Performance of malolactic fermentation by inoculation of selected Lactobacillus plantarum and Oenococcus oeni strains isolated from Rioja red wines

Malolactic fermentations (MLF) of wines inoculated with selected lactic acid bacteria strains of the species Oenococcus oeni and Lactobacillus plantarum were studied and compared with spontaneous MLF. Bacterial populations were monitored along the whole process of MLF and bacteria identifications were carried out at species and strain level. Macrorestriction analysis with SfiI endonuclease and subsequent PFGE was carried out in order to identify O. oeni individual strains. L. plantarum active lyophila did not survive competing with the indigenous microbiota in a wine with 15.3 % (vol/vol) alcohol, whereas the selected O. oeni strains carried out wine MLF. The highest production of histamine took place during MLF in those wines that underwent spontaneous MLF with a mixed population of indigenous strains. The lowest levels of histamine were obtained with the selected commercial O. oeni strain that succeeded 100 % over the indigenous microbiota. Results indicate that development of MLF leaded by selected O. oeni active lyophila provides negligible histamine levels in red wines of quality that can be submitted to subsequent ageing in wood.

Phase Transition Study of Superconducting Microstructures

The presented results are part of a feasibility study of superheated superconducting microstructure detectors. The microstructures (dots) were fabricated using thin film patterning techniques with diameters ranging from $50\mu$m up to $500\mu$m and thickness of $1\mu$m. We used arrays and single dots to study the dynamics of the superheating and supercooling phase transitions in a magnetic field parallel to the dot surface. The phase transi- tions were produced by either varying the applied magnetic field strength at a constant temperature or changing the bath temperature at a constant field. Preliminary results on the dynamics of the phase transitions of arrays and single indium dots will be reported.Comment: 7pages in LaTex format, five figures available upon request by [email protected], preprint Bu-He 93/

Interferon alfa subtypes and levels of type I interferons in the liver and peripheral mononuclear cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C and controls

Viral infections stimulate the transcription of interferon type I, which includes IFN-alfa (IFN-alpha) (13 subtypes) and IFN-beta (a single substance). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is remarkable by its ability to evade host antiviral defenses; however, there is little information as to whether endogenous IFN is activated or not in this disease. Additionally, despite the fact that the various IFN-alpha subtypes may differ in biological activity, there are no data concerning the IFN-alpha subtypes specifically expressed in normal and diseased liver tissue. Thus, we have analyzed the IFN-alpha subtypes and the mRNA levels of type I IFNs in samples of normal liver tissue and in liver from patients with chronic hepatitis C. Similar studies were performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients and controls. After amplification and cloning of IFN-alpha cDNA, we observed that 98 of the 100 clones from normal liver tissue corresponded to the IFN-alpha5 subtype. However, in livers with chronic hepatitis C and in PBMC from controls and patients, a variety of subtypes, in addition to IFN-alpha5, were detected, suggesting a participation of infiltrating leukocytes in the production of IFN-alpha in livers with chronic hepatitis C. As compared with controls, patients with chronic hepatitis C showed a significant increase in IFN-beta mRNA in both the liver and PBMC, while IFN-alpha mRNA was significantly increased in PBMC but markedly reduced in liver tissue. In conclusion, IFN-alpha5 is the sole IFN-alpha subtype expressed in normal liver tissue. The hepatic levels of IFN-alpha are reduced in chronic hepatitis C, an event that may favor viral persistence

El magmatismo alcalino del Triásico Superior en el NO de la Cadena Ibérica (España)

We have carried out a complete study of the Upper-Triassic alkaline magmatism on the northwestern margin of the Iberian Chain. This magmatism is composed of mafic sills, which intrude the Keuper facies in two geographic sectors: the Cameros Massif (NW) and the Moncayo Massif (SE). In both of these sectors, the rocks are characterised by an intense alteration (spilitisation). The field relationships point to an Upper Triassic age for the studied sills, given that: 1) interactions are recognised between the magma and wet, unconsolidated host sediments, suggesting that the magma was emplaced during or shortly after the deposition of the Keuper facies; 2) in the Moncayo sector a conglomerate bed that includes igneous clasts overlaies the sills and passes upwards to the Norian-Rhaetian Imón Fm. According to the petrological and geochemical features of the sills, an internal differentiation can be recognised inwards, with the developments of three zones: chilled margins, central facies and pegmatoid facies. The rocks are porphyritic and are mainly composed of phenocrysts of pseudomorphed olivine and microcrysts of plagioclase, opaque minerals and minor clinopyroxene. Vesicles and xenoliths of the host sedimentary rocks are also recognised, especially at the chilled margins. The mineral assemblage is constant across the sills but the mineral proportions vary among the different zones. The sills are basic to intermediate rocks. They are classified as basalts to dacites with an alkaline geochemical affinity. According to the trace element contents, this magmatism is related to an enriched sub-lithospheric mantle source affected by crustal contamination. Considering the Upper Triassic magmatisms from southwestern Europe, two types can be distinguished. On the one hand, the magmatisms in the Catalonian Coastal Ranges and SE France are paleogeographically located in the inner platform and are related to deep, astenospheric mantle sources with no evidence of crustal contamination. On the other hand, the magmatisms in the NW Iberian Chain –this study-, the External Betics and the Brescian Prealps are situated in a more litoral position and are related to a shallower, lithospheric mantle with evidence of crustal contamination. These differences could be related to the thickness of the continental crust, which might be thinner in the inner areas of the platform.Se ha realizado un estudio completo del magmatismo alcalino del Triásico Superior del margen noroccidental de la Cadena Ibérica. Este magmatismo consta de sills máficos emplazados entre los materiales sedimentarios de la Facies Keuper en dos sectores: Macizo de Cameros (NO) y Macizo del Moncayo (SE). En ambos sectores, las rocas estudiadas se caracterizan por una intensa alteración (espilitización). Las relaciones de campo apuntan a una edad de los sills estudiados de Triásico Superior dado que: 1) se reconocen interacciones entre el magma y el sedimento encajante sin consolidar, que sugieren su emplazamiento coetáneo con el depósito de la facies Keuper o poco posterior y, 2) se observa, en el sector de Moncayo, un nivel conglomerático con cantos de rocas ígneas similares a las que forman los sills, depositado entre los sedimentos argilíticos que se disponen por encima de los sills y siempre, bajo la Fm. Imón de edad Noriense terminal a Retiense inferior. Las características petrológicas y geoquímicas de los sills sugieren una diferenciación hacia el interior de los mismos, reconociéndose tres zonas: borde enfriado, facies central y facies pegmatoide. Las rocas son porfídicas y tienen una asociación mineral común formada por fenocristales de olivino alterado y una mesostasia compuesta por microcristales de plagioclasa, opacos y clinopiroxeno. También se reconocen vesículas y enclaves de la roca sedimentaria encajante, especialmente en el borde enfriado. Las proporciones modales varían entre las tres facies reconocidas. Los sills están formados por rocas básicas a intermedias, clasificadas desde basaltos a dacitas, con afinidad alcalina. De acuerdo a sus contenidos en elementos traza, este magmatismo está relacionado con una fuente mantélica sublitosférica enriquecida, afectada por contaminación cortical. Considerando los magmatismos del Triásico Superior del suroeste de Europa, pueden establecerse dos tipos. Por un lado, los magmatismos aflorantes en las Cadenas Costero Catalanas y el Sur de Francia estaban paleogeográficamente situadas hacia zonas internas de la plataforma y se relacionan con un manto profundo, astenosférico, sin evidencias de contaminación cortical. Por el contrario, los magmatismos de las áreas más occidentales y septentrionales (NO de la Cadena Ibérica –este estudio-, Zonas Externas de las Béticas y Prealpes de Brescia), próximas al litoral paleogeográfico, se relacionan con un manto más superficial, litosférico y muestran evidencias de contaminación cortical. Todas estas diferencias observadas pueden relacionarse con variaciones del espesor de la corteza continental, más adelgazada hacia las zonas internas de la plataforma

Expression of interferon-alpha subtypes in peripheral mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C: a role for interferon-alpha5

Interferon (IFN)-alpha is a family of antiviral proteins encoded by different genes. The biological significance of the existence of various IFN-alpha subtypes is not clear. We have investigated the interferon system in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a disease that responds to interferon-alpha2 therapy in only a limited proportion of cases. We analysed the expression of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1, IRF-2, and IFN-alpha subtypes in nonstimulated and Sendai virus-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HCV infected patients and healthy controls. We observed that the IRF-1 mRNA and IRF-1/IRF-2 ratios were increased in PBMC from hepatitis C patients with respect to normal subjects. Sendai virus stimulation of PBMC led to a significant increase in the levels of IRF-1, IRF-2 and IFN-alpha mRNAs and in the production of IFN-alpha protein with respect to basal values in healthy controls as well as in patients with HCV infection. In addition, we found that while natural HCV infection induced increased IFN-alpha5 expression in PBMC, in vitro infection of these cells with Sendai virus caused a raise in the expression of IFN-alpha8 in both patients and normal controls. In summary, our results indicate that virus-induced activation of the IFN system in human PBMC is associated with selective expression of individual IFN-alpha subtypes, IFN-alpha5 being the specific subtype induced in PBMC from patients with chronic HCV infection

A tool for the analysis and visualization of social networks towards the identification of criminal gangs

Se presenta un estudio de las técnicas y metodologías actuales de análisis inteligente de datos y visualización para la asistencia en la investigación criminal, a partir de los registros de actividades delictivas, sus autores y las relaciones de datos que puedan derivarse a partir de ellas. Como corolario de la investigación, se muestra el desarrollo de un módulo de software para la visualización. Es de especial interés la identificación de redes ilegales, tales como bandas delictivas o criminales para propender a una persecución penal inteligente.A study of the current techniques and methodologies of intelligent data analysis  and visualization for assistance in criminal investigation is presented, based on the records of criminal activities, their authors and the data relationships that can be derived from them. As a corollary of the investigation, the development of a software module for visualization is shown. The identification of illegal networks,  such as criminal gangs, is of special interest in order to promote intelligent criminal prosecution.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Aplicando PageRank en registros de actividades criminales : Una aproximación a la detección de bandas delictivas

Se presenta el resultado del estudio de las técnicas y metodologías actuales de análisis inteligente de datos y visualización para la asistencia en la investigación criminal, a partir de los registros de actividades delictivas, sus autores y las relaciones de datos que puedan derivarse a partir de ellas. Es de especial inter´es la identificación de bandas delictivas o criminales para propender a una persecución penal inteligente. Se discute el desarrollo de un componente de software para la visualización, incorporando la utilización del algoritmo de PageRank y detección de comunidades.XV Workshop Innovación en sistemas de Software (WISS)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informátic