Evolución de la fisiopatía daño por sol a escaldado por sol durante la conservación refrigerada de manzanas

El daño por sol o asoleado de los frutos es un desorden fisiológico causado por radiación solar intensa en conjunto con altas temperaturas. Afecta la superficie de manzanas y peras reduciendo su calidad y posibilidad de comercialización. A nivel mundial, provoca importantes pérdidas económicas debido al descarte de fruta para exportación. En la región del Alto Valle de Río Negro se han determinado pérdidas entre el 30-50% según la especie y variedad y las condiciones climáticas de la temporada. En manzana se identificaron distintos niveles de daño por sol. El grado grave se corresponde con manchas bronceadas oscuras en la piel que pueden alcanzar la necrosis del tejido. El daño por sol moderado provoca en la superficie del fruto expuesta a la radiación solar un color amarillo intenso bronceado, mientras que aquellos con nivel leve presentan un tono amarillo claro o levemente decolorado en un sector de su piel (Figura 1). Los frutos con daño grave y moderado se descartan generalmente durante la operación de cosecha y, dependiendo del control y manejo realizado, ingresan a la planta de empaque en muy baja proporción. Los frutos con daño leve, conocido comúnmente como “reflejo de sol”, son considerados aptos para su comercialización, por lo cual es habitual encontrarlos durante el embalaje y la conservación refrigerada. Sin embargo, dependiendo del tiempo de almacenaje, estos frutos desarrollan un desorden fisiológico de poscosecha denominado escaldado por sol. Esta fisiopatía se visualiza como manchas marrones de diferente intensidad, exclusivamente en la superficie del fruto que estuvo expuesta a la radiación solar (Figura 2). Dicha característica disminuye considerablemente la calidad comercial de los frutos e incrementa en forma significativa el porcentaje de descarte durante el proceso de embalaje, en especial en variedades susceptibles como Granny Smith.EEA Alto ValleFil: Vita, Laura Inés. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Colavita, Graciela María. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentin

High mobility group box 1 and tumor growth factor β: useful biomarkers in pediatric patients receiving peritoneal dialysis

AbstractBackground: Peritonitis, the most important limitation of peritoneal dialysis (PD), could be detected by biomarkers in dialysate effluent, representing a noninvasive method to indirectly assess the peritoneum status. The aim of our study was to test high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in PD patients, evaluating its role as precocious marker of peritoneum damage during peritonitis. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β was correlated with peritoneal transport characteristics.Methods: Six patients, treated by ambulatory PD, were enrolled. Samples were collected at the onset of peritonitis (T1) and every day until its resolution (T-end). Serum (s) and peritoneal (p) white blood cell (WBC) count was also evaluated. Peritoneal Equilibration Test evaluated the filter activity of peritoneum.Results: In patients with acute peritonitis, the highest serum and peritoneal HMGB1 values (64 ± 3.6 and 70 ± 5.3 ng/mL, respectively) were assessed, with a progressive decrease of their levels at the resolution time (T-en..

Utility of Specific IgE to Ara h 2 in Italian Allergic and Tolerant Children Sensitized to Peanut

Emerging data suggest that measurement of serum IgE to peanut components can be clinically helpful and more accurate than IgE to whole peanut to predict peanut allergy. Not all studies have used prospective samples, multiple components and oral challenges. Currently, there are no data on this topic involving Italian children. 32 patients (23 males; median age 9 years) with reported history for peanut allergy and evidence of peanut sensitization (skin prick test to peanut extract ≥ 3mm) have been analyzed for serum IgE to whole peanut and recombinant allergen components Ara h 1, 2, 3, 8, and 9 with Immuno CAP and completed an open oral food challenge with peanut. 12 (37.5%) children had a positive challenge to peanut and were considered allergic. No differences were seen between the median values of IgE to peanut, Ara h 1, 3, 8 and 9 in allergic and tolerant children to peanut challenge. Noteworthy, 5 of 20 tolerant children had IgE to peanut> 15 kUA/l which is commonly considered a predictive value of peanut allergy. Conversely, a significant difference was seen when comparing the median value of IgE to Ara h 2 in the two groups: 0.75 kUA/l (IQR: 0.22-4.34 kUA/l) in allergic children versus 0.1 kUA/l (IQR: 0.1-0.12 kUA/l) in tolerant ones (P< 0.001). IgE levels to Ara h 2 are significantly higher in children that react to oral peanut challenge. Our findings in Italian children have been in line with recent reports in various populations of Northern Europe, the US and Australia and add confirmatory evidence that analysis of IgE to Ara h 2 could reduce the need for peanut challenge in suspected allergic patients

Maintenance of photosynthetic capacity in flooded tomato plants with reduced ethylene sensitivity

Ethylene is considered one of the most important plant hormones orchestrating plant responses to flooding stress. However, ethylene may induce deleterious effects on plants, especially when produced at high rates in response to stress. In this paper, we explored the effect of attenuated ethylene sensitivity in the Never ripe (Nr) mutant on leaf photosynthetic capacity of flooded tomato plants. We found out that reduced ethylene perception in Nr plants was associated with a more efficient photochemical and non-photochemical radiative energy dissipation capability in response to flooding. The data correlated with the retention of chlorophyll and carotenoids content in flooded Nr leaves. Moreover, leaf area and specific leaf area were higher in Nr, indicating that ethylene would exert a negative role in leaf growth and expansion under flooded conditions. Although stomatal conductance was hampered in flooded Nr plants, carboxylation activity was not affected by flooding in the mutant, suggesting that ethylene is responsible for inducing non-stomatal limitations to photosynthetic CO2 uptake. Upregulation of several cysteine protease genes and high protease activity led to Rubisco protein loss in response to ethylene under flooding. Reduction of Rubisco content would, at least in part, account for the reduction of its carboxylation efficiency in response to ethylene in flooded plants. Therefore, besides its role as a trigger of many adaptive responses, perception of ethylene entails limitations in light and dark photosynthetic reactions by speeding up the senescence process that leads to a progressive disassembly of the photosynthetic machinery in leaves of flooded tomato plants.Fil: de Pedro, Leandro Federico. Universidad Nacional de Formosa. Facultad de la Producción y El Medioambiente; ArgentinaFil: Mignolli, Francesco. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Scartazza, Andrea. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; ItaliaFil: Melana Colavita, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Bouzo, Carlos Alberto. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Vidoz, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; Argentin

La oferta regional e internacional de sidra: factores culturales, institucionales y socio económicos

Las exigencias de los mercados sobre el negocio frutícola de la Norpatagonia han derivado en un aumento del descarte de pera y manzana, que alcanza el 30 y 40 %, respectivamente. Los bajos precios pagados por la industria obligan al sector a repensar sus estrategias para mejorar su rentabilidad con el aumento del valor agregado de la fruta de descarte. En otros países la industria sidrera se vincula al desarrollo regional- España, Gran Bretaña, Estados Unidos- las preguntas a responder son:¿qué factores han frenado el desarrollo de la industria regional de sidra?,¿cuál es actualmente su posición competitiva?, y ¿en qué aspectos se debe focalizar para potenciar su crecimiento, de manera que contribuya al desarrollo regional? El propósito de esta investigación es analizar la oferta regional de sidra y compararla con la oferta de otras regiones, especialmente donde la industria sidrera ha contribuido al desarrollo local. Para esto se utilizará como base teórica el modelo del diamante de Porter, propuesto para explicar la ventaja competitiva de un agrupamiento productivo, a través de cuatro determinantes, influenciados por el gobierno y la casualidad: condiciones de los factores, de la demanda, sectores conexos y auxiliares, y estrategia, y estructura y rivalidad de la empresa.Market demands on the fruit business in Northern Patagonia have led into the increase of second quality fruit (availability/production), approximately 30% of pears and 40% of apples. Low industry prices make it necessary to re think strategies to improve profitability with the rise of value added to second quality fruit. In other countries cider industry is linked to regional development – Spain, Great Britain, United States of America. The questions to answer are: what are the factors which have slowed down regional cider industry development? What is its current competitive position? What aspects have to be highlighted to boost its growth in order to contribute to regional development? The aim of this research is to analyze regional cider offer and make a comparison with other regions, particularly where cider industry has contributed to local development. With this purpose in mind, Porter’s diamond model is used as a theoretical basis in order to explain the competitive advantage of a productive group throughout four government and chance influenced determinants: demand factor conditions, auxiliary and related sector, strategy, structure and company rivalry.EEA Alto ValleFil: Villarreal, Patricia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Alto Valle; ArgentinaFil: Pedreschi, Romina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Reissig, Joaquin. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Malaspina, María Laura. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Colavita, Carlos. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentin

Constraining Exoplanet Metallicities and Aerosols with ARIEL: An Independent Study by the Contribution to ARIEL Spectroscopy of Exoplanets (CASE) Team

Launching in 2028, ESA's Atmospheric Remote-sensing Exoplanet Large-survey (ARIEL) survey of $\sim$1000 transiting exoplanets will build on the legacies of Kepler and TESS and complement JWST by placing its high precision exoplanet observations into a large, statistically-significant planetary population context. With continuous 0.5--7.8~$\mu$m coverage from both FGS (0.50--0.55, 0.8--1.0, and 1.0--1.2~$\mu$m photometry; 1.25--1.95~$\mu$m spectroscopy) and AIRS (1.95--7.80~$\mu$m spectroscopy), ARIEL will determine atmospheric compositions and probe planetary formation histories during its 3.5-year mission. NASA's proposed Contribution to ARIEL Spectroscopy of Exoplanets (CASE) would be a subsystem of ARIEL's FGS instrument consisting of two visible-to-infrared detectors, associated readout electronics, and thermal control hardware. FGS, to be built by the Polish Academy of Sciences' Space Research Centre, will provide both fine guiding and visible to near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy, providing powerful diagnostics of atmospheric aerosol contribution and planetary albedo, which play a crucial role in establishing planetary energy balance. The CASE team presents here an independent study of the capabilities of ARIEL to measure exoplanetary metallicities, which probe the conditions of planet formation, and FGS to measure scattering spectral slopes, which indicate if an exoplanet has atmospheric aerosols (clouds and hazes), and geometric albedos, which help establish planetary climate. Our design reference mission simulations show that ARIEL could measure the mass-metallicity relationship of its 1000-planet single-visit sample to $>7.5\sigma$ and that FGS could distinguish between clear, cloudy, and hazy skies and constrain an exoplanet's atmospheric aerosol composition to $>5\sigma$ for hundreds of targets, providing statistically-transformative science for exoplanet atmospheres.Comment: accepted to PASP; 23 pages, 6 figure

Constraining Exoplanet Metallicities and Aerosols with ARIEL: An Independent Study by the Contribution to ARIEL Spectroscopy of Exoplanets (CASE) Team

Launching in 2028, ESA's 0.64 m^2 Atmospheric Remote-sensing Exoplanet Large-survey (ARIEL) survey of ~1000 transiting exoplanets will build on the legacies of NASA's Kepler and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), and complement the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) by placing its high-precision exoplanet observations into a large, statistically significant planetary population context. With continuous 0.5–7.8 μm coverage from both FGS (0.5–0.6, 0.6–0.81, and 0.81–1.1 μm photometry; 1.1–1.95 μm spectroscopy) and AIRS (1.95–7.80 μm spectroscopy), ARIEL will determine atmospheric compositions and probe planetary formation histories during its 3.5 yr mission. NASA's proposed Contribution to ARIEL Spectroscopy of Exoplanets (CASE) would be a subsystem of ARIEL's Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) instrument consisting of two visible-to-infrared detectors, associated readout electronics, and thermal control hardware. FGS, to be built by the Polish Academy of Sciences Space Research Centre, will provide both fine guiding and visible to near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy, providing powerful diagnostics of atmospheric aerosol contribution and planetary albedo, which play a crucial role in establishing planetary energy balance. The CASE team presents here an independent study of the capabilities of ARIEL to measure exoplanetary metallicities, which probe the conditions of planet formation, and FGS to measure scattering spectral slopes, which indicate if an exoplanet has atmospheric aerosols (clouds and hazes), and geometric albedos, which help establish planetary climate. Our simulations assume that ARIEL's performance will be 1.3× the photon-noise limit. This value is motivated by current transiting exoplanet observations: Spitzer/IRAC and Hubble/WFC3 have empirically achieved 1.15× the photon-noise limit. One could expect similar performance from ARIEL, JWST, and other proposed future missions such as HabEx, LUVOIR, and Origins. Our design reference mission simulations show that ARIEL could measure the mass–metallicity relationship of its 1000-planet single-visit sample to >7.5σ and that FGS could distinguish between clear, cloudy, and hazy skies and constrain an exoplanet's atmospheric aerosol composition to ≳5σ for hundreds of targets, providing statistically transformative science for exoplanet atmospheres

Constraining Exoplanet Metallicities and Aerosols with ARIEL: An Independent Study by the Contribution to ARIEL Spectroscopy of Exoplanets (CASE) Team

Launching in 2028, ESA's 0.64 m^2 Atmospheric Remote-sensing Exoplanet Large-survey (ARIEL) survey of ~1000 transiting exoplanets will build on the legacies of NASA's Kepler and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), and complement the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) by placing its high-precision exoplanet observations into a large, statistically significant planetary population context. With continuous 0.5–7.8 μm coverage from both FGS (0.5–0.6, 0.6–0.81, and 0.81–1.1 μm photometry; 1.1–1.95 μm spectroscopy) and AIRS (1.95–7.80 μm spectroscopy), ARIEL will determine atmospheric compositions and probe planetary formation histories during its 3.5 yr mission. NASA's proposed Contribution to ARIEL Spectroscopy of Exoplanets (CASE) would be a subsystem of ARIEL's Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) instrument consisting of two visible-to-infrared detectors, associated readout electronics, and thermal control hardware. FGS, to be built by the Polish Academy of Sciences Space Research Centre, will provide both fine guiding and visible to near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy, providing powerful diagnostics of atmospheric aerosol contribution and planetary albedo, which play a crucial role in establishing planetary energy balance. The CASE team presents here an independent study of the capabilities of ARIEL to measure exoplanetary metallicities, which probe the conditions of planet formation, and FGS to measure scattering spectral slopes, which indicate if an exoplanet has atmospheric aerosols (clouds and hazes), and geometric albedos, which help establish planetary climate. Our simulations assume that ARIEL's performance will be 1.3× the photon-noise limit. This value is motivated by current transiting exoplanet observations: Spitzer/IRAC and Hubble/WFC3 have empirically achieved 1.15× the photon-noise limit. One could expect similar performance from ARIEL, JWST, and other proposed future missions such as HabEx, LUVOIR, and Origins. Our design reference mission simulations show that ARIEL could measure the mass–metallicity relationship of its 1000-planet single-visit sample to >7.5σ and that FGS could distinguish between clear, cloudy, and hazy skies and constrain an exoplanet's atmospheric aerosol composition to ≳5σ for hundreds of targets, providing statistically transformative science for exoplanet atmospheres

Neutralizing antibodies to Omicron after the fourth SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine dose in immunocompromised patients highlight the need of additional boosters

IntroductionImmunocompromised patients have been shown to have an impaired immune response to COVID-19 vaccines.MethodsHere we compared the B-cell, T-cell and neutralizing antibody response to WT and Omicron BA.2 SARS-CoV-2 virus after the fourth dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in patients with hematological malignancies (HM, n=71), solid tumors (ST, n=39) and immune-rheumatological (IR, n=25) diseases. The humoral and T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were analyzed by quantifying the anti-RBD antibodies, their neutralization activity and the IFN-γ released after spike specific stimulation.ResultsWe show that the T-cell response is similarly boosted by the fourth dose across the different subgroups, while the antibody response is improved only in patients not receiving B-cell targeted therapies, independent on the pathology. However, 9% of patients with anti-RBD antibodies did not have neutralizing antibodies to either virus variants, while an additional 5.7% did not have neutralizing antibodies to Omicron BA.2, making these patients particularly vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The increment of neutralizing antibodies was very similar towards Omicron BA.2 and WT virus after the third or fourth dose of vaccine, suggesting that there is no preferential skewing towards either virus variant with the booster dose. The only limited step is the amount of antibodies that are elicited after vaccination, thus increasing the probability of developing neutralizing antibodies to both variants of virus.DiscussionThese data support the recommendation of additional booster doses in frail patients to enhance the development of a B-cell response directed against Omicron and/or to enhance the T-cell response in patients treated with anti-CD20

Uso de carnauba como recubrimiento en peras para mejorar la vida postcosecha

El recubrimiento con ceras de palmera Carnauba (Copernicia prunifera) forma una capa protectora sobre los frutos disminuyendo la deshidratación y prolongando la calidad durante la vida postcosecha. Si bien en manzanas este tratamiento está bien informado, en peras no existen resultados contundentes. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar en peras William´s, el efecto de un formulado en base a Carnauba durante la conservación refrigerada y vida en estante. Los frutos se cosecharon en fecha oficial de cosecha, se colocaron en contenedores bins (500 kg aproximadamente) en cámaras de frío convencional (FC) a 0 ± 1°C y HR 95% y se trataron con 1-MCP (800 ppb, por 24 h en FC). Luego de 20 días fueron pasados por línea de empaque, dejándose frutos sin tratamiento de ceras (testigo) y frutos tratados con Emulcol TM (Carnauba-INS E 903 al 8%; Goma Laca-INS E 904 al 4% y Ester glicérido de colofonia-INS E 915 al 3%) al 20% (v/v).  A continuación, se procedió al embalado en bolsas de 25 micrones sin perforaciones colocados en cajas Mark IV y llevados nuevamente FC. Transcurridos 50 días de conservación los frutos fueron retirados de FC. Se evaluó a salida de conservación (día 1) y a 7, 14 y 21 días de vida en estante (DVE) a 23 ± 2°C los parámetros de deshidratado (estimada por pérdida de peso), firmeza de pulpa, color de piel (en espacio de color L*C*h°), emisión de etileno y estado de pedúnculos. Los frutos con cera y testigos registraron igual comportamiento en la pérdida de peso, parámetro que incrementó desde salida de FC y durante la vida en estante. A salida de FC los frutos con Emulcol TM presentaron significativamente (p<0,05) mayor firmeza de pulpa que los testigos (17,3 y 15,3 lb pulg-2, respectivamente). Este comportamiento se mantuvo durante todo el período analizado. Los colores de piel observados fueron similares en ambos tratamientos, variando entorno al verde, siendo el rango de ángulos Hue (h°) entre 104 y 98. En ambos tratamientos no se registró emisión de etileno a salida de FC, pero a partir de los 7 DVE los frutos testigo produjeron significativamente mayor etileno que los tratados con Emulcol TM. A los 21 DVE la emisión de etileno en los frutos testigo fue 185 nl g-1 h-1 mientras que en los que tenían cera 51 nl g-1h-1. Luego 14 DVE, el 40% de los frutos testigos presentaban los pedúnculos necrosados, mientras que en los frutos tratados con cera esa situación se redujo a 20%. El recubrimiento con cera carnauba genera una película en la superficie de los frutos que atenúa el intercambio gaseoso. Aunque en este estudio no se registró efecto en la deshidratación (posiblemente debido al embalado en bolsas), si se determinó disminución en la producción de etileno asociada a mantenimiento de mayor firmeza de los frutos y notoria conservación de la vitalidad de los pedúnculos. Por lo tanto, el uso del recubrimiento con cera carnauba es promisorio como tratamientos postcosecha para mantener la calidad de las peras durante el almacenamiento en frío.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale