EFFICACY OF ELECTRON BEAM IRRADIATION OF PROCESSED PORK PRODUCTS

The research reported on in this paper was conducted as part of a larger project. That project is on-going and is focused on ascertaining if irradiation of processed meats would be effective and economical. It involved the examination, through modeling, of the irradiation of one of many currently produced ready-to-eat (RTE) convenience-oriented, value-added pork products, sliced boneless ham. The results and findings reported in this paper represent the initial estimates of the cost and potential profitability or economic viability of irradiation of processed meats. The results and findings in this paper should be considered preliminary with extension and verification to be reported in a later paper by the authors. The objective of the portion of that project reported on in this paper was to conduct cost analysis of alternative irradiation methods and to ascertain the cost of each of those methods. Three scenarios were considered for cost analysis. The first scenario was the installation of an X-ray irradiator at an existing meat processing plant. The second scenario was the installation of a Cobalt-60 irradiator at an existing meat processing plant. The third scenario assumed that the meat processor contracted for irradiation services from an off-site company providing such service to a number of clients. For purposes of this study it was assumed that irradiation of sliced boneless ham would result in either a $.06/pound reduction in costs from processor to consumer, a$.06/pound increase in willingness to pay [price] or an equivalent combination of reduced costs and increased price. Total cost per pound for the irradiation process applied to sliced boneless ham ranged from $0.008, at the 200 million pound annual throughput rate using Cobalt-60 irradiation, to$0.069 at the 50 million pound annual throughput rate when contracting with an off-site company.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Antiplasmodial and Cytotoxic Activity of Piper Piedecuestanum Trel. and Yunck

ackground and Objective: Plasmodium resistance to antimalarial drugs has expanded and in tensified, making new and effective antimalarial drugs urgently. The objective of this work was the in vitro evaluation of antiplasmodial activity of extracts of differen t polarity and compounds of the species P. piedecuestanum . Materials and Methods: The plant materials were obtained through successive extractions using solvents of different polarity such as hexane (H), dichloromethane (D), ethyl acetate (A) and methanol (M) and separations techniques for fractionation and isolation of compounds. The antiplasmodial activities of the extracts and compounds were evaluated by SYBR Green I® method and evaluated the cytotoxicit y in the cell lines U-937, HUVEC by the MTT method. Results: The antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activity of the extracts of dichloromethane (PPD) and ethyl ac etate (PPAE) with antiplasmodi al activity of IC 50 = 17.93 μg mL G 1 ; IS = 2.093 and IC 50 = 19.5 μg mL G 1 ; IS = 0.791, respectively are reported for the first time. In addition, from P. piedecuestanum species were isolation and characterization five metabolites 5,8-Hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone(1), 6,7-dimethoxy-5,8- dihydroxyflavone(2), 6,7-dimethoxy-5-hydroxyflavone (mosloflavo ne) (3), 5,6-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (negletein) (4), 5-hydr oxy-7- methoxyflavone (5) and a brominated derivative from (5) named 6,8 bromo-5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone(7). Compound (1) presented promising antiplasmodial activity with an IC 50 = 7.325 μg mL G 1 (25.69 μM); IS HUVEC =13.65. Conclusion: Chemical analysis of extracts and compounds from P. piedecuestanum spices will play a central role in the development and modernization o f an antimalarial herbal traditional in Colombia

The chiggerflea Hectopsylla pulex (Siphonaptera: Tungidae): infestation on Molossus molossus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in the Central Andes of Colombia

Some species of mastiff bats, Molossus Geoffroy, 1805, inhabit human shelters such as houses and barns. Among them, the Pallas’s mastiff bat, Molossus molossus Pallas, 1766, is the most common species in South America. There are a few studies on this bat in Colombia, mostly on colony size, diet, ectoparasite records, and activity patterns in the Andean and Caribbean regions. Here, we provide information on the prevalence of chiggerfleas, Hectopsylla pulex (Haller, 1880), on M. molossus, along with molecular data on the flea, and its distribution in Colombia. In addition, we describe the size and sex ratio of the infested bat colony, located in the central Andes of Colombia. The bat colony was represented by ca. 45 individuals, of which 33 were captured. The colony had more females (25 individuals) than males (8 individuals). A total of four Pallas’s mastiff bats had chiggerfleas, H. pulex, most of which were attached to the bat’s faces and ears. The composition of the colony (sex ratio) and the observed activity times match those reported for other colonies of the species in Colombia. The cytochrome oxidase subunit 1, and the 12S rRNA mitochondrial gene obtained from H. pulex represent the second and first available sequences for the species, respectively. The level of infestation of individuals in the colony was low, similar to that observed in other South American countries, such as Brazil. Finally, the new locality is the seventh confirmed and the highest elevational record of H. pulex in Colombia

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Seleccion de lineas de yuca (Manihot esculenta crantz) para consumo humano directo, en condiciones del Valle del Rio Yeguare, Francisco Morazán, Honduras

60 p.El presente trabajo se llevó a cabo en el campus de la Escuela Agrícola Panamericana (EAP) , Honduras. Se evaluaron 48 líneas de yuca (Manihot esculenta Crantz), en base a Rendimiento de raíces comerciales y fueron seleccionadas 10 líneas para determinarles durabilidad poscosecha, contenido nutricional y características organolépticas. El rendimiento de las 10 líneas osciló entre 34 . 6 y 15. 8 t/ha. Para la evaluación poscosecha se tomaron 27 raíces enteras correspondientes a cada una de las 10 líneas y se colocaron en cajas plásticas a temperatura ambiente para observar el porcentaje de deterioro fisiológico y porcentaje de pérdida de peso. Se usó un Diseño completamente al azar con tres repeticiones. Cada repetición estuvo constituida por una caja con nueve rafees que fueron observadas a los tres, seis y nueve días después de cosecha. Con raíces frescas se realizó un análisis proximal completo y determinación de ácido cianhídrico por el método de destilación alcalina

Depresión en un grupo de jubilados participantes en programas de actividad física y/o asociaciones de la Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 2005 Depression in a group of pensioners belonging to physical activity and /or associations programs, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 2005

Objetivo: Determinar la frecuencia de la depresión en un grupo de jubilados participantes en programas de actividad física y/o asociaciones de la Universidad de Antioquia. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal realizado durante los meses de abril y mayo de 2005. Se seleccionaron 100 jubilados por conveniencia entre los participantes en programas de actividad física y/o asociaciones de la Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín-Colombia, 50 hombres y 50 mujeres con una edad promedio de 65.7 años. Se aplicó la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica de Yesavage y se indagaron algunos aspectos demográficos, económicos, funcionales, afectivo-familiares y de utilización del tiempo. Resultados: Se halló una depresión total del 6%. Los valores más altos se encontraron en mujeres, en quienes tenían menor tiempo de jubilación, en quienes no desempeñaban actividades laborales después de la jubilación, en los que percibían como mala su situación económica y entre los que no hacían ejercicio físico. Se encontró una asociación estadísticamente significativa, principalmente entre la depresión y la percepción de la situación económica como mala (pObjective: To assess the frequency of depression in a group of pensioners belonging to physical activity and/or associations of Universidad de Antioquia. Materials and Methods: A cross descriptive study was carried between April and May 2005. One hundred pensioners taking part in physical activity and/or associations were selected: Fifty men and fifty women. Median age: 65.7 years. The Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale was applied and some demographic, economic, functional, affective, familiar and time use aspects were surveyed. Results: Six per cent total depression was found. Highest values were found in women, in people more recently retired, in people without labor activities after retirement, in people considering they suffer bad economic situation and in persons who do not performed physical activities. A statistically significant was found especially between depression and the feeling of bad economic situation. Conclusions: Depression was inferior compared with other researches. That could be explained by the sample and possibly for the protective factor implicit in group sharing

EFFICACY OF ELECTRON BEAM IRRADIATION OF PROCESSED PORK PRODUCTS

The research reported on in this paper was conducted as part of a larger project. That project is on-going and is focused on ascertaining if irradiation of processed meats would be effective and economical. It involved the examination, through modeling, of the irradiation of one of many currently produced ready-to-eat (RTE) convenience-oriented, value-added pork products, sliced boneless ham. The results and findings reported in this paper represent the initial estimates of the cost and potential profitability or economic viability of irradiation of processed meats. The results and findings in this paper should be considered preliminary with extension and verification to be reported in a later paper by the authors. The objective of the portion of that project reported on in this paper was to conduct cost analysis of alternative irradiation methods and to ascertain the cost of each of those methods. Three scenarios were considered for cost analysis. The first scenario was the installation of an X-ray irradiator at an existing meat processing plant. The second scenario was the installation of a Cobalt-60 irradiator at an existing meat processing plant. The third scenario assumed that the meat processor contracted for irradiation services from an off-site company providing such service to a number of clients. For purposes of this study it was assumed that irradiation of sliced boneless ham would result in either a $.06/pound reduction in costs from processor to consumer, a$.06/pound increase in willingness to pay [price] or an equivalent combination of reduced costs and increased price. Total cost per pound for the irradiation process applied to sliced boneless ham ranged from $0.008, at the 200 million pound annual throughput rate using Cobalt-60 irradiation, to$0.069 at the 50 million pound annual throughput rate when contracting with an off-site company

Confirming the presence of Lasiurus frantzii (Peters, 1870) (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) in South America: more questions than answers

The western or desert red bat, Lasiurus frantzii, is a cryptic insectivore species distributed in the Neotropics from Mexico south through Central America to Panama. L. frantzii was long considered a subspecies of the red bat, Lasiurus blossevillii, but recently it was elevated to full-species status based on genetic information. Here we present evidence of the presence of L. frantzii in the Andean Region of Colombia, confirming the species' presence in South America; the new record, from 3836 m a.s.l., is also the highest elevation known for the species. We suggest that L. frantzii might be widely distributed in trans-Andean areas of Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and perhaps Peru and Bolivia. However, a review and exploration of additional morphological traits to identify the species are necessary because of the uncertainty of the distribution of L. frantzii

Supplementary material 1 from: Ramírez-Chaves HE, Cardona-Giraldo A, Ossa-López PA, Arias Monsalve HF, Rivera-Páez FA, Morales-Martínez DM (2023) Confirming the presence of Lasiurus frantzii (Peters, 1870) (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) in South America: more questions than answers. ZooKeys 1180: 145-157. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1180.105497

Voucher number and Genbank accession codes of the sequences of Lasiurus used in this stud

Production and characterization of a human lysosomal recombinant iduronate-2-sulfatase produced in Pichia pastoris

Hunter syndrome (Mucopolysaccharidosis II, MPS II) is an X‐linked lysosomal storage disease produced by the deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme iduronate‐2‐sulfatase (IDS). Currently, MPS II patients are mainly treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) using recombinant enzymes produced in mammalian cells. As an alternative, several studies have shown the production of active and therapeutic forms of lysosomal proteins in microorganisms. In this paper, we report the production and characterization of a recombinant IDS produced in the yeast Pichia pastoris (prIDS). We evaluated the effect of culture conditions and gene sequence optimization on prIDS production. The results showed that the highest production of prIDS was obtained at oxygen‐limited conditions using a codon‐optimized IDS cDNA. The purified enzyme showed a final activity of 12.45 nmol mg−1 H−1 and an apparent molecular mass of about 90 kDa. The highest stability was achieved at pH 6.0, and prIDS also showed high stability in human serum. Noteworthy, the enzyme was taken up by culture cells in a dose‐dependent manner through mannose receptors, which allowed the delivery of the enzyme to the lysosome. In summary, these results show the potential of Pichia pastoris as a host to produce an IDS intended for a MPS II ERT