The Representation of Soil Moisture−Atmosphere Feedbacks across the Tibetan Plateau in CMIP6

Thermal processes on the Tibetan Plateau(TP)influence atmospheric conditions on regional and global scales.Given this,previous work has shown that soil moisture−driven surface flux variations feed back onto the atmosphere.Whilst soil moisture is a source of atmospheric predictability,no study has evaluated soil moisture−atmosphere coupling on the TP in general circulation models(GCMs).In this study,we use several analysis techniques to assess soil moisture−atmosphere coupling in CMIP6 simulations including:instantaneous coupling indices;analysis of flux and atmospheric behaviour during dry spells;and a quantification of the preference for convection over drier soils.Through these metrics we partition feedbacks into their atmospheric and terrestrial components.Consistent with previous global studies,we conclude substantial inter-model differences in the representation of soil moisture−atmosphere coupling,and that most models underestimate such feedbacks.Focusing on dry spell analysis,most models underestimate increased sensible heat during periods of rainfall deficiency.For example,the model-mean bias in anomalous sensible heat flux is 10 W m−2(≈25%)smaller compared to observations.Deficient dry-spell sensible heat fluxes lead to a weaker atmospheric response.We also find that most GCMs fail to capture the negative feedback between soil moisture and deep convection.The poor simulation of feedbacks in CMIP6 experiments suggests that forecast models also struggle to exploit soil moisture−driven predictability.To improve the representation of land−atmosphere feedbacks requires developments in not only atmospheric modelling,but also surface processes,as we find weak relationships between rainfall biases and coupling indexes.

Auditory Gain, Quality of Life, and Audiological Benefits in Bone-Anchored Hearing Device Users in Fundación SantaféDe Bogotá, Colombia

The objective of this study is to determine the auditory gain, quality of life, audiological benefits, in bone-anchored hearing device users (BAHA). It is a retrospective and concurrent evaluation of thirty patients fitted unilaterally and seven fitted bilaterally for at least six months. Patients were assessed with audiometric testing and application of Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB). Regarding sound-field pure audiometry results, we found a statistically significant gain in all frequencies using the bone-anchored device. APHAB scores showed statistically significant subjective audiological gains in all subscales except for the aversiveness subscale. GBI mean scores for all items in both groups were all above 3, suggesting quality of life improvement in conductive and mixed hearing loss patients. BP100 users showed a greater clinical gain in the APHAB global score and subscales compared with Divino users. In conclusion the BAHA provides significant auditory gain, subjective audiological benefits and improves quality of life in all BAHA users. This study shows a significant clinical and statistical benefit of BAHA measured by audiometric testing and by the APHAB and GBI questionnaires.

Assessment of effectiveness of oral supplementation of isolated fiber of carrot on metabolic parameters in mature rats

This present study was conducted to evaluate the metabolic effects of isolated fi ber of carrot supplementation in rats.Physicochemical properties of fi ber were determined.The groups were as follows:animals fed a standard diet,control group;high fi ber supplementation(70 mg);low fi ber supplementation(35 mg);for 12 weeks.Blood samples were collected at the time of sacrifi ce.The weights of heart,liver,kidneys and spleen of the experimental rats with respect to body weight were recorded.Commercial kits were used to determine serum glucose concentration,lipid profi le(cholesterol,HDL-cholesterol,triglycerides),and the two main aminotransferases glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase(GOT)/glutamate-pyruvate transaminase(GPT).A histopathological assay was performed on the heart,liver,and spleen tissues of animals.Supplementation with fi ber favors weight loss in female((242.03±23.73)-(197.81±10.45)g);and male rats((262.50±32.21)-(213.96±12.56)g and induces a decrease in glucose levels in the supplemented animals.With the exception of total high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,the other lipid fractions decrease signifi cantly in rats supplemented.Fiber supplementation did not induce changes in the dissected organs of the supplemented animals.In conclusion supplementation of fiber,improves glucose control,lower plasma lipid concentrations and reduced body weight in normal rats.

Autoimmune hepatitis:Towards a personalized treatment

Autoimmune hepatitis is an uncommon condition that affects both adults and children and is characterized by chronic and recurrent inflammatory activity in the liver.This inflammation is accompanied by elevated IgG and autoantibody levels.Historically,treatment consists of steroids with the addition of azathioprine,which results in remission in approximately 80%of patients.Despite significant advancements in our understanding of the immune system over the past two decades,few modifications have been made to treatment algorithms,which have remained largely unchanged since they were first proposed more than 40 years ago.This review summarized the various treatment options currently available as well as our experiences using them.Although steroids are the standard treatment for induction therapy,other medications may be considered.Cyclosporin A,a calcineurin inhibitor that decreases T cell activation,has proven effective for induction of remission,but its long-term side effects limit its appeal for maintenance.Tacrolimus,a drug belonging to the same family,has been used in patients with refractory diseases with fewer side effects.Sirolimus and everolimus have interesting effects on regulatory T cell populations and may become viable options in the future.Mycophenolate mofetil is not effective for induction but is a valid alternative for patients who are intolerant to azathioprine.B celldepleting drugs,such as rituximab and belimumab,have been successfully used in refractory cases and are useful in both the short and long term.Other promising treatments include anti-tumor necrosis factors,Janus kinases inhibitors,and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy.This growing armamentarium allows us to imagine a more tailored approach to the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis in the near future.

Portal vein arterialization in 25 liver transplant recipients:A Latin American single-center experience

BACKGROUND Portal vein arterialization(PVA)has been used in liver transplantation(LT)to maximize oxygen delivery when arterial circulation is compromised or has been used as an alternative reperfusion technique for complex portal vein thrombosis(PVT).The effect of PVA on portal perfusion and primary graft dysfunction(PGD)has not been assessed.All patients receiving PVA and LT at the Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogota between 2011 and 2022 were analyzed.To account for the time-sensitive effects of graft perfusion,patients were classified into two groups:prereperfusion(pre-PVA),if the arterioportal anastomosis was performed before graft revascularization,and postreperfusion(post-PVA),if PVA was performed afterward.The pre-PVA rationale contemplated poor portal hemodynamics,severe vascular steal,or PVT.Post-PVA was considered if graft hypoperfusion became evident.Conservative interventions were attempted before PVA.

Assessing the Environmental Impact of Extensive Beef Production in Grazing Lands of Argentina

Because of environmental constraints,beef cattle was for more than a century the only viable farming option in the extensive semiarid and subhumid lands of Argentina and the main source of nutrients for humans as well.However,a growing concern and criticism have risen today about its possible negative impact on the climate and the environment.These worries tend to affect current public opinions,national policies,and international trade.Based on 40 beef cattle farms scattered across different semiarid and subhumid regions of Argentina,here we evaluated the impact of extensive cattle production on carbon,water,and nutrient pollution.Life-Cycle Assessment(LCA)and Land-Based Assessment(LBA)were the two approaches we used here to compare the environmental impact of beef production.While the environmental footprint(EF)resulting from LCA expresses the impact per unit of food,the environmental balance(EB),derived from LBA,aims at quantifying the impact per unit of land.As such,the EB considers both negative and positive impacts on the farm as an integrated system.Following standardized procedures,we evaluated EF and EB up to the farm gate,leaving aside delocalized post-farm impacts such as those of processing,packaging,and transportation that occur beyond the farm gate.In agreement with previous evidence,our results show that the EF tends to decrease as per-head production increases.Correlation coefficients and statistical significance were the following for carbon(R=−0.574;p<0.01),water(R=−0.561;p<0.01),and N(R=−0.704;p<0.01)and Phosphorus(P)pollution(R=−0.802;p<0.01)footprints.On the contrary,the EB seems to be highly sensitive,and as per-hectare beef production increases.Correlations were the following for carbon emissions(CE:R=0.955;p<0.01),water consumption(WC:R=0.822;p<0.01),nitrogen excretion(NE:R=0.948;p<0.01)and phosphorus excretion(PE:R=0.945;p<0.01).What our results suggest is that the notion of EF is useful to evaluate the environmental impact in intensive beef production systems,and the EB is suitable to assess the impact of the extensive ones.In practice,both approaches provide different perspectives on the environmental-impact problem and they should be complementary used.We concluded that the methodological rigidity of EF does not allow proper discrimination among farms in the extensive systems.On the contrary,the EB approach tended to be highly sensitive to detecting differences between individual farms and farmers,thus allowing the identification of successful options for extensive beef production in terms of public image,policy-making,and commercial opportunities.

Academic Stress Assessment Using Virtual Reality as an Educational Tool in Spine Surgery

Introduction: The evaluation of academic stress in medical students and residents is a topic of significant interest, given the considerable challenges they face during their learning process with traditional teaching methods. The use of technologies like virtual reality presents an opportunity to enhance their skills through simulations and training. The main objective of this study is to qualitatively assess the stress levels experienced by medical students and residents by integrating virtual reality into their current learning methods, aiming to improve their ability to manage stressors in their practice. Material and Methods: A questionnaire was conducted with 12 medical students and 12 Traumatology and orthopedics residents. The purpose of the questionnaire was to evaluate the levels of academic stress using the SISCO inventory. The stress levels were calculated by transforming average values into percentages, and the following criteria were assigned: 0 to 33% for Mild Stress, 34 to 66% for Moderate Stress, and 67 to 100% for Deep Stress. Then, a virtual reality class focused on spine surgery was provided. Both medical students and residents were trained using the Non Nocere SharpSurgeon software platform and Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality glasses. At the end of the session, a second questionnaire related to the practice with virtual reality was conducted with the same evaluation criteria and a comparative analysis was carried out. Results: 12 undergraduate students from Hospital Angeles Mexico, CDMX and 12 traumatology and orthopedics residents at Hospital Santa Fe, Bogota were evaluated. The students in CDMX reported an average qualitative stress of 28.50% during habitual practices, which decreased to an average of 14.67% after virtual reality practice. Residents in Bogotá experienced an average qualitative stress of 30.50% with their current learning methods but this reduced to an average of 13.92% after using virtual reality. These findings indicate that the use of virtual reality has a positive impact on reducing stress levels qualitatively. Conclusions: The use of virtual reality as a learning method for medical students and residents qualitatively improves stress levels. Further studies are required to define the potential uses of Virtual Reality to improve learning methods and emotional state in medical students and residents and for a quantitative assessment to validate the training as certified learning methods.

Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas and Helicobacter pylori infection:A Colombian perspective

AIM： To assess the significance of chromosome translo- cation t（11;18）（q21;q21）, B-cell lymphoma 10 （BCL-10） protein and He/icobacter py/ori （H. py/on） infection in gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue （MALT） lymphoma in Colombia.

Effects of Feeding Combinations of Soybean and Linseed Oils on Productive Performance and Milk Fatty Acid Profile in Grazing Dairy Cows

Thirty-six grazing dairy cows were used to determine the effect of combinations of soybean (SO), and linseed (LO) oils on milk production, composition and milk fatty acid (FA) profile. Treatments were a basal control diet (56% pasture, 44% concentrate) or the control diet supplemented with oils at 4% of estimated total dry matter (DM) intake. Oils were manually mixed to the concentrate in pure forms (SO100 or LO100) or in blends (%w/w) at SO75 - LO25, SO50 - LO50 and SO25 - LO75. Concentrate and oils were thoroughly consumed. Pasture intake (kg DM/cow·day) was 9.27 in control and decreased (p p p trans-9 C18:1 and trans-10 C18:1 FA.

Prokaryotic branch of the Tree of Life： A composition vector approach

The Composition Vector Tree (CVTree) is a parameter-free and alignment-free method to infer pro-karyotic phylogeny from their complete genomes. It is distinct from the traditional 16S rRNA analysis in both the input data and the methodology. The prokaryotic phylogenetic trees constructed by using the CVTree method agree well with the Bergey’s taxonomy in all major groupings and fine branching patterns. Thus, combined use of the CVTree approach and the 16S rRNA analysis may provide an objective and reliable reconstruction of the prokaryotic branch of the Tree of Life.

Effect of the catalyst preparation method on the performance of Ni-supported catalysts for the synthesis of saturated amines from nitrile hydrogenation

The liquid-phase hydrogenation of butyronitrile to saturated amines was studied on silica- supported Ni catalysts prepared by either incipient-wetness impregnation (Ni/SiO2-I) or ammonia (Ni/SiO2-A) methods. A Ni/SiO2-Al2O3-I sample was also used. Ni/SiO2-I was a non-acidic catalyst containing large Ni^0 particles of low interaction with the support, while Ni/SiO2-A was an acidic catalyst due to the presence of Ni^2+ species in Ni phyllosilicates of low reducibility. Ni/SiO2-I formed essentially butylamine (80%), and dibutylamine as the only byproduct. In contrast, Ni/SiO2-A yielded a mixture of dibutylamine (49%) and tributylamine (45%), being the formation of butylamine almost completely suppressed. The selective formation of secondary and tertiary amines on Ni/SiO2-A was explained by considering that butylamine is not release to the liquid phase during the reaction because it is strongly adsorbed on surface acid sites contiguous to Ni^0 atoms, thereby favoring the butylimine/butylamine condensation to higher amines between adsorbed species.

Poor performance of anti-mitochondrial antibodies for the diagnosis of primary biliary cholangitis in female Colombian patients:A singlecenter study

BACKGROUND Primary biliary cholangitis(PBC)is a serious disease that causes significant morbidity.PBC is confirmed with liver biopsy but autoantibodies are frequently used as proxies for diagnosis.The performance of autoantibodies for the diagnosis of PBC seems to vary widely across populations.AIM To assess the diagnostic performance of several autoantibodies for the diagnosis of PBC in Latin American individuals.METHODS We studied 85 female adult Colombians,43 cases with biopsy-confirmed PBC and 42 controls in whom a liver biopsy ruled out PBC.Plasma anti-mitochondrial antibodies(AMAs),anti-smooth muscle antibodies(ASMAs)and anti-nuclear antibodies(ANAs),as well as total immunoglobulin(Ig)M and IgG were determined using immunofluorescence or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in all study participants within 1 year of the biopsy.For all variables,values analyzed were those closest to the date of the biopsy.Patients with viral or alcoholic hepatitis were excluded.RESULTS Mean age at diagnosis was 58.7 years for cases and 56.9 years for controls,and the body mass index was lower among cases.Most cases received ursodeoxycholic acid,while most controls received vitamin E.Sjögren syndrome and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis were the most frequent autoimmune comorbidities of PBC.The prevalence of AMA positivity among PBC cases was unexpectedly low.The sensitivity and specificity values were respectively 44.2%and 76.2%for AMA,74.4%and 38.1%for ANA,14.0%and 73.8%for ASMA,26.7%and 80.0%for IgG,and 57.1%and 85.7%for IgM.The combination of positive AMA plus positive IgM had 91%positive predictive value for PBC.Among AMA-negative cases,the most prevalent antibodies were ANA(87.5%).In all,62%of AMA-positive and 84.6%of IgM-positive individuals had fibrosis in their biopsy.CONCLUSION AMA positivity was very low among female Latin American patients with PBC.The performance of all antibodies was quite limited.These results highlight the urgent need for better PBC biomarkers.

Gastrointestinal manifestations of systemic sclerosis:An updated review

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by vascular disease,fibrosis of the skin,and internal organ dysfunction.Gastrointestinal involvement is the most frequent complication of internal organs,impacting up to 90%of patients.Gastrointestinal involvement can affect any region of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus,with a predominance of disorders being observed at the level of the upper digestive tract.The gastrointestinal involvement primarily involves the esophagus,small bowel,and rectum.The severity of gastrointestinal involvement affects quality of life and is a marker of worse prognosis and mortality in these patients.In this review,we describe the current findings regarding gastrointestinal involvement by this entity.

Safe Foods for Celiac People

Celiac Disease is a chronic entheropathy produced by gluten intolerance, more precisely to certain proteins called prolamines, which causes atrophy of intestinal villi, malabsorption and clinical symptoms that can appear in both childhood and adulthood. This pathogeny, results from the interaction of genetic, immunologic and environmental factors, which produce the lesions on the mucosa of the proximal small intestine. It is important to estimate the maximum gluten content that could be present in supposedly “gluten-free” foods, a limit of 20 mg/Kg is admitted. Rice flour, sorghum flour, starches, hydrocolloids, soy flour and dairy products are analyzed for carrying out the manufacture of gluten-free products, such as bread, noodles and others.

The influence of different contraceptive methods on vaginal microbiota: Clinical study

Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the vaginal content of women attending family planning controls and its relationship with the contraceptive practice used (oral contraceptive pills, intrauterine device, condoms, or rhythm method) as well as its relationship with the lack of regular contraception. Design: Observational, descriptive study. Setting: Servicio de Atención Médica—Ministerio de Salud—Sa Pereira—Santa Fe.Argentina. Population: A total of 250 women were studied following the BAVACO (balance of the vaginal content). Methods: Standard method, which included the wet mount test, and Giemsa and Gram stain under the Nugent score. Results: Obtained from the vaginal microbiota, the vaginal inflammatory response, presence of yeast and Trichomonas allowed defining five basic vaginal microbial states which were statistically related to contraceptive methods. Main Outcome Measures: The association of each of the five vaginal states with the different contraceptive practices was determined by X2 test, considering p < 0.05 as a significant difference (Program EPI-INFO 6. Version 6.04). Results: A significantly positive association was found between oral contraceptives and normal microbiota (OR 3.98 – p = 0.000);intrauterine device and bacterial vaginosis (OR 10.1 – p = 0.000);whereas a negative relationship (OR 0.18 – p = 0.005) was found between oral contraceptives and bacterial vaginosis (OR 0.21 – p = 0.000). Conclusions: a) the positive association of combined oral contraceptives with a normal microbiota indicates a positive trend of protection, b) intrauterine devices increase whereas oral contraceptives decrease the risk for bacterial vaginosis, while oral contraceptives reduce the frequency.

Transcraneal Magnetic Stimulation Improves Sleep Parameters in Patients Affected with Imsomnia Associated to Electroencephalographic Abnormalities

Insomnia is one of the most frequently observed sleep disorders, affecting nearly 10% of the general population. It has multiple etiological factors. Recently, it has been reported that EEG abnormalities are associated with insomnia in patients previously diagnosed as idiopathic insomniacs. In addition, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has shown to be effective in the treatment of disorders characterized by neural hyper-excitability. Method: In the present study, patients with insomnia and EEG abnormalities were submitted to slow repetitive trans-cranial magnetic stimulation, for 15 minutes daily during 10 days. Polysomnographic recordings were performed before and after TMS. Results: The results indicate that the presence of EEG abnormalities significantly decreased after TMS. In addition, most of the sleep parameters showed significant improvement. Conclusions: These data support the notion that TMS is a reliable therapeutic tool for patients affected with abnormalities linked to neuronal hyper-excitability.

New Amphiphilic Amino Acid Derivatives for Efficient DNA Transfection in Vitro

Nucleic acids-based therapies have recently developed as next-generation agents for treating and preventing viral infection, cancer, and genetic disorders, but their use is still limited due to its relatively poor delivery into targeted cells. We designed and synthesized new amphiphilic amino acid derivatives (cysteine-based) of low molecular weight, formed by the same pentapeptide (AG2: WWCOO) N-acylated, with different hydrophobic chains containing from 12 to 18 carbons, named AG2-Cn (N), which dimerize by oxidation in the presence of pLenti-CMV-GFP Puro plasmid (P) in the respective gemini. We determined transfection efficiency, critical micelle concentration, particle size, ζ-potential and cytotoxicity for the derivatives obtained. We found that all the synthesized compounds were active for DNA delivery and had greater ability to transfect CHO-K1 cells. In particular, AG2-C18 is a promising carrier for gene delivery because it showed no cytotoxicity and its activity was greater than or equal to the commercial actives currently used.

Serum Adiponectin levels in Different Phenotypes of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objectives: to evaluate and compare serum adiponectin levels in different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to investigate their correlation with endocrine and metabolic parameters. Material and methods: we studied 5 groups of patients: A (n = 20): H (hyperandrogenism) + O (oligoanovulation) + P (polycystic ovary) [classic phenotype];B (n = 17): H + O [classic phenotype but normal ovaries];C (n = 15): H + P [Ovulatory phenotype];D (n = 17): O + P [Normoandrogenic phenotype];and E (n = 16) control group. Body mass index, waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, blood pressure and hirsutism were evaluated. Serum concentrations of adiponectin, insulin, Creactive protein, SHBG, androgens and lipids were measured. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Results: there were no differences between the groups in terms of age and BMI. Total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglyceride levels were higher in phenotype A than in C (P P = 0.03). HOMA-IR, insulin and glucose/insulin ratio were significantly higher in phenotypes A and D vs C and E (P P P < 0.05). Conclusions: adiponectin serum concentrations vary according to the phenotypic expression of PCOS. Our results suggest that adiponectin could be used as a biochemical marker to identify phenotypes at increased metabolic risk.

Feeding Calcium Salts of Linseed Oil on Productive Performance and Milk Fatty Acid Profile in Grazing Dairy Cows

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplying calcium salts of linseed oil (Ca-FA) rich in omega-3 (α-linolenic acid) on the production and chemical composition of milk and its nutraceutical value in dairy cows in early lactation. The trial lasted 12 weeks (2 weeks for adaptation to lipids and 10 weeks of data collection). A total of 36 Holstein dairy cows with 58.0 ± 17.0 days in milk (DIM), 594.1 ± 92.4 kg BW, 2.6 ± 1.5 parity and 38.9 ± 9.3 kg milk day-1 were used in a randomized complete block design. The treatments were: 1) Omega-3 (O3): 5.2 kg DM day-1 of concentrate including 0.7 kg DM of Ca-FA + 13.5 kg DM day-1 of partial mixed ration (PMR) + 12 kg DM day-1 of alfalfa pasture (Medicago sativa) and 2) Control (C): diet similar to O3 but lipid supplementation was replaced by cracked corn grain so that the diets were isoenergetic. No treatment effect was detected (P > 0.05) for any milk production and composition variables, except for urea in milk that was slightly higher in O3 (P = 0.02). The treatment × week interaction was significant (P < 0.05) for fat yield and content, with differences (P < 0.01) only in the 3rd week of the data collection period in favor of group C (1.39 vs. 1.13 kg·day-1 and 3.86% vs. 3.23% for fat yield and content, respectively). Total DMI and PMR were similar (P > 0.05) between treatments. Concentrate intake was higher (P < 0.01) in C compared with O3. Pasture DMI tended (P = 0.06) to be greater for cows that received the O3 treatment compared with C. Total metabolizable energy (ME) intake was similar (P = 0.44) between treatments. No treatment effect was detected (P > 0.05) in rumen environment parameters. Supplementation with Ca-FA reduced (P < 0.05) the hypercholesterolemic fraction of milk (C12:0, C14:0 and C16:0, -13.6%, -7.4% and -9.0%, respectively). The concentration of α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3) increased (108%, P < 0.01) in O3 group compared with group C. The absence of negative effects of lipids on the fat content of milk and ruminal fermentation suggests that protection by saponification was effective. The supplementation with Ca-FA (0.85 kg·day-1) improved the healthy value of the milk.

Lost Immune Markers for Major Affective Disorders: Could They Help Screen Airline Pilots?

In the 1980s it was discovered that quantitative IgG titers for antibodies directed against the hu-man-obligate DNA viruses were reliably and reproducibly correlated negatively with mood in in-dividuals with major affective disorders. This knowledge was lost to confirmation bias and uncontrolled studies that only looked at Epstein-Barr virus antibodies. The latter led to a long American fad of misdiagnosing major affective disorders as a “chronic Epstein-Barr virus syndrome.” This misdiagnosis even became part of the American popular culture during the 1980s. In light of fatal airline crashes intentionally caused by pilots, the antiviral IgG titers should be revisited as a means of screening pilots for current dysphoria or mania/hypomania due to major affective disorders.