The ART of Infertility: Finding Friendship & Healing After Reproductive Loss

When the author was diagnosed with infertility, she made a decision most individuals who cannot naturally conceive rarely do: she took a break from “trying” and began to write about her experiences. During this time, she met another infertile woman who also was also taking a pause from fertility treatment and using art as a method to cope with her recent reproductive loss. This multimodal essay narrates the artistic journey these two women embarked on and illustrates how art became a tactic to counter more dominant narratives of infertility

Effect of mobilizing agents on mycoremediation and impact on the indigenous microbiota

BACKGROUND: Mobilizing agents (MAs) have been suggested to improve the fungal degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil. Three different MAs (Tween 20, Tween 80 and soybean oil) were investigated for their ability to stimulate contaminant degradation by either Phlebia sp. DABAC 9 or Allescheriella sp. DABAC1 in a soil spiked with amixture of PAHs. RESULTS: Phlebia sp. and Allescheriella sp. markedly differed in their growth capabilities under non-sterile conditions and withoutMAs (3.0 versus 0.1 μg ergosterol g−1 soil, respectively). However, soybean oil led to a 35-fold increase of Allescheriella sp. growth. Contaminant degradations by Phlebia sp. DABAC 9 and Allescheriella sp. DABAC 1 were best supported by soybean oil and Tween 20, respectively. Enumeration of cultivable bacteria and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA showed that microbial density and biodiversity were positively affected by the mycoremediation especially with Allescheriella sp., the use of which led to an evident detoxification. CONCLUSIONS: Allescheriella sp. DABAC 1 appears to be a promising strain in the remediation of PAH-contaminated soils. The different response of the two fungi to MAs addition confirms the stringent need for a preliminary lab-scale assessment of fungus/MA combinations prior to application.L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore: http://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.co

Contributions of paraecologists and parataxonomists to research, conservation, and social development

Citizen science has been gaining momentum in the United States and Europe, where citizens are literate and often interested in science. However, in developing countries, which have a dire need for environmental data, such programs are slow to emerge, despite the large and untapped human resources in close proximity to areas of high biodiversity and poorly known floras and faunas. Thus, we propose that the parataxonomist and paraecologist approach, which originates from citizen-based science, is well suited to rural areas in developing countries. Being a paraecologist or a parataxonomist is a vocation and entails full-time employment underpinned by extensive training, whereas citizen science involves the temporary engagement of volunteers. Both approaches have their merits depending on the context and objectives of the research. We examined 4 ongoing paraecologist or parataxonomist programs in Costa Rica, India, Papua New Guinea, and southern Africa and compared their origins, long-term objectives, implementation strategies, activities, key challenges, achievements, and implications for resident communities. The programs supported ongoing research on biodiversity assessment, monitoring, and management, and participants engaged in non-academic capacity development in these fields. The programs in Southern Africa related to specific projects, whereas the programs in Costa Rica, India, and Papua New Guinea were designed for the long term, provided sufficient funding was available. The main focus of the paraecologists' and parataxonomists' activities ranged from collection and processing of specimens (Costa Rica and Papua New Guinea) or of socioeconomic and natural science data (India and Southern Africa) to communication between scientists and residents (India and Southern Africa). As members of both the local land user and research communities, paraecologists and parataxonomists can greatly improve the flow of biodiversity information to all users, from local stakeholders to international academia

Products made with verdolaga (portulaca oleracea l.): nutritional assessment, knowledge, organoleptic characteristics, acceptance and satisfaction

Introducción: Portulaca oleracea, conocida como verdolaga y considerada culturalmente una maleza, presenta múltiples propiedades benéficas que permiten emplearla como alimento debido a su fácil acceso y bajo costo. No se detectan muchos estudios sobre el tema.Objetivos: elaborar productos alimenticios empleando verdolaga como materia prima, con características organolépticas adecuadas; calcular su valor nutricional y determinar el porcentaje de ingesta diaria recomendada (IDR) que cubre; identificar el nivel de conocimiento sobre la verdolaga y sus propiedades nutricionales; determinar las características organolépticas de los alimentos elaborados, el grado de aceptabilidad y satisfacción en la población en estudio.Materiales y métodos: estudio de tipo descriptivo, no experimental y experimental (pre experimento), de corte transversal. Se elaboraron tres preparaciones con verdolaga: sopa (S), tortilla (T) y ensalada (E), y se sometieron a degustación.Resultados: el valor calórico de las preparaciones por porción fue: S: 24,2 kilocalorías (kcal)/200 g, T: 129,2 kcal/200 g, y E: 116, 16 kcal/150 g. Los porcentajes de IDR que cubre una porción de cada alimento fueron: S: 1,21% kcal, 1,31% hidratos de carbono, 1,96% proteínas, 0,54% lípidos; T: 6,43% kcal, 3,48% hidratos de carbono, 9,54% proteínas, 11,81% lípidos, y E: 5,8% kcal, 5,06% hidratos de carbono, 4,28% proteínas y 8,6% lípidos. Estos valores se calcularon en base a los valores diarios de referencia de nutrientes (VDR) de declaración obligatoria que son: 2.000 kcal, 300 g de hidratos de carbono, 75 g de proteínas y 55 g de lípidos para un grupo de hombres y mujeres adultos de entre 18 y 60 años de edad. La muestra estuvo formada por 50 personas, de 42 años edad promedio, 58% femenino y 42% masculino, 40% con estudios secundarios, 34% universitarios (N=17), 18% terciarios (N=9) y 8% primarios. El 76% presentó un conocimiento bajo sobre la verdolaga y sus propiedades nutricionales. Las elaboraciones fueron satisfactorias para el 82% de los encuestados y aceptadas por el 90%.Conclusiones: en base a las propiedades nutricionales que se sugieren y su alta versatilidad para incorporar en diversas recetas, la verdolaga se presenta como una excelente alternativa para la alimentación humana.Introduction: portulaca oleracea, known as purslane (verdolaga), culturally considered an undergrowth, has multiple beneficial properties allowing to be used as a food, due to its easy access and low cost. There are not many studies on the subject. Objectives: the objective of present work was to prepare food products using purslane as raw material, with adequate organoleptic characteristics. To calculate their nutritional value and to determine the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) percentage they cover. Also, to identify the level of knowledge that a certain population has about purslane and its nutritional properties, and to define the organoleptic characteristics of the foods elaborated, evaluating the degree of acceptability and satisfaction in the population under study. Materials and methods: the study was descriptive, nonexperimental and experimental (pre-experiment), cross-sectional. Three preparations with purslane were elaborated and subjected to tasting: soup (S), omelette (O) and salad (E). Results: tthe caloric value per serving of the preparations was S: 24.2 kcal/200 g; O: 129.2 Kcal/200 g, and E: 116.16 kcal/150 g. The percentages of RDA covered by a serving of each food were: S: 1.21% kcal, 1.31% carbohydrates, 1.96% proteins, 0.54% fats; T: 6.43% kcal, 3.48% carbohydrates, 9.54% proteins, 11.81% fats, and E: 5.8% kcal, 5.06% carbohydrates, 4.28% proteins and 8.6% fats. The values were calculated on referred to the recommended daily intake (RDI), which are: 2,000 kcal, 300 g carbohydrates, 75 g proteins y 55 g fats, defined to a group of adult women and men between 18 and 60 years old. The sample included 50 people with 42 years average age, 58% female and 42%male, 40% with secondary studies, 34% university (N=17), 18% tertiary (N=9) and 8% primary. 76% of the participants presented a low knowledge about purslane and its nutritional properties. The preparations were satisfactory for 82% of the participants and accepted by 90%. Conclusions: due to the suggested nutritional properties and its versatility for its incorporation in various recipes, purslane can be indicated as an excellent alternative for human consumption.Fil: Rodríguez Vieyra, Felicitas María del Rosario. Universidad del Norte Santo Tomás de Aquino; ArgentinaFil: Novotny Núñez, Ivanna. Universidad del Norte Santo Tomás de Aquino; ArgentinaFil: Nader, Maria Elena Fatima. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Universidad del Norte Santo Tomás de Aquino; Argentin

Bacterias probióticas como suplemento dietario promisorio para la salud

El ecosistema intestinal constituye un microambiente complejo donde las células inmunes e intestinales están en constante interacción con la microbiota normal. La maduración y la modulación del sistema inmune intestinal se encuentran influenciadas por el establecimiento de la microbiota comensal, cuyo equilibrio puede ser afectado (benéficamente o no) por microorganismos que ingresan a través de la alimentación. Entre estos microorganismos se encuentran los probióticos que se caracterizan por conferir un efecto beneficioso en la salud del hospedador. Entre las propiedades atribuidas a estos microorganismos, podemos mencionar la capacidad de reforzar la barrera intestinal y la de mejorar la respuesta inmune. Utilizando modelos experimentales en ratón, se demostró que los microorganismos probióticos y/o las leches fermentadas que los contienen pueden modular el sistema inmune sistémico y de mucosa, proporcionando protección contra bacterias enteropatógenas y actuando como adyuvantes de la respuesta inmune sistémica frente a una vacunación en hospedadores inmunodeprimidos por malnutrición.The intestinal ecosystem is a complex microenvironment where immune and intestinal cells are in constant interaction with the normal microbiota. The maturation and modulation of the intestinal immune system are influenced by the establishment of commensal microbiota, whose balance can be affected by microorganisms that enter through the food. Some of these microorganisms called probiotics, confer a health benefit on the host. Among the properties attributed to these microorganisms, it could be mentioned the ability to reinforce the intestinal barrier and enhance the immune response. Using experimental models performed in mice, it was demonstrated that the probiotic microorganisms and / or fermented milks containing them, could modulate the systemic and mucosal immune system, providing protection against enteropathogenic bacteria and acting as adjuvant of the systemic immune response against a vaccination in immunosuppressed hosts by malnutrition.Fil: Novotny Núñez, Ivanna. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Maldonado Galdeano, María Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Castillo, Natalia Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: de Moreno, Maria Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Perdigon, Gabriela del Valle. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; Argentin

Surface roughness reduction using spray-coated hydrogen silsesquioxane reflow

AbstractSurface roughness or texture is the most visible property of any object, including injection molded plastic parts. Roughness of the injection molding (IM) tool cavity directly affects not only appearance and perception of quality, but often also the function of all manufactured plastic parts. So called “optically smooth” plastic surfaces is one example, where low roughness of a tool cavity is desirable. Such tool surfaces can be very expensive to fabricate using conventional means, such as abrasive diamond polishing or diamond turning. We present a novel process to coat machined metal parts with hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) to reduce their surface roughness. Results from the testing of surfaces made from two starting roughnesses are presented; one polished with grit 2500 sandpaper, another with grit 11.000 diamond polishing paste. We characterize the two surfaces with AFM, SEM and optical profilometry before and after coating. We show that the HSQ coating is able to reduce peak-to-valley roughness more than 20 times on the sandpaper polished sample, from 2.44(±0.99)μm to 104(±22)nm and more than 10 times for the paste polished sample from 1.85(±0.63)μm to 162(±28)nm while roughness averages are reduced 10 and 3 times respectively. We completed more than 10,000 injection molding cycles without detectable degradation of the HSQ coating. This result opens new possibilities for molding of affordable plastic parts with perfect surface finish

Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing of autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease and risk variant carriers

Genetic studies of Alzheimer disease (AD) have prioritized variants in genes related to the amyloid cascade, lipid metabolism, and neuroimmune modulation. However, the cell-specific effect of variants in these genes is not fully understood. Here, we perform single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) on nearly 300,000 nuclei from the parietal cortex of AD autosomal dominant (APP and PSEN1) and risk-modifying variant (APOE, TREM2 and MS4A) carriers. Within individual cell types, we capture genes commonly dysregulated across variant groups. However, specific transcriptional states are more prevalent within variant carriers. TREM2 oligodendrocytes show a dysregulated autophagy-lysosomal pathway, MS4A microglia have dysregulated complement cascade genes, and APOEε4 inhibitory neurons display signs of ferroptosis. All cell types have enriched states in autosomal dominant carriers. We leverage differential expression and single-nucleus ATAC-seq to map GWAS signals to effector cell types including the NCK2 signal to neurons in addition to the initially proposed microglia. Overall, our results provide insights into the transcriptional diversity resulting from AD genetic architecture and cellular heterogeneity. The data can be explored on the online browser ( http://web.hararilab.org/SNARE/ )