The branched mitochondrial respiratory chain from the jellyfish Stomolophus sp2 as a probable adaptive response to environmental changes.

During their long evolutionary history, jellyfish have faced changes in multiple environmental factors, to which they may selectively fix adaptations, allowing some species to survive and inhabit diverse environments. Previous findings have confirmed the jellyfish's ability to synthesize large ATP amounts, mainly produced by mitochondria, in response to environmental challenges. This study characterized the respiratory chain from the mitochondria of the jellyfish Stomolophus sp2 (previously misidentified as Stomolophus meleagris). The in-gel activity from isolated jellyfish mitochondria confirmed that the mitochondrial respiratory chain contains the four canonical complexes I to IV and F0F1-ATP synthase. Specific additional activity bands, immunodetection, and mass spectrometry identification confirmed the occurrence of four alternative enzymes integrated into a branched mitochondrial respiratory chain of Stomolophus sp2: an alternative oxidase and three dehydrogenases (two NADH type II enzymes and a mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase). The analysis of each transcript sequence, their phylogenetic relationships, and each protein's predicted models confirmed the mitochondrial alternative enzymes' identity and specific characteristics. Although no statistical differences were found among the mean values of transcript abundance of each enzyme in the transcriptomes of jellyfish exposed to three different temperatures, it was confirmed that each gene was expressed at all tested conditions. These first-time reported enzymes in cnidarians suggest the adaptative ability of jellyfish's mitochondria to display rapid metabolic responses, as previously described, to maintain energetic homeostasis and face temperature variations due to climate change.

The genus Gautieria (Gomphales) in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: a morphological and phylogenetic taxonomic revision.

Type material and additional collections of 11 taxa of Gautieria described in Europe and North Africa have been studied, namely G. dubia, G. graveolens, G. morchelliformis var. globispora, G. morchelliformis var. magnicellaris, G. morchelliformis var. morchelliformis, G. morchelliformis var. stenospora, G. otthii, G. pseudovestita, G. retirugosa, G. trabutii and G. villosa. At the same time, morphological and genetic studies on recent and herbarium collections from several European countries have been carried out. This enabled clarification of sections within Gautieria and differentiation of 28 taxa, of which 21 are new to science. However, the deeper relationships and nomenclature changes related to the phylogenetic position of the genus Gautieria within Gomphaceae will not be addressed in this study because they would require a more complete molecular analysis together with that of related genera, e.g., Gomphus, Turbinellus, and the four subgenera of Ramaria. In addition, a lectotype for G. villosa var. villosa and reference specimens for G. graveolens and G. morchelliformis var. morchelliformis are selected, and the new combination G. morchelliformis var. dubia is proposed. Detailed descriptions, macro- and microphotographs and distribution maps of all taxa are provided, as well as extensive information on their ecology, chorology and phylogeny. A key is included to facilitate identification of taxa. Citation: Vidal JM, Cseh P, Merényi Z, et al. 2023. The genus Gautieria (Gomphales) in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: a morphological and phylogenetic taxonomic revision. Persoonia 50: 48 -122. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2023.50.03.

Medical education from the point of view of medical students: Results from four participatory Delphi panels in Quito, Ecuador.

BACKGROUND: Medical curricula have historically been designed in a top-down approach, usually excluding students. While Delphi panels have been used as a tool for medical education curricula design, none have been conducted in Ecuador. In addition, no such approach has ever included students both as panelists and researchers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four Delphi panels were developed and conducted using a participatory approach that allowed medical students to take part both as expert panelists and researchers: specifically, students developed the questionnaire and conducted a qualitative synthesis. Questionnaire responses were anonymized and dispatched online to panelists. The information was organized and collected to develop the qualitative syntheses and prepare the final statements. RESULTS: Thirty-two medical students participated between February and May 2018. A total of 32 questions were developed, corresponding to five different categories. For some questions, consensus was reached; for other questions, general statements were obtained.Discussion and conclusion: Developing the questionnaire, responding to it and analyzing the answers allowed students to raise significant concerns regarding medical education topics proposing relevant policy and curricula change. Participatory Delphi panels can be an efficient tool to obtain organized feedback, improve student class involvement, and promote research skills.

Prospective cohort study on the management and complications of peripheral venous catheters in patients hospitalised in Internal Medicine. / Estudio de cohortes prospectivo sobre el manejo y las complicaciones del catéter venoso periférico en pacientes ingresados en Medicina Interna.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse compliance with the recommendations on the insertion-maintenance of peripheral venous catheters (PVC) and the incidence of complications according to the healthcare department that inserted the PVCs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort follow-up study of PVCs, from their insertion in the emergency or internal medicine (IM) department until their withdrawal. RESULTS: We monitored 590 PVCs, 274 from the emergency department and 316 from IM. In terms of compliance with the process indicators, there was a cannulation rate in the antecubital fossa of 3.5 and 1.6 per 100 catheters-day (P<.001) in the emergency and IM departments, respectively. The sterile placement rates were 1.6 and 12.4 (P<.001), and the rate for transparent dressing was 2.1 and 11.5 (P<.001) per 100 catheters-day in the emergency and IM departments, respectively. The complications rates showed no differences between the departments. The most common complication was phlebitis (95 cases, 16.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with the insertion-maintenance recommendations for PVC showed differences between the departments; however, the incidence of complications was similar.

Phylogeography of Atlantic Forest glassfrogs (Vitreorana): when geography, climate dynamics and rivers matter.

Recent advances in the field of landscape genetics provide ways to jointly analyze the role of present-day climate and landscape configuration in current biodiversity patterns. Expanding this framework into a phylogeographic study, we incorporate information on historical climatic shifts, tied to descriptions of the local topography and river configuration, to explore the processes that underlie genetic diversity patterns in the Atlantic Forest hotspot. We study two montane, stream-associated species of glassfrogs: Vitreorana eurygnatha and V. uranoscopa. By integrating species distribution modeling with geographic information systems and molecular data, we find that regional patterns of molecular diversity are jointly explained by geographic distance, historical (last 120 ky) climatic stability, and (in one species) river configuration. Mitochondrial DNA genealogies recover significant regional structure in both species, matching previous classifications of the northern and southern forests in the Atlantic Forest, and are consistent with patterns reported in other taxa. Yet, these spatial patterns of genetic diversity are only partially supported by nuclear data. Contrary to data from lowland taxa, historical climate projections suggest that these montane species were able to persist in the southern Atlantic Forest during glacial periods, particularly during the Last Glacial Maximum. These results support generally differential responses to climatic cycling by northern (lowland) and southern (montane) Atlantic Forest species, triggered by the joint impact of regional landscape configuration and climate change.

Analytical gradients and derivative couplings for dynamically weighted complete active space self-consistent field.

We recently introduced a Dynamically Weighted Complete Active Space Self-Consistent Field (DW-CASSCF) electronic structure for excited-state dynamics. In this Communication, we reformulate analytical gradients at this level of theory using a Lagrangian approach, thereby reducing the required number of coupled-perturbed CASSCF calculations to one per state gradient. In addition, we derive and implement derivative couplings at the DW-CASSCF level for the first time. We demonstrate the new formulation of DW-CASSCF gradients by optimizing a conical intersection for the p-hydroxybenzylidene-imidazolinone anion, the green fluorescent protein chromophore, to shed light on its observed radiationless decay dynamics in the ultraviolet region.

Local adsorption structure and bonding of porphine on Cu(111) before and after self-metalation.

We have experimentally determined the lateral registry and geometric structure of free-base porphine (2H-P) and copper-metalated porphine (Cu-P) adsorbed on Cu(111), by means of energy-scanned photoelectron diffraction (PhD), and compared the experimental results to density functional theory (DFT) calculations that included van der Waals corrections within the Tkatchenko-Scheffler approach. Both 2H-P and Cu-P adsorb with their center above a surface bridge site. Consistency is obtained between the experimental and DFT-predicted structural models, with a characteristic change in the corrugation of the four N atoms of the molecule's macrocycle following metalation. Interestingly, comparison with previously published data for cobalt porphine adsorbed on the same surface evidences a distinct increase in the average height of the N atoms above the surface through the series 2H-P, Cu-P, and cobalt porphine. Such an increase strikingly anti-correlates the DFT-predicted adsorption strength, with 2H-P having the smallest adsorption height despite the weakest calculated adsorption energy. In addition, our findings suggest that for these macrocyclic compounds, substrate-to-molecule charge transfer and adsorption strength may not be univocally correlated.

A phylogenetic and taxonomic revision of sequestrate Russulaceae in Mediterranean and temperate Europe.

A comprehensive morphological and genetic study of type material and new collections of sequestrate Russulales species formerly belonging to the genera Arcangeliella, Elasmomyces, Gymnomyces, Hydnangium, Hymenogaster, Macowanites, Martellia, Secotium and Zelleromyces is here undertaken, for the purpose of providing a complete taxonomical revision of sequestrate Russulaceae species in the Mediterranean and temperate regions of Europe. As a result, seven distinct taxa in the genus Lactarius and 18 in the genus Russula are identified. Six of them are new species: L. populicola, L. subgiennensis, R. bavarica, R. candidissima, R. hobartiae and R. mediterraneensis, and seven represent new combinations: L. josserandii (≡ Zelleromyces josserandii), L. soehneri (≡ Hydnangium soehneri), R. candida (≡ Hydnangium candidum), R. cerea (≡ Hydnangium cereum), R. messapica var. messapicoides (≡ Macowanites messapicoides), R. meridionalis (≡ Zelleromyces meridionalis) and R. neuhoffii (≡ Hydnangium neuhoffii). Twenty-two of the 25 taxa are illustrated, while descriptions, microscopy images, as well as extensive information on the ecology, chorology and phylogeny for all taxa are provided. A key is further included to facilitate their identification.

The role of brain biopsy in the clinical management of HIV-related focal brain lesions.

OBJECTIVES: Up to 20% of HIV-related focal brain lesion (FBL) diagnoses cannot be determined without invasive procedures. In such cases, brain biopsy is an important step in the evaluation algorithm. The aims of this study were to describe the clinical outcomes of patients with FBL, the proportion of diagnoses confirmed by brain biopsies and their aetiologies, and to analyse the proportion of patients in whom the biopsy motivated a change in therapeutic management. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed. The data from clinical records of patients with HIV-related FBL admitted between January 2005 and December 2015 were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 137 patients were included in the study. The median age was 39 years [interquartile range (IQR) 33-44.5 years]. The median CD4 count was 54 cells/µL (IQR 21-124 cells/µL). Cerebral brain biopsy was performed in 21.16% of patients (29 of 137); 68.9% of these individuals (20 of 29) were diagnosed by histology, with results of central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma in 20.6% (six of 29), progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy in 6.8% (two of 29), toxoplasmosis in 6.8% (two of 29), tuberculoma in 6.8% (two of 29), and other diagnoses in 27.6% (eight of 29). In nine patients, the histology was nonspecific. In 75.8% of patients (22 of 29), the result of the biopsy led to a change in the therapeutic management. We did not observe higher rates of mortality related to the procedure. Overall mortality at 30 and 90 days was similar in patients who were and were not biopsied. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective cohort study, cerebral biopsy was associated with significant adjustments in therapeutic management for a high percentage of patients.

Isolation of human mesenchymal stem cells from amnion, chorion, placental decidua and umbilical cord: comparison of four enzymatic protocols.

OBJECTIVE: To compare four enzymatic protocols for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolation from amniotic (A-MSC) and chorionic (C-MSC) membranes, umbilical cord (UC-MSC) and placental decidua (D-MSC) in order to define a robust, practical and low-cost protocol for each tissue. RESULTS: A-MSCs and UC-MSCs could be isolated from all samples using trypsin/collagenase-based protocols; C-MSCs could be isolated from all samples with collagenase- and trypsin/collagenase-based protocols; D-MSCs were isolated from all samples exclusively with a collagenase-based protocol. CONCLUSIONS: The trypsin-only protocol was least efficient; the collagenase-only protocol was best for C-MSCs and D-MSCs; the combination of trypsin and collagenase was best for UC-MSCs and none of tested protocols was adequate for A-MSCs isolation.

The genus Elaphomyces (Ascomycota, Eurotiales): a ribosomal DNA-based phylogeny and revised systematics of European 'deer truffles'.

Elaphomyces ('deer truffles') is one of the most important ectomycorrhizal fungal genera in temperate and subarctic forest ecosystems, but also one of the least documented in public databases. The current systematics are mainly based on macromorphology, and is not significantly different from that proposed by Vittadini (1831). Within the 49 species recognised worldwide, 23 were originally described from Europe and 17 of these were described before the 20th century. Moreover, very recent phylogenetic treatments of the genus are mainly based on a few extra-European species and most common European species are still poorly documented. Based on an extensive taxonomic sampling mainly made in the biogeographically rich Cantabrian area (Spain), complemented with collections from France, Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal and Sweden, all currently recognized species in Europe have been sequenced at the ITS and 28S of the rDNA. Combined phylogenetic analyses yielded molecular support to sections Elaphomyces and Ceratogaster (here emended), while a third, basal lineage encompasses the sections Malacodermei and Ascoscleroderma as well as the tropical genus Pseudotulostoma. Species limits are discussed and some taxa formerly proposed as genuine species based on morphology and biogeography are re-evaluated as varieties or forms. Spore size and ornamentation, features of the peridial surface, structure of the peridium, and the presence of mycelium patches attached to the peridial surface emerge as the most significant systematic characters. Four new species: E. barrioi, E. quercicola, E. roseolus and E. violaceoniger, one new variety: E. papillatus var. sulphureopallidus, and two new forms: E. granulatus forma pallidosporus and E. anthracinus forma talosporus are introduced, as well as four new combinations in the genus: E. muricatus var. reticulatus, E. muricatus var. variegatus, E. papillatus var. striatosporus and E. morettii var. cantabricus. Lectotypes and epitypes are designated for most recognised species. For systematic purposes, new infrageneric taxa are introduced: E. sect. Ascoscleroderma stat. nov., E. subsect. Sclerodermei stat. nov., E. subsect. Maculati subsect. nov., E. subsect. Muricati subsect. nov., and E. subsect. Papillati subsect. nov. Lastly, E.laevigatus, E. sapidus, E. sulphureopallidus and E. trappei are excluded from the genus and referred to Rhizopogon roseolus, Astraeus sapidus comb. nov., Astraeus hygrometricus and Terfezia trappei comb. nov. (syn.: Terfezia cistophila), respectively.

Damage-associated molecular patterns and immune activation in bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Immune activation in bipolar disorder (BD) has been frequently reported. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are key players in the immune activation reaction. The aim of this study was to assess DAMP levels in drug-free patients with BD during acute episodes. METHOD: Serum levels of a predetermined set of DAMPs were assessed in drug-free patients with BD (n = 20) during an acute mood episode. We also included two control groups: healthy subjects, used as a negative control (n = 20); and patients with sepsis, used as a positive control for severe immune activation (n = 20). RESULTS: Multivariate analysis using generalized linear mixed model indicated that all DAMPs differed as a function of group membership after controlling for age and addressing multiplicity (P < 0.0006 for all comparisons). Follow-up analyses showed higher levels in BD subjects of circulating cell-free (ccf) nuclear (n)DNA (P = 0.02), HSP70 (P = 0.03) and HSP90α (P = 0.02) as compared to healthy subjects. Also, patients with BD showed lower levels of ccf nDNA (P = 0.04), HSP60 (P = 0.03), HSP70 (P = 0.01), and HSP90α (P = 0.002) as compared to patients with sepsis and higher levels of ccf mitochondrial DNA (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The present findings may be linked to the inflammatory activity previously described among patients with BD and may help in the development of more targeted and personalized treatments for patients under acute episodes of BD.

The tidepool shrimp, Palaemon ritteri Holmes, constitutes a novel host to the white spot syndrome virus.

The white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a lethal and contagious pathogen for penaeid shrimp and a growing number of other crustacean species. To date, there are no effective prophylactic or therapeutic treatments commercially available to interfere with the occurrence and spread of the disease. In addition, the significance of alternative vectors on the dispersal of this disease has been largely ignored and therefore the ecological dynamics of the WSSV is still poorly understood and difficult to ascertain. Thus, an important issue that should be considered in sanitary programmes and management strategies is the identification of species susceptible to infection by WSSV. The results obtained provide the first direct evidence of ongoing WSSV replication in experimentally infected specimens of the tidepool shrimp Palaemon ritteri. Viral replication was detected using a validated set of primers for the amplification by RT-PCR of a 141 bp fragment of the transcript encoding the viral protein VP28. It is therefore conceivable that this shrimp may play a significant role in the dispersal of WSSV.

The cytochrome c oxidase and its mitochondrial function in the whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei during hypoxia.

Cytochrome c oxidase (COX), which is located in the inner membrane of mitochondria, is a key constituent of the electron transport chain that catalyzes the reduction of oxygen. The Pacific whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei is constantly exposed to hypoxic conditions, which affects both the central metabolism and the mitochondrial function. The purpose of this study was to isolate shrimp mitochondria, identify the COX complex and to evaluate the effect of hypoxia on the shrimp mitochondrial function and in the COX activity. A 190 kDa protein was identified as COX by immunodetection techniques. The effect of hypoxia was confirmed by an increase in the shrimp plasma L-lactate concentration. COX activity, mitochondrial oxygen uptake and protein content were reduced under hypoxic conditions, and gradually restored as hypoxia continued, this suggests an adaptive mitochondrial response and a highly effective COX enzyme. Both mitochondrial oxygen uptake and COX activity were completely inhibited by KCN and sodium azide, suggesting that COX is the unique oxidase in L. vannamei mitochondria.

Nonequilibrium quantum magnetism in a dipolar lattice gas.

We report on the realization of quantum magnetism using a degenerate dipolar gas in an optical lattice. Our system implements a lattice model resembling the celebrated t-J model. It is characterized by a nonequilibrium spinor dynamics resulting from intersite Heisenberg-like spin-spin interactions provided by nonlocal dipole-dipole interactions. Moreover, due to its large spin, our chromium lattice gases constitute an excellent environment for the study of quantum magnetism of high-spin systems, as illustrated by the complex spin dynamics observed for doubly occupied sites.

Development and validation of a real-time PCR assay protocol for the specific detection and quantification of pelagiphages in seawater samples.

Earth is inhabited by numerous adaptations of cellular forms shaped by the persistent scrutiny of natural selection. Thus, as natural selection has fixed beneficial adaptations of functional traits, cellular life has conquered almost all environmental niches on our planet. However, cellular life succumbs in number and genetic diversity to viruses. Among all viruses, phages are highly prevalent in diverse environments, and due to their vast genetic diversity and abundance, their relevant role as significant players in several ecological processes is now fully recognized. Pelagiphages, bacteriophages infecting bacteria of the SAR11 clade, are the most abundant viruses in the oceans. However, the ecological contribution of pelagiphages on populations of Pelagibacterales remains largely underestimated. An essential aspect of estimating the impact of bacteriophages is their absolute and precise quantification, which provides relevant information about the host-virus interactions and the structure of viral assemblages. Consequently, due to its abundance and claimed influence in the biogeochemical cycling of elements, the accurate quantification of pelagiphages results in an essential task. This study describes the development and validation of a sensitive, specific, accurate and reproducible qPCR platform targeting pelagiphages. Moreover, this method allowed the detection and quantification of pelagiphages in the Gulf of California for the first time.

Isolation of novel benzo[a]anthracene-degrading microorganisms and continuous bioremediation in an expanded-bed bioreactor.

In the present work, several samples from lab waste containers polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals were investigated as potential sources of PAH-degrading microorganisms. After isolating, two fungal strains were selected as the best degrading microorganisms. Genetic identification by sequencing was carried out and they were identified as Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Byssochlamys spectabilis. Their degradation ability was determined in liquid cultures with 100 µM of benzo[a]anthracene. T. longibrachiatum cultures showed highest degradation values (around 97%) after 9 days, furthermore in a second batch the time was reduced to 6 days. To analyse the viability of industrial application, a continuous treatment in an expanded-bed bioreactor was developed operating at different residence times with T. longibrachiatum immobilised on cubes of nylon sponge. It is noticeable that the bioreactor working in continuous mode was able to operate without operational problems and attaining high degradation levels depending on the residence time.

Association of phenylthiocarbamide perception with anthropometric variables and intake and liking for bitter vegetables.

Phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) sensitivity, a sensory trait mediated by the bitter taste receptor 38 (TAS2R38), has been described as a promising biomarker of health status or disease risk. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the influence of PTC phenotypes on (1) individual anthropometric and clinical history variables; (2) other basic taste recognition thresholds (RTs), and (3) the hedonic perception and habitual intake of Brassicaceae vegetables in a young adult population (18.9 ± 1.7 years old). The PTC phenotype was determined by the quantitative measure of the PTC recognition threshold (non-tasters, 24.1%; tasters, 52.3%; and super tasters, 23.6%). No significant differences in smoking habits, oral and nasal disorders, family antecedents of diseases related to metabolic syndrome, and Brassicaceae vegetable hedonic perception and consumption were found between the PTC phenotype groups. The average BMI of super-taster females and males was significantly lower compared to non-tasters. In addition, the PTC taster status was a predictor of lower scores for other basic taste RTs. Overall, the defined PTC super-taster cohort could be differentiated from the non-tasters by variables related to weight control such as BMI and sucrose RT.

A simple methodology for analyzing association effects on response functions via Monte Carlo simulations.

A simple methodology was developed to analyze association effects on the thermodynamic response functions for a pure self-associated fluid via Monte Carlo simulations. The procedure essentially involves expressing the residual energy and volume of the fluid in terms of these properties for two hypothetical fluids consisting of monomers and associated molecules, respectively. This allows the thermodynamic response functions to be expressed in a perturbative form as a combination of the values for the property in the monomeric fluid and the contribution of association (the perturbative term). The proposed methodology was used to determine both contributions to the isobaric heat capacity and to the temperature and pressure derivatives of the volume for OPLS methanol along the 50 MPa isobar from 220 to 1500 K. Based on the results, both terms exert a substantial influence on the isobaric heat capacity; by contrast, the association term for the volumetric properties is negligible. These results are consistent with those of a previous work involving simulations with the same model under identical thermodynamic conditions but a different approach. They are also compared with others previously reported in context. Moreover, a comprehensive study of the different types of clusters present in the fluid was performed and the results were related to thermodynamic properties. A strong correlation between the heat capacity of the monomeric fluid and this structural analysis was found.