications in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is intraoperative bile duct injury (BDI). Despite its low incidence, the medical implications for the patient can be serious. Besides, BDI can also generate significant legal issues in healthcare. Different techniques have been described to reduce the incidence of this complication, and near-infrared fluorescence cholangiography with indocyanine green (NIRFC-ICG) is one of the latest additions. In spite of the great interest aroused by this procedure, there are currently great disparities in the usage or administration protocols of ICG. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a randomised, multicentre, per-protocol analysis, open clinical trial with four arms. The estimated duration of the trial is 12 months. The aim of the study is to analyse whether there are differences between the dose and administration ICG intervals to obtain good-quality NIRFC during LC. The primary outcome is the degree of identification of critical biliary structures during LC. In addition, different factors will be analysed that may have an influence on the results of this technique. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial will be conducted according to the recommendations for Clinical Trials in the Declaration of Helsinki Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects and the recommendations of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPs) for clinical trials. This trial was approved by the local institutional Ethics Committee and the AEMPs. The results of the study will be presented to the scientific community through publications, conferences or other means. EUDRACT NUMBER: 2022-000904-36. PROTOCOL VERSION: V.1.4, 2 June 2022 TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05419947.

Surface chemistry and structure manipulation of graphene-related materials to address the challenges of electrochemical energy storage.

Energy storage devices are important components in portable electronics, electric vehicles, and the electrical distribution grid. Batteries and supercapacitors have achieved great success as the spearhead of electrochemical energy storage devices, but need to be further developed in order to meet the ever-increasing energy demands, especially attaining higher power and energy density, and longer cycling life. Rational design of electrode materials plays a critical role in developing energy storage systems with higher performance. Graphene, the well-known 2D allotrope of carbon, with a unique structure and excellent properties has been considered a "magic" material with its high energy storage capability, which can not only aid in addressing the issues of the state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors, but also be crucial in the so-called post Li-ion battery era covering different technologies, e.g., sodium ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, structural batteries, and hybrid supercapacitors. In this feature article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the strategies developed in our research to create graphene-based composite electrodes with better ionic conductivity, electron mobility, specific surface area, mechanical properties, and device performance than state-of-the-art electrodes. We summarize the strategies of structure manipulation and surface modification with specific focus on tackling the existing challenges in electrodes for batteries and supercapacitors by exploiting the unique properties of graphene-related materials.

Combined use of biochar and alternative management systems for imazamox induced pollution control in rice growing environments.

Imazamox (IMZX) is a persistent herbicide having probable risks for non-target organisms in the environment and water contamination. Alternatives to conventional flooding rice production, including biochar amendment, may induce changes in soil properties which can greatly modify the environmental fate of IMZX. This two-year study is the first to evaluate how tillage and irrigation practices, with or without fresh or aged biochar (Bc), that are alternatives to conventional rice production impact IMZX's environmental fate. The treatments were: conventional tillage and flooding irrigation (CTFI), conventional tillage and sprinkler irrigation (CTSI), no-tillage and sprinkler irrigation (NTSI), and the corresponding Bc-amendment treatments (CTFI-Bc, CTSI-Bc, and NTSI-Bc). Fresh and aged Bc amendment decreased IMZX's sorption onto the soil in tillage treatments, with Kf values decreasing 3.7 and 4.2-fold (fresh case) and 1.5 and 2.6-fold (aged case) for CTSI-Bc and CTFI-Bc, respectively. The transition to sprinkler irrigation reduced IMZX persistence. Overall, Bc amendment also reduced chemical persistence with half-life values decreasing 1.6 and 1.5-fold for CTFI and CTSI (fresh year) and 1.1, 1.1, and 1.3-fold for CTFI, CTSI, and NTSI (aged year), respectively. Sprinkler irrigation reduced IMZX leaching by up to a factor of 2.2. The use of Bc as amendment led to a significant decrease in IMZX leaching only under tillage conditions, but notable in particular for the CTFI case where leaching losses were reduced in the fresh year from 80% to 34% and, in the aged year, from 74% to 50%. Hence the change in irrigation from flooding to sprinkler either alone or in combination with the use of Bc (fresh or aged) amendment could be considered an effective way to sharply mitigate IMZX contamination of water in environments where rice is grown, particularly in those managed with tillage.

Medium-Term Effects of Sprinkler Irrigation Combined with a Single Compost Application on Water and Rice Productivity and Food Safety.

Traditional rice (Oryza sativa L.) management (tillage and flooding) is unsustainable due to soil degradation and the large amount of irrigation water used, an issue which is exacerbated in the Mediterranean region. Therefore, there is a need to explore rice management strategies in order to improve water-use efficiency and ensure its sustainability. Thus, field experiments were conducted to determine the medium-term effects of different irrigation and tillage methods combined with a single compost application on water and rice productivity, as well as food safety in a semiarid Mediterranean region. The management systems evaluated were: sprinkler irrigation in combination with no-tillage (SNT), sprinkler irrigation in combination with conventional tillage (ST), which were implemented in 2015, and flooding irrigation in combination with conventional tillage (FT), and their homologues (SNT-C, ST-C, and FT-C) with single compost application in 2015. In reference to rice grain yield, the highest values were observed under ST treatment with 10 307 and 11 625 kg ha-1 in 2018 and 2019 respectively; whereas between FT and SNT there were no significant differences, with 8 140 kg ha-1 as mean value through the study. Nevertheless, sprinkler irrigation allowed saving 55% of the total amount of water applied in reference to flooding irrigation. Furthermore, the highest arsenic concentration in grains was found under FT but it decreased with compost application (FT-C) and especially with sprinkler irrigation, regardless of tillage management systems. However, sprinkler irrigation favors the cadmium uptake by plants, although this process was reduced under SNT in reference to ST, and especially under amended compost treatments. Therefore, our results suggested that a combination of sprinkler irrigation and compost application, regardless of the tillage system, could be an excellent strategy for rice management for the Mediterranean environment in terms of water and crop productivity as well as food safety.

Detection of Candidate Genes Associated with Fecundity through Genome-Wide Selection Signatures of Katahdin Ewes.

One of the strategies to genetically improve reproductive traits, despite their low inheritability, has been the identification of candidate genes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to detect candidate genes associated with fecundity through the fixation index (FST) and runs of homozygosity (ROH) of selection signatures in Katahdin ewes. Productive and reproductive records from three years were used and the genotypes (OvineSNP50K) of 48 Katahdin ewes. Two groups of ewes were identified to carry out the genetic comparison: with high fecundity (1.3 ± 0.03) and with low fecundity (1.1 ± 0.06). This study shows for the first time evidence of the influence of the CNOT11, GLUD1, GRID1, MAPK8, and CCL28 genes in the fecundity of Katahdin ewes; in addition, new candidate genes were detected for fecundity that were not reported previously in ewes but that were detected for other species: ANK2 (sow), ARHGAP22 (cow and buffalo cow), GHITM (cow), HERC6 (cow), DPF2 (cow), and TRNAC-GCA (buffalo cow, bull). These new candidate genes in ewes seem to have a high expression in reproduction. Therefore, future studies are needed focused on describing the physiological basis of changes in the reproductive behavior influenced by these genes.

High-efficient energy harvesting architecture for self-powered thermal-monitoring wireless sensor node based on a single thermoelectric generator.

In recent years, research on transducers and system architectures for self-powered devices has gained attention for their direct impact on the Internet of Things in terms of cost, power consumption, and environmental impact. The concept of a wireless sensor node that uses a single thermoelectric generator as a power source and as a temperature gradient sensor in an efficient and controlled manner is investigated. The purpose of the device is to collect temperature gradient data in data centres to enable the application of thermal-aware server load management algorithms. By using a maximum power point tracking algorithm, the operating point of the thermoelectric generator is kept under control while using its power-temperature transfer function to measure the temperature gradient. In this way, a more accurate measurement of the temperature gradient is achieved while harvesting energy with maximum efficiency. The results show the operation of the system through its different phases as well as demonstrate its ability to efficiently harvest energy from a temperature gradient while measuring it. With this system architecture, temperature gradients can be measured with a maximum error of 0.14 [Formula: see text]C and an efficiency of over 92% for values above 13 [Formula: see text]C and a single transducer.