Evaluation of Different Commercial Sensors for the Development of Their Automatic Irrigation System.

Reliable soil moisture information is essential for accurate irrigation scheduling. A wide range of soil moisture sensors are currently available on the market, but their performance needs to be evaluated as most sensors are calibrated under limited laboratory conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of six commercially available moisture sensors (HydraProbe, Teros 10, Teros 11, EnviroPro, CS616 and Drill & Drop) and three tensiometers (Irrometer RSU-C-34, Teros 32 and Teros 21) and to establish calibration equations for a typical sandy soil of the Doñana National Park (Huelva, Spain).

Biomechanical Characterization of Retinal Pigment Epitheliums Derived from hPSCs Using Atomic Force Microscopy.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a multifunctional cell monolayer located at the back of the eye, plays a crucial role in the survival and homeostasis of photoreceptors. Dysfunction or death of RPE cells leads to retinal degeneration and subsequent vision loss, such as in Age-related macular degeneration and some forms of Retinitis Pigmentosa. Therefore, regenerative medicine that aims to replace RPE cells by new cells obtained from the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, is the focus of intensive research.

Mechanical Characterization of Murine Oocytes by Atomic Force Microscopy.

The quality of murine and human oocytes correlates to their mechanical properties, which are tightly regulated to reach the blastocyst stage after fertilization. Oocytes are nonadherent spherical cells with a diameter over 80 μm. Their mechanical properties have been studied in our lab and others using the micropipette aspiration technique, particularly to obtain the oocyte cortical tension.

Dynamically Mapping the Topography and Stiffness of the Leading Edge of Migrating Cells Using AFM in Fast-QI Mode.

Cell migration profoundly influences cellular function, often resulting in adverse effects in various pathologies including cancer metastasis. Directly assessing and quantifying the nanoscale dynamics of living cell structure and mechanics has remained a challenge. At the forefront of cell movement, the flat actin modules─the lamellipodium and the lamellum─interact to propel cell migration.

Spatial Control of Arp2/3-Induced Actin Polymerization on Phase-Separated Giant Unilamellar Vesicles.

Deciphering the physical mechanisms underlying cell shape changes, while avoiding the cellular interior's complexity, involves the development of controlled basic biomimetic systems that imitate cell functions. In particular, the reconstruction of cytoskeletal dynamics on cell-sized giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) has allowed for the reconstituting of some cell-like processes . In fact, such a bottom-up strategy could be the basis for forming protocells able to reorganize or even move autonomously.

Using Adhesive Micropatterns and AFM to Assess Cancer Cell Morphology and Mechanics.

The mechanical properties of living cells reflect their physiological and pathological state. In particular, cancer cells undergo cytoskeletal modifications that typically make them softer than healthy cells, a property that could be used as a diagnostic tool. However, this is challenging because cells are complex structures displaying a broad range of morphologies when cultured in standard 2D culture dishes.

Methods for Assessing Oocyte Quality: A Review of Literature.

The rate of infertility continues to rise in the world for several reasons, including the age of conception and current lifestyle. We list in this paper potential non-invasive and invasive techniques to assess oocyte quality. We searched the database PubMed using the terms "oocytes AND quality AND evaluation".

Studying actin-induced cell shape changes using Giant Unilamellar Vesicles and reconstituted actin networks.

Cell shape changes that are fuelled by the dynamics of the actomyosin cytoskeleton control cellular processes such as motility and division. However, the mechanisms of interplay between cell membranes and actomyosin are complicated to decipher in the complex environment of the cytoplasm. Using biomimetic systems offers an alternative approach to studying cell shape changes in assays with controlled biochemical composition.

Remodelling of membrane tubules by the actin cytoskeleton.

Inside living cells, the remodelling of membrane tubules by actomyosin networks is crucial for processes such as intracellular trafficking or organelle reshaping. In this review, we first present various in vivo situations in which actin affects membrane tubule remodelling, then we recall some results on force production by actin dynamics and on membrane tubules physics. Finally, we show that our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms by which actomyosin dynamics affect tubule morphology has recently been moved forward.

Recommendations for the sale and promotion of dermocosmetic treatments at the office.

A novel chapter in current medical settings is the promotion and attention of esthetic aspects rather than health issues by health professionals. The human aspiration related to the search for personal beauty has generated new scenarios in medical practice. The Committee on Ethics and Transparency in the Physician-Industry Relationship (CETREMI) of the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico has analyzed this phenomenon and has issued recommendations directed both to medical professionals and to producers and potential consumers of esthetic procedures.

Fluctuations of a membrane nanotube covered with an actin sleeve.

Many biological functions rely on the reshaping of cell membranes, in particular into nanotubes, which are covered in vivo by dynamic actin networks. Nanotubes are subject to thermal fluctuations, but the effect of these on cell functions is unknown. Here, we form nanotubes from liposomes using an optically trapped bead adhering to the liposome membrane.

Actin modulates shape and mechanics of tubular membranes.

The actin cytoskeleton shapes cells and also organizes internal membranous compartments. In particular, it interacts with membranes for intracellular transport of material in mammalian cells, yeast, or plant cells. Tubular membrane intermediates, pulled along microtubule tracks, are formed during this process and destabilize into vesicles.

Finger-like membrane protrusions are favored by heterogeneities in the actin network.

Finger-like protrusions in cells are mostly generated by an active actin cytoskeleton pushing against the cell membrane. Conventional filopodia, localized at the leading edge of the cells, are long and thin protrusions composed of parallel actin filaments that emanate from a branched actin network. In contrast, dendritic filopodia, precursors of dendritic spines in neurons, are entirely filled in with a branched actin network.

Automatic Irrigation Scheduling on a Hedgerow Olive Orchard Using an Algorithm of Water Balance Readjusted with Soil Moisture Sensors.

Recent technological advances have made possible automated irrigation scheduling using decision-support tools. These tools help farmers to make better decisions in the management of their irrigation system, thus increasing yields while preserving water resources. The aim of this study is to evaluate in a commercial plot an automated irrigation system combined with remote-sensing techniques and soil mapping that allows the establishment of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies.

Artificially decreasing cortical tension generates aneuploidy in mouse oocytes.

Human and mouse oocytes' developmental potential can be predicted by their mechanical properties. Their development into blastocysts requires a specific stiffness window. In this study, we combine live-cell and computational imaging, laser ablation, and biophysical measurements to investigate how deregulation of cortex tension in the oocyte contributes to early developmental failure.

Conflicts of interest in medicine. CETREMI recommendations.

Conflicts of interest are situations in which judgment and integrity of medical decisions or actions are influenced by a secondary interest, often of an economic nature. The Committee of Ethics and Transparency in the Physician-Industry Relationship of the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico recognizes that these conflicts occur in health professionals' daily life, but also in public and private institutions that provide health services, as well as in the academy and in research activities. Therefore, it is necessary to identify conflicting situations and always act in accordance with the patient's interest.

Medical prescription: conditioned reflex or conscious reflection?

Writing a prescription or indicating a treatment is usually the last part of medical consultation. This crucial process can be undermined by multiple factors such as limited prescriptive ability, overwork, and lack of reflection or time. Insufficient information about the patient or the treatment affects the prescriptive process and leads to errors that can be serious for patient health.

Self-medication and self-prescription.

Self-medication and self-prescription are actions undertaken by patients; the former, as an element of self-care that involves over-the-counter drugs, and the latter, as a violation of the Statute of Health, since it includes drugs that can only be dispensed with a medical prescription. All the drawbacks that have been attributed to self-medication are actually associated with self-prescription. La automedicación y la autoprescripción son acciones de los pacientes; la primera como elemento del autocuidado que involucra medicamentos de venta libre y la segunda como una violación a la ley de salud, pues comprende medicamentos que solo pueden expenderse con receta.

Importance of the list of essential medicines in medical prescription.

The implementation of an essential medicines list in health institutions allows acquiring and administering a long list of drugs that offers treatment alternatives to physicians, as well as a collegiate academic description of indications, doses, side effects, interactions and cost-benefit analyses, thus facilitating medical prescription and administration of health products. The Committee of Ethics and Transparency in the Physician-Industry Relationship issues several recommendations for optimizing the benefits generated by essential medicines lists. La implementación en instituciones de salud de un cuadro básico permite adquirir y administrar una larga lista de medicamentos que presenta a los médicos las alternativas de tratamiento, así como la descripción académica colegiada de indicaciones, dosis, efectos secundarios, interacciones y análisis de costo-beneficio, con lo que se facilita la prescripción médica y la administración de insumos para la salud.

Conflictos de intereses en medicina. Recomendaciones del CETREMI.

Conflicts of interest are situations in which judgment and integrity of medical decisions or actions are influenced by a secondary interest, often of an economic nature. The Committee of Ethics and Transparency in the Physician-Industry Relationship of the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico recognizes that these conflicts occur in health professionals' daily life, but also in public and private institutions that provide health services, as well as in the academy and in research activities. Therefore, it is necessary to identify conflicting situations and always act in accordance with the patient's interest.

Importancia de la investigación clínica independiente en la medicina: dificultades y recomendaciones.

Clinical research is the most important tool for the identification of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that derive in higher efficacy and safety. Despite its significance, successful implementation of clinical research faces numerous difficulties, with one the most relevant being limited availability of resources for the performance of independent clinical trials. Generally, the pharmaceutical industry absorbs the costs associated with most clinical trials; however, this can generate dissociation between subjects of interest and health priorities when economic interest is the main driver of these protocols.

Libertad de prescripción médica.

Doctors require flexibility for prescription. However, some limits are laid down both by current knowledge and by restrictions imposed by access and rules and regulations. The Committee for Ethics and Transparency in the Physician-Industry Relationship (CETREMI) of the National Academy of Medicine proposes several suggestions to help patients, which include the selection of the best alternatives for each case, formalization of prescription standards variations (doses, drug indications, etc.

[El consentimiento informado: recomendaciones para su documentación].

Informed consent is an indispensable element to obtain adequate patient participation either in research protocols or in therapeutic design. The Committee of Ethics and Transparency in the Physician-Industry Relationship (CETREMI) of the National Academy of Medicine developed several recommendations for informed consent to be documented.