Enhancing Jatropha oil extraction yield from the kernels assisted by a xylan-degrading bacterium to preserve protein structure

We investigated the use of bacterial cells isolated from paddy crab for the extraction of oil from Jatropha seed kernels in aqueous media while simultaneously preserving the protein structures of this protein-rich endosperm. A bacterial strain—which was marked as MB4 and identified by means of 16S rDNA sequencing and physiological characterization as either Bacillus pumilus or Bacillus altitudinis—enhanced the extraction yield of Jatropha oil. The incubation of an MB4 starter culture with preheated kernel slurry in aqueous media with the initial pH of 5.5 at 37 °C for 6 h liberated 73% w/w of the Jatropha oil. Since MB4 produces xylanases, it is suggested that strain MB4 facilitates oil liberation via degradation of hemicelluloses which form the oil-containing cell wall structure of the kernel. After MB4 assisted oil extraction, SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the majority of Jatropha proteins were preserved in the solid phase of the extraction residues. The advantages offered by this process are: protein in the residue can be further processed for other applications, no purified enzyme preparation is needed, and the resulting oil can be used for biodiesel production

Low prevalence of H. pylori Infection in HIV-Positive Patients in the Northeast of Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study conducted in Northeastern Brazil, evaluated the prevalence of <it>H. pylori </it>infection and the presence of gastritis in HIV-infected patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>There were included 113 HIV-positive and 141 age-matched HIV-negative patients, who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for dyspeptic symptoms. <it>H. pylori </it>status was evaluated by urease test and histology.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of <it>H. pylori </it>infection was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in HIV-infected (37.2%) than in uninfected (75.2%) patients. There were no significant differences between <it>H. pylori </it>status and gender, age, HIV viral load, antiretroviral therapy and the use of antibiotics. A lower prevalence of <it>H. pylori </it>was observed among patients with T CD4 cell count below 200/mm³; however, it was not significant. Chronic active antral gastritis was observed in 87.6% of the HIV-infected patients and in 780.4% of the control group (p = 0.11). <it>H. pylori </it>infection was significantly associated with chronic active gastritis in the antrum in both groups, but it was not associated with corpus chronic active gastritis in the HIV-infected patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We demonstrated that the prevalence of <it>H. pylori </it>was significantly lower in HIV-positive patients compared with HIV-negative ones. However, corpus gastritis was frequently observed in the HIV-positive patients, pointing to different mechanisms than <it>H. pylori </it>infection in the genesis of the lesion.</p

Necrophagous fly assembly: Evaluation of species bait preference in field experiments

The assembly of species that colonize animal organic matter, their relative abundance and dynamics are affected by the environmental and biogeographic conditions to which these resources are exposed. Baited trap studies are essential for research on the diversity, seasonality, distribution and population dynamics of necrophagous flies. Decomposing baits provide the necessary stimulus for flies to aggregate on them. In this study three types of bait of animal origin with different organic chemical composition were compared in terms of the diversity, richness, abundance and species composition of saprophagous flies species that were attracted to them. Bone-meal (BM), cow liver (CL) and rotten chicken viscera (CV) were used as bait to collect flies. A total of 3387 Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae and Muscidae adult flies were collected. Regarding bait preference, CV was the most attractive in terms of abundance of flies of the three most relevant families to medical and legal entomology compared to CL and BM.Fil: Vilte, R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinar de Biología Vegetal (P). Grupo Vinculado Centro de Relevamiento y Evaluación de Recursos Agrícolas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Gleiser, Raquel M.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinar de Biología Vegetal (P). Grupo Vinculado Centro de Relevamiento y Evaluación de Recursos Agrícolas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Battan Horenstein, Moira. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinar de Biología Vegetal (P). Grupo Vinculado Centro de Relevamiento y Evaluación de Recursos Agrícolas y Naturales; Argentin

Tables of the Radar Cross Sections of Water Spheres

This work has been mainly supported by the Office of Naval Research under Contract NR-082-164. The National Science Foundation under grant No. G-8216 also contributed partial support.This title from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics Reports collection is made available by the Department of Hydrology & Atmospheric Sciences and the University Libraries, University of Arizona. If you have questions about titles in this collection, please contact [email protected]

Ensamble de moscas saprófagas de la Región Chaco serrana de Córdoba

La materia orgánica en descomposición de origen animal representa un hábitat efímero y heterogéneo que ofrece una fuente de alimento para una amplia variedad de organismos, especialmente para las especies saprófagas. Muchas de éstas se distribuyen de manera diferencial, según condiciones biogeográficas, observándose especies cosmopolitas, endémicas o introducidas. El objetivo general de este trabajo fue conocer la biodiversidad y caracterizar la comunidad de dípteros caliptrados saprófagos, tomando como área de estudio localidades serranas de Córdoba. Se seleccionó la zona de Villa Los Reartes, Valle de Calamuchita. En el área de estudio, se seleccionaron 24 sitios en los cuales se colocó una trampa cebada con uno de los tres tipos de cebo (harina de hueso, vísceras de pollo o hígado vacuno), que permanecieron expuestas por cinco días consecutivos, una vez por mes durante el verano. Se recolectó un total de 4.926 especímenes adultos, de los cuales el 68,6% pertenecieron a 29 especies de las familias Calliphoridae, Muscidae y Sarcophagidae. Las especies Lucilia ochricornis, Chrysomyia albiceps y Chrysomyia megacephala (Calliphoridae) fueron las más abundantes del total de dípteros colectados. La diversidad, composición y abundancia de especies variaron entre los sitios, encontrando diferencias significativas sobre el tipo de cebo utilizado, siendo las capturas con vísceras de pollo significativamente más abundantes y diversas.Fil: Vilte, R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinar de Biología Vegetal (P). Grupo Vinculado Centro de Relevamiento y Evaluación de Recursos Agrícolas y Naturales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Gleiser, Raquel M.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinar de Biología Vegetal (P). Grupo Vinculado Centro de Relevamiento y Evaluación de Recursos Agrícolas y Naturales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Battan Horenstein, Moira. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaX Congreso Argentino de EntomologíaMendozaArgentinaUniversidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet. Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Árida