Tunable fragmentation of organic molecules in laser ablation glow discharge time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A DC-pulsed glow discharge (GD) has distinct temporal regimes which are characterized by "softer” or "harder” ionization of analytes introduced into the discharge. It is thus possible to obtain both molecular weight and structural fragment information from the same spectra. In order to extend the capabilities of this technique a laser ablation (LA) sampling system was coupled to a DC-pulsed GD and to a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer (MS) for characterizing organic samples such as oleic acid, reserpine, two different peptides, and a polymer. Both hard and soft ionization regimes were studied. These LAGD-TOFMS results were compared to matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) spectra using the same compounds (i.e., analytes, concentration, and matrix). It was found that LAGD offers tunable ionization and provides a reduced matrix dependence. However, the sensitivity achieved by the prototype LAGD-TOFMS was significantly lower when compared with commercially available MALDI-TOFMS instrumentation. Since LAGD-TOFMS is rather new, some technical details to increase its sensitivity are discussed. Figure Schematics of molecular and structural information of oleic acid molecule during the different temporal regimes of a pulsed G

Beliefs about others' intentions determine whether cooperation is the faster choice

Is collaboration the fast choice for humans? Past studies proposed that cooperation is a behavioural default, based on Response Times (RT) findings. Here we contend that the individual’s reckoning of the immediate social environment shapes her predisposition to cooperate and, hence, response latencies. In a social dilemma game, we manipulate the beliefs about the partner’s intentions to cooperate and show that they act as a switch that determines cooperation and defection RTs; when the partner’s intention to cooperate is perceived as high, cooperation choices are speeded up, while defection is slowed down. Importantly, this social context effect holds across varying expected payoffs, indicating that it modulates behaviour regardless of choices’ similarity in monetary terms. Moreover, this pattern is moderated by individual variability in social preferences: Among conditional cooperators, high cooperation beliefs speed up cooperation responses and slow down defection. Among free-riders, defection is always faster and more likely than cooperation, while high cooperation beliefs slow down all decisions. These results shed new light on the conflict of choices account of response latencies, as well as on the intuitive cooperation hypothesis, and can help to correctly interpret and reconcile previous, apparently contradictory results, by considering the role of context in social dilemmas

Strong, bold, and kind : Self-control and cooperation in social dilemmas

Financial support from the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet), from Formas through the program Human Cooperation to Manage Natural Resources (COMMONS), and the Ideenfonds of the University of Munich is gratefully acknowledged.We develop a model that relates self-control to cooperation patterns in social dilemmas, and we test the model in a laboratory public goods experiment. As predicted, we find a robust association between stronger self-control and higher levels of cooperation, and the association is at its strongest when the decision maker’s risk aversion is low and the cooperation levels of others high. We interpret the pattern as evidence for the notion that individuals may experience an impulse to act in self-interest—and that cooperative behavior benefits from self-control. Free-riders differ from other contributor types only in their tendency not to have identified a self-control conflict in the first place.PostprintPeer reviewe

Clinical Characteristics and Management of Children with Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction and Severe Vesicoureteral Reflux: Preliminary Results

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the physiopathology of isolated or coexisting ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJ-O) and high-grade vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), including the clinical characteristics and management.Summary background data: The association between UPJ-O and VUR was reported more frequently in boys with high-grade VUR; however, the physiopathology of concomitant UPJ-O and VUR is still unknown. Primary pyeloplasty, followed by ureteral reimplantation, if needed, has been widely accepted, although VUR should be treated first (most often by endoscopic treatment) in the presence of a functional obstruction.Methods: We reviewed the charts of 78 children with isolated or coexisting high-grade VUR/UPJ-O. Among the children, 14 had isolated UPJ-O, 16 had high-grade VUR/ UPJ-O, and 48 had high-grade VUR. Children with other urological or extrarenal conditions were excluded.Results: Patients with isolated UPJ-O showed significantly different clinical characteristics compared with the other two groups of patients with high-grade VUR. Among the patients of group 2, 3/13 (23%) showed progression from functional to obstructive UPJ-O after endoscopic treatment. All of them underwent secondary pyeloplasty, which was complicated at follow-up by VUR recurrence needing further endoscopic injection.Conclusion: We suggest that UPJ-O in high-grade VUR patients is just a complication of severe VUR that produces structural changes in predisposed children. The treatment of children with associated high-grade VUR/UPJ-O may be complicated by the progression of urinary flow obstruction or VUR recurrence after pyeloplasty. Endoscopic treatment of high-grade VUR is associated with a high rate of VUR recurrence in children requiring subsequent pyeloplasty.Keywords: Children, Endoscopic Treatment, Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction, Vesicoureteral Reflu

Combined Metagenomic and Metabolomic Analysis to Evaluate the Comprehensive Effects of Trichoderma and 6PP on Vineyard Ecosystems

Viticulture is vital to Italy’s agricultural sector, since it significantly contributes to the global wine industry. Microflora and microfauna are considered important factors for soil quality, improving grapevine growth, and promoting resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. This study examined the impact of selected Trichoderma strains (T. harzianum M10 and T. afroharzianum T22) and their secondary metabolite 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6PP) on the soil microbiome, the metabolome, and physiological changes of grapevines. Before treatment application, low levels of plant-parasitic nematodes (Rotylenchulus spp., Xiphinema pachtaicum) were found in the soil, together with pathogens (Fusarium spp., Neonectria spp.) and beneficial microbes (Clonostachys rosea, Pseudomonas spp.). Metagenomic analysis revealed significant treatment impacts in the soil microbiome, with T22 and 6PP treatments increasing Proteobacteria abundance, while slight variations of fungal communities and no significant differences in nematofauna were found. Metabolomic analysis showed that treatments induced grapevines to produce antioxidant secondary metabolites able to boost plant defense against abiotic and biotic stresses and increase nutraceutical grapes’ value. Finally, T22 treatment increased the grapes’ winemaking value, raising their Brix grade. Our results demonstrate that microbial or metabolite-based treatments could affect the soil microbiome composition, grapevine health and resilience, and grapes’ oenological and nutraceutical properties

Regular Consumption of a Flavanol-rich Chocolate can Improve Oxidant Stress in Young Soccer Players

The consumption of a diet rich in certain flavonoids, including the flavanol sub-class, has been associated with a reduced risk for vascular disease. We evaluated the effects of the regular consumption (14 d) of a flavanol-containing milk chocolate (FCMC) or cocoa butter chocolate (CBC) on variables related to vascular disease risk, oxidative stress and physical activity. Twenty-eight free-living, young (18–20 years old) male soccer players consumed daily 105 g of FCMC (168 mg of flavanols) or CBC (<5 mg of flavanols), as part of their normal diet. The consumption of FCMC was significantly associated with a decrease in diastolic blood pressure (-5 mm Hg), mean blood pressure (-5 mm Hg), plasma cholesterol (-11%), LDL-cholesterol (-15%), malondialdehyde (-12%), urate (-11%) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity (-11%), and an increase in vitamin E/cholesterol (+12%). No relevant changes in these variables were associated with CBC consumption. No changes in the plasma levels of (-)-epicatechin were observed following analysis of fasting blood samples. In conclusion, FCMC consumption was associated with changes in several variables often associated with cardiovascular health and oxidant stress. The presence of significant quantities of flavanols in FCMC is likely to have been one of the contributing factors to these results