CAPACIDAD ANTIOXIDANTE DE BACTERIAS CON POTENCIAL PROBI 3TICO DEL GENERO LACTOBACILLUS SPP AISLADAS A PARTIR DE HECES Y CONTENIDO DUODENAL DE PERROS Y GATOS

El objetivo de esta investigaci\uf3n fue determinar si las bacterias \ue1cido l\ue1ctico (BAL) aisladas de heces y de contenido duodenal de gatos y perros adultos, difieren en cuanto a la capacidad antioxidante. La toma de muestras de heces se realiz\uf3 directamente del ano, con hisopo est\ue9ril y el contenido duodenal (CD) por aspirado a nivel de duodeno mediante laparotom\ueda bajo anestesia general del paciente. Las muestras fueron colocadas en tubo de vidrio que conten\ueda 4,5 ml de caldo Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) (Himedia\uae) para luego ser cultivadas por agotamiento en placas con agar MRS (Himedia\uae) y aisladas e identificadas mediante el kit de identificaci\uf3n API50CH. Una vez identificadas las cepas, se determin\uf3 dienos conjugados (DC) mediante extracci\uf3n con isopropanol, malondialdeh\ueddo (MDA) por el test para sustancias reaccionantes con el \ue1cido 2-tiobarbit\ufarico (TBARS), super\uf3xido dismutasa (SOD) y glutati\uf3n (GSH) mediante kit comercial. Las bacterias aisladas tanto en heces como en CD fueron L. leuconostoc, L. plantarum y L. paracasei y los resultados obtenidos en las bacterias aisladas de heces fueron los siguientes: DC 0,00174\ub1 0,00005 mol/mg PT, MDA 0,36\ub1 0,037 nmol/mg PT; GSH 7,7\ub1 0,6 U/g PT; SOD 22,0\ub1 1,5 U/g PT mientras que para las bacterias aisladas de CD fue de DC 0,00172\ub1 0,00003; MDA 0,40\ub1 27; GSH 8,9\ub1 0,4; SOD 22,1\ub1 2,3; sin presentar diferencias significativas entre la ubicaci\uf3n de la extracci\uf3n de la muestra en ninguno de los par\ue1metros. Conclusi\uf3n: las bacterias aisladas presentaron alta actividad antioxidante la cual no es afectada por la ubicaci\uf3n anat\uf3mica. Palabras clave: Lactobacillus spp, antioxidantes, heces, contenido duodenal. ABSTRACT The objective of this investigation was to determine whether lactic acid bacteria (BAL) isolated from faeces and duodenal content of cats and adult dogs, differ in terms of antioxidant capacity. The stool samples were taken directly from the anus, with sterile swab and duodenal contents (CD) by aspirate at the duodenum level by laparotomy under general anesthesia of the patient, the samples were placed in a glass tube containing 4.5 ml of Man Rogosa Sharpe broth (MRS) (Himedia\uae) to then be cultivated by depletion in plates with MRS agar (Himedia\uae) and isolated and identified by the API50CH identification kit. Once the strains were identified, conjugated dienes (DC) were determined by extraction with isopropanol, malondialdehyde (MDA) by the test for reactants with 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) by means of a kit. commercial. The bacteria isolated in both feces and CD were L. leuconostoc, L. plantarum and L. paracasei and the results obtained in the bacteria isolated from faeces were as follows: DC 0.00174 \ub1 0.00005 mol / mg PT, MDA 0 , 36 \ub1 0.037 nmol / mg PT; GSH 7.7 \ub1 0.6 U / g PT; SOD 22.0 \ub1 1.5 U / g PT while for bacteria isolated from CD was 0.00172 \ub1 0.00003 DC; MDA 0.40 \ub1 27; GSH 8.9 \ub1 0.4; SOD 22.1 \ub1 2.3; without presenting significant differences between the location of the extraction of the sample in any of the parameters. Conclusion: the isolated bacteria showed high antioxidant activity which is not affected by the anatomical location. Key words: Lactobacillus spp, antioxidants, feces, duodenal content. <br

Microswitches with Sputtered Au, AuPd,Au-on-AuPt, and AuPtCu Alloy Electric Contacts

This paper is the first to report on a new analytic model for predicting microcontact resistance and the design, fabrication, and testing of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) metal contact switches with sputtered bimetallic (i.e., gold (Au)-on-Au-platinum (Pt), (Au-on-Au-(6.3at%)Pt)), binary alloy (i.e., Au-palladium (Pd), (Au-(3.7at%)Pd)), and ternary alloy (i.e., Au-Pt-copper (Cu), (Au-(5.0at%)Pt-(0.5at%)Cu)) electric contacts. The microswitches with bimetallic and binary alloy contacts resulted in contact resistance values between 1-2Omega. Preliminary reliability testing indicates a 3times increase in switching lifetime when compared to microswitches with sputtered Au electric contacts. The ternary alloy exhibited approximately a 6times increase in switch lifetime with contact resistance values ranging from approximately 0.2-1.8Omeg

Micro-Switches with Sputtered Au, AuPd, Au-on-AuPt, and AuPtCu Alloy Electric Contacts

This work is the first to report on a new analytic model for predicting micro-contact resistance and the design, fabrication, and testing of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) metal contact switches with sputtered bi-metallic (i.e. gold (Au)-on-Au-platinum (Pt), (Au-on-Au-(6%)Pt)), binary alloy (i.e. Au-palladium (Pd), (Au-(2%)Pd)), and tertiary alloy (i.e. Au-Pt-copper (Cu), (Au-(5%)Pt-(0.5%)Cu)) electric contacts. The micro-switches with bi-metallic and binary alloy contacts resulted in contact resistance between 1-2 /spl Omega/ and, when compared to micro-switches with sputtered Au electric contacts, exhibited a 3.3 and 2.6 times increase in switching lifetime, respectively. The tertiary alloy exhibited a 6.5 times increase in switch lifetime with contact resistance ranging from 0.2-1.8 /spl Omega/

An alternate method for achieving temperature control in the -130 C to 75 C range

Thermal vacuum testing often requires temperature control of chamber shrouds and heat exchangers within the -130 C to 75 C range. There are two conventional methods which are normally employed to achieve control through this intermediate temperature range: (1) single-pass flow where control is achieved by alternately pulsing hot gaseous nitrogen (GN2) and cold LN2 into the feed line to yield the setpoint temperature; and (2) closed-loop circulation where control is achieved by either electrically heating or LN2 cooling the circulating GN2 to yield the setpoint temperature. A third method, using a mass flow ratio controller along with modulating control valves on GN2 and LN2 lines, provides excellent control but equipment for this method is expensive and cost-prohibitive for all but long-term continuous processes. The single-pass method provides marginal control and can result in unexpected overcooling of the test article from even a short pulse of LN2. The closed-loop circulation method provides excellent control but requires an expensive blower capable of operating at elevated pressures and cryogenic temperatures. Where precise control is needed (plus or minus 2 C), single-pass flow systems typically have not provided the precision required, primarily because of overcooling temperature excursions. Where several individual circuits are to be controlled at different temperatures, the use of expensive cryogenic blowers for each circuit is also cost-prohibitive, especially for short duration of one-of-a-kind tests. At JPL, a variant of the single-pass method was developed that was shown to provide precise temperature control in the -130 C to 75 C range while exhibiting minimal setpoint overshoot during temperature transitions. This alternate method uses a commercially available temperature controller along with a GN2/LN2 mixer to dampen the amplitude of cold temperature spikes caused by LN2 pulsing. The design of the GN2/LN2 mixer, the overall control system configuration, the operational procedure, and the prototype system test results are described

Stability and optimality in parametric convex programming models

Equivalent conditions for structural stability are given for convex programming models in terms of three point-to-set mappings. These mappings are then used to characterize locally optimal parameters. For Lagrange models and, in particular, LFS models the characterizations are given relative to general (possibly unstable) perturbations

Composite polymer membranes for laserinduced fluorescence thermometry

We demonstrate a modified version of laser-induced fluorescence thermometry (LIFT) for mapping temperature gradients in the vicinity of small photothermal devices. Our approach is based on temperature sensitive fluorescent membranes fabricated with rhodamine B and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Relevant membrane features for LIFT, such as temperature sensitivity, thermal quenching and photobleaching are presented for a range of 25 °C to 90 °C, and their performance is evaluated upon obtaining the temperature gradients produced in the proximity of optical fiber micro-heaters. Our results show that temperature measurements in regions as small as 750 μm x 650 μm, with a temperature resolution of 1 °C, can be readily obtained

A new approach for performing contamination control bakeouts in JPL thermal vacuum test chambers

Contamination control requirements for the Wide Field/Planetary Camera II (WF/PC II) are necessarily stringent to protect against post-launch contamination of the sensitive optical surfaces, particularly the cold charge coupled device (CCD) imaging surfaces. Typically, thermal vacuum test chambers have employed a liquid nitrogen (LN2) cold trap to collect outgassed contaminants. This approach has the disadvantage of risking recontamination of the test article from shroud offgassing during post-test warmup of the chamber or from any shroud warming of even a few degrees during the bakeout process. By using an enclave, essentially a chamber within a chamber, configured concentrically and internally within an LN2 shroud, a method was developed, based on a design concept by Taylor, for preventing recontamination of test articles during bakeouts and subsequent post-test warmup of the vacuum chamber. Enclaves for testing WF/PC II components were designed and fabricated, then installed in three of JPL's Environmental Test Lab chambers. The design concepts, operating procedures, and test results of this development are discussed

The epigenetic regulator ATF7ip inhibits Il2 expression, regulating Th17 responses.

T helper 17 cells (Th17) are critical for fighting infections at mucosal surfaces; however, they have also been found to contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune diseases and have been targeted therapeutically. Due to the role of Th17 cells in autoimmune pathogenesis, it is important to understand the factors that control Th17 development. Here we identify the activating transcription factor 7 interacting protein (ATF7ip) as a critical regulator of Th17 differentiation. Mice with T cell-specific deletion of Atf7ip have impaired Th17 differentiation secondary to the aberrant overproduction of IL-2 with T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation and are resistant to colitis in vivo. ChIP-seq studies identified ATF7ip as an inhibitor of Il2 gene expression through the deposition of the repressive histone mark H3K9me3 in the Il2-Il21 intergenic region. These results demonstrate a new epigenetic pathway by which IL-2 production is constrained, and this may open up new avenues for modulating its production

Links Between Feeding Preferences and Electroantennogram Response Profiles in Dung Beetles: The Importance of Dung Odor Bouquets

The detection of dung odors is a crucial step in the food-searching behavior of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). Yet, whether certain compounds characteristic of a given dung type contribute to a ‘choosy generalism’ behavior proposed for this taxonomic group is unknown. To address this, we analyzed the chemical composition of three types of dung (cow, horse, and rabbit) and conducted behavioral and electroantennogram (EAG) bioassays on 15 species of dung beetles using 19 volatile organic compounds representing the three dung samples. Chemical analyses revealed substantial qualitative and quantitative differences among dung types. When offered these food options in an olfactometer, 14 species exhibited a feeding preference. Surprisingly, all 19 compounds used in the EAG assays elicited antennal responses, with species displaying different olfactory profiles. The relationship between behavioral preferences and electrophysiological profiles highlighted that species with different food preferences had differences in antennal responses. Moreover, a specific set of EAG-active compounds (nonanal, sabinene, acetophenone, ρ-cresol, 2-heptanone, 1H-indole, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one) were the strongest drivers in the distinct sensory profiles of the trophic preference groups. Our results point to the importance of the whole bouquet of dung-emanating compounds in driving food-searching behavior, but specific volatiles could aid in determining highly marked trophic preferences in certain species.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. This research was supported by the projects PID2019-105418RB-I00 (Secretaría de Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación – Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) and AICO-2020-031 (Dirección General de Ciencia e Investigación. Consellería de Innovación, Universidades, Ciencia y Sociedad Digital – Generalitat Valenciana). M.A. Urrutia acknowledges the support of the Dirección General de Ciencia e Investigación, Consellería de Innovación, Universidades, Ciencia y Sociedad Digital, Generalitat Valenciana, for supporting his Ph.D. scholarship (GRISOLIAP/2021/185)