First X-ray spectral ptychography and resonant ptychographic computed tomography experiments at the SWING beamline from Synchrotron SOLEIL.

X-ray ptychography and ptychographic computed tomography have seen a rapid rise since the advent of fourth-generation synchrotrons with a high degree of coherent radiation. In addition to quantitative multiscale structural analysis, ptychography with spectral capabilities has been developed, allowing for spatial-localized multiscale structural and spectral information of samples. The SWING beamline of Synchrotron SOLEIL has recently developed a nanoprobe setup where the endstation's first spectral and resonant ptychographic measurements have been successfully conducted. A metallic nickel wire sample was measured using 2D spectral ptychography in XANES mode and resonant ptychographic tomography. From the 2D spectral ptychography measurements, the spectra of the components of the sample's complex-valued refractive index, δ and ß, were extracted, integrated along the sample thickness. By performing resonance ptychographic tomography at two photon energies, 3D maps of the refractive index decrement, δ, were obtained at the Ni K-edge energy and another energy above the edge. These maps allowed the detection of impurities in the Ni wire. The significance of accounting for the atomic scattering factor is demonstrated in the calculation of electron density near a resonance through the use of the δ values. These results indicate that at the SWING beamline it is possible to conduct state-of-the-art spectral and resonant ptychography experiments using the nanoprobe setup.

Sensorless Speed Estimation of Induction Motors through Signal Analysis Based on Chaos Using Density of Maxima.

Three-phase induction motors are widely used in various industrial sectors and are responsible for a significant portion of the total electrical energy consumed. To ensure their efficient operation, it is necessary to apply control systems with specific algorithms able to estimate rotation speed accurately and with an adequate response time. However, the angular speed sensors used in induction motors are generally expensive and unreliable, and they may be unsuitable for use in hostile environments. This paper presents an algorithm for speed estimation in three-phase induction motors using the chaotic variable of maximum density. The technique used in this work analyzes the current signals from the motor power supply without invasive sensors on its structure. The results show that speed estimation is achieved with a response time lower than that obtained by classical techniques based on the Fourier Transform. This technique allows for the provision of motor shaft speed values when operated under variable load.

Biosensor capability of the endometrium is mediated in part, by altered miRNA cargo from conceptus-derived extracellular vesicles.

We tested the hypothesis that the biosensor capability of the endometrium is mediated in part, by the effect of different cargo contained in the extracellular vesicles secreted by the conceptus during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy. We transferred Bos taurus taurus embryos of different origin, in vivo (high developmental potential (IV)), in vitro (intermediate developmental potential (IVF)), or cloned (low developmental potential (NT)), into Bos taurus indicus recipients. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) recovered from Day 16 conceptus-conditioned medium were characterized and their microRNA (miRNA) cargo sequenced alongside RNA sequencing of their respective endometria. There were substantial differences in the endometrial response to in vivo versus in vitro and in vivo versus cloned conceptuses (1153 and 334DEGs respectively) with limited differences between in vitro Vs cloned conceptuses (36 DEGs). The miRNA cargo contained in conceptus-derived EVs was similar between all three groups (426 miRNA in common). Only 8 miRNAs were different between in vivo and cloned conceptuses, while only 6 miRNAs were different between in vivo and in vitro-derived conceptuses. Treatment of endometrial epithelial cells with mimic or inhibitors for miR-128 and miR-1298 changed the proteomic content of target cells (96 and 85, respectively) of which mRNAs are altered in the endometrium in vivo (PLXDC2, COPG1, HSPA12A, MCM5, TBL1XR1, and TTF). In conclusion, we have determined that the biosensor capability of the endometrium is mediated in part, by its response to different EVs miRNA cargo produced by the conceptus during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy.

Activation of M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors by proline-rich oligopeptide 7a (Bothrops jararaca snake venom rescues oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells.

Background: The bioactive peptides derived from snake venoms of the Viperidae family species have been promising as therapeutic candidates for neuroprotection due to their ability to prevent neuronal cell loss, injury, and death. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the cytoprotective effects of a synthetic proline-rich oligopeptide 7a (PRO-7a;

ProSPyX: software for post-processing images of X-ray ptychography with spectral capabilities.

X-ray ptychography is a coherent diffraction imaging technique based on acquiring multiple diffraction patterns obtained through the illumination of the sample at different partially overlapping probe positions. The diffraction patterns collected are used to retrieve the complex transmittivity function of the sample and the probe using a phase retrieval algorithm. Absorption or phase contrast images of the sample as well as the real and imaginary parts of the probe function can be obtained. Furthermore, X-ray ptychography can also provide spectral information of the sample from absorption or phase shift images by capturing multiple ptychographic projections at varying energies around the resonant energy of the element of interest. However, post-processing of the images is required to extract the spectra. To facilitate this, ProSPyX, a Python package that offers the analysis tools and a graphical user interface required to process spectral ptychography datasets, is presented. Using the PyQt5 Python open-source module for development and design, the software facilitates extraction of absorption and phase spectral information from spectral ptychographic datasets. It also saves the spectra in file formats compatible with other X-ray absorption spectroscopy data analysis software tools, streamlining integration into existing spectroscopic data analysis pipelines. To illustrate its capabilities, ProSPyX was applied to process the spectral ptychography dataset recently acquired on a nickel wire at the SWING beamline of the SOLEIL synchrotron.

¿Han afectado las restricciones sanitarias del COVID-19 la carga de entrenamiento de pretemporada de los futbolistas Sub-20? / Have the COVID-19 health restrictions affected the preseason training load of U-20 footballers?

Objetivo: Las restricciones de salud pública por el COVID-19 han jugado un papel central en la gestión de los programas de entrenamiento, en los que son escasos los estudios enfocados en la cuantificación de las cargas de entrenamiento en pretemporada, especialmente en futbolistas jóvenes. Por lo tanto, este estudio monitoreó la carga de entrenamiento interno (CEI) durante la pretemporada 2020/2021 durante la pandemia de COVID-19 de los jugadores de fútbol Sub-20. Método: Catorce futbolistas Sub-20 fueron monitoreados durante 7 semanas durante la pretemporada 2020/2021. El CEI de todas las sesiones de entrenamiento se estimó, en unidades arbitrarias, multiplicando el índice de esfuerzo percibido (IEP) para la sesión de entrenamiento completa por la duración de cada sesión de entrenamiento en minutos (IEP-sesión). También se estimaron la monotonía y la tensión de entrenamiento. Un ANOVA unidireccional de medidas repetidas comparó las variables dependientes a lo largo del tiempo. Resultados: En la cuarta semana, la CEI y la tensión de entrenamiento fueron estadísticamente más bajas en comparación con las otras semanas (P<0,05). El índice de monotonía de la semana 7 fue mayor en comparación con las semanas 1, 3 y 4 (P<0,05). Conclusión: Las restricciones sanitarias por el COVID-19 han afectado negativamente la carga de entrenamiento de pretemporada de los futbolistas Sub-20. Sin embargo, el índice de monotonía mostró que las cargas de entrenamiento estaban bien distribuidas durante las 7 semanas. (AU)

Peptide fraction from B. jararaca snake venom protects against oxidative stress-induced changes in neuronal PC12 cell but not in astrocyte-like C6 cell.

Venom-derived proteins and peptides have prevented neuronal cell loss, damage, and death in the study of neurodegenerative disorders. The cytoprotective effects of the peptide fraction (PF) from Bothrops jararaca snake venom were evaluated against oxidative stress changes in neuronal PC12 cells and astrocyte-like C6 cells. PC12 and C6 cells were pre-treated for 4 h with different concentrations of PF, and then H2O2 was added (0.5 mM in PC12 cells; 0.4 mM in C6 cells) and incubated for 20 h more. In PC12 cells, PF at 0.78 µg mL-1 increased viability (113.6 ± 6.3%) and metabolism (96.3 ± 10.3%) cell against H2O2-induced neurotoxicity (75.6 ± 5.8%; 66.5 ± 3.3%, respectively), reducing oxidative stress markers such as ROS generation, NO production, and arginase indirect activity through urea synthesis. Despite that, PF showed no cytoprotective effects in C6 cells, but potentiated the H2O2-induced damage at a concentration lower than 0.07 µg mL-1. Furthermore, the role of metabolites derived from L-arginine metabolism was verified in PF-mediated neuroprotection in PC12 cells, using specific inhibitors of two of the key enzymes in the L-arginine metabolic pathway: the α-Methyl-DL-aspartic acid (MDLA) to argininosuccinate synthetase (AsS), responsible for the recycling of L-citrulline to L-arginine; and, L-NΩ-Nitroarginine methyl ester (L-Name) to nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which catalyzes the synthesis of NO from L-arginine. The inhibition of AsS and NOS suppressed PF-mediated cytoprotection against oxidative stress, indicating that its mechanism is dependent on the production pathway of L-arginine metabolites such as NO and, more importantly, polyamines from ornithine metabolism, which are involved in the neuroprotection mechanism described in the literature. Overall, this work provides novel opportunities for evaluating whether the neuroprotective properties of PF shown in particular neuronal cells are sustained and for exploring potential drug development pathways for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Self-transformation of solid CaCO3 microspheres into core-shell and hollow hierarchical structures revealed by coherent X-ray diffraction imaging.

The self-transformation of solid microspheres into complex core-shell and hollow architectures cannot be explained by classical Ostwald ripening alone. Here, coherent X-ray diffraction imaging and 3D X-ray fluorescence were used to visualize in 3D the formation of hollow microparticles of calcium carbonate in the presence of polystyrene sulfonate (PSS). During the dissolution of the core made from 10-25 nm crystals, the shell developed a global spheroidal shape composed of an innermost layer of 30 nm particles containing high PSS content on which oriented vaterite crystals grew with their c axis mainly oriented along the meridians. The stabilizing role of PSS and the minimization of the intercrystal dipolar energy can explain in combination with Ostwald ripening the formation of these sophisticated structures as encountered in many systems such as ZnO, TiO2, Fe2O3, Co3O4, MnO2, Cu2O, ZnS, CaCO3 and Ca8H2(PO4)6·5H2O.

Refining details of the structural and electronic properties of the CuB site in pMMO enzyme through sequential molecular dynamics/CPKS-EPR calculations.

This work investigated the structural and electronic properties of the copper mononuclear site of the PmoB part of the pMMO enzyme at the molecular level. We propose that the CuB catalytic site in the soluble portion of pMMO at room temperature and under physiological conditions is a mononuclear copper complex in a distorted octahedral arrangement with the residues His33, His137, and His139 on the equatorial base and two water molecules on the axial axis. Our view was based on the molecular dynamics results and DFT calculations of the electronic paramagnetic resonance parameters and comparisons with experimental EPR data. This new proposed model for the CuB site brings additional support concerning the recent experimental evidence, which pointed out that a saturated coordination sphere of the copper ion in the CuB center is an essential factor that makes it less efficient than the CuC site in the methane oxidation. Therefore, according to the CuB site model proposed here, an additional step involving a displacement of at least one water molecule of the copper coordination sphere by the O2 molecule prior to its activation must be necessary. This scenario is less likely to occur in the CuC center once this one is buried in the alpha-helices, which are part of the pMMO structure bound to the membrane wall, and consequently located in a less solvent-exposed region. In addition, we also present a simple and efficient sequential S-MD/CPKS protocol to compute EPR parameters that can, in principle, be expanded for the study of other copper-containing proteins.

Aerobic exercise with blood flow restriction: Energy expenditure, excess postexercise oxygen consumption, and respiratory exchange ratio.

We compared the effects of aerobic exercise with and without blood flow restriction (BFR) to high-intensity aerobic exercise on energy expenditure (EE), excess Postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during and after exercise. Twenty-two recreationally active males randomly completed the following experimental conditions: AE-aerobic exercise without BFR, AE + BFR-aerobic exercise with BFR, HIAE-high-intensity aerobic exercise, CON-non-exercise control condition. EE was significantly (p < 0.05) greater during exercise for HIAE compared to all conditions, and for AE + BFR compared to AE and CON during and postexercise exercise. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences in EPOC between HIAE and AE + BFR at any time point, however, both conditions were significantly (p < 0.05) greater than the AE (d = 1.50 and d = 1.03, respectively) and CON at the first 10 min postexercise. RER during exercise for HIAE was significantly (p < 0.05) greater than AE + BFR at the first 6 min of exercise (p = 0.003, d = 0.88), however, no significant differences were observed from 9 min up to the end of the exercise. HIAE was also significantly (p < 0.05) greater than AE and CON at all time points during exercise, whereas, AE + BFR was significantly (p < 0.05) greater than CON at all time points but not significantly (p < 0.05) different than AE (p < 0.05); although the overall session RER was significantly (p < 0.05) greater during AE + BFR than AE. Altogether, continuous AE + BFR results in greater EE compared to volume matched AE, as well as a similar EPOC compared to HIAE.

Effect of extreme mechanical densification on the electrical properties of carbon nanotube micro-yarns.

We have explored the effect of high pressure post-treatment in optimizing the properties of carbon nanotube yarns and found that the application of dry hydrostatic pressure reduces porosity and enhances electrical properties. The CNT yarns were prepared by the dry-spinning method directly from CNT arrays made by the hot filament chemical vapour deposition (HF-CVD) process. Mechanical hydrostatic pressure up to 360 MPa induces a decrease in yarn resistivity between 3% and 35%, associated with the sample's permanent densification, with CNT yarn diameter reduction of 10%-25%. However, when increasing the pressure in the 1-3 GPa domain in non-hydrostatic conditions, the recovered samples show lower electrical conductivity. This might be due to concomitant macroscopic effects such as increased twists and damage to the yarn shown by SEM imaging (caused by strong shear stresses and friction) or by the collapse of the CNTs indicated byin situhigh pressure Raman spectroscopy data.

Blockade of caspase cascade overcomes malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome in mice.

Malaria is an enormous burden on global health that caused 409,000 deaths in 2019. Severe malaria can manifest in the lungs, an illness known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Not much is known about the development of malaria-associated ARDS (MA-ARDS), especially regarding cell death in the lungs. We had previously established a murine model that mimics various human ARDS aspects, such as pulmonary edema, hemorrhages, pleural effusion, and hypoxemia, using DBA/2 mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Here, we explored the mechanisms and the involvement of apoptosis in this syndrome. We found that apoptosis contributes to the pathogenesis of MA-ARDS, primarily as facilitators of the alveolar-capillary barrier breakdown. The protection of pulmonary endothelium by inhibiting caspase activation could be a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent the pathogenicity of MA-ARDS. Therefore, intervention in the programmed death cell mechanism could help patients not to develop severe malaria.

The combination of two Bacillus strains suppresses Meloidogyne incognita and fungal pathogens, but does not enhance plant growth.

BACKGROUND: The combination of biocontrol agents is a desirable strategy to improve control efficacy against the root-knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne incognita under field conditions. However, strains compatibility is generally tested in vitro and incompatible combinations are normally not further examined in experiments in planta. Therefore, there is virtually no information on the performance of incompatible strains. In this study, we evaluated two Bacillus strains previously described as incompatible in vitro for effects on plant growth and suppression of M. incognita, pathogenic fungi and nematophagous fungi. RESULTS: Strains BMH and INV were shown to be closely related to Bacillus velezensis. These strains, when applied individually, reduced the number of galls and eggs of M. incognita by more than 90% in tomato roots. When BMH and INV were combined (BMH + INV), RKN suppression and tomato shoot weight were lower compared to single-strain applications. Additionally, metabolites in cell-free supernatants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from strains BMH and INV had strong effects against the plant pathogens M. incognita, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsiii, but not against three species of nematophagous fungi. Although strain INV and the combination BMH + INV emitted fewer VOCs than strain BMH, they were still capable of killing second-stage juveniles of M. incognita. CONCLUSIONS: Bacillus strains BMH and INV inhibited M. incognita and fungal pathogens, and promoted tomato growth. However, strain INV emitted fewer VOCs and the combination BMH + INV did not enhance the activity of the biocontrol strains against the RKN or their capacity to promote plant growth. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

A "turn-off" fluorescent sensor based on electrospun polycaprolactone nanofibers and fluorene(bisthiophene) derivative for nitroaromatic explosive detection.

The preparation of fluorene(bisthiophene)-based fluorescent nanofibers for nitroaromatic explosive detection provides a convenient rapid and low-cost strategy aiming at forensic applications. Polycaprolactone (PCL) and fluorene(bisthiophene) derivative (FBT) nanofibers were obtained by electrospinning technique as a free-standing mat and characterized by SEM, FTIR, thermal analysis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The PCL/FBT nanofibers presented high sensitivity towards 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and picric acid (PA), with fluorescence quenching (turn-off mechanism), and selectivity to another kind of explosives. The free-standing mats were used as a cloth strip that was swiped on surfaces contaminated with TNT traces allowing its visual detection under UV light source. These findings are particularly important for the development of a facile and promising strategy to assembly portable optical devices for nitroaromatic explosive detection.

Small extracellular vesicles derived from in vivo- or in vitro-produced bovine blastocysts have different miRNAs profiles-Implications for embryo-maternal recognition.

In vivo- and in vitro-produced bovine embryos have different metabolic profiles and differences in gene transcription patterns. These embryos also have a distinct ability to establish and sustain early pregnancies. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are secreted by embryos and carry bioactive molecules, such as miRNAs. We hypothesize that in vivo or in vitro-produced bovine hatched blastocysts on Day 9 and the sEVs secreted by them have different miRNA profiles. To address this hypothesis, embryos of both groups were placed in in vitro culture on Day 7. After 48 h, hatched embryos and hatched embryo-conditioned media (eCM) of both groups were collected. A total of 210 miRNAs were detected in embryos of both groups, of these 6 miRNAs were downregulated, while 7 miRNAs were upregulated in vitro group when compared to in vivo group. sEVs were isolated from eCM to determine miRNA profile. A total of 106 miRNAs were detected in both groups, including 14 miRNAs upregulated in sEVs from in vivo-eCM, and 2 miRNAs upregulated in sEVs from in vitro-eCM. These miRNAs express in embryos and sEVs secreted by them regulate early embryonic developmental and endometrial pathways, which can modify embryo-maternal communication during early pregnancy and consequently affect pregnancy establishment.

Reproductive seasonality influences oocyte retrieval and embryonic competence but not uterine receptivity in buffaloes.

Since buffaloes are a seasonal, polyestrous species, optimizing reproduction during the non-breeding season is a key factor in increasing the reproductive and productive efficiency of herds. Ovum pick-up associated with in vitro embryo production and embryo cryopreservation is an alternative to reduce seasonal impacts. We studied the effects of seasonality in buffalo oocyte donors and embryo recipients during the favorable and non-favorable breeding seasons. Donors were evaluated for oocyte recovery and blastocyst production rate as dFBS (donors in favorable breeding season) or dNBS (donors in non-favorable breeding season). Embryos produced from dFBS or dNBS were cryopreserved by vitrification or the slow-freeze method for direct transfer and transferred to recipients in the favorable (rFBS) or non-favorable breeding season (rNBS). The heifers or cows were subjected to a fixed-time embryo transfer protocol and conception rates were determined on day 30 and on day 60. The oocyte recovery was lower in dFBS than in dNBS (7.6 vs. 10.0 oocyte/OPU, p = 0.0262); while no difference was found comparing blastocyst production rate (23.7% vs. 30.9% of blastocysts, respectively). Embryos from dFBS resulted in greater (p = 0.0013) conception rates on day 30 compared to dNBS (46.5% vs. 22.4%, respectively), despite the breeding season. The rFBS and rNBS treatments had similar (p = 0.6714) conception rates on day 30 (38.0% vs. 33.0%, respectively), indicating similar uterine receptivity. However, heifers on FBS had higher (p = 0.0003) conception rates on day 30 than cows (73.9% vs. 13.3%, respectively) when receiving embryos from dFBS. Vitrification and direct transfer had similar (p = 0.1698) conception rates on day 30 (30.4% vs. 41.4%, respectively). In conclusion, in vitro-produced embryos derived from dFBS were more competent in establishing pregnancy than dNBS counterparts, independent of recipients' reproductive seasonality. Heifers achieved better conception rates than cows during the favorable breeding season when the embryo came from dFBS. Cryopreserved in vitro produced embryos represent a reliable alternative to reduce seasonal variations in buffalo reproduction. The data elucidate the seasonal effects on embryo competence and on recipients' uterine receptivity, affording new strategies to implement ovum pick-up associated with in vitro embryo production programs in buffalo herds.

Hierarchical Structure of NiMo Hydrodesulfurization Catalysts Determined by Ptychographic X-Ray Computed Tomography.

Hydrodesulphurization, the removal of sulphur from crude oils, is an essential catalytic process in the petroleum industry safeguarding the production of clean hydrocarbons. Sulphur removal is critical for the functionality of downstream processes and vital to the elimination of environmental pollutants. The effectiveness of such an endeavour is among other factors determined by the structural arrangement of the heterogeneous catalyst. Namely, the accessibility of the catalytically active molybdenum disulphide (MoS2 ) slabs located on the surfaces of a porous alumina carrier. Here, we examined a series of pristine sulfided Mo and NiMo hydrodesulphurization catalysts of increasing metal loading prepared on commercial alumina carriers using ptychographic X-ray computed nanotomography. Structural analysis revealed a build consisting of two interwoven support matrix elements differing in nanoporosity. With increasing metal loading, approaching that of industrial catalysts, these matrix elements exhibit a progressively dissimilar MoS2 surface coverage as well as MoS2 cluster formation at the matrix element boundaries. This is suggestive of metal deposition limitations and/ or catalyst activation and following prohibitive of optimal catalytic utilization. These results will allow for diffusivity calculations, a better rationale of current generation catalyst performance as well as a better distribution of the active phase in next-generation hydrodesulphurization catalysts.

A global database of soil nematode abundance and functional group composition.

As the most abundant animals on earth, nematodes are a dominant component of the soil community. They play critical roles in regulating biogeochemical cycles and vegetation dynamics within and across landscapes and are an indicator of soil biological activity. Here, we present a comprehensive global dataset of soil nematode abundance and functional group composition. This dataset includes 6,825 georeferenced soil samples from all continents and biomes. For geospatial mapping purposes these samples are aggregated into 1,933 unique 1-km pixels, each of which is linked to 73 global environmental covariate data layers. Altogether, this dataset can help to gain insight into the spatial distribution patterns of soil nematode abundance and community composition, and the environmental drivers shaping these patterns.

Chromium Levels in Tobacco, Filter and Ash of Illicit Brands Cigarettes Marketed in Brazil.

Smoking is a public health problem and an important source of exposure to toxic metals. This work describes an efficient analytical method comparable to the ones based on atomic emission techniques for the determination of chromium in different constituent parts of cigarette samples (tobacco, filters and ashes) using electrothermal vaporization-atomic absorption spectrometry. The method was evaluated using 12 samples, and the results showed recovery values between 83 and 107%. The accuracy was also evaluated using a reference sample of tomato leaves (NIST SRM 1573a), which proved the efficiency of the method. The limits of detection of the developed method were 20.4, 75.8 and 80.7 ng g-1 for tobacco, filter and cigarette ash samples, respectively. The average chromium values found for the analyzed samples were in the range of 0.96 to 3.85 and from 0.32 to 0.80 µg/cigarette for tobacco and ashes, respectively. For most pre-burn and post-burn filter samples, the values of chromium concentration remained below limits of detection. The developed method presented adequate results about precision and accuracy, demonstrating its applicability in the determination of chromium in cigarette samples.