Efecto de la aplicación de ácido giberélico sobre el tamaño y calidad de frutos de maqui, Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz

58 p.Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz, forma parte del selecto grupo de berries que se caracterizan por sus altos contenido de antioxidantes. Entre las especies productoras de bayas, el maqui se destaca por valores altos de fenoles totales, pero existe un gran problema para la industria alimenticia relacionado con la relación volumétrica pulpa – semilla, puesto que la baya mide alrededor de 5 mm y contiene entre dos a cuatro semillas. Como consecuencia, la industria alimenticia, observa con cierta reticencia trabajar con el fruto, puesto que es dificultosa y poco productiva para su elaboración. A su vez, para quienes prefieren ingerirlo en fresco, el consumo de éste se hace menos atractivo por la presencia de semillas y su elevada astringencia. Como una respuesta a la demanda de las necesidades de la industria alimenticia y de los consumidores por frutos de mayor tamaño y porcentaje de pulpa, se evaluó el efecto de la aplicación de ácido giberélico (GA3) sobre el tamaño y calidad de frutos del maqui. El ensayo se llevó a cabo en la Estación Experimental Panguilemo, perteneciente a la Universidad de Talca, ubicada en la Séptima Región del Maule, Talca, Chile. Se seleccionaron al azar cuatro individuos pertenecientes a distintos clones (101, 305, 320 y 603). A cada individuo se le seleccionaron 15 ramas al azar, a las cuales se les aplicaron cinco tratamientos (0 – 2,5 – 5 – 10 y 20 ppm de GA3) con tres repeticiones cada una, obteniendo en total 60 aplicaciones en el ensayo. Se estableció como primera fecha de aplicación 9 días después de cuaja y para la segunda fecha, 16 días. Posteriormente se cosechó la fruta y se procedió a evaluar los siguientes factores: largo de la zona productiva de la ramilla, peso del fruto y contenido de humedad, relación pulpa – semilla en el fruto, concentración de polifenoles y sólidos solubles en el fruto, peso y número de semillas. Como resultado, se observó que existen diferencias significativas entre los clones 101, 305, 320 y 603 para los factores evaluados. Los diferentes tratamientos aplicados de GA3 no afectaron en los factores estudiados en la fruta del maqui. El número de semillas existentes en la baya no presentó diferencias con las aplicaciones de diferentes dosis de GA3, ni tampoco entre los distintos clones evaluados. Además se concluyó que existe una relación directa entre el factor largo de la zona productiva de la ramilla y el rendimiento de carga frutal en ella, siendo la planta más productiva el clon 101, debido a que presentó el mayor largo de la zona productiva de la ramilla (69,5 cm) y uno de los mayores rendimientos de fruta por ramilla (32,6 g). El clon 101 presentó un comportamiento fisiológico más homogéneo que el resto, liderando rasgos claves para este estudio: porcentaje de pulpa (43,1 %), porcentaje de materia seca (41 %), concentración de polifenoles (4,45 g / 100 g), largo de la zona productiva de la ramilla (69,5 cm), menor peso de semillas por baya (31,7 mg). Palabras clave: Aristotelia chilensis, ácido giberélico (GA3), clon, cuaja, tamaño, calidad./ABSTRACT: Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz, belongs to the select group of berries which are characterized by their high contents of antioxidants. Among the producer species of berries, the maqui stands out by its high values of total phenol, but there is a huge problem for the food industry related to the pulp-seed volumetric relationship, because the measure of the Berry is approximately 5 mm and contains between two to four seeds. As a consequence, the food industry is reluctant to work with this fruit because its production is difficult and low-productive. At the same time, for those who prefer to consume it fresh, the consumption of this fruit is less attractive because of the presence of seeds and its high astringency. In response to the demand and needs of the food industry and consumers for higher size fruit and percentage of pulp, the effect of the application of gibberellic acid (GA3) on size and quality of maqui fruit was evaluated. The test took place in Estación Experimental Panguilemo, belonging to Universidad de Talca, located in the Seventh Region of Chile (Región del Maule), Talca, Chile. Four individuals belonging to different clones (101, 305, 320 and 603) were selected randomly. Each individual was assigned with 15 branches randomly, which were subjected to five treatments (0 – 2,5 – 5 – 10 y 20 ppm of GA3) three repetitions each one, obtaining 60 applications in the test. It was established that the first day of application would be 9 days after setting and the second date would be 16 days after setting. After that, the fruit was harvested and the next elements were evaluated: length of the productive zone of the branch, weight of the fruit and content of dampness, relationship pulp-seed in the fruit, concentration of polyphenols and soluble solids in the fruit, weight and number of seeds. As a result, it was noticed that there are significant differences between the clones 101, 305, 320 and 603 considering the evaluated elements. The different GA3 treatments applied did not affect the elements studied in the fruit of maqui. The number of seeds existing in the berry did not present differences with the applications of different doses of GA3, nor did between the distinct clones evaluated. Besides it was concluded that exist a direct relationship between the length of the productive zone of the branch factor and the capacity of fruit concentration on it, being the most productive plant the clone 101, due to its higher length of the productive zone of the branch (69,5 cm) and one of the biggest concentrations of fruit per branch (32,6 g). Clone 101 demonstrated a higher physiological behavior compared to the other clones, leading some key characteristics for this study: percentage of pulp (43,1 %), percentage of dry matter (41 %), concentration of polyphenols (4,45 g / 100 g), length of the productive zone of the branch (69,5 cm), less weight of seeds per berry (31,7 mg).Key words: Aristotelia chilensis, gibberellic acid (GA3), clone, setting, size, quality

Residual Stress Measurement on a MEMS Structure With High-Spatial Resolution

A new approach to the local measurement of residual stress in microstructures is described in this paper. The presented technique takes advantage of the combined milling-imaging features of a focused ion beam (FIB) equipment to scale down the widely known hole drilling method. This method consists of drilling a small hole in a solid with inherent residual stresses and measuring the strains/displacements caused by the local stress release, that takes place around the hole. In the presented case, the displacements caused by the milling are determined by applying digital image correlation (DIC) techniques to high resolution micrographs taken before and after the milling process. The residual stress value is then obtained by fitting the measured displacements to the analytical solution of the displacement fields. The feasibility of this approach has been demonstrated on a micromachined silicon nitride membrane showing that this method has high potential for applications in the field of mechanical characterization of micro/nanoelectromechanical systems

Setae from the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) contain several relevant allergens

BACKGROUND: Pine processionary larvae produce urticating hairs (setae) that serve for protection against predators. Setae induce cutaneous reactions in animals and humans. The presence of toxic or allergic mechanisms is a matter of debate. OBJECTIVES: To detect the presence of allergens in setae and to characterize them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Setae extracts were characterized by gel staining and immunoblot, with sera from patients with immediate reactions and positive prick test reactions, as well as a rabbit antiserum raised against setae. Setae proteins were fractionated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The most relevant allergen was analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS), and its sequence was deduced from an expressed sequence tag bank. Results. Setae contained at least seven different allergens. The most intense detection corresponded to a protein of MW ~ 14,000 that was similar to thaumetopoein, a previously described protein with mast cell-degranulating properties. MALDI-MS-based de novo sequencing provided a partial amino acid sequence different from that of the previously described allergen Tha p 1, and it was named Tha p 2. This allergen was detected in 61% of patients, and it is therefore a new major caterpillar allergen. CONCLUSIONS: Penetration of the setae from the pine processionary caterpillar delivers their allergenic content in addition to causing mechanical or toxic injury.This work was supported by URTICLIM, a French project funded by the ‘Agence Nationale de la Recherche’ (ANR 07BDIV 013). Ana I. Rodriguez-Mahillo is a beneficiary of contract CA07/00046 from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Spain.S

Exercise as an add-on treatment in individuals with schizophrenia: results from a large multicenter randomized controlled trial

Current treatment methods do not achieve recovery for most individuals with schizophrenia, and symptoms such as negative symptoms and cognitive deficits often persist. Aerobic endurance training has been suggested as a potential add-on treatment targeting both physical and mental health. We performed a large-scale multicenter, rater-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled clinical trial in individuals with stable schizophrenia. Participants underwent a professionally supervised six-month training comprising either aerobic endurance training (AET) or flexibility, strengthening, and balance training (FSBT, control group), follow-up was another six months. The primary endpoint was all-cause discontinuation (ACD); secondary endpoints included effects on psychopathology, cognition, functioning, and cardiovascular risk. In total, 180 participants were randomized. AET was not superior to FSBT in ACD and most secondary outcomes, with dropout rates of 59.55% and 57.14% in the six-month active phase, respectively. However, both groups showed significant improvements in positive, general, and total symptoms, levels of functioning and in cognitive performance. A higher training frequency additionally promoted further memory domains. Participants with higher baseline cognitive abilities were more likely to respond to the interventions. Our results support integrating exercise into schizophrenia treatment, while future studies should aim to develop personalized training recommendations to maximize exercise-induced benefits

Use of the web in promoting education in oral health among schoolchildren / Uso da web na promoção de educação em saúde bucal em escolares

This study aimed to evaluate the acceptance and acquisition of knowledge through web learning related to self-care for the maintenance of oral health. The study population was children from the 4th and 5th school year, from 9 to 16 years old. It was evaluated Visible Plaque Index and Gingival Bleeding Index. Participants’ knowledge was tested at baseline and then evaluated after each web distance education moment. This education process had four web distance moments. The evaluation of knowledge was done through a questionnaire containing 10 closed questions. The time interval was 30 days between the 1st and 2nd meetings and 60 days between the subsequent meeting. Concerning the questionnaires, the different moments were compared by chi-square (X2). Only question number six presented a statistical significance at 5%, however, between the first and the second moment 100% of the questions had a significant increase of correct answers (p> 5%). It is concluded that oral health education by web, was able to improve oral hygiene and knowledge related to oral health.

The comorbidity profiles and medication issues of patients with multiple system atrophy:a systematic cross-sectional analysis

BACKGROUND: Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a complex and fatal neurodegenerative movement disorder. Understanding the comorbidities and drug therapy is crucial for MSA patients' safety and management.OBJECTIVES: To investigate the pattern of comorbidities and aspects of drug therapy in MSA patients.METHODS: Cross-sectional data of MSA patients according to Gilman et al. (2008) diagnostic criteria and control patients without neurodegenerative diseases (non-ND) were collected from German, multicenter cohorts. The prevalence of comorbidities according to WHO ICD-10 classification and drugs administered according to WHO ATC system were analyzed. Potential drug-drug interactions were identified using AiDKlinik®.RESULTS: The analysis included 254 MSA and 363 age- and sex-matched non-ND control patients. MSA patients exhibited a significantly higher burden of comorbidities, in particular diseases of the genitourinary system. Also, more medications were prescribed MSA patients, resulting in a higher prevalence of polypharmacy. Importantly, the risk of potential drug-drug interactions, including severe interactions and contraindicated combinations, was elevated in MSA patients. When comparing MSA-P and MSA-C subtypes, MSA-P patients suffered more frequently from diseases of the genitourinary system and diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue.CONCLUSIONS: MSA patients face a substantial burden of comorbidities, notably in the genitourinary system. This, coupled with increased polypharmacy and potential drug interactions, highlights the complexity of managing MSA patients. Clinicians should carefully consider these factors when devising treatment strategies for MSA patients.</p