Poly(hydroxyalkanoate) production by Cupriavidus necator from fatty waste can be enhanced by phaZ1 inactivation

PHA production from waste oils or fats requires microorganisms that should be both excellent PHA producers and equipped with enzymatic activities allowing hydrolysation of triglycerides. Unfortunately, microbes with the combination of substrate-utilization and PHA production are not currently available, and the strategies to be adopted are the use of costly commercial enzymes, or genetic modification of microorganisms exhibiting high PHA product yields. In the present work, after a general investigation on the ability of Cupriavidus necator to grow on a number of fatty substrates, the possibility to enhance PHA production by limiting intracellular depolymerisation, was investigated. By knocking out the related phaZ1 gene, the construction of C. necator recombinant strains impaired in depolymerase (PhaZ1) activity was achieved. The polymer yield of the recombinant strain was finally compared to that of the parental C. necator DSM 545

Management of Port Solid Waste Framework

One of contemporary environmental issues refers to \ud progressive and diverse generation of solid waste in urban areas or \ud specific, and requires solutions because the traditional methods of \ud treatment and disposal are becoming unviable over the years and, \ud consequently, a significant contingent of these wastes presents \ud final destination inappropriate. The diversity of solid waste \ud generated as a result of human activities must have the appropriate \ud allocation to specific legislation in force, such as landfill, \ud incineration, among other procedures established by the competent \ud bodies. Thus, also the waste generated in port activities or \ud proceeding vessels require classification and segregation for proper \ud disposal later. This article aims at presenting a methodology for the \ud collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of solid waste \ud port and also application of automation technology that makes \ud possible the implementation of the same

Soil microbial community responses to different sugarcane management strategies as revealed by 16S metagenomics

XXX Congress of the ISSCT (International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists), Tucumán, from 31 August to 8 September 2019Sugarcane cultivation in Argentina is distributed in three geographic regions: Tucumán, Northern (Salta and Jujuy) and Littoral (Santa Fe and Misiones), covering about 376,223 ha. Tucumán has traditionally been the most important region with 68% of the total production. Since new agricultural techniques, such as green-cane harvesting and sugarcane crop rotation with soybean, were implemented in the last decade, changes in the agroecosystem of sugarcane, specific pathosystems and epidemiological parameters have been observed. A 16S metagenomics approach to investigate total bacterial communities associated with sugarcane rhizospheric soil when soybean was the predecessor crop in a cultivation area with a high incidence of red stripe disease was applied; soil from sugarcane monoculture was also included. Two commercial sugarcane cultivars (Saccharum spp. hybrids) with differential responses to red stripe infection (tolerant and susceptible) were evaluated. Sampling was carried out in 2013-2014 and in 2014-2015 (first and second ratoon, respectively) at 30, 90 and 180 days after harvest. Total soil DNA was obtained using FastPrep® technology. The 16S RNA gene (variable region V3-V4) was sequenced using a MiSeq platform Illumina. Taxonomic assignment revealed Bacillales, Rhyzobiales, Rhodospirilliales, Xanthomonadales and Acidobacteriales among the most abundant orders in all samples. Soil samples from sugarcane without soybean rotation showed a marked decrease in Bacillaes, Rhizobiales and Sphingomonadales. Cluster analysis grouped together samples from the tolerant genotype, while those from the susceptible genotype formed two subgroups that were distinguished according to sampling time after harvest. The analysis showed that samples from sugarcane under monoculture were grouped distant to the rest of the samples showing different microbiota composition. The sugarcane rhizosphere microbiome and its biotechnological potential open a new opportunity in the concept of sustainable crop management. The data contribute significant knowledge about the microbial diversity in agricultural ecosystems.El cultivo de caña de azúcar en Argentina se distribuye en tres regiones geográficas: Tucumán, Norte (Salta y Jujuy) y Litoral (Santa Fe y Misiones), que cubren alrededor de 376,223 ha. Tucumán ha sido tradicionalmente la región más importante con el 68% de la producción total. En la última década, como consecuencia de los cambios en el manejo como la rotación con soja y la cosecha en verde, se han observado cambios en el agroecosistema de la caña de azúcar, en patosistemas específicos y parámetros epidemiológicos. En el presente estudio, se aplicó un enfoque metagenómica de gen 16S ARNr para investigar las comunidades bacterianas asociadas con el suelo rizosférico de caña de azúcar en un sistema con soja como cultivo predecesor en un área de cultivo con una alta incidencia de estría roja. A fines comparativos, se incluyó en el estudio muestras de suelo monocultivo de caña de azúcar. Se evaluaron dos cultivares comerciales de caña de azúcar (Saccharum spp. híbridos) con respuestas diferenciales a la infección de estría roja (tolerante y susceptible). A partir del ADN total del suelo de muestras obtenidas en las campañas 2013-2014 y en 2014-2015 (soca 1 y 2, respectivamente) a los 30, 90 y 180 días después de la cosecha, se amplificó la región variable V3-V4 del 16S rRNA y se secuenció utilizando una plataforma MiSeq Illumina. La asignación taxonómica de las secuencias, reveló Bacillales, Rhyzobiales, Rhodospirilliales, Xanthomonadales y Acidobacteriales entre las órdenes más abundantes en todas las muestras. Las muestras de suelo de caña de azúcar sin rotación con soja mostraron una marcada disminución en Bacillaes, Rhizobiales y Sphingomonadales. El análisis de conglomerados agrupó las muestras del genotipo tolerante, mientras que las del genotipo susceptible formaron dos subgrupos que se distinguieron según el tiempo de muestreo después de la cosecha. El análisis mostró además que las muestras de caña de azúcar provenientes de un sistema de monocultivo se agruparon distantes del resto de las muestras evidenciando las diferencias en la composición de microbiota. El microbioma de la rizosfera de la caña de azúcar y su potencial biotecnológico abren una nueva oportunidad en el concepto de manejo sostenible de cultivos. Los datos aportan un conocimiento significativo sobre la diversidad microbiana en los ecosistemas agrícolas.La culture de la canne à sucre en Argentine est répartie dans trois régions géographiques: Tucumán, le Nord (Salta et Jujuy) et le Littoral (Santa Fe et Misiones), couvrant environ 376 223 ha. Tucumán est traditionnellement la région la plus importante avec 68% de la production totale. Depuis que de nouvelles techniques agricoles, telles que la récolte de la canne verte et la rotation de la canne à sucre avec le soja, ont été mises en place au cours de la dernière décennie, des changements dans l’écosystème de la canne à sucre, des pathosystèmes spécifiques et des paramètres épidémiologiques ont été observés. Une approche métagénomique 16S pour étudier les communautés bactériennes totales associées au sol rhizosphérique de la canne à sucre lorsque le soja était la culture précédente dans une zone de culture présentant une incidence élevée de maladie à rayures rouges a été appliquée; le sol issu de la monoculture de canne à sucre a également été inclus. Deux cultivars commerciaux de la canne à sucre (hybrides Saccharum spp.) avec des réponses différentielles à l'infection à rayures rouges (tolérants et sensibles) ont été évalués. L'échantillonnage a été réalisé en 2013-2014 et en 2014-2015 (première et deuxième repousses, respectivement) à 30, 90 et 180 jours après la récolte. L'ADN total du sol a été obtenu en utilisant la technologie FastPrep®. Le gène de l'ARN 16S (région variable V3-V4) a été séquence en utilisant une plate-forme MiSeq Illumina. L'analyse taxonomique a révélé que Bacillales, Rhyzobiales, Rhodospirilliales, Xanthomonadales et Acidobacteriales étaient parmi les ordres les plus abondants dans tous les échantillons. Des échantillons de sol de canne à sucre sans rotation de soja ont montré une diminution marquée des bacilles, des rhizobiales et des sphingomonadales. L'analyse a regroupé des échantillons du génotype tolérant, tandis que ceux du génotype sensible ont formé deux sous-groupes qui ont été distingués en fonction de la période d'échantillonnage après la récolte. L'analyse a montré que les échantillons provenant de la canne à sucre en monoculture étaient regroupés à distance du reste des échantillons présentant une composition de microbiote différente. Le microbiome de la rhizosphère de canne à sucre et son potentiel biotechnologique ouvrent une nouvelle opportunité dans le concept de gestion durable des cultures. Les données fournissent des connaissances significatives sur la diversité microbienne dans les écosystèmes agricoles.EEA FamailláFil: Fontana, Paola Daniela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Orru, L. Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA). Research Centre for Genomics & Bioinformatics; ItaliaFil: Fontana, Cecilia Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Cocconcelli, P.S. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Alimentari per una filiera agro-alimentare Sostenibile (DISTAS); ItaliaFil: Vignolo, Graciela Margarita. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Salazar, Sergio Miguel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentin

The safeguard of audio collections: a computer science based approach to quality control--the case of the sound archive of the arena di verona

In the field of multimedia, very little attention is given to the activities involved in the preservation of audio documents. At the same time, more and more archives storing audio and video documents face the problem of obsolescing and degrading media, which could largely benefit from the instruments and the methodologies of research in multimedia. This paper presents the methodology and the results of the Italian project REVIVAL, aimed at the development of a hardware/software platform to support the active preservation of the audio collection of the Fondazione Arena di Verona, one of the finest in Europe for the operatic genre, with a special attention on protocols and tools for quality control. On the scientific side, the most significant objectives achieved by the project are (i) the setup of a working environment inside the archive, (ii) the knowledge transfer to the archival personnel, (iii) the realization of chemical analyses on magnetic tapes in collaboration with experts in the fields of materials science and chemistry, and (iv) the development of original open-source software tools. On the cultural side, the recovery, the safeguard, and the access to unique copies of unpublished live recordings of artists the calibre of Domingo and Pavarotti are of great musicological and economical value

¿Agricultor familiar… pequeño productor?

La categoría que conceptualiza al agricultor familiar se viene discutiendo desde su gestación, hace más de una década. Sin embargo, toma forma definitiva en contexto del denominado “conflicto del campo” en el año 2008, resultado de la reacción de las llamadas “patronales del campo” (que conformaron la Mesa de Enlace) ante la medida de retenciones móviles para las exportaciones agrarias a partir de la resolución Número 125 del Ministerio de Economía de la Nación. Producto del conflicto, empiezan a aparecer otros actores, invisibles hasta ese momento para la mayoría de la población, y con esto, se comienza también a deconstruir una mirada que caracteriza al sector como un “todo-homogéneo”, que en cierta forma los medios de comunicación se encargaban de fortalecer en la opinión pública.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

¿Agricultor familiar… pequeño productor?

La categoría que conceptualiza al agricultor familiar se viene discutiendo desde su gestación, hace más de una década. Sin embargo, toma forma definitiva en contexto del denominado “conflicto del campo” en el año 2008, resultado de la reacción de las llamadas “patronales del campo” (que conformaron la Mesa de Enlace) ante la medida de retenciones móviles para las exportaciones agrarias a partir de la resolución Número 125 del Ministerio de Economía de la Nación. Producto del conflicto, empiezan a aparecer otros actores, invisibles hasta ese momento para la mayoría de la población, y con esto, se comienza también a deconstruir una mirada que caracteriza al sector como un “todo-homogéneo”, que en cierta forma los medios de comunicación se encargaban de fortalecer en la opinión pública.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Professional activity, information demands, training and updating needs of occupational medicine physicians in Italy: National survey.

Objectives: Occupational medicine is a discipline continually evolving in response to technological advances, changes in workplaces and production processes, emergence of new occupational risks and diseases and modifications in regulatory framework for occupational health and safety. Therefore, the recurrent revaluation of professional activity, information demands and education and training needs of occupational physicians is essential in order to identify methodologies and tools that may contribute to improvement of their professional knowledge and competency. In this regard, we conducted the first large-scale national survey of Italian occupational medicine physicians to define their demographic and professional activity and to assess their information demands, training and updating needs. Material and Methods: A random sample of occupational physicians, listed in the national register of the Italian Ministry of Health, was selected to complete a voluntary survey. Subjects recruited in this study were asked to complete 3 different sections (personal and professional information, training and updating needs, professional activity and practice characteristics) of a questionnaire for a total of 35 questions. Results: Most of participants were specialized in occupational medicine, worked for a large number of companies and carried out health surveillance on a total number of workers that exceeds 1500. Occupational physicians would like to have a higher training offer towards practical aspects of health surveillance, risks assessment, manual handling of loads, chemical substances and upper limb biomechanical overload. Interestingly, statistically significant differences were observed subdividing the sample into different groups according to the legal requirements to perform the professional activity of occupational physicians in Italy or according to particular aspects of their professional activity. Conclusions: This study has provided interesting findings that may help to guide future discussion on alternative and additional instruments and/or methodologies that may be adopted to implement the quality and effectiveness of occupational medicine practice. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2016;29(5):837–85

Aquaporin-6 Expression in the Cochlear Sensory Epithelium Is Downregulated by Salicylates

We characterize the expression pattern of aquaporin-6 in the mouse inner ear by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Our data show that in the inner ear aquaporin-6 is expressed, in both vestibular and acoustic sensory epithelia, by the supporting cells directly contacting hair cells. In particular, in the Organ of Corti, expression was strongest in Deiters' cells, which provide both a mechanical link between outer hair cells (OHCs) and the Organ of Corti, and an entry point for ion recycle pathways. Since aquaporin-6 is permeable to both water and anions, these results suggest its possible involvement in regulating OHC motility, directly through modulation of water and chloride flow or by changing mechanical compliance in Deiters' cells. In further support of this role, treating mice with salicylates, which impair OHC electromotility, dramatically reduced aquaporin-6 expression in the inner ear epithelia but not in control tissues, suggesting a role for this protein in modulating OHCs' responses