Correlación existente entre los tipos de fibras musculares, el ph y la capacidad de retención de agua de la carne en el cerdo chato murciano.

Mediante análisis de correlación se valora la influencia que los tipos de fibras I, IIA y IIX tienen sobre el pH y la capacidad de retención de agua en el músculo longísimo lumbar del cerdo “Chato Murciano”. Los resultados demuestran que los tipos de fibras no influyen sobre el pH a los 45’, pero sí durante la caída del mismo a las 24 h del sacrificio. Por otra parte, nuestros resultados indican que la capacidad de retención de agua está relacionada negativamente con el tamaño de las fibras tipo IIA

Diferenciación y desarrollo postnatal de los tipos de fibras musculares en el cerdo chato murciano

Mediante la técnica que detecta la actividad de la enzima ATPasa miosínica se analiza el tamaño y porcentajes de los distintos tipos de fibras que integran el músculo longísimo lumbar del cerdo “Chato Murciano”, desde el nacimiento hasta los 120 días de edad. Al nacimiento, el músculo longísimo está conformado por un 5,5% de fibras tipo I, de gran tamaño y un 94,5% de fibras tipo II, de menor tamaño. Durante el primer mes de vida postnatal las fibras tipo II se irán diferenciando en nuevas fibras tipo I y subtipos IIA y IIX. A partir de los dos meses tiene lugar un aumento del diámetro fibrilar (hipertrofia) y una distribución fibrilar que recuerda a la de animales adultos. Aunque la hipertrofia observada afecta a los tres tipos de fibras evaluados, parece claro que el crecimiento y conformación muscular en el cerdo chato murciano está muy asociado al notable incremento en diámetro que experimentan las fibras IIX, ya que éstas crecen más rápidamente que las tipo I y IIA

Dissipation-driven generation of two-qubit entanglement mediated by plasmonic waveguides

We study the generation of entanglement between two distant qubits mediated by the surface plasmons of a metallic waveguide. We show that a V-shaped channel milled in a flat metallic surface is much more efficient for this purpose than a metallic cylinder. The role of the misalignments of the dipole moments of the qubits, an aspect of great importance for experimental implementations, is also studied. A careful analysis of the quantum-dynamics of the system by means of a master equation shows that two-qubit entanglement generation is essentially due to the dissipative part of the effective qubit-qubit coupling provided by the surface plasmons. The influence of a coherent external pumping, needed to achieve a steady state entanglement, is discussed. Finally, we pay attention to the question of how to get information experimentally on the degree of entanglement achieved in the system.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figure

The short and long-term effects of aerobic, strength, or mixed exercise programs on schizophrenia symptomatology

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three different physical exercise programs on the symptomatology, body composition, physical activity, physical fitness, and quality of life of individuals with schizophrenia. A total of 432 patients were assessed for eligibility and 86 were randomized into the aerobic (n = 28), strength (n = 29) or mixed (n = 29) groups. Positive, negative, and general symptoms of psychosis, body mass index (BMI), physical activity (IPAQ-SF), physical fitness (6-min walk test [6MWT] and hand-grip strength [HGS]), and quality of life (WHOQUOL-BREF) were assessed at baseline, post-intervention (16 weeks), and at 10-months. Our results at 16 weeks showed significant improvements in all three groups in the negative, general, and total symptoms with moderate to large effect sizes (P < 0.01, ¿p2 > 0.11), no change in the BMI, 6MWT or IPAQ-SF, and a significant improvement in the HGS test in the strength and mixed groups (P = 0.05, ¿p2 > 0.08). Nonetheless, all the improvements had disappeared at 10 months. We concluded that 3 weekly sessions of a moderate to vigorous progressive exercise program for 16 weeks improved the symptomatology of individuals with schizophrenia in all three groups, with no differences between them. However, the effects had declined to baseline levels by the 10-month follow-up, suggesting that exercise interventions should be maintained over time. © 2021, The Author(s)

Insectos que afectan alimentos concentrados para animales domésticos en Santa Marta D.T.C.H., Colombia

In order to identify insects that damage dry pet food, ten non-specialized stores (food stores and bulks) that distribute these foods in Santa Marta were evaluated. Samples of dry dogs, cats, rabbits and chickens foods, were inspected at the Entomology Laboratory of Universidad del Magdalena. Seven (7) species were found during this study in 90% of the stores, the beetles predominated. The most frequent species were Tribolium castaneum and Lasioderma serricorne, while most dominant species were T. castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica. Taxonomic key is provided for identifying the species of Coleoptera associated with dry pet food in Santa Marta.Con el fin de identificar insectos que actúen como posibles agentes causales de deterioro de concentrados secos para alimentación de animales domésticos, se realizó una evaluación en diez establecimientos no especializados (tiendas y graneros) que distribuyen estos alimentos a granel en el distrito de Santa Marta. Se tomaron muestras de concentrados para perros, gatos, conejos y pollos, que se inspeccionaron en el Laboratorio de Entomología de la Universidad del Magdalena. En el 90% de los establecimientos evaluados se registraron siete (7) especies, la mayoría del orden Coleoptera. Las especies más frecuentes fueron Tribolium castaneum y Lasioderma serricorne, mientras las especies más dominantes fueron T. castaneum y Rhyzopertha dominica. Por otro lado, se proporciona una clave taxonómica para la identificación de las especies de Coleoptera asociadas a concentrados para alimentación animal en el distrito

Genetics of CM-proteins (A-hordeins) in barley

The CM-proteins, which are the main components of the A-hordeins, include four previously described proteins (CMa-1, CMb-1, CMc-1, CMd-1), plus a new one, CMe-1, which has been tentatively included in this group on the basis of its solubility properties and electrophoretic mobility. The variability of the five proteins has been investigated among 38 Hordeum vulgare cultivars and 17 H. spontaneum accessions. Proteins CMa-1, CMc-1 and CMd-1 were invariant within the cultivated species; CMd was also invariant in the wild one. The inheritance of variants CMb-1/CMb-2 and CMe-1/CMe-2,2 was studied in a cross H. spontaneum x H. vulgare. The first two proteins were inherited as codominantly expressed allelic variations of a single mendelian gene. Components CMe-2,2 were jointly inherited and codominantly expressed with respect to CMe-1. Gene CMb and gene(s) CMe were found to be unlinked. The chromosomal locations of genes encoding CM-proteins were investigated using wheat-barley addition lines. Genes CMa and CMc were associated with chromosome 1, and genes CMb and CMd with chromosome 4. These gene locations further support the proposed homoeology of chromosomes 1 and 4 of barley with chromosomes groups 7 and 4 of wheat, respectively. Gene(s) CMe has been assigned to chromosome 3 of barley. The accumulation of protein CMe-1 is totally blocked in the high lysine mutant Riso 1508 and partially so in the high lysine barley Hiproly

A new lower limb portable exoskeleton for gait assistance in neurological patients: a proof of concept study

Background: Few portable exoskeletons following the assist-as-needed concept have been developed for patients with neurological disorders. Thus, the main objectives of this proof-of-concept study were 1) to explore the safety and feasibility of an exoskeleton for gait rehabilitation in stroke and multiple sclerosis patients, 2) to test different algorithms for gait assistance and measure the resulting gait changes and 3) to evaluate the user's perception of the device. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Five patients were recruited (4 patients with stroke and 1 with multiple sclerosis). A robotic, one-degree-of-freedom, portable lower limb exoskeleton known as the Marsi Active Knee (MAK) was designed. Three control modes (the Zero Force Control mode, Mode 1 and Mode 3) were implemented. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured by the 10-m walking test (10MWT), the Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool (G.A.I.T.) and Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (gait subscale) before and after the trials. A modified QUEST 2.0 questionnaire was administered to determine each participant's opinion about the exoskeleton. The data acquired by the MAK sensors were normalized to a gait cycle, and adverse effects were recorded. Results: The MAK exoskeleton was used successfully without any adverse effects. Better outcomes were obtained in the 10MWT and G.A.I.T. when Mode 3 was applied compared with not wearing the device at all. In 2 participants, Mode 3 worsened the results. Additionally, Mode 3 seemed to improve the 10MWT and G.A.I.T. outcomes to a greater extent than Mode 1. The overall score for the user perception of the device was 2.8 ± 0.4 95% CI. Conclusions: The MAK exoskeleton seems to afford positive preliminary results regarding safety, feasibility, and user acceptance. The efficacy of the MAK should be studied in future studies, and more advanced improvements in safety must be implemented.G. Puyuelo-Quintana has received financial support by the “Doctorado Industrial” grant of Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades de España (reference DI-16- 08731). A. Plaza-Flores and E. Garces-Castellote have received financial support by the “Doctorado Industrial” grant of Comunidad de Madrid (reference IND2017/TIC-7698 and IND2018/TIC-9618, respectively).Peer reviewe

Materials and methods for the microencapsulation of substances of food and agricultural interest

Microencapsulation consists of trapping solid, liquid or gas particles inside an inert cover, in order to protect them from their environment. This technique has numerous biotechnological applications in the food, agricultural, and pharmaceutical industries, among others. Microcapsules are relevant for obtaining viable products and optimizing their efficacy, stability, safety and ease of application. There is a wide range of coating materials and techniques used for the microencapsulation of various substances of interest. A review of encapsulating materials and microencapsulation methods used in the food and agricultural industries is presented.Microencapsulation involves trapping solid, liquid, or gas particles within an inert cover to protect them from the environment. This technique has numerous biotechnological applications in the food, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and other industries. Microcapsules are relevant for obtaining viable products and optimizing their efficacy, stability, safety, and ease of application. There is a wide range of coating materials and techniques used to microencapsulate various substances of interest. This article presents a review of encapsulating materials and microencapsulation methods used in the food and agricultural industries