Optimización de la producción de poli(β-hidroxibutirato) a partir de glicerol

En este trabajo se ha realizado el diseño preliminar de una planta de producción de poli(β-hidroxibutirato), PHB, mediante el empleo de microorganismos y a partir de glicerol como materia prima. El proceso consta de tres etapas: purificación de la materia prima, donde la corriente de glicerol, subproducto en la producción de biodiesel, se despoja del metanol que pudiese contener; fermentación, donde se produce PHB a partir de Cupriavidus necátor y por último, extracción del producto, donde se produce la lisis celular y se logra la separación y purificación del biopolímero.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Programa de educação parental "(Re)Construir Famílias" : um projeto de investigação-ação

Este projeto de investigação-ação tem como objetivo a proposta do programa de educação parental “(Re)Construir Famílias” e do plano de investigação necessário para avaliar a sua eficácia na promoção de uma melhoria no exercício da parentalidade em pais sinalizados/acompanhados no âmbito das situações de risco para a criança/jovem. A partir do diagnóstico realizado, procurou-se apresentar um programa que acrescenta a dimensão do bem-estar dos pais, aos aspetos geralmente trabalhados na intervenção parental deste tipo. Sugere-se um programa assente na parentalidade positiva que possa ser implementado por um Educador Social (em equipa) atendendo às dimensões de educação para a saúde e apoio à gestão da vida diária incluídas na planificação da intervenção. O plano de investigação concretiza-se numa metodologia de teste-reteste com grupo experimental e de controlo, ambos constituídos por 12 pais. Será aplicado um conjunto de instrumentos (Questionário de Caracterização Geral construído neste trabalho, Escala de Satisfação com a Vida, Escala de Afetividade Positiva e Afetividade Negativa e Questionário das Práticas Parentais) que permitirá avaliar a eficácia da proposta de intervenção. Os dados serão analisados recorrendo ao Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS versão IBM 21), assumindo o grau de confiança de 95%. Espera-se que este programa promova ajustes na parentalidade destes pais e que, em última instância, permita acrescentar contributos que promovam a proteção das crianças e jovens em risco (re)construindo as suas famílias.This action research project aims to propose the parental education program “(Re)Constructing Families" and the research plan needed to assess its effectiveness promoting improvement in parenthood in families under risk situations for the child/youth. Based on the diagnostic conducted, we planned a program that adds the dimension of well-being of parents to the usually worked aspects in parental intervention. It is suggested a program based on positive parenthood that can be implemented by a Social Educator (working in a team) due to the dimensions of health education and support to the management of daily life, included in the intervention presented. The research plan adopts test-retest method with experimental and control groups, both consisting of 12 parents. We will apply a set of instruments (General Characterization Questionnaire constructed in this project, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule and Parenting Practices Questionnaire) that will evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed intervention. Data will be analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21 IBM), assuming the 95% level of confidence. It is hoped that this program promotes adjustments in parenthood and ultimately add contributions to the protection of children and youth at risk (re)constructing their families

Active films based on thermoplastic corn starch and chitosan oligomer for food packaging applications

Antimicrobial biodegradable films based on thermoplastic corn starch (TPS) and chitosan oligomers (CO) were obtained in order to develop a package prototype for perishable food products. Active films were fabricated thermo-compressing a sandwiched structure constituted by a thin layer of an oligomers enriched solution between two TPS films, previously made by melt-mixing and hot-pressing. Regarding enriched solution, it was obtained by dissolving oligomers in diluted acetic acid. Final material was characterized, determining its physical and optical properties, as well as, studying its microstructure. By diffusion assays it was demonstrated the capability of CO to migrate from the active film towards the aqueous simulant media. Moreover, oligomers were able to diffuse from the matrix, regardless the aqueous medium acidity. Experimental data of diffusion assays were fitted using a mathematical model, estimating diffusion coefficients at three studied pH values (3, 5, and 7). Active film was used to obtain sachets to package perishable foods such as strawberries, ricotta, and flavored breads, which were stored for 7 days under controlled conditions. Antimicrobial capacity of active sachets was corroborated through molds and yeast counts in the stored food products. Additionally, it was demonstrated that CO incorporation to the packaging material resulted in a more efficient way to inhibit microbial development than the spraying technique.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasCentro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimento

Infectious causes of microcephaly: epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.

Microcephaly is an important sign of neurological malformation and a predictor of future disability. The 2015-16 outbreak of Zika virus and congenital Zika infection brought the world's attention to links between Zika infection and microcephaly. However, Zika virus is only one of the infectious causes of microcephaly and, although the contexts in which they occur vary greatly, all are of concern. In this Review, we summarise important aspects of major congenital infections that can cause microcephaly, and describe the epidemiology, transmission, clinical features, pathogenesis, management, and long-term consequences of these infections. We include infections that cause substantial impairment: cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, rubella virus, Toxoplasma gondii, and Zika virus. We highlight potential issues with classification of microcephaly and show how some infants affected by congenital infection might be missed or incorrectly diagnosed. Although Zika virus has brought the attention of the world to the problem of microcephaly, prevention of all infectious causes of microcephaly and appropriately managing its consequences remain important global public health priorities

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome : Insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 ≥ 0.60 during hyperoxemia). Results: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). Conclusions: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. Trial registration: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073publishersversionPeer reviewe

Global maps of soil temperature

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km2 resolution for 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e. offset) between in situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km2 pixels (summarized from 8519 unique temperature sensors) across all the world\u27s major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (−0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications

Global maps of soil temperature

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km² resolution for 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e., offset) between in-situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km² pixels (summarized from 8500 unique temperature sensors) across all the world’s major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (-0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in-situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications