Comparative study of the lipid profiles of oils from kernels of peanut, babassu, coconut, castor and grape by GC-FID and Raman spectroscopy

The characterization of the lipid profiles of oils extracted from the kernel of seeds and nuts of peanut (Arachis hypogaea), babassu (Attalea speciosa), coconut (Cocos nucifera), castor (Ricinus communis) and grape (Vitis vinifera) was performed by using Raman spectroscopy and gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Chromatographic analyses showed that coconut and babassu oils are composed essentially by saturated fatty acids (SFA), whereas the others are composed mainly by unsaturated fatty acids (UFA). The comparison of commercial and homemade castor oils showed the former have a lower level of ricinoleic acid at ca. 58%. Spectroscopic analyses of three distinct castor oils showed their profiles could be differentiated by marker features ascribed to carbonyl modes which were correlated with storage time. The comparison between the Raman spectra of standard samples of fatty acids with the samples of oils allowed the assignment of the spectroscopic features and the characterization of marker bands for the degree of unsaturation.

First Multiplatform Application for Pharmacies in Spain, Which Guides the Prescription of Probiotics According to Pathology

[Abstract] The study of the intestinal microbiota is one of the biggest challenges in the current clinical environment. In this context, probiotics have been a focus of interest to achieve the stability of the intestinal microbiota, due to probiotics’ key role in its regulation. The development of an automated system that allows practitioners to easily search for the optimal probiotic is the main objective of this study. Although it is true that there have been previous attempts of applications with this purpose, only authorized probiotics available in the countries of origin, Canada and the USA, were included. This event was a limitation when looking for those endorsed in other countries such as Spain. Thus, a system has been developed from free and multiplatform technologies that allow its use without any cost, finding, in a simple way, those probiotics that would be ideal for each pathology, either from a browser or from a cell phone.This work was supported by the “Collaborative Project in Genomic Data Integration (CICLOGEN)” PI17/01826 funded by the Carlos III Health Institute from the Spanish National plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2013–2016, the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF)—“A way to build Europe.”, the General Directorate of Culture, Education and University Management of Xunta de Galicia (Ref. ED431D 2017/16), the “Galician Network for Colorectal Cancer Research” (Ref. ED431D 2017/23) and Competitive Reference Groups (Ref. ED431C 2018/49). The funding body did not have a role in the experimental design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, and writing of this manuscript. CITIC, as a Research Center accredited by Galician University System, is funded by “Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Universidades” of Xunta de Galicia, 80% co-financed by the ERDF Funds, ERDF Operational Programme Galicia 2014-2020, and the remaining 20% by “Secretaría Xeral de Universidades” (Grant ED431G 2019/01)Xunta de Galicia; ED431D 2017/16Xunta de Galicia; ED431D 2017/23Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2018/49Xunta de Galicia; ED431G 2019/0

Probiotic: First Prescriptive Application of Probiotics in Spain

[Abstract] The study of the intestinal microbiota is one of the greatest challenges in today’s clinical environment. Thus, probiotics have been established as a focus for its stability, as they play a key role in its regulation. The development of an automated technique that allows the practitioners the smooth search for the optimal probiotic is postulated as the main objective of this study. Despite the existence of previous attempts at applications for this purpose, they have only been carried out for the countries of origin, preventing them from being used in others such as Spain. Therefore, a system has been developed with open, multi-platform, and free technologies, which manages to locate the optimal probiotic for each pathology.Xunta de Galicia; ED431G/01Xunta de Galicia; ED431D 2017/16Xunta de Galicia; ED431D 2017/2

Anti-apoptotic seminal vesicle protein IV inhibits cell-mediated immunity.

The in vitro effect of seminal vesicle protein IV (SV-IV) on the cytotoxic activity of human natural or acquired cellular immunity has been investigated by standard immunological procedures, a 51Cr-release cytotoxicity assay, and labeled-ligand binding experiments. The data obtained demonstrate that: (1) fluoresceinated or [125I]-labeled SV-IV binds specifically to the surface of human purified non-adherent monuclear cells (NA-MNC); (2)SV-IV suppresses the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells against K562 target cells, that of IL-2-stimulated NK (LAK) cells against DAUDI target cells, and that of VEL antigen-sensitized cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) against VEL target cells; (3) treatment of K562 target cells alone with SV-IV decreases their susceptibility to NK-induced lysis. These findings indicate that the protein SV-IV has a marked in vitro inhibitory effect on NK, LAK and CTL cytotoxicity, providing a better understanding of its immune regulatory functions

Integrated Water Resources Management: STRIVER Efforts to Assess the Current Status and Future Possibilities in Four River Basins

The contemporary concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) was primarily conceived for the purpose of promoting sustainable water management. There are many elements included in modern IWRM perceptions, e.g., natural resource utilization planning combined with at strategy to balance between social, economic and environmental objectives based on an overall sustainability concept. However, the concept behind IWRM is not new. The historical development of the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) can be found in Rahaman and Varis (2005).Peer Reviewe

Argon Laser in Human Tympanoplasty

We describe the use of an argon laser in human tympanoplasty. The laser was used in two different ways: (1) to stop the bleeding of small vessels in the external auditory channel and eardrum remains; and (2) to spot-weld the new eardrum graft in the proper position. Seven operations were performed. We report the results

Qualità e grado di conservazione del paesaggio vegetale del litorale sabbioso del Veneto (Italia settentrionale).

Puberty is a complex physiological event by which animals mature into an adult capable of sexual reproduction. In order to enhance our understanding of the genes and regulatory pathways and networks involved in puberty, we characterized the transcriptome of five reproductive tissues (i.e. hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovary, uterus, and endometrium) as well as tissues known to be relevant to growth and metabolism needed to achieve puberty (i.e., longissimus dorsi muscle, adipose, and liver). These tissues were collected from pre- and post-pubertal Brangus heifers (3/8 Brahman; Bos indicus x 5/8 Angus; Bos taurus) derived from a population of cattle used to identify quantitative trait loci associated with fertility traits (i.e., age of first observed corpus luteum (ACL), first service conception (FSC), and heifer pregnancy (HPG)). In order to exploit the power of complementary omics analyses, pre- and post-puberty co-expression gene networks were constructed by combining the results from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), RNA-Seq, and bovine transcription factors. Eight tissues among pre-pubertal and post-pubertal Brangus heifers revealed 1,515 differentially expressed and 943 tissue-specific genes within the 17,832 genes confirmed by RNA-Seq analysis. The hypothalamus experienced the most notable up-regulation of genes via puberty (i.e., 204 out of 275 genes). Combining the results of GWAS and RNA-Seq, we identified 25 loci containing a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associated with ACL, FSC, and (or) HPG. Seventeen of these SNP were within a gene and 13 of the genes were expressed in uterus or endometrium. Multi-tissue omics analyses revealed 2,450 co-expressed genes relative to puberty. The pre-pubertal network had 372,861 connections whereas the post-pubertal network had 328,357 connections. A sub-network from this process revealed key transcriptional regulators (i.e., PITX2, FOXA1, DACH2, PROP1, SIX6, etc.). Results from these multi-tissue omics analyses improve understanding of the number of genes and their complex interactions for puberty in cattle

Infrared nanoscopy of Dirac plasmons at the graphene-SiO2 interface

We report on infrared (IR) nanoscopy of 2D plasmon excitations of Dirac fermions in graphene. This is achieved by confining mid-IR radiation at the apex of a nanoscale tip: an approach yielding two orders of magnitude increase in the value of in-plane component of incident wavevector q compared to free space propagation. At these high wavevectors, the Dirac plasmon is found to dramatically enhance the near-field interaction with mid-IR surface phonons of SiO2 substrate. Our data augmented by detailed modeling establish graphene as a new medium supporting plasmonic effects that can be controlled by gate voltage.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Cytogenetical studies in five Atlantic Anguilliformes fishes

The order Anguilliformes comprises 15 families, 141 genera and 791 fish species. Eight families had at least one karyotyped species, with a prevalence of 2n = 38 chromosomes and high fundamental numbers (FN). The only exception to this pattern is the family Muraenidae, in which the eight species analyzed presented 2n = 42 chromosomes. Despite of the large number of Anguilliformes species, karyotypic reports are available for only a few representatives. In the present work, a species of Ophichthidae, Myrichthys ocellatus (2n = 38; 8m+14sm+10st+6a; FN = 70) and four species of Muraenidae, Enchelycore nigricans (2n = 42; 6m+8sm+12st+16a; FN = 68), Gymnothorax miliaris (2n = 42; 14m+18sm+10st; FN = 84), G. vicinus (2n = 42; 8m+6sm+28a; FN = 56) and Muraena pavonina (2n = 42; 6m+4sm+32a; FN = 52), collected along the Northeastern coast of Brazil and around the St Peter and St Paul Archipelago were analyzed. Typical large metacentric chromosomes were observed in all species. Conspicuous polymorphic heterochromatic regions were observed at the centromeres of most chromosomes and at single ribosomal sites. The data obtained for Ophichthidae corroborate the hypothesis of a karyotypic diversification mainly due to pericentric inversions and Robertsonian rearrangements, while the identification of constant chromosome numbers in Muraenidae (2n = 42) suggests a karyotype diversification through pericentric inversions and heterochromatin processes