Sludge retention time impacts on polyhydroxyalkanoate productivity in uncoupled storage/growth processes

SFRH/BD/104767/2014 program ( GA 773375 ) UIDP/04378/2020 UIDB/04378/2020The process involving mixed microbial cultures (MMCs) and waste-based substrates emerged as an alternative solution to reduce the market price of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The selection of an efficient MMC that displays a significant PHA accumulation potential and a high growth rate is considered a key factor for the MMC PHA production feasibility. This study used a pilot plant to investigate the dynamics of growth vs storage in a mixed culture fed with fermented fruit waste under uncoupled carbon and nitrogen feeding. Varying sludge retention times (SRTs) (2 and 4 d) and organic loading rates (OLRs) (from 2.6 to 14.5 gCOD.L−1.d−1) were imposed for this purpose. Results showed that, regardless of the OLR imposed, cultures selected at lower SRT grew faster and more efficiently using stored PHA. However, they had inferior specific storage rates and accumulation capacity, resulting in lower PHA productivity. Additionally, the polymer storage yield was independent of the SRT, and was directly linked with the abundance of putative PHA-storers in the MMC. The high PHA productivity (4.6 ± 0.3 g.L−1.d−1) obtained for the culture selected at 4 d of SRT was 80% above that obtained for the lower SRT tested, underlining the importance of achieving a good balance between culture growth and accumulation capacity to increase the viability of the PHA-producing process from wastes.publishersversionpublishe

Encapsulation of active pharmaceutical ingredients in lipid micro/nanoparticles for oral administration by spray-cooling

Nanoencapsulation via spray cooling (also known as spray chilling and spray congealing) has been used with the aim to improve the functionality, solubility, and protection of drugs; as well as to reduce hygroscopicity; to modify taste and odor to enable oral administration; and many times to achieve a controlled release profile. It is a relatively simple technology, it does not require the use of low-cost solvents (mostly associated to toxicological risk), and it can be applied for lipid raw materials as excipients of oral pharmaceutical formulations. The objective of this work was to revise and discuss the advances of spray cooling technology, with a greater emphasis on the development of lipid micro/nanoparticles to the load of active pharmaceutical ingredients for oral administration.This research was funded by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT/MCT) and European Funds (PRODER/COMPETE), under the project reference UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund), co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020, granted to Eliana B. Souto. This work was also supported by the National Science Centre within the MINIATURA 4 for a single research activity carried out by Aleksandra Zieli ´nska (grant no: 2020/04/X/ST5/00789), and by the Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences by the internal grant for the implementation of a single scientific activity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Confusing the extragalactic neutrino flux limit with a neutrino propagation limit

We study the possible suppression of the extragalactic neutrino flux due to a nonstandard interaction during its propagation. In particular, we study neutrino interaction with an ultra-light scalar field dark matter. It is shown that the extragalactic neutrino flux may be suppressed by such an interaction, leading to a new mechanism to reduce the ultra-high energy neutrino flux. We study both the cases of non-self-conjugate as well as self-conjugate dark matter. In the first case, the suppression is independent of the neutrino and dark matter masses. We conclude that care must be taken when explaining limits on the neutrino flux through source acceleration mechanisms only, since there could be other mechanisms for the reduction of the neutrino flux.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures. Important changes implemented. Abstract modified. Conclusions remain. To be published in JCA

Neuromodulation and neuroprotective effects of chlorogenic acids in excitatory synapses of mouse hippocampal slices

The increased healthspan afforded by coffee intake provides novel opportunities to identify new therapeutic strategies. Caffeine has been proposed to afford benefits through adenosine A2A receptors, which can control synaptic dysfunction underlying some brain disease. However, decaffeinated coffee and other main components of coffee such as chlorogenic acids, also attenuate brain dysfunction, although it is unknown if they control synaptic function. We now used electrophysiological recordings in mouse hippocampal slices to test if realistic concentrations of chlorogenic acids directly affect synaptic transmission and plasticity. 3-(3,4-dihydroxycinnamoyl)quinic acid (CA, 1–10 μM) and 5-O-(trans-3,4-dihydroxycinnamoyl)-D-quinic acid (NCA, 1–10 μM) were devoid of effect on synaptic transmission, paired-pulse facilitation or long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) in Schaffer collaterals-CA1 pyramidal synapses. However, CA and NCA increased the recovery of synaptic transmission upon re-oxygenation following 7 min of oxygen/glucose deprivation, an in vitro ischemia model. Also, CA and NCA attenuated the shift of LTD into LTP observed in hippocampal slices from animals with hippocampal-dependent memory deterioration after exposure to β-amyloid 1–42 (2 nmol, icv), in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. These findings show that chlorogenic acids do not directly affect synaptic transmission and plasticity but can indirectly affect other cellular targets to correct synaptic dysfunction. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of action of chlorogenic acids will allow the design of hitherto unrecognized novel neuroprotective strategies

First molecular characterization of canine hepatozoonosis in Argentina: evaluation of asymptomatic Hepatozoon canis infection in dogs from Buenos Aires

Canine hepatozoonosis is an expanding tick-borne disease in Argentina. Hepatozoonosis was studied during 1 year in six dogs from the same household in Buenos Aires. Blood parasitemia with Hepatozoon gamonts was found in five dogs and all six were positive by PCR for Hepatozoon sp. Although the levels of parasitemia fluctuated during the year, no clinical signs of disease were detected during the follow up period. Amplification and sequencing of a 650 bases fragment of the 18S rRNA gene from all six dogs yielded fragments that were 99% identical to H. canis. The results of the partial 18S rRNA genotyping with the sub-clinical course of infection and lack of severe hematological abnormalities are compatible with clinical and molecular descriptions of Hepatozoon canis infection from other areas of the world. This is the first molecular characterization of Hepatozoon from Argentina.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Plant stature heritability in wheat: estimate through the regression coefficient

O estudo desenvolvido neste trabalho foi estabelecido para determinar a relação entre o desempenho do caráter estatura de planta, entre linhas F3 ou F4 ou RC1 F2, derivadas de F2 ou F3 ou RC1 F1, de diversos cruzamentos de trigo hexaplóide. Resultados superiores à unidade, para a herdabilidade, foram estimados através dó método de desvio padrão, calculando-se a regressão pela codificação dos dados originais, em termos de unidades de desvio padrão. Uma comparação entre o método convencional e o de unidades de desvio padrão foi realizada para as estimativas de herdabilidade. Em programas de melhoramento fitogenético, muitas questões poderão ser respondidas através da estimativa da herdabilidade de um determinado caráter.  The study reported herein was designed to determine the relationship between the plant stature trait performance of F3 or F4 or RC1 F2 derived lines from F2 or F3 or RC1 F1 in several hexaploid wheat crosses, respectively. The heritability results greater than one were computed through the standard unit method by calculating the regression on data coded in terms of standard deviation units. A comparison was made between heritability estimated by these two methods, conventional and standard units. Heritability estimates provides useful guidelines of answering many questions which arise in a plant breeding program

Reference Values of Three-Dimensional Proximal Femur Parameters from Bone Densitometry Images in Healthy Subjects from Argentina

Objective: New methodologies for the assessment of bone mass from by DXA have been developed in the last years. The threedimensional analysis of the proximal femur by (3D-DXA) allows the evaluation of cortical and trabecular bone separately and has shown a good correlation with computed tomography. We aimed to obtain reference values in a healthy population of both sexesin Argentina.Methods: Adults female and male subjects (n=992) from four cities from Argentina were included. BMD (g/cm2) was measured by DXA on the femoral neck and total hip. The 3D analysis was performed with 3D-Shaper software (v2.9, Galgo Medical, Spain).The cortical BMD (sDens - mg/cm2) and trabecular volumetric BMD (trab vBMD - mg/cm3) were consider. The distribution of the data was evaluated with the Shapiro-Wilk test and parametricor non-parametric tests were used as appropriate. Data were expressed as mean±SD and p<0.05 was considered significant.Results: 75.5% women (n=749) and 24.5% men (n=243) were included. The mean age was 54.8±16.8 y and BMI was 27.3±5.4 kg/m2. The data according to each decade and a comparison with a references group (decade 20-30) are shown in the following table (*indicates significant differences compared to decade 20-30).Conclusion: A significant decrease in trabecular vBMD from D40 was observed in women, while in men this decrease was observed later (D60). The cortical parameter sDens was observed decreasefrom D50 in women and in men, an increase in D40 and cortical bone maintenance according to age was found.Fil: Brance, M. L.. Reumatología y Enfermedades Óseas; ArgentinaFil: Saravi, Fernando Daniel. Escuela de Medicina Nuclear; ArgentinaFil: Henríquez, M. M.. Escuela de Medicina Nuclear; ArgentinaFil: Longobardi, V.. Instituto de Investigaciones Metabólicas; ArgentinaFil: Zanchetta, M. B.. Instituto de Investigaciones Metabólicas; ArgentinaFil: Larroudé, M. S.. Centro de Diagnostico Rossi; ArgentinaFil: Ulla, M. R.. Instituto Latinoamericano de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Matos, F.. Instituto Latinoamericano de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Salerni, H.. No especifíca;Fil: Oliveri, María Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Bonanno, Marina Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Meneses, N. L.. No especifíca;Fil: Di Gregorio, S.. Fundacion Cetir.; EspañaFil: Brum, L. R.. Universidad Nacional de Rosario; ArgentinaWorld Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal DiseasesVirtualBélgicaInternational Osteoporosis FoundationEuropean Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Disease

The il1β have a protective action in the acute phase of the pilocarpine-induced epilepsy model

INTRODUCTION: There is contradictory information regarding the of effects il1β and il1rn in epilepsy. We aimed to evaluate the effect of silencing both genes in the acute phase of the pilocarpine-induced epilepsy model. METHODS: We used RNA interference in order to achieve gene silencing. RESULTS: We obtained significant gene silencing in the central nervous system. In addition, we observed phenotypic effects including differences in mortality rates of animals 5 days after pilocarpine injections. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that il1β seems to have a protective effect in the acute phase of the pilocarpine-induced epilepsy model.INTRODUÇÃO: Existem contradições na literatura quanto aos efeitos dos genes il1β e il1rn nas epilepsias. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar os efeitos do silenciamento desses dois genes na fase aguda do modelo de epilepsia induzido pela pilocarpina. MÉTODOS: Para alterar a expressão dos genes il1β e il1rn utilizamos a técnica de interferência por RNA. RESULTADOS: Obtivemos taxas de silenciamento significativas para os dois genes no sistema nervoso central. Observamos efeitos fenotípicos significativos, incluindo a alteração na taxa de mortalidade dos animais 5 dias após a indução do modelo. CONCLUSÕES: A il1β parece exercer um papel protetor na fase aguda do modelo de epilepsia induzido pela pilocarpina.UNICAMP FCM Departamento de Genética MedicaUSP Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto Departamento de BiologiaUNICAMP Centro Multidisciplinar de Investigação BiológicaUSP IFSC Departamento de Física e BioinformáticaUNIFESP-EPM Departamento de FisiologiaUNIFESP-EPM Departamento de Neurologia e NeurocirurgiaUNICAMP FCM Departamento de Clínica MédicaUNICAMP FCM Departamento de NeurologiaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de FisiologiaUNIFESP, EPM Depto. de Neurologia e NeurocirurgiaSciEL