Diversity and functional properties of lactic acid bacteria isolated from wild fruits and flowers present in northern Argentina

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are capable of converting carbohydrate substrates into organic acids (mainly lactic acid) and producing a wide range of metabolites. Due to their interesting beneficial properties, LAB are widely used as starter cultures, as probiotics, and as microbial cell factories. Exploring LAB present in unknown niches may lead to the isolation of unique species or strains with relevant technological properties. Autochthonous rather than allochthonous starter cultures are preferred in the current industry of fermented food products, due to better adaptation and performance of autochthonous strains to the matrix they originate from. In this work, the lactic microbiota of eight different wild tropical types of fruits and four types of flowers were studied. The ability of the isolated strains to produce metabolites of interest to the food industry was evaluated. The presence of 21 species belonging to the genera Enterococcus, Fructobacillus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, and Weissella was evidenced by using culture-dependent techniques. The isolated LAB corresponded to 95 genotypically differentiated strains by applying rep-PCR and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene; subsequently, representative strains of the different isolated species were studied for technological properties, such as fast growth rate and acidifying capacity; pectinolytic and cinnamoyl esterase activities, and absence of biogenic amine biosynthesis. Additionally, the strains' capacity to produce ethyl esters as well as mannitol was evaluated. The isolated fruit- and flower-origin LAB displayed functional properties that validate their potential use in the manufacture of fermented fruit-based products setting the background for the design of novel functional foods.Fil: Ruiz Rodríguez, Luciana Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Mohamed, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Bleckwedel, Juliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Medina, Roxana Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: De Vuyst, Luc. Vrije Unviversiteit Brussel; BélgicaFil: Hebert, Elvira Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Mozzi, Fernanda Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentin

Gestión del proceso de comunicación social. Práctica profesional ineludible en la conducción de la sociedad cubana contemporánea

The article aims to present a bibliographical review on the process of social communication and its inevitable management to illustrate and raise awareness of the importance it currently has. He starts from the understanding that the name social communication implies all expressive works that have some collective dimension, in which he is the protagonist of articulations/disarticulations of things, behaviors, and ideas. This condition of possibility is given by a level of complexity that is unknown in our country due to the prevalence of instrumental visions that are harmful. It will be assertive and productive when it is channeled and driven through a strategic conception and managed in a conscious and inclusive manner of all its components and possible actions. This makes it possible to make social communication coherent with the aspirations and structural and functional actions that it inevitably accompanies and objective, among them the processes of decision-making and government management.El artículo tiene como objetivo exponer una revisión bibliográfica sobre el proceso de la comunicación social y su inevitable gestión para ilustrar y concientizar la importancia que actualmente posee. Parte del entendido que la denominación comunicación social implica a todos los trabajos expresivos que tengan alguna dimensión colectiva, en la cual resulta protagonista de articulaciones/desarticulaciones de cosas, conductas e ideas. Esta condición de posibilidad le es dada por un nivel de complejidad que se desconoce en nuestro país por la prevalencia de visiones instrumentales que resultan siendo nocivas. Ella será asertiva y productiva cuando esté encauzada y conducida mediante una concepción estratégica y gestionada de manera consciente e integradora de todos sus componentes y acciones posibles. Ello permite hacer a la comunicación social coherente con las aspiraciones y actuaciones estructurales y funcionales a las que inevitablemente acompaña y objetiva, entre ellas los procesos de toma de decisiones y dirección gubernamentales

Pining for answers: Study of cationic amino acids (CATs) transport in maritime pine Pinus pinaster Aiton.

Amino acid (AA) transporters are membrane proteins involved in AA mobilization within and between cells and cells compartments. In plants, these transporters are responsible of AA transport from sink to source organelle/cell and vice versa. They have a variety of biological functions, including phloem loading and unloading, seed development, intracellular transport, and organic nitrogen (N) assimilation in roots (Dinkeloo et al., 2018). Widhalm et al. (2015) confirmed the existence of a cationic AA transporter in Petunia hybrida (PhCAT) that is involved in Phe transport from the plastids to the cytosol in flowers. Pinus pinaster is a conifer model tree with ecological and economical importance due to its forestry and biotechnological interest. Molecular studies have been developed, especially related with N transport, metabolism, and regulation as well as wood formation (Castro-Rodríguez et al., 2016, 2017; Ortigosa et al., 2020, 2022). The objective of this study is to identify cationic amino acid transporters (CATs) in maritime pine (P. pinaster) and to elucidate the intracellular and intercellular transport of amino acids. In our research group, 9 CATs have been identified in P. pinaster (PpCATs) using differential transcriptomic profiling in different tissues. The structure and topology of the membrane proteins, their gene expression levels and subcellular localization have been studied for PpCAT3, PpCAT9, PpCAT10 and PpCAT11. PpCAT3 and PpCAT9 are localized in the plasma membrane, PpCAT11 in the tonoplast while PpCAT10 is found in the chloroplast membrane. Furthermore, the localization of PpCAT10 was verified by chloroplast isolation and confirmed using an organelle marker. The location of PpCAT10 in the plastid membrane and its expression pattern suggest that this AA transporter has a critical role in AA transport from plastids to the cytosol (and/or vice versa) during seasonal growth in maritime pine.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

La cadena de valor de fibra orgánica en la patagonia argentina

La presente investigación analiza la cadena de valor de un sector textil naciente cuyo insumo principal, la fibra orgánica, es un producto altamente diferenciado y demandado en el mercado internacional. La financiación se obtuvo mediante el Concurso de Proyectos de Investigación Científica para el Desarrollo Regional (Universia Argentina-Banco Río, 2005). La principal región productora de lana en la Argentina es la Patagónica, que cubre alrededor de 520.000 has., con un stock total de 404.677 cabezas de ovinos y 3.870 cabezas de guanaco con posibilidades ciertas de exportar alrededor de 1.000 toneladas de fibra orgánica. El objetivo general de este proyecto es identificar los componentes cualitativos y cuantitativos de la cadena de valor para fibra y textiles orgánicos para en una etapa posterior simular diferentes escenarios de comportamiento de los actores involucrados en la cadena. Las Hipótesis a verificar en esta investigación son las siguientes: * Las empresas argentinas poseen ventajas competitivas a partir de la estrategia de diferenciación de un producto altamente apreciado por los consumidores por su carácter de orgánico. * El diseño y la ejecución de estrategias eficientes se encuentran condicionados por el valor del producto, los costos de insumos estratégicos, la certificación y las exigencias de calidad para acceder a los mercados. La metodología de análisis la constituye, por un lado, el Enfoque de Cadena de Valor y Ventaja Competitiva propuesta por Porter (1985). Asimismo, para la cuantificación del valor económico creado en cada etapa se aplica el enfoque de gerencia estratégica de costos de Sank Govindarajan (1997). Finalmente, se utilizará un modelo de simulación dinámico integrador de las perspectivas productivas y socio-económicas de esta cadena de valor (Van Wagenberg et al; 2005). La población objeto de estudio está representada por productores de materia prima, empresas de textiles orgánicos y consumidores ubicados en la Región Patagónica.Fil: Rodríguez, Elsa Mirta M. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Lupín, Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Medina, Juan Jorge. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Economía y Sociología; Argentina.Fil: Lacaze, María Victoria. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Reeb, Pablo. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina

Los recursos informativos y las plantas medicinales

Se realiza un estudio exhaustivo en el Sistema de Información en Ciencias Médicas sobre los temas relacionados con las plantas medicinales, analizando los recursos informativos con que cuentan los profesionales de la salud, en la atención primaria de salud, además de analizar la presencia de la temática en las publicaciones seriadas editadas en Cuba. Se realizaron búsquedas en la biblioteca especializada del Políclinico Docente de Madruga de forma manual; en las bases de datos internacionales LILACS y MEDLINE; en la Biblioteca Médica Nacional y en INFOMED, que es la red electrónica cubana de transmisión de información para la salud, además de visitarse el Centro de Documentación en Medicina Natural. De la búsqueda realizada, se obtuvo que el tema aparece disperso en las publicaciones seriadas estudiadas y no en todas apareció tratado el tema. Se concluye que publicaciones importantes en el tema, no llegan a todos los niveles por la falta de tecnología de punta. Se abordan algunas sugerencias para ampliar los conocimientos de la comunidad científica en tal sentido

Flexible Hybrid Circuit Fully Inkjet-Printed: Surface Mount Devices Assembled by Silver Nanoparticles-Based Inkjet Ink

Nowadays, inkjet-printed devices such as transistors are still unstable in air and have poor performances. Moreover, the present electronics applications require a high degree of reliability and quality of their properties. In order to accomplish these application requirements, hybrid electronics is fulfilled by combining the advantages of the printing technologies with the surface-mount technology. In this work, silver nanoparticle-based inkjet ink (AgNP ink) is used as a novel approach to connect surface-mount devices (SMDs) onto inkjet-printed pads, conducted by inkjet printing technology. Excellent quality AgNP ink-junctions are ensured with high resolution picoliter drop jetting at low temperature (∼150 °C). Electrical, mechanical, and morphological characterizations are carried out to assess the performance of the AgNP ink junction. Moreover, AgNP ink is compared with common benchmark materials (i.e., silver epoxy and solder). Electrical contact resistance characterization shows a similar performance between the AgNP ink and the usual ones. Mechanical characterization shows comparable shear strength for AgNP ink and silver epoxy, and both present higher adhesion than solder. Morphological inspections by field-emission scanning electron microscopy confirm a high quality interface of the silver nanoparticle interconnection. Finally, a flexible hybrid circuit on paper controlled by an Arduino board is manufactured, demonstrating the viability and scalability of the AgNP ink assembling technique

A Proteomic Study of the Bioactivity of Annona muricata Leaf Extracts in HT-1080 Fibrosarcoma Cells.

Graviola (Annona muricata) is a tropical plant with many traditional ethnobotanic uses and pharmacologic applications. A metabolomic study of both aqueous and DMSO extracts from Annona muricata leaves recently allowed us to identify dozens of bioactive compounds. In the present study, we use a proteomic approach to detect altered patterns in proteins on both conditioned media and extracts of HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells under treatment conditions, revealing new potential bioactivities of Annona muricata extracts. Our results reveal the complete sets of deregulated proteins after treatment with aqueous and DMSO extracts from Annona muricata leaves. Functional enrichment analysis of proteomic data suggests deregulation of cell cycle and iron metabolism, which are experimentally validated in vitro. Additional experimental data reveal that DMSO extracts protect HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells and HMEC-1 endothelial cells from ferroptosis. Data from our proteomic study are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD042354.Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Evaluation of Three Methods for CPR Training to Lifeguards: a Randomised Trial Using Traditional Procedures and New Technologies

[Abstract] Background and objectives: When the drowning timeline evolves and drowning occurs, the lifeguard tries to mitigate the event by applying the last link of the drowning survival chain with the aim of treating hypoxia. Quality CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and the training of lifeguards are the fundamental axes of drowning survival. Mobile applications and other feedback methods have emerged as strong methods for the learning and training of basic CPR in the last years so, in this study, a randomised clinical trial has been carried out to compare the traditional method as the use of apps or manikins with a feedback system as a method of training to improve the quality of resuscitation. Materials and Methods: The traditional training (TT), mobile phone applications (AP) and feedback manikins (FT) are compared. The three cohorts were subsequently evaluated through a manikin providing feedback, and a data report on the quality of the manoeuvres was obtained. Results: Significant differences were found between the traditional manikin and the manikin with real-time feedback regarding the percentage of compressions with correct depth (30.8% (30.4) vs. 68.2% (32.6); p = 0.042). Hand positioning, percentage correct chest recoil and quality of compressions exceeded 70% of correct performance in all groups with better percentages in the FT (TT vs. FT; p < 0.05). Conclusions: As a conclusion, feedback manikins are better learning tools than traditional models and apps as regards training chest compression. Ventilation values are low in all groups, but improve with the feedback manikin

Evaluation of Three Methods for CPR Training to Lifeguards: A Randomised Trial Using Traditional Procedures and New Technologies

[EN] Background and objectives: When the drowning timeline evolves and drowning occurs, the lifeguard tries to mitigate the event by applying the last link of the drowning survival chain with the aim of treating hypoxia. Quality CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and the training of lifeguards are the fundamental axes of drowning survival. Mobile applications and other feedback methods have emerged as strong methods for the learning and training of basic CPR in the last years so, in this study, a randomised clinical trial has been carried out to compare the traditional method as the use of apps or manikins with a feedback system as a method of training to improve the quality of resuscitation. Materials and Methods: The traditional training (TT), mobile phone applications (AP) and feedback manikins (FT) are compared. The three cohorts were subsequently evaluated through a manikin providing feedback, and a data report on the quality of the manoeuvres was obtained. Results: Significant differences were found between the traditional manikin and the manikin with real-time feedback regarding the percentage of compressions with correct depth (30.8% (30.4) vs. 68.2% (32.6); p = 0.042). Hand positioning, percentage correct chest recoil and quality of compressions exceeded 70% of correct performance in all groups with better percentages in the FT (TT vs. FT; p < 0.05). Conclusions: As a conclusion, feedback manikins are better learning tools than traditional models and apps as regards training chest compression. Ventilation values are low in all groups, but improve with the feedback manikin.S