Chile's agricultural research institute plant tissue analysis dataset.

This dataset holds 9,175 entries that report the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper and boron contents of various plant species, with a focus on crops. The dataset accounts data of 94 plant species, and present nutrient concentration of 14 different plant tissues. The data are derived from the Soil and Plant Nutrition Lab of the Chilean Agricultural Research Institute, which provided services to farmers in the Chilean Central Valley between 2006 and 2020. The analytical methods used to generate these data were consistent across all years, ensuring the reliability of the information. Specifically, nitrogen content was determined using the Kjeldahl method, while all other analytes were quantified via colorimetry (phosphorus and boron) or atomic absorption spectrometry following high-temperature oxidation and dilution of the ashes with hydrochloric acid. The dataset has numerous potential applications, including the estimation of crop nutrient extraction rates, the identification of nutrient deficiencies or excesses, and the provision of reference or prior information for researchers studying plant physiology. The dataset includes 21 Chilean endemic species, which might be of particular interest to researchers studying the biodiversity and ecology of Chile's Central Valley.

Long-Term Pulmonary Dysfunction by Hyperoxia Exposure during Severe Viral Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Mice.

Viral-induced lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), mainly by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), causes a major health burden among young children and has been associated with long-term respiratory dysfunction. Children with severe viral LRTI are frequently treated with oxygen therapy, hypothetically posing an additional risk factor for pulmonary sequelae. The main goal of this study was to determine the effect of concurrent hyperoxia exposure during the acute phase of viral LRTI on long-term pulmonary outcome. As an experimental model for severe RSV LRTI in infants, C57Bl/6J mice received an intranasal inoculation with the pneumonia virus of mice J3666 strain at post-natal day 7, and were subsequently exposed to hyperoxia (85% O2) or normoxia (21% O2) from post-natal day 10 to 17 during the acute phase of disease. Long-term outcomes, including lung function and structural development, were assessed 3 weeks post-inoculation at post-natal day 28. Compared to normoxic conditions, hyperoxia exposure in PVM-inoculated mice induced a transient growth arrest without subsequent catchup growth, as well as a long-term increase in airway resistance. This hyperoxia-induced pulmonary dysfunction was not associated with developmental changes to the airway or lung structure. These findings suggest that hyperoxia exposure during viral LRTI at young age may aggravate subsequent long-term pulmonary sequelae. Further research is needed to investigate the specific mechanisms underlying this alteration to pulmonary function.

Evaluation of Find Your Fuel: A Point-of-Service Labelling Campaign in a Military Dining Facility.

Nutrition plays a critical role in health and job performance in physically demanding roles. Studies have shown Australian military personnel do not consume diets suited to their roles. A range of foods are provided in military dining facilities; however, personnel still need to make appropriate choices for healthier eating and to optimise performance. This study explored the effect of a labelling scheme based on military-specific nutrition guidance, over a one-month period. Food choices were evaluated in a pre-post design using plate photography (pre n = 190; post n = 159 plates); with satisfaction and behavioural influences assessed through a survey (pre n = 79; post n = 67). The results indicate the scheme had a small effect on food choice-potato and hot vegetable choices increased post-campaign for the dinner meal. On average, choices were heathier at lunch post-campaign, and less healthy at dinner. Satisfaction with the meal experience was higher after the campaign, and no difference was observed in behavioural influences (e.g., self-efficacy and other perceptions). These results are in alignment with other point-of-service labelling studies showing the limited capacity labelling schemes have on guiding consumer choices. Rather than using point-of-service labelling in isolation, additional individual and/or environmental strategies may be needed to more effectively encourage nutritious food choices by personnel.

Microplastics occurrence and frequency in soils under different land uses on a regional scale.

The growing evidence of microplastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems reveals adverse effects of microplastics on soil biota and plant growth. However, since large scale assessments are lacking, it is possible that the laboratory based experiments conducted have assumed unrealistic microplastic concentrations in soils. In this paper we present regional scale data on the presence of microplastics in soils under different land uses in the central valley of Chile, which is characterized by urbanization, agricultural, and mining operations. We identified microplastics in soils under four different land use systems having different management intensities (crop lands, pastures, rangelands, and natural grasslands), and all somewhat prone to accumulate microplastics from different sources. We analyzed 240 soil samples from Chile's central valley, trying to identify the most probable sources of the microplastics. Our hypothesis was that microplastics were ubiquitous in the environment and that their concentration peaks follow the intensity of fertilizer use (phosphorus), soil heavy metals concentrations derived from nearby mining operations (Zn and Cu), and distance to roads and urban areas. We did find evidence of microplastic pollution in crop lands and pastures (306 ± 360 and 184 ± 266 particles kg-1, respectively), but we did not observe pollution of rangelands and natural grasslands. Distance to mining operations, roads, or urban areas did not increase the microplastic particles count. Our observations contradict the common belief that microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment and relate the pollution problem more to agricultural activities. However, our data do not provide sufficient evidence to identify the pollution source. This is the first study that reports on microplastic occurrence in soils at a broad geographical scale. For greater insight on this topic more studies that contribute monitoring data about microplastics in soils are urgently needed.

Elevated FiO2 increases SARS-CoV-2 co-receptor expression in respiratory tract epithelium.

The severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is linked to an increasing number of risk factors, including exogenous (environmental) stimuli such as air pollution, nicotine, and cigarette smoke. These three factors increase the expression of angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a key receptor involved in the entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-the etiological agent of COVID-19-into respiratory tract epithelial cells. Patients with severe COVID-19 are managed with oxygen support, as are at-risk individuals with chronic lung disease. To date, no study has examined whether an increased fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) may affect the expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry receptors and co-receptors, including ACE2 and the transmembrane serine proteases TMPRSS1, TMPRSS2, and TMPRSS11D. To address this, steady-state mRNA levels for genes encoding these SARS-CoV-2 receptors were assessed in the lungs of mouse pups chronically exposed to elevated FiO2, and in the lungs of preterm-born human infants chronically managed with an elevated FiO2. These two scenarios served as models of chronic elevated FiO2 exposure. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 receptor expression was assessed in primary human nasal, tracheal, esophageal, bronchial, and alveolar epithelial cells, as well as primary mouse alveolar type II cells exposed to elevated oxygen concentrations. While gene expression of ACE2 was unaffected, gene and protein expression of TMPRSS11D was consistently upregulated by exposure to an elevated FiO2. These data highlight the need for further studies that examine the relative contribution of the various viral co-receptors on the infection cycle, and point to oxygen supplementation as a potential risk factor for COVID-19.

Demographic, Social, and Economic Factors of Internalizing Problems in Referred and Non-Referred Adolescents.

Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation are common internalizing problems during adolescence. Numerous studies have explored the role of certain demographic, social, and economic factors in their development in referred or non-referred adolescents, but not simultaneously in both groups. In this study, we examined the association between age, gender, parents' educational level, and socioeconomic status (SES) and depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in a referred group (n = 211) and a non-referred (n = 1401) group of adolescents. We also examined the moderating role that these factors play in the relationships between both internalizing problems. The results showed: higher levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in the referred group; an increase in both problems during early-to-middle adolescence in the non-referred group; an association between low SES and suicidal ideation in both groups; an association between low father's education level and depressive symptoms in the non-referred group; and no gender differences in either of these two internalizing problems. The moderation analyses showed that age, in referred adolescents, and SES, in non-referred adolescents, moderated the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. This study contributes to the identification of groups of vulnerable adolescents that could constitute the target populations of preventive programs.

Breast Mammographic Density: Stromal Implications on Breast Cancer Detection and Therapy.

Current evidences state clear that both normal development of breast tissue as well as its malignant progression need many-sided local and systemic communications between epithelial cells and stromal components. During development, the stroma, through remarkably regulated contextual signals, affects the fate of the different mammary cells regarding their specification and differentiation. Likewise, the stroma can generate tumour environments that facilitate the neoplastic growth of the breast carcinoma. Mammographic density has been described as a risk factor in the development of breast cancer and is ascribed to modifications in the composition of breast tissue, including both stromal and glandular compartments. Thus, stroma composition can dramatically affect the progression of breast cancer but also its early detection since it is mainly responsible for the differences in mammographic density among individuals. This review highlights both the pathological and biological evidences for a pivotal role of the breast stroma in mammographic density, with particular emphasis on dense and malignant stromas, their clinical meaning and potential therapeutic implications for breast cancer patients.

Evidence of microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils from sewage sludge disposal.

Microplastics are emerging as a steadily increasing environmental threat. Wastewater treatment plants efficiently remove microplastics from sewage, trapping the particles in the sludge and preventing their entrance into aquatic environments. Treatment plants are essentially taking the microplastics out of the waste water and concentrating them in the sludge, however. It has become common practice to use this sludge on agricultural soils as a fertilizer. The aim of the current research was to evaluate the microplastic contamination of soils by this practice, assessing the implications of successive sludge applications by looking at the total count of microplastic particles in soil samples. Thirty-one agricultural fields with different sludge application records and similar edaphoclimatic conditions were evaluated. Field records of sludge application covered a ten year period. For all fields, historical disposal events used the same amount of sludge (40 ton ha-1 dry weight). Extraction of microplastics was done by flotation and particles were then counted and classified with the help of a microscope. Seven sludge samples were collected in the fields that underwent sludge applications during the study period. Soils where 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 applications of sludge had been performed had a median of 1.1, 1.6, 1.7, 2.3, and 3.5 particles g-1 dry soil, respectively. There were statistical differences in the microplastic contents related to the number of applications that a field had undergone (1, 2, 3 < 4, 5). Microplastic content in sludge ranged from 18 to 41 particles g-1, with a median of 34 particles g-1. The majority of the observed microplastics were fibers (90% in sludge, and 97% in soil). Our results indicate that microplastic counts increase over time where successive sludge applications are performed. Microplastics observed in soil samples stress the relevance of sludge as a driver of soil microplastic contamination.

Methane adsorption and methanol desorption of copper modified boron silicate.

Boron silicate (BS) with a chabazite framework structure was synthesised using a direct route and rigorously characterized before it was ion-exchanged with copper to form Cu-BS. Employing in situ infrared spectroscopy, we show that Cu-BS is capable of oxidising methane to methoxy species and methanol interacts with the boron sites without deprotonation.

In Situ Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Analysis of the Setting Process of Brushite Cement: Reaction and Crystal Growth.

Brushite cements are fast self-setting materials that can be used as bone substitute materials. Although tracing their fast setting process is a challenge, it is important for the understanding of the same, which in turn is important for the material's further development and use in the clinics. In this study, the setting rate, phase formation, and crystal growth of brushite cements were quantitatively studied by in situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction (SXRD) on a time scale of seconds. The influence of reactant ratios and a retardant (citric acid) on the setting reaction were analyzed. To complement the in situ investigations, scanning electron microscopy was carried out for ex situ morphological evolution of crystals. The initial reaction followed a four-step process, including a fast nucleation induction period, nucleation, crystal growth, and completion of the setting. The brushite crystal size grew up to the micro scale within 1 min, and the brushite content increased linearly after the nucleation until all monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM; Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O) had dissolved within minutes, followed by a slow increase until the end of the monitoring. By adjusting the MCPM to the ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP, ß-Ca3(PO4)2) ratio in the starting powders, the brushite/monetite ratio in the cements could be modified. In the presence of citric acid, the formation of brushite nuclei was not significantly retarded, whereas the increase in brushite content and the growth of crystal size were effectively hindered. The amount of monetite also increased by adding citric acid. This is the first time that the brushite setting process has been characterized in the first seconds and minutes of the reaction by SXRD.

Unraveling the Decomposition Process of Lead(II) Acetate: Anhydrous Polymorphs, Hydrates, and Byproducts and Room Temperature Phosphorescence.

Lead(II) acetate [Pb(Ac)2, where Ac = acetate group (CH3-COO(-))2] is a very common salt with many and varied uses throughout history. However, only lead(II) acetate trihydrate [Pb(Ac)2·3H2O] has been characterized to date. In this paper, two enantiotropic polymorphs of the anhydrous salt, a novel hydrate [lead(II) acetate hemihydrate: Pb(Ac)2·(1)/2H2O], and two decomposition products [corresponding to two different basic lead(II) acetates: Pb4O(Ac)6 and Pb2O(Ac)2] are reported, with their structures being solved for the first time. The compounds present a variety of molecular arrangements, being 2D or 1D coordination polymers. A thorough thermal analysis, by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), was also carried out to study the behavior and thermal data of the salt and its decomposition process, in inert and oxygenated atmospheres, identifying the phases and byproducts that appear. The complex thermal behavior of lead(II) acetate is now solved, finding the existence of another hydrate, two anhydrous enantiotropic polymorphs, and some byproducts. Moreover, some of them are phosphorescent at room temperature. The compounds were studied by TGA, DSC, X-ray diffraction, and UV-vis spectroscopy.

Location and Effects of an Antitumoral Catechin on the Structural Properties of Phosphatidylethanolamine Membranes.

Green tea catechins exhibit high diversity of biological effects including antioncogenic properties, and there is enormous interest in their potential use in the treatment of a number of pathologies. It is recognized that the mechanism underlying the activity of catechins relay in part in processes related to the membrane, and many studies revealed that the ability of catechins to interact with lipids plays a probably necessary role in their mechanism of action. We present in this work the characterization of the interaction between an antitumoral synthetically modified catechin (3-O-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-(-)-catechin, TMCG) and dimiristoylphosphatidyl-ethanolamine (DMPE) membranes using an array of biophysical techniques which include differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations. We found that TMCG incorporate into DMPE bilayers perturbing the thermotropic transition from the gel to the fluid state forming enriched domains which separated into different gel phases. TMCG does not influence the overall bilayer assembly of phosphatidylethanolamine systems but it manages to influence the interfacial region of the membrane and slightly decrease the interlamellar repeat distance of the bilayer. TMCG seems to be located in the interior of the phosphatidylethanolamine bilayer with the methoxy groups being in the deepest position and some portion of the molecule interacting with the water interface. We believe that the reported interactions are significant not only from the point of view of the known antitumoral effect of TMCG, but also might contribute to understanding the basic molecular mechanism of the biological effects of the catechins found at the membrane level.

High-Quality Metal-Organic Framework Ultrathin Films for Electronically Active Interfaces.

Currently available methodologies arguably lack the exquisite control required for producing metal-organic framework (MOF) thin films of sufficient quality for electronic applications. By directing MOF transfer with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), we achieve very smooth, homogeneous, highly oriented, ultrathin films across millimeter-scale areas that display moderate conductivity likely due to electron hopping. Here, the SAM is key for directing the transfer thereby enlarging the number and nature of the substrates of choice. We have exploited this versatility to evolve from deposition onto standard Si and Au to nonconventional substrates such as ferromagnetic Permalloy. We believe that this strategy might be useful for the integration of MOFs as active interfaces in electronic devices.

Homoleptic Iron(II) Complexes with the Ionogenic Ligand 6,6'-Bis(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine: Spin Crossover Behavior in a Singular 2D Spin Crossover Coordination Polymer.

Deprotonation of the ionogenic tetradentate ligand 6,6'-bis(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine [H2bipy(ttr)2] in the presence of Fe(II) in solution has afforded an anionic mononuclear complex and a neutral two-dimensional coordination polymer formulated as, respectively, NEt3H{Fe[bipy(ttr)2][Hbipy(ttr)2]}·3MeOH (1) and {Fe[bipy(ttr)2]}n (2). The anions [Hbipy(ttr)2](-) and [bipy(ttr)2](2-) embrace the Fe(II) centers defining discrete molecular units 1 with the Fe(II) ion lying in a distorted bisdisphenoid dodecahedron, a rare example of octacoordination in the coordination environment of this cation. The magnetic behavior of 1 shows that the Fe(II) is high-spin, and its Mössbauer spectrum is characterized by a relatively large average quadrupole splitting, ΔEQ = 3.42 mm s(-1). Compound 2 defines a strongly distorted octahedral environment for Fe(II) in which one [bipy(ttr)2](-) anion coordinates the equatorial positions of the Fe(II) center, while the axial positions are occupied by peripheral N-tetrazole atoms of two adjacent {Fe[bipy(ttr)2]}(0) moieties thereby generating an infinite double-layer sheet. Compound 2 undergoes an almost complete spin crossover transition between the high-spin and low-spin states centered at about 221 K characterized by an average variation of enthalpy and entropy ΔH(av) = 8.27 kJ mol(-1), ΔS(av) = 37.5 J K(-1) mol(-1), obtained from calorimetric DSC measurements. Photomagnetic measurements of 2 at 10 K show an almost complete light-induced spin state trapping (LIESST) effect which denotes occurrence of antiferromagnetic coupling between the excited high-spin species and TLIESST = 52 K. The crystal structure of 2 has been investigated in detail at various temperatures and discussed.

Stability of monosodium glutamate in green table olives and pickled cucumbers as a function of packing conditions and storage time.

The effects of different packing conditions and storage times on the stability of monosodium glutamate (MSG) added to two different fermented vegetables (Spanish-type green table olives and pickled cucumbers) were studied. Factors such as packaging material (glass bottle versus plastic pouch), heat treatment (pasteurisation versus non-pasteurisation), and the presence or not of a preservative compound (potassium sorbate) were considered. The MSG content of pickled cucumbers was stable for up to 1 year of storage in all packing conditions studied. The MSG content also remained stable in pasteurised green table olives. On the contrary, MSG was extensively degraded (>75% degradation) after 54 weeks of storage in unpasteurised green olives with a higher degradation rate in glass bottles compared with plastic pouches. In the presence of potassium sorbate, MSG was also considerably degraded in olives packed in plastic pouches (>50% degradation), but hardly degraded in glass bottles. The results indicate that MSG degradation in olives is due to the action of both lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, with the formation of γ-aminobutyric acid as the major end-product.

Investigations into acrylamide precursors in sterilized table olives: evidence of a peptic fraction being responsible for acrylamide formation.

Formation of acrylamide from commercial model peptides containing protein-bound aspartic acid, alanine and methionine, respectively, at 200°C and different times in the absence of any carbonyl sources, was demonstrated by HPLC-MS/MS analyses. Further experiments using a more complex model system based on olive water, i.e., the aqueous fraction of olive pulp from untreated and lye-treated green olives, were performed. After partial fractionation of olive water by solid-phase extraction, only peptides/proteins containing fractions, being devoid of free asparagine, generated significant amounts of acrylamide during less harsh heat treatment (121°C for 30min). In contrast, acrylamide was not detected after heating the same fraction under identical thermal conditions when previously subjected to acid hydrolysis. Consistently, significant amounts of acrylamide were released after heating the albuminous precipitate resulting from acetone precipitation of olive water. These results strongly support the role of peptides/proteins as precursors of acrylamide formation in sterilized olives.

Degradation of ascorbic acid and potassium sorbate by different Lactobacillus species isolated from packed green olives.

The aim of this research was to ascertain the lactic acid bacteria responsible for the degradation of ascorbic acid and/or potassium sorbate, isolated from packed green olives where these additives had diminished. A total of 14 isolates were recovered from samples of different green olive containers. According to partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA coding gene, Lactobacillus parafarraginis, Lactobacillus rapi, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus paracollinoides, and Pediococcus ethanolidurans were identified. With the exception of L. pentosus and L. paracollinoides, the other species had not been mentioned in table olives before this study. Only three of the 14 isolates metabolized ascorbic acid in MRS broth, and the products from ascorbic acid in modified MRS broth without carbon sources were acetic and lactic acids. Except for the two L. rapi and the two P. ethanolidurans strains, the remaining 10 isolates depleted potassium sorbate added into MRS broth to some extent. The product generated by three of these strains was confirmed to be trans-4-hexenoic acid. The degradation of ascorbate or sorbate by lactic acid bacteria should be taken into account when these additives are used in food products where this group of bacteria may be present.

Analysis of performance characteristics of five cell cycle-related immunohistochemical markers and human papillomavirus genotyping in the diagnosis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma precursor lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To study the performance values of a set of five immunohistochemical markers involved in cell cycle regulation as a potential aid in the differential diagnosis between squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) and normal or benign conditions of the uterine cervix. STUDY DESIGN: Results from immunohistochemical evaluation of p16, cyclin D1, p53, Ki67, and ProEx C markers and human papillomavirus genotyping were collected from a previous study performed on 37 normal or benign cervices, 39 low grade SILs and 73 high grade SILs. A multivariate analysis was used to examine the specific diagnostic value of each marker and to ascertain those most relevant for SIL diagnosis. For markers with good data fit, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and integrated discrimination improvement, were calculated. RESULTS: Among individual markers, ProEx C showed the best specificity; p16 displayed the highest sensitivity and area under receiver operating characteristic curve for SIL diagnosis. Integrated discrimination improvement demonstrated that the p16 plus ProEx C model has better discrimination capacity than p16 plus Ki67 or ProEx C plus Ki67. CONCLUSION: Use of ProEx C alone or in combination with p16 could provide useful information for SIL diagnosis.