Production of 1,3-propanediol by Clostridium butyricum VPI 3266 using a synthetic medium and raw glycerol

Growth inhibition of Clostridium butyricum VPI 3266 by raw glycerol, obtained from the biodiesel production process, was evaluated. C. butyricum presents the same tolerance to raw and to commercial glycerol, when both are of similar grade, i.e. above 87% (w/v). A 39% increase of growth inhibition was observed in the presence of 100 g l 1 of a lower grade raw glycerol (65% w/v). Furthermore, 1,3-propanediol production from two raw glycerol types (65% w/v and 92% w/v), without any prior purification, was observed in batch and continuous cultures, on a synthetic medium. No significant differences were found in C. butyricum fermentation patterns on raw and commercial glycerol as the sole carbon source. In every case, 1,3-propanediol yield was around 0.60 mol/mol glycerol consumed

Real-time motion-based hand gestures recognition from time-of-flight video

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11265-015-1090-5This paper presents an innovative solution based on Time-Of-Flight (TOF) video technology to motion patterns detection for real-time dynamic hand gesture recognition. The resulting system is able to detect motion-based hand gestures getting as input depth images. The recognizable motion patterns are modeled on the basis of the human arm anatomy and its degrees of freedom, generating a collection of synthetic motion patterns that is compared with the captured input patterns in order to finally classify the input gesture. For the evaluation of our system a significant collection of gestures has been compiled, getting results for 3D pattern classification as well as a comparison with the results using only 2D informatio

Screening the Pathogen Box for Identification of New Chemical Agents with Anti-Fasciola hepatica Activity

Fascioliasis is an infectious parasitic disease distributed globally and caused by the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica or F. gigantica. This neglected tropical disease affects both animals and humans, and it represents a latent public health problem due to the significant economic losses related to its effects on animal husbandry. For decades, triclabendazole has been the unique anti-Fasciola drug that can effectively treat this disease. However, triclabendazole resistance in fascioliasis has more recently been reported around the world, and thus, the discovery of novel drugs is an urgent need. The aim of this study was to investigate the fasciocidal properties of 400 compounds contained in the Pathogen Box. The first stage of the screening was carried out by measuring the fasciocidal activity on metacercariae at a concentration of 33 mu M each compound (the standard dose). Subsequently, the activities of the most active compounds (n = 33) at their 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values against metacercariae were assayed, and the results showed that 13 compounds had IC(50)s of 50%. Four hit compounds were selected on the basis of their predicted nontoxic properties, and the IC50 values obtained for adult worms were <10 mu M; thus, these compounds represented the best fasciocidal compounds tested here. A cytotoxicity assay on four types of cell lines demonstrated that three compounds were nontoxic at their most active concentration. In conclusion, three hit compounds identified in this proof-of-concept study are potential candidates in the discovery of new fasciocidal drugs. Further studies are warranted

Comprehensive Management model for increasing the competitiveness of small and medium artisan jewelry enterprises in Peru

Today, many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) either go out of business or see their growth being stalled due to poor activity management and organization, which is why they are often unprepared to engage against large companies leading their competitive markets. This study aims to develop a comprehensive management model, exclusively designed for SMEs in the jewellery sector, which may encompass all areas that create value and make them competitive. The development of this comprehensive management model was deployed in 21 steps classified into three tiers based on three major philosophies. This study uses lean manufacturing to identify activities that add value and reduce waste, and lean green was used to provide the environmental care and culture approach required for a friendly and fair workplace environment. The selected scenario is a jewelry workshop, wherein techniques and tools were completely applied and yielded a 20% increase in operating performance and a 15% increase in annual return

State of exploitation of the black seabream, Spondyliosoma cantharus (Linnaeus, 1758), off Gran Canaria (Canary Islands)

En el presente trabajo se evalúa el estado de explotación de la chopa Spondyliosoma cantharus (L., 1758) en aguas de Gran Canaria (islas Canarias) mediante el análisis de cohortes sobre distribuciones de tallas. Para llevar a cabo el análisis se dispuso de 30 068 ejemplares procedentes de pescas comerciales realizadas entre enero de 1994 y diciembre de 1996. La chopa, especie común en las capturas demersales efectuadas por la flota artesanal en Gran Canaria, se pesca principalmente con nasa y, de forma ocasional, con palangre. Las tallas de los individuos capturados están comprendidas entre 8 y 40 cm de longitud total. La nasa incide sobre ejemplares de todas las clases de tallas, principalmente de 20-22 cm, y el palangre sobre ejemplares de 20 a 40 cm, principalmente de 24-26 cm. La estrategia de pesca actual genera una situación de sobrepesca en crecimiento. Un cambio en el esquema, basado en la reducción de la mortalidad pesquera para la nasa, incrementaría de manera significativa el rendimiento y la biomasa de reproductores.The study examines the state of exploitation of the black seabream, Spondyliosoma cantharus (L., 1758), off Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) using a length cohort analysis based on data from 30 068 individuals obtained from commercial catches between January 1994 and December 1996. The black seabream, a common species in the demersal catches of the artisanal Gran Canaria fishery, is mainly captured with traps, and occasionally with longlines. Total length of individuals ranged from 8 cm to 40 cm. Specimens from the subgroup caught by traps ranged from 8 cm to 40 cm, but were mostly 20-22 cm; the longline subgroup ranged from 20 cm to 40 cm, with most individuals measuring 24-26 cm. The current fishery strategy produces a situation of overexploitation; a change, reducing fishing mortality resulting from trap use, would significantly increase both the yield and the spawning stock biomass.Instituto Español de Oceanografí