Research Group Research Articles

The production of climate security futures in the West African Sahel

Abstract Much has been written and said about the consequences of climate change on security in the West African Sahel. Sceptics argue that claims about the links between global warming and conflict dynamics rest on limited evidence and questionable assumptions. Others work on the institutionalization and operationalization of climate security. This implementation seems inevitable, if slow, difficult, and at times vague, as there is simply no consensus on what climate security implies in practice and what it is meant to achieve. What is climate security, and whose climate security are we talking about? This article analyses climate security as a structure of knowledge and a set of epistemic relationships that inform practices and relationships. It draws on participant observations of a Dakar-based research group that travelled to Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey. At the intersection of research, policy, and programme implementation, this case study provides a unique look into the emergence of climate security relations and practices. The findings point to the rising structural force of climate security and how it can overcome both research uncertainties and sensitive diplomatic relations. The article shows that there is more to climate security than the focus on the conflict-climate nexus lets on.

Clinical and genetic spectrum of factor XII deficiency in the Han population of East China

BackgroundFactor XII (FXII or F12) deficiency is a rare inherited disorder, typically lacking haemorrhagic symptoms. There is limited literature exists on FXII deficiency and mutations within the Chinese population. This study aimed to characterize the spectrum of F12 gene mutations in a Chinese cohort and to investigate the relationship between FXII mutations and clinical phenotypes.MethodsGenetic and clinical data from 51 unrelated probands with FXII deficiency, along with their families, were meticulously collected and analysed.ResultsGenetic analysis revealed that 94.1% of probands carried genetic defects, with 29 mutations pinpointed in the F12 gene. Of these, 18 mutations were previously reported for the first time by our research group, including c.303_304delCA, c.1078G > A, c.1285 C > T, among others. Of the mutations, 17 are missense, constituting 58.6% of the total. Additionally, 11 are deletions or insertions, of which 8 result in frameshifts, while the remaining one is a nonsense mutation. These mutations were predominantly concentrated in two crucial regions: the catalytic domain and the kringle domain. The most frequently observed mutations were c.1681G > A, closely followed by c.1561G > A and c.1078G > A, indicating a dominance among these mutations. Additionally, a prevalent polymorphism at position 46 was observed in the majority of probands, with 47.1% having the 46T/T genotype and 13.7% having the 46 C/T genotype, which may potentially impact FXII activity. The broad spectrum of asymptomatic FXII deficiency observed within the Han population of East China.ConclusionsWe speculate on the potential impact of recurrent mutations on the efficacy of new drugs being developed to target FXII for thrombosis prevention and treatment. Furthermore, it is important to explore their influence on FXII-related pathways beyond the activation of the contact pathway in the coagulation cascade.

DDBJ update in 2024: the DDBJ Group Cloud service for sharing pre-publication data.

The Bioinformation and DNA Data Bank of Japan Center (DDBJ Center, https://www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp) provides public databases that cover a wide range of fields in life sciences. As a founding member of the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC), the DDBJ Center accepts and distributes nucleotide sequence data ranging from raw reads to assembled and annotated sequences with the National Center for Biotechnology Information and the European Bioinformatics Institute. Besides INSDC databases, the DDBJ Center provides databases for functional genomics (Genomic Expression Archive), metabolomics (MetaboBank), human genetic variations (TogoVar-repository) and human genetic and phenotypic data (Japanese Genotype-phenotype Archive). These database systems have been built on the National Institute of Genetics supercomputer, which is also a platform for the DDBJ Group Cloud (DGC) services for sharing and analysis of pre-publication data among research groups. This paper reports recent updates on the databases and the services of the DDBJ Center, highlighting the DGC service.

Shared Accountability Shaping the Destinies of Individual and Groups of Nonhuman Primates

At the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC), the preferred housing for rhesus macaques involves maintaining them in complex social groups outdoors, primarily for breeding purposes. This functionally appropriate environment promotes effective coping through the expression of species-typical behaviors and important aspects of species-typical social structure, thus enabling normal animal development, higher reproductive success, and the production of high-quality biological models. Despite the benefits, social housing introduces challenges like trauma from aggressive interactions. These challenges necessitate a delicate balance between tolerating some aggression and preventing repeated targeting of individuals. Therefore, the CNPRC has established a multidisciplinary working group of behavioral management experts, veterinarians, animal care, and researchers that meets regularly to review cases of animals that may need to be removed from their social group. We discuss the criteria and decision-making processes employed to manage and mitigate aggression. We describe the systematic approach to identifying at-risk individuals and the comprehensive evaluation process that guides whether to relocate an animal from their groups or not. Considerations include the welfare of the individual and the group’s social stability. This paper provides case studies demonstrating how the working group applies these criteria and processes in practical scenarios, highlighting the complexities and challenges of such decisions.

Empowering Voices: Fostering Reflective Dialogue and Redefining Research Dynamics in Participatory Approaches With the Autistic Community

Within this brief report, the authors, who are mostly neurodivergent and a majority autistic, outline some of the challenges and historical failings of participatory research with the autistic community. There is an urgent need to explore creative ways to ensure that research engages with autistic people in an active, meaningful, and valuable way (Den Houting et al., 2021; Fletcher-Watson et al., 2019; Garfield & Yudell, 2019). The authors detail the process of using reflective dialogue to explore the participatory research group’s personal experiences of mental health at a university. The participatory group later presented their experiences at a webinar attended by more than 200 strategic and supporting staff from UK universities. The group found reflective dialogue to be useful in addressing many of the failings of participatory research with the autistic community, such as redressing power imbalances and finding it to be personally beneficial and validating. The authors detail how this might be implemented and argue that this approach has valuable applications within autism research and beyond and should be explored further.

The efficacy of ciprofol versus propofol on anesthesia in patients undergoing endoscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Ciprofol is a new intravenous anesthetic with a similar chemical structure to propofol. We aimed to compare the incidence of adverse actions like injection pain and time indexes of ciprofol versus propofol on anesthesia in patients undergoing endoscopy. We also compared anesthetists' satisfaction during the procedure. Two independent researchers (Liu and Zeng) searched the Cochrane Library, Embase databases, and PubMed for controlled clinical trials. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed with the Review Manager, Stata and the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias 2 tool to evaluate methodological quality. Relative risks with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for outcomes. Ten trials, including 1545 patients, were examined in the current meta-analysis. During anesthesia in patients undergoing endoscopy, the incidence of injection pain was significantly reduced in the research group. Compared with propofol, the pooled risk difference (RD) with the use of ciprofol for injection pain for all the procedures was - 0.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.48 to 0.19), and RR for hypotension was 0.73(95% CI:0.58 to 0.92). GRADE showed this meta-analysis has moderate or low confidence. Trial sequential analysis for mortality indicated insufficient sample size for a definitive judgment for lower incidence of hypotension. In painless endoscopy, compared with propofol, ciprofol exhibited non-inferiority anesthesia/sedation in patients, and had a good safety profile with a lower incidence of pain on injection and may reduce the chance of hypotension. Trial sequential analysis suggested the need for more cases, and GRADE highlighted moderate certainty, emphasizing the necessity for further targeted RCTs. PROSPERO, CRD42023433627.

Resting Energy Expenditure in Patients with Extreme Obesity: Comparison of the Harris–Benedict Equation with Indirect Calorimetry

Background: The main objective of the work was the analysis and description of data on body composition and resting energy expenditure (REE) values of selected groups of patients with obesity whose REE measurement results using indirect calorimetry reached a level below 95% of the predicted REE calculated using the Harris–Benedict (H–B) equation. The sub-goals were to describe the dependence of body composition on the size of the REE and to find out if the deviations between the number of the total measured REE and the REE calculated using H–B in the adapted group (patients with altered REE values, lower than expected caused by long caloric restriction) are significant. Methods: For the research, 71 (39 women and 32 men) patients treated in obesitology were selected. Patients underwent the measurement of resting metabolism using indirect calorimetry (IC) and body composition measurement on the bioimpedance device and, at the same time, the value of resting metabolism was calculated for everyone using the H–B equation. The whole group was divided into five groups according to the deviation of the measurement using IC and the calculation of the H–B equation. Results: In the total set of examined individuals, there were 32.4% with a reduced REE value compared to the REE calculation according to the H–B equation, which corresponds to 23 individuals. In the adapted group, the average measured REE was 2242 ± 616 kcal compared to the H–B calculation of 2638 ± 713 kcal. Statistically, these results were not significant, but a high case-to-case variation was found. The highest deviation from the H–B predictive calculation was −42% and +43% in the whole research group. The amount of muscle tissue in the adapted group averaged 44.3 ± 11.9 kg and the amount of fat-free mass (FFM) 77.9 ± 20.1 kg. When statistically testing the dependence of REE on FFM and muscle tissue in the adapted group, a strong correlation was found. Conclusions: The H–B equation alone is not suitable for setting a suitable diet therapy for an individual with obesity. In order to select and characterize a group of adapted individuals, it will be necessary to use other methods or a larger research sample, and preferably examine and divide patients with specific comorbidities or include their health status.

Loneliness and Social Health: A Study in Individuals Participating in Recreational Activities

In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between loneliness level and social health in individuals participating in recreational activities. The research group consisted of 300 people who participated in the study by random sampling method on the basis of volunteerism. Personal Information Form, Loneliness Scale and Recreational Social Health Scale were used as data collection tools. All analyses were performed using the SPSS 22 package program, taking into account the significance level of "p

Current advances in physiological science. In commemoration of centennial anniversary of the Department of Human and Animal Physiology of Moscow State University

Hereby we briefly review the articles that comprise the special issue of “Lomonosov Biology Journal” (“Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seria 16. Biologia”), which commemorates the centennial anniversary of the Department of Human and Animal Physiology of Lomonosov Moscow State University, founded by prominent Russian physiologist Alexander F. Samoilov. The main stages of the Department’s history are briefly described. The published studies of the leading Russian researchers, including the scientific research group from Department of Human and Animal Physiology, are discussed within the scope of main current challenges of physiological science.

The development of Liver Research Cymru, a new partnership to increase hepatology research activity in Wales

Background The incidence and severity of liver disease in the United Kingdom have increased over the last 20 years. Many patients present with advanced disease with limited treatment options and subsequently high morbidity and mortality. There was also a significant correlation with deprivation. Strategies that support the earlier detection of liver disease are paramount to reverse this trend. Despite significant progress in terms of novel pathways, the optimal strategy for early detection of liver disease remains unknown. Novel ways to tackle the deprivation gradient and reduce health inequalities are urgently required. Methods Clinical research has an enormous role to play both in terms of identifying the true scale of this challenge, where current gaps exist, and to identify the optimal early detection strategies and their implementation. WE therefore established Liver Rsearch Cymru (LRC) a multi-disciplinary collaboration that seeks to maximise the benefits from our existing data sources and clinical networks and increase the output of hepatology research in Wales. Results LRC has developed the first Wales wide research collaborative. We have successfully collaborated with the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) data resource to develop a greater understanding of liver disease burdens through comprehensive analysis of primary and secondary care data. We are now using this information to evaluate the effectiveness of local early detection pathways and to identify the scale of delays in diagnosis with a view to addressing this important care gap. Conclusion LRC has successfully brought together patients. Hepatologists and population/primary care academics to better understand current discrepancies in the early diagnosis of liver disease in Wales. In addition, it has laid a foundation for future research work based both on our preliminary findings and allowed us to collaborate with other more established liver disease research groups.

Three-Dimensional Morphological Study of MnTe-like Structures by Assessment of Tortuosity Tensor Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

This paper focuses on a morphological study of the MnTe-like structures, carried out by the evaluation of the tortuosity tensor and other related parameters using a computational fluid dynamics approach recently developed by our research group. The present work focuses on all possible crystals—existing or not developed yet—having the same structure as that of the manganese telluride. This analysis provides new information not present yet in the open literature. The motivation behind this study lies in the importance of this type of structure in physics and material science. In particular, the structures investigated are anisotropic and bi-disperse, with two independent geometrical parameters controlling the structure shape: the ratio of the particle diameters (r1) and the normalised inter-particle distance (r2). Exploiting this fact, several different structures of the same family are created, changing these two parameters independently, also allowing inter-penetration of particles to enlarge the study’s applicability. The results are primarily obtained in terms of the tortuosity tensor, needed to catch and quantify the anisotropy of the structures. Then, other morphological parameters, such as connectivity, principal diffusion directions, and anisotropy factors, are evaluated, obtaining in this way a novel morphological characterisation of the structure. It is found that high values of tortuosity are observed at lower and higher values of {r1, r2}, which means that there exists a minimum value between them. Additionally, the anisotropy factor is found to be higher at lower values of {r1, r2} and lower at higher ones. This is in accordance with the fact that, as the inter-particle distance and the ratio between particle diameters increase, the structure enlarges, which implies a lower influence of the particle distribution and, thus, a gradually more isotropic structure.

Inclusion of people with multiple long-term conditions in pregnancy research: patient, public and stakeholder involvement and engagement in a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundBoth pregnant women and those with multiple long-term conditions are under-served groups in clinical research. Informing and improving research through patient and public involvement, including pregnant women with two or more long-term health conditions, is critical to increasing their inclusion in maternity research. Giant PANDA is a randomised controlled trial, evaluating the effect of a treatment initiation strategy with nifedipine versus labetalol on severe maternal hypertension and a composite outcome of fetal/neonatal death, or neonatal unit admission. We aimed to undertake a mixed methods study-within-a-project within the Giant PANDA trial to understand barriers and facilitators to participation, understand and optimise current representativeness of clinical trial delivery of those with multiple long-term conditions and co-create a checklist to support their inclusion in pregnancy research.MethodsWe undertook online workshops with women with lived experience and hybrid workshops with healthcare professionals who look after women with multiple long-term conditions. A site audit of Giant PANDA sites provided insights into research delivery capacity and health system set-up, and how this influences inclusion. An extension to the Giant PANDA screening log captured data on multiple long-term conditions enabling analysis of the impact of these health conditions on women’s inclusion in the trial. We co-created a checklist of recommendations for those designing and recruiting to similar clinical trials.ResultsFive key recommendations were identified including a need to (1) involve women with multiple long-term conditions as partners in maternity research and (2) minimise barriers that stop them from taking part through (3) designing and delivering research that is flexible in time and place (4) consider research as part of care for everyone, including those with multiple long-term conditions and (5) measure and report inclusion of those with two or more health conditions in maternity research. Multiple long-term conditions were not a barrier to recruitment or randomisation in the Giant PANDA trial.ConclusionWomen with multiple long-term conditions would like opportunities to find out about and participate in research which accounts for their needs. Our checklist aims to support those designing and delivering maternity research to optimise inclusion of individuals with multiple-long term conditions.Trial registration: Giant PANDA: EudraCT number: 2020-003410-12, ISRCTN: 12,792,616.

Vosviewer-Based Bibliometric Review of Transshipment Location Problem From 2000 to 2023

Objective: This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric review of the Transshipment Location Problem (TLP) by identifying key authors, countries, journals, and research areas. It also maps the evolution of TLP and explores methodologies and tools used for optimizing logistical and distribution systems. Theoretical Framework: TLP, a variant of the classical transshipment problem, has gained attention for its role in optimizing supply chain networks. It involves both proactive transshipment (planned inventory management) and reactive transshipment (responding to unexpected events or shortages). Method: This study applies a bibliometric analysis methodology using VOSviewer to analyze publications extracted from the Scopus database. The analysis focuses on key bibliometric indicators such as co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence. The dataset comprises 432 selected articles published between 2000 and 2023. Results and Discussion: The review reveals that optimization tools, particularly in transportation and inventory management, are widely applied in TLP studies The United States, China, and Germany are leading contributors to TLP research. Lateral transshipment strategies are increasingly employed to enhance supply chain flexibility. A small group of influential researchers drives the field through collaborations and citations. Research Implications: The review provides valuable insights for future research, highlighting gaps in applying optimization methods in emerging fields like healthcare. It offers a clear view of the geographical and institutional landscape of TLP research and suggests areas for future study, such as sustainability. Originality/Value: This review fills a gap in the literature by systematically mapping TLP research’s evolution and its growing relevance in logistical systems optimization across various industries.

Developing interoperable, accessible software via the atomic, molecular, and optical sciences gateway: A case study of the B-spline atomic R-matrix code graphical user interface.

The Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Science (AMOS) Gateway is a comprehensive cyberinfrastructure for research and educational activities in computational AMO science. The B-Spline atomic R-Matrix (BSR) suite of programs is one of several computer programs currently available on the gateway. It is an excellent example of the gateway's potential to increase the scientific productivity of AMOS users. While the suite is available to be used in batch mode, its complexity does not make it well-suited to the approach taken in the gateway's default setup. The complexity originates from the need to execute many different computations and to construct generally complex workflows, requiring numerous input files that must be used in a specific sequence. The BSR graphical user interface described in this paper was developed to considerably simplify employing the BSR codes on the gateway, making BSR available to a large group of researchers and students interested in AMO science.

Novel Delivery Systems of Raloxifene Hydrochloride for Improved Bioavailability and Therapeutic Efficacy: A Review

Raloxifene hydrochloride belongs to the selective estrogen receptor modulator category. Initially, US FDA approved its use for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Later, raloxifene hydrochloride was also approved for the prevention of invasive breast carcinoma in post-menopausal women under the high-risk category. Despite its immense and diverse therapeutic potential, the oral bioavailability of raloxifene hydrochloride is only ~ 2%. The factors responsible for the poor bioavailability of raloxifene hydrochloride include its amphiphobic nature, para-glycoprotein pump-mediated efflux in the intestine, and high pre-systemic glucuronidation. In the past two decades, multiple novel delivery systems, viz. lipid-based nanocarriers, polymeric nanoparticles, polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles, micelles, and mixed micelles, have been developed to overcome its drawbacks. Moreover, inclusion complex, phospholipid complex, and solid dispersion have also been developed to improve its solubility and dissolution rate. Further, some research groups successfully explored non-peroral routes like nasal and transdermal for augmenting the raloxifene hydrochloride bioavailability and its therapeutic efficacy. Hence, the principal objective of this review paper is to critically analyze all the delivery systems developed for raloxifene hydrochloride with their advantages and limitations. In addition, a detailed discussion of the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters of raloxifene hydrochloride has been included in this paper. An in-depth understanding of these parameters will assist formulation scientists in developing efficient delivery systems in the future. In conclusion, the literature review revealed that the nanoparticulate systems successfully augmented the raloxifene hydrochloride bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy in pre-clinical experiments. However, future clinical trials should be conducted to assess their safety and therapeutic efficacy for rapid preclinical to clinical translation.

Genomic and transcriptomic profiling of pre- and postneoadjuvant chemotherapy triple negative breast cancer tumors.

Our understanding of neoadjuvant treatment with microtubule inhibitors (MTIs) for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains limited. To advance our understanding of the role of breast cancer driver genes' mutational status with pathological complete response (pCR; ypT0/isypN0) prediction and to identify distinct gene sets for MTIs like eribulin and paclitaxel, we carried out targeted genomic (n = 50) and whole transcriptomic profiling (n = 64) of TNBC tumor samples from the Japan Breast Cancer Research Group 22 (JBCRG-22) clinical trial. Lower PIK3CA, PTEN, and HRAS mutations were found in homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)-high (HRD score ≥ 42) tumors with higher pCR rates. When HRD-high tumors were stratified by tumor BRCA mutation status, the pCR rates in BRCA2-mutated tumors were higher (83% vs. 36%). Transcriptomic profiling of TP53-positive tumors identified downregulation of FGFR2 (false discovery rate p value = 2.07e-7), which was also the only common gene between HRD-high and -low tumors with pCR/quasi-pCR treated with paclitaxel and eribulin combined with carboplatin, respectively. Differential enrichment analysis of the HRD-high group posttreatment tumors revealed significant correlation (p = 0.006) of the glycan degradation pathway. FGFR2 expression and the differentially enriched pathways play a role in the response and resistance to MTIs containing carboplatin treatment in TNBC patients.

Ultrasound Assessment and Self-Perception of Pelvic Floor Muscle Function in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence in Different Positions

Objectives: This study analyzed the effect of different positions on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function in women with and without stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods: This study included women with (n = 17, research group) and without (n = 25, control group) SUI. Using abdominal ultrasound, PFM function (maximum contraction and endurance) was measured in four different positions: lying, sitting, standing and squatting. The level of difficulty perceived by the participants was recorded. Results: In both groups, the best contraction was observed in the standing position and the weakest in the lying position. Women with SUI showed a lower ability to perform PFM contraction. A significant difference was found between the groups in the sitting and standing positions, and it was smaller in the research group. In the research group, the contraction displacement during sitting was 2.68 (1.67) mm versus 4.51 (2.62) mm in the control. The displacement during standing was 6.92 (3.50) mm versus 9.18 (5.05) mm, respectively (p < 0.05). In the research group, 52.9% reported the sitting position as the most difficult compared with only 12% in the control group. Conclusions: Women with SUI have lower PFM function while standing or sitting, but not while lying, than those without SUI. Variations in PFM function across different positions exist. A new protocol for PFM examination should be written with the standing position included.

The Implementation of a MOOC-Based Flipped Classroom Teaching Method in the Context of Oncology Radiotherapy Residency Training.

The objective of this study is to examine the efficacy of the flipped classroom blended teaching method in the context of massive open online courses (MOOCs) for implementing standardized training and teaching of residents in oncology radiotherapy. A total of 48 junior residents who received standardized training at the Oncology Radiology Department of Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital between September 2021 and August 2023 were randomly divided into two groups-i.e., the research group (24 cases) and the control group (24 cases)-using the random number table method. The control group received conventional didactic training, whereas the research group participated in a blended learning approach based on the MOOC model. The assessment results, along with the evaluations of teaching effectiveness, self-learning ability, and teaching satisfaction questionnaires, were observed and compared for the two groups of students. Compared with the control group, the research group presented significantly higher scores on theoretical foundations, skill operation, and case analysis (P < 0.05). The research group also showed greater outcomes than the control group in terms of improved theoretical knowledge, problem-solving skills, self-learning ability, teamwork, and communication (P < 0.05). The students in the research group presented significantly higher scores on measures of self-motivation beliefs, task analysis, self-monitoring and adjustment, and self-evaluation than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The research group also demonstrated significantly higher levels of satisfaction than the control group in terms of improvements in learning interest and initiative, clinical thinking ability, problem-solving ability, team cooperation ability, and the level of radiotherapy target delineation (P < 0.05). The implementation of MOOC-based flipped classroom blended teaching was shown to have positive effects on the standardized training and teaching of residents in the field of oncology radiotherapy. This approach can undoubtedly enhance students' academic performance, problem-solving abilities, and self-learning aptitudes while effectively stimulating their learning interests and initiative. Therefore, MOOC-based flipped classroom blended teaching is a valuable candidate for clinical application and promotion.

Identification of a polyphenol O-methyltransferase with broad substrate flexibility in Streptomyces albidoflavus J1074

Flavonoids are a large and important group of phytochemicals with a great variety of bioactivities. The addition of methyl groups during biosynthesis of flavonoids and other polyphenols enhances their bioactivities and increases their stability. In a previous study of our research group, we detected a novel flavonoid O-methyltransferase activity in Streptomyces albidoflavus J1074, which led to the heterologous biosynthesis of homohesperetin from hesperetin in feeding cultures. In this study, we identify the O-methyltransferase responsible for the generation of this methylated flavonoid through the construction of a knockout mutant of the gene XNR_0417, which was selected after a blast analysis using the sequence of a caffeic acid 3′-O-methyltransferase from Zea mays against the genome of S. albidoflavus J1074. This mutant strain, S. albidoflavus ∆XNR_0417, was no longer able to produce homohesperetin after hesperetin feeding. Subsequently, we carried out a genetic complementation of the mutant strain in order to confirm that the enzyme encoded by XNR_0417 is responsible for the observed O-methyltransferase activity. This new strain, S. albidoflavus SP43-XNR_0417, was able to produce not only homohesperetin from hesperetin, but also different mono-, di-, tri- and tetra-methylated derivatives on other flavanones, flavones and stilbenes, revealing a broad substrate flexibility. Additionally, in vitro experiments were conducted using the purified enzyme on the substrates previously tested in vivo, demonstrating doubtless the capability of XNR_0417 to generate various methylated derivatives.

Building noise maps in Uruguay: a practical methodology

Uruguay is a small country in Latin America, with around 3400000 inhabitants. Its environmental legislation is still incomplete; for example, there is no national regulation on noise but only departmental Ordinances in each of its 19 Departments. Although it is well-known that they are very good management tools, noise maps are not mandatory in Uruguay. The Research Group on Environmental Noise at Universidad de la República has developed a research project that seeks the best practical methodology to build noise maps through manual measurements. The field work included the determination of the stabilization time of noise measurements, the comparison between long- and short-time measurements, the comparison between measurements taken at 1,20 m and 3,50 m, and the obtention of a national curve of highly annoyed people (%HA) with basis in the field measurements and simultaneous survey carried out on site. In this paper we present the results of these works and the proposed methodology for building noise maps throughout the country.