Characterisation of Moroccan Spurge (Euphorbia) honeys by their physicochemical characteristics, mineral contents and colour

The quality of 27 Moroccan Spurge (Euphorbia) honey samples was assessed. Eight physicochemical parameters and mineral composition were analysed and the CIELAB colour parameters (L∗, a∗, b∗, Cab ∗ and hab) were determined. Results show no significant differences between the two Euphorbia honey types (Euphorbia officinarum subsp. echinus and Euphorbia regis-jubae honeys) regarding the physicochemical parameters. Sodium and magnesium show average values that can help to differentiate between E. officinarum subsp. echinus and E. regis-jubae honeys. Potassium was quantitatively the most important mineral (66% of the total minerals quantified), while sodium and calcium were present in moderate amounts (20% and 11% of the minerals, respectively). The colour parameters also have shown significant differences between E. officinarum subsp. echinus and E. regis-jubae honeys. Considering the total information from physicochemical, mineral and colour data, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Stepwise Discriminant Analysis (SDA) were carried out to distinguish between the two Euphorbia honey types. PCA showed that the cumulative variance was approximately 56%. The results of SDA showed that parameters with a higher discriminant power were Na, Mg, L∗, Cab ∗ and hab, and almost 100% of the samples were properly classified in their corresponding group, except for one sample.Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores A/024044/0

Efecto del marketing de alimentos poco saludables sobre las preferencias gustativas en escolares

Introduction: The food choice is related to taste preferences and eating habits learned in childhood. Objective: To evaluate the effect of marketing strategies for unhealthy food packaging on the taste preferences of first grade students from elementary schools in the City of Santa Fe, in 2019. Material and method: Intervention study. Through a non-probabilistic convenience sampling, two elementary schools from different socio demographic levels in the city of Santa Fe were selected. Forty-five children of both sexes participated. They were evaluated anthropometrically and participated in the tasting of three pairs of food products, each one presented with its original container and another identical, but white or gray. It was assessed if the taste of each food pair was the same or different. If there was a reported difference, they were asked to indicate the product with the preferred flavor. A self-administered questionnaire inquired about consumption habits and the family environment. Results: 86% of the students evaluated anthropometrically presented excess of weight. Most participants found no difference in taste. Among those who answered that the taste was different, 68% belonged to a more vulnerable social stratum. In addition, more than 90% of boys and girls that perceived a difference in the taste of the product preferred the original packaging. Conclusions: The results of this study, carried out for the first time in Argentina, reinforce the debate on the relevance of a policy that regulates food advertising aimed at children.Introducción: La elección de un alimento tiene relación con preferencias de sabor y los hábitos alimentarios aprendidos en la infancia. Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de las estrategias de marketing de los envases de alimentos poco saludables sobre las preferencias gustativas de escolares de primer grado de escuelas primarias de la Ciudad de Santa Fe, en 2019. Material y Método: Estudio de intervención. Mediante un muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia se seleccionaron dos escuelas primarias de diferente nivel sociodemográfico de la ciudad de Santa Fe. Participaron 45 escolares de ambos sexos que fueron evaluados antropométricamente y degustaron tres pares de alimentos, cada uno presentado con su envase original y otro idéntico, pero de color blanco o gris. Se evaluó si el sabor de cada par de alimentos era igual o diferente; y si se registraba la diferencia se solicitaba que señalen el producto del sabor preferido. Mediante un cuestionario autoadministrado se indagó sobre hábitos de consumo y el ambiente familiar. Resultados: El 86% de los escolares evaluados antropométricamente presentaba exceso de peso. La mayoría de los participantes no hallaron diferencias en el sabor. Entre quienes respondieron que el sabor resultó diferente, el 68% pertenece a un estrato social más vulnerable. Además, más del 90% de niños y niñas que percibieron una diferencia de sabor del producto prefirieron el envase original. Conclusiones: Los resultados del presente trabajo, realizado por primera vez en Argentina, refuerzan el debate por la relevancia de un marco normativo que regule la publicidad de alimentos dirigida al público infantil

Influence of the KDEL signal, DMSO and mannitol on the production of the recombinant antibody 14D9 by long-term Nicotiana tabacum cell suspension culture

We have established two transgenic cell suspension culture lines of Nicotiana tabacum that express the catalytic antibody 14D9 as a secretory product (sec-Ab) or as a KDEL-tagged product in the endoplasmic reticulum (Ab-KDEL), respectively. After 3 years of culture, the performance improved to a production level of 0.15 ± 0.03 μg ml−1 on the seventh day of culture for the sec-Ab line and 0.48 ± 0.05 μg ml−1 on the third day for Ab-KDEL line. Analysis of the effect of osmotic stress using mannitol (90 g l−1) as an osmolite revealed that there was a 12-fold increase in antibody yield (1.96 ± 0.20 μg ml−1) on the seventh day of culture in line sec-Ab and a fivefold increase (2.31 ± 0.18 μg ml−1) on the seventh day for line Ab-KDEL. The concentration of the antibody in the culture medium was not significant. Dimethyl sulfoxide used as a permeabilizing agent was not effective in increasing 14D9 yield, but it did cause distinctive cell damage at all concentrations tested.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Efecto de los parámetros de soldadura en mallas de acero electrosoldadas

El hormigón armado es el material utilizado por excelencia en la industria de la construcción. El refuerzo delhormigón es en general barras de acero nervuradas. En ciertas aplicaciones, resulta conveniente el empleo demallas y son empleadas en la mayoría de las estructuras de hormigón armado (edificios, carreteras, túneles ycomponentes prefabricados). Estas mallas de acero son en general electrosoldadas (PW: Projection Welding),donde el calor generado para producir la unión surge de la resistencia que oponen las piezas de trabajo alpaso de la corriente eléctrica, bajo la acción de presión mecánica. Dicho proceso presenta diversos parámetrosoperativos los cuales afectan la calidad de las uniones soldadas y la evolución microestructural que tienelugar durante la soldadura. La norma IRAM-IAS U 500-06 establece los requerimientos que deben cumplirdichas mallas electrosoldadas. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar la influencia de los parámetros de procesosobre la evolución microestructural y las propiedades mecánicas de las uniones de mallas electrosoldadas.Para esto se soldaron alambres nervurados ATR 500M de 4 mm de diámetro mediante PW con diferentesparámetros de soldadura. Se evaluó la influencia de la corriente de soldadura, el tiempo de soldadura, la fuerzay el tiempo de presoldadura. Sobre las uniones soldadas, se caracterizó la macro y microestructura, se realizaronperfiles de microdureza y ensayos de arrancamiento. Se realizaron comparaciones con mallas comercialesy se verificó el cumplimiento de los requisitos de la mencionada norma. Se observó un fuerte efectodel tiempo y la corriente de soldadura y se obtuvo un procedimiento optimizado.Palabras clave: malla electrosoldada, parámetros de soldadura, propiedades mecánicas, macroestructur

Experimental study of speciation and mechanistic implications when using chelating ligands in aryl-alkynyl Stille coupling

Producción CientíficaNeutral palladium(II) complexes [Pd(Rf)X(P–L)] (Rf = 3,5-C6Cl2F3, X = Cl, I, OTf) with P–P (dppe and dppf) and P–N (PPh2(bzN)) ligands have chelated structures in the solid-state, except for P–L = dppf and X = Cl, were chelated and dimeric bridged structures are found. The species present in solution in different solvents (CDCl3, THF, NMP and HMPA) have been characterised by 19F and 31P{1H} NMR and conductivity studies. Some [Pd(Rf)X(P–L)] complexes are involved in equilibria with [Pd(Rf)(solv)(P–L)]X, depending on the solvent and X. The ΔH° and ΔS° values of these equilibria explain the variations of ionic vs. neutral complexes in the range 183–293 K. Overall the order of coordination strength of solvents and anionic ligands is: HMPA ≫ NMP > THF and I−, Cl− > TfO−. This coordination preference is determining the complexes participating in the alkynyl transmetalation from PhC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CSnBu3 to [Pd(Rf)X(P–L)] (X = OTf, I) in THF and subsequent coupling. Very different reaction rates and stability of intermediates are observed for similar complexes, revealing neglected complexities that catalytic cycles have to deal with. Rich information on the evolution of these Stille systems after transmetalation has been obtained that leads to proposal of a common behaviour for complexes with dppe and PPh2(bzN), but a different evolution for the complexes with dppf: this difference leads the latter to produce PhC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CRf and black Pd, whereas the two former yield PhC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CRf and [Pd(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CPh)(SnBu3)(dppe)] or [Pd(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CPh)(SnBu3){PPh2(bzN)}].Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (projects CTQ2016-80913-P and CTQ2017-89217-P)Junta de Castilla y León (project VA062G18, UIC 176

Soporte magnético para la grabación y lectura de información, método de almacenamiento y lectura de información y su uso

Soporte magnético para la grabación y lectura de información, método de almacenamiento y lectura de información y su uso. El soporte magnético comprende un circuito magnético definido en una lámina delgada magnética con anisotropía uniaxial y un nanocomposite constituido por una red bidimensional de nanopozos asimétricos rellenos de otro material magnético de mayor coercitividad y/o anisotropía que la lámina delgada magnética. También es objeto de la invención un método de almacenamiento y lectura de información simultáneo mediante desplazamiento de paredes magnéticas y su uso en la encriptación de información. De aplicación en los sectores en los que se diseñen, produzcan o utilicen dispositivos magnéticos para el almacenamiento y lectura de información, como en los sectores de material y equipo eléctrico, electrónico y óptico, de informática, de tecnologías de la información y de la comunicación, de maquinaria y equipo mecánico, y de transportes y comunicaciones.Peer reviewedUniversidad de Oviedo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España), Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueA2 Solicitud de patente sin informe sobre el estado de la técnic

Development and testing of a 3D-printable polylactic acid device to optimize a water bioremediation process

In the present work, a remediation bioprocess based on the use of a native isolate of Chlorella vulgaris immobilized in an alginate matrix inside a polylactic acid (PLA) device is proposed. This microalga immobilized in alginate beads was previously shown to be useful for the reduction of several chemical and microbial contaminants present in the highly polluted water from the Matanza–Riachuelo watershed. However, these beads had a relatively short shelf life in the natural environment. To overcome this limitation, a 3D-printed PLA device was designed. PLA is a biocompatible and biodegradable material suitable for biotechnological applications. We used Erlenmeyers and stirred-tank bioreactors fed batch with Murashige Skoog (MS) culture medium or water from the Cildáñez stream (one of the water bodies of the aforementioned watershed) to estimate the growth kinetics parameters and the bioremediation capacity of immobilized-microalgal cells as an unconfined system (UcS) or a confined system (CfS) inside PLA devices on Cildáñez water. Although alga’s growth parameters were maximum in the UcS fed with MS medium as substrate, successful bioremediation of the target water was possible using the CfS: all inorganic nitrogen forms and total phosphorus were reduced at least by 90% after 5 days of bioprocess in an agitated bioreactor, whereas aerobic mesophilic bacteria decreased by about 85%. The number of coliforms also decreased. Standardized cytotoxicity tests using Allium cepa seeds carried out to prove the effectiveness of the bioremediation process, confirmed the high degree of decontamination achieved by the use of immobilized microalga confined in a 3D-printable PLA-device.Fil: Marconi, Patricia Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Maimónides. Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Biotecnológicas. Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y de Diagnóstico; ArgentinaFil: Trentini, Andrea Giannina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Maimónides. Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Biotecnológicas. Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y de Diagnóstico; ArgentinaFil: Zawoznik, Myriam Sara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Nadra Chaud, Carlos Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero; Argentina. Autoridad de Cuenca Matanza Riachuelo.; ArgentinaFil: Mercadé, Juan José. Agencia de Protección Ambiental; ArgentinaFil: Sanchez Novoa, Juan Gabriel. Universidad Maimónides. Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Biotecnológicas. Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y de Diagnóstico; ArgentinaFil: Orozco, Daniel. Universidad Maimónides. Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Biotecnológicas. Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y de Diagnóstico; ArgentinaFil: Groppa, María Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; Argentin

A simplified scoring system for the diagnosis of diarrhea and respiratory diseases in dairy calves

Objective: To compare the capacity of a simplified calf health scoring chart (SIM score) with the University of Wisconsin's calf health scoring chart (WIN score) for the diagnosis of calf diarrhea and calf respiratory disease (RD). Animals and procedures: Holstein calves (N = 222) were clinically evaluated for diarrhea and RD diagnosis using the WIN and SIM scores. The WIN score was based on fecal consistency for diagnosis of diarrhea (O = feces of normal consistency to 3 = watery feces; score >= 2 = positive diagnosis); and on nasal discharge, ocular discharge, coughing, ear position, and rectal temperature for diagnosis of RD (each clinical sign receives a score of Oto 3; aggregate score >= 5 = positive diagnosis). The SIM score was based on a hide cleanliness score for diagnosis of diarrhea [O = negative (calf was clean) and 1 = positive (tail head region, thighs, and/or legs were soiled)]; and on nasal discharge, ocular discharge, coughing, and ear position for diagnosis of RD (rectal temperature measurement was not required and each clinical sign had 2 levels of severity; aggregate score >= 5 = positive diagnosis). Results In the RD diagnosis, the SIM score had a sensitivity of 88.24%, a specificity of 95.01 %, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 55.56%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.13%. In the diarrhea diagnosis, the SIM score had a sensitivity of 94.62%, a specificity of 49.64%, a PPV of 18.22%, and an NPV of 98.73%. Conclusion: Compared with the WIN score, the SIM score is a reliable test for diagnosing RD but not for diagnosing diarrhea.Facultad de Ciencias VeterinariasCentro de Diagnóstico e Investigaciones Veterinaria

Swimming performance of <i>Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens</i> is an emergent property of its two flagellar systems

Many bacterial species use flagella for self-propulsion in aqueous media. In the soil, which is a complex and structured environment, water is found in microscopic channels where viscosity and water potential depend on the composition of the soil solution and the degree of soil water saturation. Therefore, the motility of soil bacteria might have special requirements. An important soil bacterial genus is Bradyrhizobium, with species that possess one flagellar system and others with two different flagellar systems. Among the latter is B. diazoefficiens, which may express its subpolar and lateral flagella simultaneously in liquid medium, although its swimming behaviour was not described yet. These two flagellar systems were observed here as functionally integrated in a swimming performance that emerged as an epistatic interaction between those appendages. In addition, each flagellum seemed engaged in a particular task that might be required for swimming oriented toward chemoattractants near the soil inner surfaces at viscosities that may occur after the loss of soil gravitational water. Because the possession of two flagellar systems is not general in Bradyrhizobium or in related genera that coexist in the same environment, there may be an adaptive tradeoff between energetic costs and ecological benefits among these different species.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia MolecularFacultad de IngenieríaInstituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celula

Swimming performance of <i>Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens</i> is an emergent property of its two flagellar systems

Many bacterial species use flagella for self-propulsion in aqueous media. In the soil, which is a complex and structured environment, water is found in microscopic channels where viscosity and water potential depend on the composition of the soil solution and the degree of soil water saturation. Therefore, the motility of soil bacteria might have special requirements. An important soil bacterial genus is Bradyrhizobium, with species that possess one flagellar system and others with two different flagellar systems. Among the latter is B. diazoefficiens, which may express its subpolar and lateral flagella simultaneously in liquid medium, although its swimming behaviour was not described yet. These two flagellar systems were observed here as functionally integrated in a swimming performance that emerged as an epistatic interaction between those appendages. In addition, each flagellum seemed engaged in a particular task that might be required for swimming oriented toward chemoattractants near the soil inner surfaces at viscosities that may occur after the loss of soil gravitational water. Because the possession of two flagellar systems is not general in Bradyrhizobium or in related genera that coexist in the same environment, there may be an adaptive tradeoff between energetic costs and ecological benefits among these different species.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia MolecularFacultad de IngenieríaInstituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celula