Development and Testing of a Small-Size Olfactometer for the Perception of Food and Beverages in Humans

Studies of olfactory perception and about the way humans interact with, and perceive food and beverages require appropriate olfactory devices. Moreover, small size, and portable interfaces are needed within the context of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), to enrich and complete the design of different mediated experiences. In this paper, the authors tested a new portable olfactory device for the orthonasal administration of smells. The main aim was to verify if the experience generated by the odors delivered through such device can affect people's taste perception. Once established that people could perceive odors using the olfactory device, a group of participants was asked to taste two different types of food (Experiment 1) and three types of beverages (Experiment 2) and to evaluate them on a number of perceptual-dimensions (such as pleasantness, freshness, sweetness, saltiness, and bitterness). The participants could taste the food and the beverage without the presence of additional olfactory stimuli, or under conditions where olfactory stimuli (the smell of chocolate or citrus) were also presented using the device. The results showed that the participants' evaluation of food and beverages was significantly modulated by the concurrently presented odors. The experimental results suggest that: (1) the device is effective in controlling the delivery of odors to human participants without the complexity of management that often affect larger odors delivery systems; (2) odors administered by means of such device can have an effects on food and beverage perception, without the need to change their chemical properties

Estimating Sampling Selection Bias in Human Genetics: A Phenomenological Approach

This research is the first empirical attempt to calculate the various components of the hidden bias associated with the sampling strategies routinely-used in human genetics, with special reference to surname-based strategies. We reconstructed surname distributions of 26 Italian communities with different demographic features across the last six centuries (years 1447-2001). The degree of overlapping between "reference founding core" distributions and the distributions obtained from sampling the present day communities by probabilistic and selective methods was quantified under different conditions and models. When taking into account only one individual per surname (low kinship model), the average discrepancy was 59.5%, with a peak of 84% by random sampling. When multiple individuals per surname were considered (high kinship model), the discrepancy decreased by 8-30% at the cost of a larger variance. Criteria aimed at maximizing locally-spread patrilineages and long-term residency appeared to be affected by recent gene flows much more than expected. Selection of the more frequent family names following low kinship criteria proved to be a suitable approach only for historically stable communities. In any other case true random sampling, despite its high variance, did not return more biased estimates than other selective methods. Our results indicate that the sampling of individuals bearing historically documented surnames (founders' method) should be applied, especially when studying the male-specific genome, to prevent an over-stratification of ancient and recent genetic components that heavily biases inferences and statistics

Ciencias cognitivas y educación: Una propuesta de diálogo

En este trabajo se realiza una propuesta de comunicación transdisciplinar entre las ciencias cognitivas y la educación, tal y como se perfilan en el siglo XXI. En un primer lugar se contextualizan estos procesos de comunicación en el continuum histórico que transita desde los inicios del siglo pasado, con la configuración de la psicología educativa dentro del constructo de las ciencias educativas; pasando por la constitución de las ciencias cognitivas, a mediados del siglo XX que propició la emergencia de la síntesis disciplinar entre las ciencias del cerebro y de la mente, para posibilitar un encuadre arraigado en el presente, y en las propuestas de consiliencia entre neurociencia cognitiva y educación. Desde este presente histórico, se efectúa una propuesta de diálogo entre las distintas epistemes (educativas y cognitivas), en relación con el fenómeno de la educación bilingüe, y en concreto en el contexto intercultural ecuatoriano. La integración de los distintos niveles de análisis que configuran un fenómeno complejo, como lo es todo fenómeno educativo, refleja cómo los intentos transdisciplinares orientados a reconocer la complejidad ontológica de un mismo objeto de estudio, requiere del diálogo entre las distintas epistemologías y metodologías implicadas. La apertura del campo educativo a las dimensiones mentales y cerebrales en su expresión cognitiva, requiere en este s. XXI procesos de apertura recíproca respecto de la influencia que el eje culturaeducación ejerce en el modelamiento de los procesos de cognición y aprendizaje.//In this paper, a transdisciplinary communication approach between cognitive sciences and education, as configured in 21st century, was taken. In the first place, these communicational processes are contextualized inside the historical continuum that transits since the beginning of the last century, with the emergence of educational psychology within the construct of educational sciences; and the constitution of the cognitive sciences, in the mid-twentieth century, that led to the emergence of disciplinary synthesis between the brain and mind sciences. These previous steps enable a framework rooted in the present and in the proposals for consilience between education and cognitive neuroscience. From this historical present, a dialogue between the different epistemes (educational and cognitive), in relation to the phenomenon of bilingual education was made through its concretization in the Ecuadorian intercultural context. The different levels of analysis implicated in a complex phenomenon, as is all educational phenomenon, reflects how transdisciplinary approaches could enable the recognition of the ontological complexity that underlies in an object of study. The dialogue among the different epistemologies and methodologies involved was expressed through the opening of the educational field to the mental and cerebral dimensions in its cognitive expression. Our century, however, maybe is requiring processes of reciprocal openness regarding the influence that the culture-education axis exerts on the modelling of the processes of cognition and learning

Aislamiento de Brucella melitensis variadad canis ST18 y ST 21 en Argentina

La brucelosis es una enfermedad causada por Brucella canis, que es una bacteria que se aisló por primera vez de los fetos de cachorros muertos en el medio de los años 1960. Se trata de las bacterias más comunes que pueden infectar a las perras. Parece que en los últimos años se ha escrito mucho sobre la brucelosis en la cría de perros, pero a pesar de todo, las tasas de infección puede llegar a alcanzar hasta un 8-10%. Brucella canis también representa un riesgo significativo para la salud pública, ya que es transmisible a los seres humanos. Los seres humanos pueden desarrollar una insuficiencia hepática grave o la artritis.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Increased use of high-flow nasal cannulas after the pandemic in bronchiolitis: a more severe disease or a changed physician's attitude?

After the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, we noticed a marked increase in high-flow nasal cannula use for bronchiolitis. This study aims to report the percentage of children treated with high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in various seasons. The secondary outcomes were admissions for bronchiolitis, virological results, hospital burden, and NICU/PICU need. We conducted a retrospective study in four Italian hospitals, examining the medical records of all infants (< 12 months) hospitalized for bronchiolitis in the last four winter seasons (1 September-31 March 2018-2022). In the 2021-2022 winter season, 66% of admitted children received HFNC versus 23%, 38%, and 35% in the previous 3 years. A total of 876 patients were hospitalized in the study periods. In 2021-2022, 300 infants were hospitalized for bronchiolitis, 22 in 2020-2021, 259 in 2019-2020, and 295 in 2018-2019. The percentage of patients needing intensive care varied from 28.7% to 18%, 22%, and 15% in each of the four considered periods (p < 0.05). Seventy-seven percent of children received oxygen in the 2021-2022 winter; vs 50%, 63%, and 55% (p < 0.01) in the previous 3 years. NIV/CPAP was used in 23%, 9%, 16%, and 12%, respectively. In 2021-2020, 2% of patients were intubated; 0 in 2020-2021, 3% in 2019-2020, and 1% in 2018-2019

Unlipidated Outer Membrane Protein Omp16 (U-Omp16) from Brucella spp. as Nasal Adjuvant Induces a Th1 Immune Response and Modulates the Th2 Allergic Response to Cow's Milk Proteins

The discovery of novel mucosal adjuvants will help to develop new formulations to control infectious and allergic diseases. In this work we demonstrate that U-Omp16 from Brucella spp. delivered by the nasal route (i.n.) induced an inflammatory immune response in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung tissues. Nasal co-administration of U-Omp16 with the model antigen (Ag) ovalbumin (OVA) increased the amount of Ag in lung tissues and induced OVA-specific systemic IgG and T helper (Th) 1 immune responses. The usefulness of U-Omp16 was also assessed in a mouse model of food allergy. U-Omp16 i.n. administration during sensitization ameliorated the hypersensitivity responses of sensitized mice upon oral exposure to Cow's Milk Protein (CMP), decreased clinical signs, reduced anti-CMP IgE serum antibodies and modulated the Th2 response in favor of Th1 immunity. Thus, U-Omp16 could be used as a broad Th1 mucosal adjuvant for different Ag formulations.Laboratorio de Investigaciones del Sistema Inmun

age variation in bitter taste perception in relation to the tas2r38 taste receptor phenotype

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Contenido de verbascósido en poblaciones de “Poleo” (LIPPIA TURBINATA GRISEB.) de la Región Central de la Argentina

PosterLippia Turbinata Griseb (Verbenaceae) "poleo", es una especie aromática y medicinal nativa de amplia distribución en el centro y oeste de la Argentina, muy utilizada como digestiva en infusiones y bebidas. El verbascósidoes un metabolito hidrosoluble farmacológicamente activo, común en muchas especies de Verbenaceae medicinales.Instituto de Recursos BiológicosFil: Guariniello, Julian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; ArgentinaFil: Risso, Oscar Ariel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Luis. Agencia de Extensión Rural Concarán; ArgentinaFil: Galli, Maria Carolina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Luis. Agencia de Extensión Rural Concarán; ArgentinaFil: Moscatelli, Valeria A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; ArgentinaFil: Di Leo Lira, Paola M. del R. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; ArgentinaFil: Marchetto, L. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentina.Fil: Dobrecky, Cecilia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Flor, Sabrina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: van Baren, Catalina M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; ArgentinaFil: Retta, Daiana S. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentin

Unlipidated Outer Membrane Protein Omp16 (U-Omp16) from Brucella spp. as Nasal Adjuvant Induces a Th1 Immune Response and Modulates the Th2 Allergic Response to Cow's Milk Proteins

The discovery of novel mucosal adjuvants will help to develop new formulations to control infectious and allergic diseases. In this work we demonstrate that U-Omp16 from Brucella spp. delivered by the nasal route (i.n.) induced an inflammatory immune response in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung tissues. Nasal co-administration of U-Omp16 with the model antigen (Ag) ovalbumin (OVA) increased the amount of Ag in lung tissues and induced OVA-specific systemic IgG and T helper (Th) 1 immune responses. The usefulness of U-Omp16 was also assessed in a mouse model of food allergy. U-Omp16 i.n. administration during sensitization ameliorated the hypersensitivity responses of sensitized mice upon oral exposure to Cow's Milk Protein (CMP), decreased clinical signs, reduced anti-CMP IgE serum antibodies and modulated the Th2 response in favor of Th1 immunity. Thus, U-Omp16 could be used as a broad Th1 mucosal adjuvant for different Ag formulations.Laboratorio de Investigaciones del Sistema Inmun

Rationale and design of an independent randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of aripiprazole or haloperidol in combination with clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>One third to two thirds of people with schizophrenia have persistent psychotic symptoms despite clozapine treatment. Under real-world circumstances, the need to provide effective therapeutic interventions to patients who do not have an optimal response to clozapine has been cited as the most common reason for simultaneously prescribing a second antipsychotic drug in combination treatment strategies. In a clinical area where the pressing need of providing therapeutic answers has progressively increased the occurrence of antipsychotic polypharmacy, despite the lack of robust evidence of its efficacy, we sought to implement a pre-planned protocol where two alternative therapeutic answers are systematically provided and evaluated within the context of a pragmatic, multicentre, independent randomised study.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The principal clinical question to be answered by the present project is the relative efficacy and tolerability of combination treatment with clozapine plus aripiprazole compared with combination treatment with clozapine plus haloperidol in patients with an incomplete response to treatment with clozapine over an appropriate period of time. This project is a prospective, multicentre, randomized, parallel-group, superiority trial that follow patients over a period of 12 months. Withdrawal from allocated treatment within 3 months is the primary outcome.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The implementation of the protocol presented here shows that it is possible to create a network of community psychiatric services that accept the idea of using their everyday clinical practice to produce randomised knowledge. The employed pragmatic attitude allowed to randomly allocate more than 100 individuals, which means that this study is the largest antipsychotic combination trial conducted so far in Western countries. We expect that the current project, by generating evidence on whether it is clinically useful to combine clozapine with aripiprazole rather than with haloperidol, provides physicians with a solid evidence base to be directly applied in the routine care of patients with schizophrenia.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p><b>Clincaltrials.gov Identifier</b>: NCT00395915</p