Upper storage-capacity limit and multiple occupancy phenomena in H2hydroquinone clathrates using Monte Carlo and DFT simulations

The upper hydrogen-storage capacity limit of the β-hydroquinone clathrate has been investigated using hybrid Grand-Canonical Monte Carlo/Molecular Dynamics simulations, for temperatures ranging from 77 K to 300 K. The evolution with pressure of the cage occupancies has been monitored in detail, describing the progressive nature of the uptake process. It is found that the storage capacity of the pure β-HQ + H2 clathrate could reach 0.6 wt% (weight percentage) only for pressures above 1400 bar, at ambient temperature. The enhancement of the storage capacities by the multiple occupancy phenomenom was accordingly shown to be very limited by the need for extreme conditions. Following this observation, an unmodified version of the van der Waals & Platteeuw theory was applied allowing for the prediction of experimentally accessible formation pressures. Density functional theory calculations were addittionnaly performed to comprehensively characterize the hydrogen diffusion process within the clathrate crystalline structure, considering different occupancy scenarios.

Mitochondrial adaptations to calorie restriction and bariatric surgery in human skeletal muscle: a systematic review with meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

We performed a meta-analysis to determine the changes induced by calorie restriction (CR) and bariatric surgery on human skeletal muscle mitochondria.

METHODS

A systematic search of Medline and Web of Science was conducted. Controlled trials exploring CR (≥14 days) and mitochondrial function and/or content assessment were included. Moreover, studies analyzing weight loss following gastric surgery were included for comparison purposes. Human muscle data from 28 studies assessing CR (520 muscle samples) and from 10 studies assessing bariatric surgery (155 muscle samples) were analyzed in a random effect meta-analysis with three a priori chosen covariates.

MAIN RESULTS

We report a decrease (p < 0.05) (mean (95 % CI)) in maximal mitochondrial state 3 respiration in response to CR (-0.44 (-0.85, -0.03)) but not in response to surgery (-0.33 (-1.18, 0.52)). No changes in mitochondrial content were reported after CR (-0.05 (-0.12, 0.13)) or in response to surgery (0.23 (-0.05, 0.52)). Moreover, data from CR subjects showed a reduction in complex IV (CIV) activity (-0.29 (-0.56, -0.03)) but not in CIV content (-0.21 (-0.63, 0.22)). Similar results were obtained when the length of the protocol, the initial body mass index, and the estimated energy deficit were included in the model as covariates.

CONCLUSION

The observation of reduced maximal mitochondrial state 3, uncoupled respiration, and CIV activity without altering mitochondrial content suggests that, in human skeletal muscle, CR mainly modulates intrinsic mitochondrial function.

Metabarcoding data of prokaryotes and eukaryotes inhabiting the phosphogypsum stockpiles on the salt marshes of Huelva (SW Spain)

Around 100 Mt of phosphogypsum (PG) of extreme acidity and with high concentrations of heavy metals and radionuclides have been deposited on the salt marshes of the Tinto River estuary in Huelva (SW Spain) for more than forty years. The microbial community able to thrive in these adverse conditions remains totally unknown, despite the fact that it can highly influence the biogeochemical cycle of the phosphogypsum components and include new species with biotechnological interest. High throughput sequencing of 16S/18S rRNA encoding genes is a potent tool to uncover the microbial diversity of extreme environments. This data article describes for the first time the prokaryotic and eukaryotic diversity of two water samples collected in the Huelva phosphogypsum stacks. The raw amplicons of the 16S/18S rRNA maker genes for the two phosphogypsum samples and two reference samples (seawater and the Tinto River water) obtained after sequencing on MiSeq platform are provided. The operational taxonomic units (OTUs) obtained after the treatment and clustering of the obtained reads with the QIIME2 pipeline and their taxonomic assignation performed by comparison with the SILVA database are also presented to complete the information of the article “Exploring the microbial community inhabiting the phosphogypsum stacks of Huelva (SW, Spain) by a high throughput 16S/18S rDNA Sequencing approach”.

Self-reported body silhouettes: a diagnostic instrument for anthropometric parameters

OBJECTIVE

Routine body size measurement of anthropometric values requires professionals, standardized techniques, and calibrated tools. Therefore, there is a need for easier screening tools such as the self-reported body silhouette (Self-bosi). The aim of this study was to analyze the performance of Self-bosi as a proxy of anthropometric values.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective analytic study of the Health Workers Cohort Study.

METHODS

Adult participants of the Health Workers Cohort Study were included. Then, through the calculation sensitivity and specificity of Self-bosi to detect abnormal waist circumference (WC) (≥90 cm for male and ≥80 cm for female participants), elevated body fat percentage (BF%) (≥25% for male and ≥35% for female participants), as well as overweight and obesity (≥25 kg/m²) and obesity (≥30 kg/m²).

RESULTS

A total of 2471 male and 5940 female participants were analyzed. Overall, Self-bosi discriminate high WC values (area under the curve [AUC]; male participants: 0.80, female participants: 0.82); increased BF% (AUC: male participants: 0.78, female participants: 0.83); overweight and obesity (AUC: male participants: 0.81, female participants: 0.86); and obesity (AUC: male participants: 0.83, female participants: 0.89).

CONCLUSION

Self-bosi is an accurate method to assess increased WC, BF%, obesity, and overweight-obesity in Mexican adults. Given its simplicity and low-cost of the self-reported body silhouette, it might be considered a useful anthropometric screening instrument in large scale epidemiological research.

Solubilization of organic matter by electrochemical treatment of sludge: Influence of operating conditions

Sludge generated after wastewater treatment represents an important challenge due to the large amounts produced and the need to adequately treat it. Anaerobic digestion is the preferred treatment process to obtain renewable energy as well as a biosolid with the potential to be reused in land application. This process generates biogas (methane and carbon dioxide) that may be used for energy co-generation. However, anaerobic digestion is limited by the hydrolysis step since bacteria need to break down organic matter and large molecules to allow conversion into biogas. In this study, electrochemical treatment of sludge is proposed to solubilize organic matter. Boron-doped diamond electrodes were used to treat waste activated sludge under different experimental conditions (current density, flow rate, time) to evaluate their influence on the solubilization of organic matter (in terms of chemical oxygen demand). The degree of solubilization ranged between 0.31 and 1.78%. Based on the results, optimal operating conditions were current density of 19.3 mA cm^-2, flow rate of 4 L min^-1, and treatment time of 30 min. Furthermore, treatment flow rate was found to play a key role in solubilization, as the process is controlled by mass transfer.

Tuning the electrical conductivity of exfoliated graphite nanosheets nanofluids by surface functionalization

The electrical conductivity of exfoliated graphite in water nanofluids has been experimentally determined, and compared with the same property when the dispersed nanosheets have been oxidized. The effect of oxidation on this property is different if compared with the case of sintered dry nanosheets. In any case, for the sintered raw material the conduction behaves as expected in a metal, while for the nanofluid it shows values and trends typical of a weak electrolyte solution. The effect of oxidation on the electrical conductivity of exfoliated graphite can be explained as being caused by the dissociation in the fluid phase of the moieties resulting from the chemical functionalization process. This opens the possibility of designing a functionalization process to tune the nanofluid electrical conductivity.

Computational study of the interplay between intermolecular interactions and CO2 orientations in type I hydrates

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) molecules show a rich orientation landscape when they are enclathrated in type I hydrates. Previous studies have described experimentally their preferential orientations, and some theoretical works have explained, but only partially, these experimental results. In the present paper, we use classical molecular dynamics and electronic density functional theory to advance in the theoretical description of CO₂ orientations within type I hydrates. Our results are fully compatible with those previously reported, both theoretical and experimental, the geometric shape of the cavities in hydrate being, and therefore, the steric constraints, responsible for some (but not all) preferential angles. In addition, our calculations also show that guest-guest interactions in neighbouring cages are a key factor to explain the remaining experimental angles. Besides the implication concerning equation of state hydrate modeling approximations, the conclusion is that these guest-guest interactions should not be neglected, contrary to the usual practice.

Disruption of motor behavior and injury to the CNS induced by 3-thienylboronic acid in mice

The scarcity of studies on boron containing compounds (BCC) in the medicinal field is gradually being remedied. Efforts have been made to explore the effects of BCCs due to the properties that boron confers to molecules. Research has shown that the safety of some BCCs is similar to that found for boron-free compounds (judging from the acute toxicological evaluation). However, it has been observed that the administration of 3-thienylboronic acid (3TB) induced motor disruption in CD1 mice. In the current contribution we studied in deeper form the disruption of motor performance produced by the intraperitoneal administration of 3TB in mice from two strains (CD1 and C57BL6). Disruption of motor activity was dependent not only on the dose of 3TB administered, but also on the DMSO concentration in the vehicle. The ability of 3TB to enter the Central Nervous System (CNS) was evidenced by Raman spectroscopy as well as morphological effects on the CNS, such as loss of neurons yielding biased injury to the substantia nigra and striatum at doses ≥200mg/kg, and involving granular cell damage at doses of 400mg/kg but less injury in the motor cortex. Our work acquaints about the use of this compound in drug design, but the interesting profile as neurotoxic agent invite us to study it regarding the damage on the motor system.

The Effect of Short Irrigation Frequencies on the Development of Verticillium Wilt in the Susceptible Olive Cultivar 'Picual' under Field Conditions

The effect of irrigation frequency (daily [T1], biweekly [T2], and dryland [T3]) on Verticillium wilt of olive was studied in two fields that were naturally infested with Verticillium dahliae in southern Spain and planted to 'Picual' olive. Disease onset (average 61 weeks after planting) and disease incidence (average 75.6%) did not differ among irrigation treatments in both fields. Irrigation consistently increased disease development regarding dryland treatment, but this effect varied over time. In experiment I, T1, the relative area under the disease progress curve was greater on all recording dates (ranging from 15.8 to 33.7) in comparison with T3 (average 6.6). Data for experiment II were similar to this on the most favorable dates for disease (March to April). The T2 treatment value varied over time depending on the season and experimental field, being difficult to differentiate from the values of T1 and T3. Significant correlation between disease incidence and severity increments during spring and fall with the soil water content of the same or previous favorable seasons was observed. Through these correlations, we detected soil water contents of 24.3% (experiment I) and 23.6% (experiment II), where the increments of disease parameters remained at zero. Therefore, scheduling irrigation treatments based on rainfall may be a feasible method for maintaining the soil moisture below levels that favor for disease development.

Direct transition mechanism for molecular diffusion in gas hydrates

In this work, we use dual cage explicit atomic systems to demonstrate theoretically that direct transitions are feasible through hexagonal and pentagonal faces in type I hydrate without compromising the overall structure integrity.

The Influence of Irrigation Frequency on the Onset and Development of Verticillium Wilt of Olive

The influence of irrigation frequency on the onset and development of Verticillium wilt of olive (VWO) was studied. A split-plot design in microplots with naturally infested soil was established for studying four irrigation frequencies for three olive cultivars with differing levels of disease resistance. Final disease incidence (DI) and mortality in 'Picual' plants subjected to daily irrigation treatment (T1) reached values of 100 and 63%, respectively. For Picual-T1 samples, the area under the disease progress curve values were significantly different between 15 December 2012 and 15 July 2013 (14.8 to 42.8%) compared with the average results of the other treatments, which were weekly (T2), biweekly (T3), and deficit (T4) (0.4 to 11.5%). No significant differences between the irrigation treatments were observed in 'Arbequina', although the DI progressed consistently (60% in all treatments). In 'Frantoio', little disease developed. We conclude that a daily irrigation treatment encourages VWO development in susceptible Picual. Therefore, in susceptible cultivars growing in infested soils under daily irrigation regimes, the extension of irrigation frequency may reduce disease incidence. In the context of an integrated control, the use of resistant cultivars seems to be more relevant than the detrimental effects observed in frequent irrigation schedules.

A novel HLA-DQA1 allele, DQA1*01042

We have identified a novel HLA-DQA1 allele in the homozygous cell line KGV (I HW9309) derived from a Caucasoid individual from the Indian subcontinent. This novel allele, DQA1*01042, differs from the DQA1*01041 allele by a single synonymous substituition within exon 3, position 438A-->C.1

Identification of a new MICA allele, MICA*047

The MHC Class I related (MIC) gene family has been shown to be very polymorphic with 46 different MICA alleles being officially named by the WHO Nomenclature Committee for factors of the HLA system to date. We have identified a novel MICA allele, MICA*047, in a Coya American Indian individual from the Jujuy province of north-western Argentina. The novel MICA*047 allele differs from the MICA*030 allele by a single non-synonymous substitution in exon 2, condon 26 GTA-->GGA, Valine to Glycine1.

Further polymorphism of the MICA gene

The MHC class I chain-related (MIC) gene family constitutes an interesting genetic group that is related to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes and is located within the MHC. The MIC gene products, MICA and MICB, have similar structures to HLA class I molecules. So far over 50 MICA alleles have been reported, which suggests that this genetic system is highly polymorphic. In order to investigate further the extent of MICA polymorphism we have studied exons 2-5 of the MICA gene in over 200 homozygous and heterozygous cell lines. Altogether we have identified 11 new MICA alleles and report 13 new nucleotide variations, one in exon 2, four in exon 3, four in exon 4, two in intron 1, one in intron 4 and one (a deletion) in exon 4. Eight of the 10 exonic variations are non-synonymous. The deletion in exon 4 leads to a frame-shift mutation and the introduction of a repeat of 12 leucine residues encoded by the microsatellite in exon 5. This study provides further evidence that the MICA gene is highly polymorphic. In contrast to MHC class I molecules, the polymorphic sites in MICA are predominantly within the alpha2 and alpha3 domains. The distribution of synonymous and non-synonymous substitutions suggests that there is selection for the polymorphic positions, which therefore define potential functional sites in the protein. We were also able to determine the association between MICA and HLA-B alleles in a number of homozygous cell lines bearing extended haplotypes.

A new MICA allele with ten alanine residues in the exon 5 microsatellite

The MICA and MICB genes code for protein products that have structural similarities to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes. These genes are upregulated by heat stress. They have been shown to interact with a common receptor (NKG2D/DAP10) on gammadelta T cells, CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. The MICA gene has an expressed microsatellite, GCT, within the exon 5 which encodes for alanine. So far, four different repetitions of this short tandem have been reported. Also one non-synonymous, one synonymous substitution and a 1-bp insertion within this region have also been described. An association of Behcet's disease with the microsatellite A9 has been reported. Here we report a novel allele with 10 GCT repetitions (A10) which was detected by reference strand mediated conformation analysis and confirmed by DNA sequencing.

Three novel MICB alleles

The two members of the MHC class I chain-related (MIC) gene family, MICA and MICB, have been shown by several investigators to be polymorphic. Most of the research effort so far has focussed on MICA, so less is known about the extent of polymorphism in the MICB gene. Here we report three novel MICB alleles, which had been detected in the course of an SSOP typing study on a large cohort of cell lines. Two of these alleles are formed by a non-synonymous nucleotide variation. Our results confirm previous findings that most of the polymorphisms in the MICB gene, as in MICA, are coding and suggest that the extent of polymorphism in the two genes might be comparable.

Novel intronic variants of MICB (MHC class I chain-related gene B)

We report an eight-nucleotide duplication in intron 4 of the MICB allele 01021, which was found in samples from different ethnic backgrounds and in association with several HLA-B alleles. We suggest that this new MICB allele is evolutionarily older than HLA-B alleles.

Characterization of the MICA polymorphism by sequence-specific oligonucleotide probing

A large number of diseases occur in association with specific HLA-B or -C alleles. Recently a new gene, termed major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A (MICA), has been identified in close proximity to HLA-B. The function of this gene is still unknown, but, it is structurally related to HLA class I genes, is polymorphic, and is potentially associated with several diseases. Some DNA-based techniques have previously been described to type for MICA including sequencing and single-strand conformational polymorphism. In this paper we describe the application of sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe based typing for the analysis of the MICA gene. We used a set of 30 oligonucleotide probes to screen for the polymorphisms in exons 2, 3, and 4, which account for the 16 known alleles. We report here the typing results of MICA for 103 B-cell lines that have been well characterized for HLA and describe the linkage disequilibrium between MICA and HLA-B. Unequivocal MICA typing was achieved for 85 of the 103 cells tested, 6 cells gave ambiguous MICA types, and a further 12 cells showed patterns consistent with them expressing at least one new MICA allele.