Variability in chemical and microbiological profiles of long-ripened Caciocavallo cheeses

Five protected designation of origin (PDO) Caciocavallo Silano and 6 non-PDO Caciocavallo cheeses, ripened for 6mo and collected in the 5 Italian regions of the PDO area (Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, and Molise, Italy), were studied to assess their physico-chemical (pH, acidity, moisture, fat, ash, protein, and free amino acid composition) and microbiological profiles. Analyses evidenced a certain fluctuation of previous parameters among samples regardless of the kind of cheese evaluated (PDO and non-PDO). The PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis performed on the DNA directly extracted from cheeses gave different results, but a low number of bands was always observed. Only one band, corresponding to the species Streptococcus thermophilus, was detectable in 1 PDO and in 2 non-PDO cheese samples, whose free amino acid content was the lowest. Analyses were repeated on experimental Caciocavallo cheeses. Specifically, 2 productions were made, one mimicking the industrial technology (pasteurized milk and selected starter culture) and one the artisanal technology (raw milk and natural whey starter). Results obtained on experimental cheeses at 6mo of ripening showed that industrial samples had lower amounts of total free amino acids then the artisanal ones (1,188.2 vs. 7,523.67mg/100 g of dry matter). Moreover, the PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis evidenced the sole presence of S. thermophilus in the case of the industrial technology. These data sustain the hypothesis that, out of 11 cheeses analyzed previously, 1 PDO Caciocavallo Silano and 2 non-PDO Caciocavallo cheeses were obtained with the industrial technology. These results could be of help in the discrimination of PDO products, taking into account that the PDO production regulation does not allow the milk pasteurization, nor the use of selected starters

Fluorescence in situ hybridisation detection of Lactobacillus plantarum group on olives to be used in natural fermentations

At present there are very few studies on the bacterial diversity of olives and on the importance of the microbial species for the fermentation of olives aimed to table olives production. Most of the authors report on the occurrence of Lactobacillus plantarum as principal member of these communities or at least as the species responsible for the fermentation. In this study, fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) with 16S rRNA probes was used to evaluate the occurrence of L. plantarum in olives. A 18-bp oligonucleotide probe was used in FISH experiments to evaluate the specificity of detection among Lactobacillus species. The probe was tested against 30 Lactobacillus species and appeared to be specific for L. plantarum, L. paraplantarum and L. pentosus. The probe was then used to investigate the occurrence of these species in 25 samples of olives (cultivar “Leccino”) collected in Campania region (Southern Italy). The olives were washed in a saline solution and the suspensions were then analysed by FISH and observed by fluorescence microscopy. No hybridisation signal was detected in at least 30 fields of observation when the L. plantarum-specific probe was used, probably due to the low sensitivity of the FISH method. Olive samples were plated on Rogosa agar and about 40% of the samples did not give growth after 5 days. When colony growth was observed, bulk cells from Rogosa agar plates were collected and analysed by DNA extraction followed by 16S rDNA Polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR–DGGE). The different microbial species were identified by direct sequencing of DGGE bands. Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides was the most frequently found species, occurring in more than 50% of the samples that had shown growth on Rogosa agar. The closest relatives of the species of the genera: Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, Pseudomonas and Raoultella were also identified suggesting that guided fermentation by using selected LAB starters is advisable for a safe and desired table olives production

Therapeutic, Prophylactic, and Functional Use of Probiotics: A Current Perspective

Probiotics are considered as the twenty-first century panpharmacon due to their competent remedial power to cure from gastrointestinal dysbiosis, systematic metabolic diseases, and genetic impairments up to complicated neurodegenerative disorders. They paved the way for an innovative managing of various severe diseases through palatable food products. The probiotics’ role as a “bio-therapy” increased their significance in food and medicine due to many competitive advantages over traditional treatment therapies. Their prophylactic and therapeutic potential has been assessed through hundreds of preclinical and clinical studies. In addition, the food industry employs probiotics as functional and nutraceutical ingredients to enhance the added value of food product in terms of increased health benefits. However, regardless of promising health-boosting effects, the probiotics’ efficacy still needs an in-depth understanding of systematic mechanisms and factors supporting the healthy action

Short communication: Identification and technological characterization of yeast strains isolated from samples of water buffalo Mozzarella cheese

Abstract Sixty yeast cultures were isolated from samples of water buffalo Mozzarella, a popular "pasta filata" cheese, originating on 16 farms located in the provinces of Salerno, Caserta, and Frosinone (Italy). Strains were identified by means of 5.8S internal transcribed spacer rDNA PCR-RFLP combined with 26S rRNA gene partial sequencing and characterized for their ability to exert biochemical properties of technological interest. The recorded dominance of fermenting yeasts such as the lactose-fermenting Kluyveromyces marxianus (38.3% of the total isolates) and the galactose-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae (21.6% of the total isolates) suggests that these yeasts contribute to the organoleptic definition of the water buffalo Mozzarella. The speciographic analysis revealed the presence of 7 other species rarely or never reported in a dairy environment belonging to the genera Pichia and Candida , whose role in Mozzarella cheese organoleptic properties need to be further investigated

Lessons from Health, Health Care, and Health Disparities Among Latinx Populations Scientific Panel, in New York City-2021

On September 28, 2021, the City University of New York- CUNY’s Institute for Health Equity (CIHE) hosted the online panel: Health, Health Care, and Health Disparities Among Latinx Population as part of the Speaker Series for Hispanic Heritage Month. The panel was conformed of four experts representing scientists, managers, and future researchers from the biomedical field. Participants were CUNY students, faculty, and individuals from the broader NYC community affiliated with CUNY college campuses. The panelists represented different professional roles, fields, and interests. The common denominator among them was their personal and professional commitment to serving Latinx populations. The main discussion focused on: the need to develop structural interventions that address societal factors to maximize the effect of clinical and individual-based interventions; the role and importance of community engagement; the need to use advocacy and community-centered approach; the significance of flexibility to adapt research portfolios and geographic location, which COVID-19 highlighted; and the need and urgency to increase the pool of Latinx HD researchers and practitioners at all levels and in all stages of the career pathway

Pulmonary Hypertension with “Normal” Pulmonary Vascular Resistance

Abstracts not available for Perspectives

A informatização das bibliotecas escolares municipais de Florianópolis: percepção dos estagiários de Biblioteconomia.

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro de Ciências da Educação. Curso de Biblioteconomia.Esta pesquisa visa analisar as percepções dos estudantes de Biblioteconomia que estagiaram em bibliotecas na Rede Municipal de Educação de Florianópolis e obtiveram contato com o processo de automação destas unidades, apresentando as opiniões expressas dos acadêmicos em relação ao grau satisfatório e insatisfatório acerca das funcionalidades processuais. Com um referencial teórico focado nas reflexões de autores que basearam seus estudos nos fenômenos sociais, buscou-se compreender as representações sociais existentes nas expressões dos participantes. O caráter da pesquisa deu-se através de método qualitativo, com a finalidade de compreender os aspectos sociais existentes nas opiniões obtidas. A coleta de dados concretizou-se através de entrevista, composta por questões abertas que buscaram exprimir estas informações dos respondentes. A técnica do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo foi adotada para a análise dos dados obtidos mediante entrevista, com a finalidade de organizar estes discursos e transformá-los em um discurso único e representativo, que figurasse a opinião geral dos entrevistados. Os resultados apontam para as diferenças existentes entre as unidades de informação conhecidas pelos participantes, demonstrando a ausência de um padrão que nivele todas as unidades da Rede à mesma etapa do processo, tornando-o mais ágil e, conseqüentemente, mais útil. Os discursos evidenciaram, ainda, a diferença existente entre a teoria técnica do curso de Biblioteconomia e as práticas da mesma, decorrentes das adversidades existentes na rotina do profissional bibliotecário, adversidades estas que foram constatadas através da experiência do estágio curricular.This research intends to analyze the perceptions of the Librarianship's students that worked as trainees at libraries belonging to Florianópolis Municipal Education Web and had contact with the automation processes of such unities. The goal is to gather their opinions about how satisfying or unsatisfying the process functions are. With a theoretical referential focus on the views of authors that based their studies on social behaviors, it was of utmost importance to understand the social representations expressed in each participant's expressions. The research was performed using the Qualitative Method, aiming for understanding of the social aspects found in the various given opinions. The data collection was obtained via interviews, composed by open questions that were specifically meant to obtain said opinions from the subjects who were interviewed. The Collective Subject Discourse (CSD) was utilized for the analysis of the data that was obtained, with the end result of organizing each interview and modeling the information into a single representative speech that displayed the overall main opinions of each participating individual. The results of the study pointed to existing differences between the information known by each individual student, showing a lack of pattern that could level all participating units. The research will help allow the Web to function as a whole, which the intended result being a more agile and consequently more useful process that's improved overall. The discourse also brought to light the existing differences between the technical theory of the Librarianship course and the practical techniques that it utilizes; adversities that were proven through the Curricular experience as a whole.Este estudio pretende analizar las percepciones de los estudiantes de Bibliotecologia que trabajaron como pasantes en bibliotecas de la Red Municipal de Educación de Florianópolis y obtuvieron contacto con el proceso de automatización de estas unidades, presentando las opiniones expresas de los académicos en relación al grado satisfactório e insatisfatório acerca de las funcionalidades procesuales. Con un referencial teórico focado en las reflexiones de autores que basearon sus estudios en los fenômenos sociales, se buscó comprender las representaciones sociales existentes en las expresiones de los participantes. El caracter del estúdio se dio por el método qualitativo, con la finalidad de comprender los aspectos sociales existentes en las opiniones obtenidas. La colecta de datos se concretizó a través de uma entrevista, compuesta por cuestiones abiertas que buscaron sacar estas informaciones de los respondentes. La técnica del Discurso del Sujeto Colectivo fue adoptada para la analisis de los datos obtenidos mediante entrevista, con la finalidad de organizar estos discursos y transformar-los en un discurso único y representativo, en que figurara la opinión general de los entrevistados. Los resultados apuntam para las diferencias existentes entre las unidades de información conocidas por los participantes, demostrando la ausencia de un padrón que nivele a todas las unidades de la Red a uma misma etapa del proceso, tornando-lo mas ágil y, consecuentemente, mas útil. Los discursos evidenciaron, todavia, la diferencia existente entre la teoria técnica del curso de Bibliotecologia y las prácticas de la misma, decorrentes de las adversidades existentes en la rutina del profesional bibliotecário, adversidades estas que fueron constatadas a través de la experiência de pasantía

Sociedad y cuidado desde la perspectiva de niños sin cuidado parental (NSCP).: Society and care from the perspective of children without parental care.

Objective: Understand the meanings given by children without parental care to living conditions, relationships established and how they negotiate or recreate their situation in the places where they grow, recognizing them as necessary interlocutors for the analysis of the circumstances of their place of growth.   Materials and Methods: Multi-sited research for the transitory character of their life, it is epistemologically based on perspectivism, addressing thirty street children, thirty-five children in educational institutions and twenty-one in child protection centres in cities and municipalities within the industrial corridor of Boyacá, Colombia. Qualitative strategies such as life stories, interviews (occasionally made by the participant children) were implemented for this research; also, participative strategies such as participant observation and workshops. Results: Relationships with neighbors, close relatives or friends, government officials or teachers who practice transitory care actions as an exception to the general rule of indifference, acquire for the participants other feelings regarding possibilities of emotional ties that, however, are lost due to personal or social reasons and are not favorable for them, generating open questions about the role society could play as co-responsible of their growth. Conclusions: The knowledge based on experience of children without parental care was fundamental to understand that the construction of society has abandoned care as the main focus in the growth and the training of human beings, and to find other ways of interpreting childhood regarding social status.Objetivo: Comprender los significados que otorgan niños y niñas sin cuidado parental, a las condiciones de vida, relaciones que establecen y formas como negocian o recrean su situación en los lugares en que crecen, reconociéndolos como interlocutores necesarios para el análisis de las circunstancias en que tiene lugar su crecimiento.  Materiales y métodos: Investigación multisituada por el carácter transitorio de sus vidas, se fundamenta epistemológicamente en el perspectivismo, abordando treinta niños y niñas en contextos de calle,  treinta y cinco niños y niñas en instituciones educativas y veintiuno en centros de protección, en ciudades y municipios que conforman el corredor industrial de Boyacá.  Para ello se implementaron estrategias cualitativas como relatos de vida, entrevistas en ocasiones realizadas por los niños y niñas participantes; también estrategias participativas tales como observación participante y talleres. Resultados: Las relaciones con vecinos o cercanos, funcionarios del estado y maestros, quienes ejercen acciones transitorias de cuidado como una excepción a la regla general de indiferencia, adquieren para los participantesotros sentidos en cuanto a posibilidades de vínculos afectivos que, no obstante, se pierden por razones personales o sociales que no los favorecen, generando interrogantes sobre el papel que podría desempeñar la sociedad como corresponsable de su crecimiento. Conclusiones: El conocimiento basado en la experiencia de niños y niñas sin cuidado parental fue fundamental para comprender que la construcción de sociedad ha ido abandonando el cuidado como su eje central en el crecimiento y la formación de los seres humanos y para encontrar otras formas de interpretar la niñez en cuanto categoría social

Lactic acid bacteria occurring during manufacture and ripening of Provolone del Monaco cheese: detection by different analytical approaches

Lactic acid bacteria occurring in Provolone del Monaco, an artisanal pasta filata cheese produced in Campania (Italy) from raw cows’ milk and without starter addition, were investigated by a combination of conventional and molecular approaches. The microbial community was monitored during a cheese-making process giving rise to a premium quality product. Streptococcus thermophilus and Streptococcus macedonicus prevailed during cheese manufacture and survived along nine months of ripening, together with enterococci and lactobacilli of the casei group, especially Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Phenotypic and genetic identification of 308 isolates largely reflected the results obtained by 16S rDNA sequencing analysis by polymerase chain reaction-denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis, with the significant exception of Lactobacillus fermentum and four Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies that were not detected by cultural methods. Each different analytical approach employed provided useful information. Their combination proved to be suitable to effectively describe the ecosystem of Provolone del Monaco cheese

Une preuve est une histoire

International audienceLa narration computationnelle est un sous-domaine de l'Intelligence Artificielle, lié notamment aux problèmes de représentation des connaissances et en particulier à la représentation des actions et du changement. On s'y intéresse aux objets narratifs (littéraires, interactifs, cinématographiques) pour les comprendre, les analyser, ou les construire, en proposant des techniques qui peuvent être mises en oeuvre par des programmes et systèmes informatiques. C'est un domaine qui a des applications dans le domaine des jeux vidéos ou jeux utiles par exemple. Nous proposons de revenir dans cet exposé sur la motivation et les fondements d'un travail en cours, qui repose sur une connivence entre la structure des preuves en logique linéaire et la structure d'histoires interactives. Bien qu'ayant déjà donné lieu à une interprétation opérationnelle, cette approche a laissé des pistes inexplorées, surtout en ce qui concerne une normalisation et modularité de preuves/histoires dans un sous-ensemble ad hoc de la logique linéaire. Certaines idées ont été explorées en 2011 à l'aide de Coq et nous aimerions partager et échanger au sujet de nos projets actuels pour approfondir ce travail