1,003 research outputs found

    Alternatives for avoiding degradation in ecological wine

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    Organic wines are prone to suffer from oxidative degradation due to the restrictions in the winemaking. This work studies the influence of different chemical routes, due to thermal and oxidative processes, in the wine aromatic profile. The resistance to these processes after the addition of compounds with a presumably antioxidant capacity was evaluated. Ascorbic acid, resveratrol, calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and the polyphenols: gallic acid, epicatechin and caffeic acid, were tested. The oxidative estate by cyclic voltammetry, aromatic composition and general profiles and sensorial analysis were performed; obtaining interesting differences depending on the applied treatment. All samples gave a characteristic voltammetry signal; showing a remarkable decrease in the current intensity on those samples that suffer a deeper degradation. Regarding the chemical analysis results, the application of the metal chelator EDTA, apart from the SO2 treatment, might be of interest to partly reduce the oxidative effect. Sensory differences were only found in samples treated with SO2 and those that had the addition of polyphenols, due to the appearance in these last samples of a strong vegetable aroma not perceptible in the other treatments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    Reproductive inequalities in the acanthocephalan Corynosoma cetaceum: looking beyond "crowding" effects

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    Background: At present, much research effort has been devoted to investigate overall (average) responses of parasite populations to specific factors, e.g., density-dependence in fecundity or mortality. However, studies on parasite populations usually pay little attention to individual variation (inequality) in reproductive success. A previous study on the acanthocephalan Corynosoma cetaceum in franciscana dolphins, Pontoporia blainvillei, revealed no overall intensity-dependent, or microhabitat effects, on mass and fecundity of worms. In this study, we investigated whether the same factors could influence mass inequalities for this species of acanthocephalan.Methods: A total of 10,138 specimens of C. cetaceum were collected from 10 franciscana dolphins accidentally caught in Buenos Aires Province between 1988-1990. To investigate mass inequalities, all the specimens were sexed, and females were classified according to their developmental stage and weighted. Additionally, the relationship between biomass and fecundity (estimated as the number of acanthors) was investigated for some females. Inequalities in fecundity and biomass were assessed using standard methods, i.e. the Lorenz curve and the Gini coefficient (G).Results: We found a modest, but highly significant linear relationship between mass and fecundity. The G was very low (0.314) compared with that from other helminth species. G values were significantly lower in gravid females, which presumably exhibit a slow rate of growth. Also, G values significantly increased with total intensity, but only for gravid females, and the effect was more predictable considering only the number of gravid females.Conclusions: Apparently, competition between reproducing females increases inequality without producing crowding effects. Although the mechanism whereby this occurs is unclear, gravid females, at higher intensities, expanded their distribution and occupied gut chambers with contrasting environmental conditions, which might result in greater variability in body size. The observed inequalities are not expected to strongly influence the population genetics of C. cetaceum, but they reveal subtle individual effects beyond an overall population impact.Fil: Aznar Avendaño, Francisco Javier. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Hernández Orts, Jesús Servando. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni". - Provincia de Río Negro. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni". Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni"; ArgentinaFil: Vélez Rubio, Gabriela Manuela. Universidad de Valencia; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Fernández, Luis M.. Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation; Estados UnidosFil: Muriel, Nadia T.. No especifíca;Fil: Raga, Juan Antonio. Universidad de Valencia; Españ

    Cell Cytoskeleton Dynamics: Mechano-Sensing Properties

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    `The actin cytoskeleton network is the dominant structure of eukaryotic cells. It is highlydynamic and plays a central role in a wide range of mechanical and biological functions.Cytoskeleton is composed mainly of actin filaments (F-actin) resulting from the self-assemblyof monomeric actin (G-actin) and cross-linked by actin cross-linking proteins (ACPs) whosenature and concentration determine the morphological and rheological properties of thenetwork. These actin filaments are reversibly coupled to membrane proteins (critical to theresponse of cells to external stress) and in conjunction with motor proteins from the myosinfamily, are able to generate contractile force during cell migration. Knowledge of actincytoskeleton and its rheological properties is therefore indispensable for understanding theunderlying mechanics and various biological processes of cells. Here, we present a 3-DBrownian dynamics (BD) computational model in which actin monomers polymerize andbecome cross-linked by two types of ACPs, forming either parallel filament bundles ororthogonal networks. Also, the active and dynamic behaviour of motors is included. In thissimulation, actin monomers, filaments, ACPs, and motors experience thermal motion andinteract with each other with binding probabilities and defined potentials. Displacements aregoverned by the Langevin equation, and positions of all elements are updated using the Eulerintegration scheme.In this first part of the work, the mechano-sensing properties of active networks are investigatedby evaluating stress and strain rate in response to different substrate stiffness

    Complicaciones tras el enclavado de Ender en las fracturas trocantéreas

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    —Se realizó el análisis de las complicaciones de 100 casos consecutivos de pacientes con fractura trocantérea del fémur intervenidos mediante clavos de Ender, con un seguimiento postoperatorio medio de 10 meses. Hubo 75 mujeres y 25 hombres, con una media de edad de 81 años. Según la clasificación de Jensen un 27% eran estables y un 73% inestables. Se obtuvieron un 32% de complicaciones y errores de técnica intraoperatorios, un 39% de migraciones distales, un 3% de migraciones proximales y un 11% de consolidaciones viciosas en varo. Todo ello se tradujo en un 21% de reintervenciones.The rate and type of complications following Ender nailing in a series of 100 consecutive patients with trochanteric hip fractures were analysed. There were 75 women and 25 men with a mean age of 81 years. According to Jensen classification, 27% were stable fractures and 73% unstable. There were registered 32% of intraoperative complications and technical errors, 39% of distal migration of nails, 3% of proximal migrations with perforations of the femoral head and 11% of healing malpositions in varus. The rale of reoperations was 21%

    TREX-DM: a low background Micromegas-based TPC for low-mass WIMP detection

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    Dark Matter experiments are recently focusing their detection techniques in low-mass WIMPs, which requires the use of light elements and low energy threshold. In this context, we describe the TREX-DM experiment, a low background Micromegas-based TPC for low-mass WIMP detection. Its main goal is the operation of an active detection mass \sim0.3 kg, with an energy threshold below 0.4 keVee and fully built with previously selected radiopure materials. This work describes the commissioning of the actual setup situated in a laboratory on surface and the updates needed for a possible physics run at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC) in 2016. A preliminary background model of TREX-DM is also presented, based on a Geant4 simulation, the simulation of the detector's response and two discrimination methods: a conservative muon/electron and one based on a neutron source. Based on this background model, TREX-DM could be competitive in the search for low-mass WIMPs. In particular it could be sensitive, e.g., to the low-mass WIMP interpretation of the DAMA/LIBRA and other hints in a conservative scenario.Comment: Proceedings of the XIV International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics (TAUP 2015), 7-11 September 2015, Torino, Ital

    Fracturas articulares de calcáneo: tratamiento incruento versus quirúrgico

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    Se analiza la problemática que supone el tratamiento de las fracturas articulares de calcáneo. Han sido revisadas 85 fracturas tratadas, 43 ortopédicamente, y 42 según técnica de Westhues-Ehalt. El seguimiento medio fue de 24 meses. Los resultados clínicos fueron satisfactorios en el 43,5 %, no existiendo correlación con la disminución radiográfica del ángulo de Bóhler. El tipo de tratamiento empleado no influyó significativamente en el resultado clínico final, pero sí el grado de comunicación de la fractura. Aparecieron secuelas en el 67% de los casos, siendo la principal causa de discapacidad en la artrosis subastragalina.The treatment of intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus may entail difficult problems. From 1985 to 1995, 85 patients with intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus, 43 treated with a conservative method, and 42 with surgery (Westhues-Ehalt technique) were reviewed. The average follow-up was 24 months. Clinical results were excellent- good in 43.5%. No difference in functional results between conservative and surgical treatment was found, but as the severely of the fracture increase the results deteriorate. Late complications appeared in 67% of the patients with subtalar degenerative osteoarthrosis being the principal cause of permanent disability

    Técnica de Ender y tornillo-placa deslizante a compresión en el tratamiento de las fracturas trocantéreas

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    Se realizó un estudio comparativo de 195 fracturas troncantéreas del fémur tratadas quirúrgicamente de las que 112 lo fueron mediante enclavado endomedular de Ender y 83 mediante tornillo-placa deslizante a compresión (TPDC). No encontramos diferencias significativas de las pérdidas sanguíneas entre las dos técnicas. El TPDC presentó mejores resultados funcionales salvo en pacientes mayores de 80 años en que son similares ambas técnicas. El enclavado Ender presentó mayor número de complicaciones mecánicas y reintervenciones.A comparative study on 195 throchanttric hip fractures treated Esther by Ender's mailing (112 cases) and slidding screw-plate (83 cases) were performed. There were no statistically significant differences between the two techniques regarding blood loosening. The slidding screw-plate showed better functional results, except in cases over 80 years old where both techniques were found to be similar. Ender's nailing disclosed a higher number of mechanical and reoperations

    New Insights Into Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) FatA and FatB Thioesterases, Their Regulation, Structure and Distribution

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    Sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus L.) accumulate large quantities of triacylglycerols (TAG) between 12 and 28 days after flowering (DAF). This is the period of maximal acyl-acyl carrier protein (acyl-ACP) thioesterase activity in vitro, the enzymes that terminate the process of de novo fatty acid synthesis by catalyzing the hydrolysis of the acyl-ACPs synthesized by fatty acid synthase. Fatty acid thioesterases can be classified into two families with distinct substrate specificities, namely FatA and FatB. Here, some new aspects of these enzymes have been studied, assessing how both enzymes contribute to the acyl composition of sunflower oil, not least through the changes in their expression during the process of seed filling. Moreover, the binding pockets of these enzymes were modeled based on new data from plant thioesterases, revealing important differences in their volume and geometry. Finally, the subcellular location of the two enzymes was evaluated and while both possess an N-terminal plastid transit peptide, only in FatB contains a hydrophobic sequence that could potentially serve as a transmembrane domain. Indeed, using in vivo imaging and organelle fractionation, H. annuus thioesterases, HaFatA and HaFatB, appear to be differentially localized in the plastid stroma and membrane envelope, respectively. The divergent roles fulfilled by HaFatA and HaFatB in oil biosynthesis are discussed in the light of our data.España MINECO y FEDER Projects AGL2014- 53537-R y AGL2017-83449-
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