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Aims: To set-up an experimental and analytical methodology to evaluate the feasibility of developing simple, accurate and quantitative models based on Raman spectroscopy and multivariate analysis for the quantification of metal ions adsorbed to the bacterial surface of Lactobacillus kefir. Methods and Results: One millilitre cultures from two strains of Lact. kefir in the stationary phase were harvested and washed twice with ultra pure water. The bacterial pellets were resuspended into 1 ml solutions of Pb+2, Cd+2 or Ni+2 ranging from 0 to 0·9 mmol l−1. The suspensions were further incubated for 1 h at 30°C at pH 5·5. After centrifugation, the pellets were kept to register the Raman spectra and the supernatants were used for the analytical determination of Pb+2, Cd+2 and Ni+2. Micro-organisms nontreated with metal ions were used as controls. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed over the preprocessed Raman spectra to evaluate whether the clusters obtained could be correlated with the concentration of metal ions attached to the bacterial biomass. After that, partial least squares (PLS) models were calibrated with the aim of quantifying the metal ions adsorbed to the bacterial surface. According to the analytical determinations, the maximum binding capacity of all the metals (qmax) attained values that are comparable with those observed for other lactic acid bacteria (ca. 0·200 mmol g−1). The spectral analysis revealed that the main functional groups involved in the bacteria/metal interaction are carboxylates, phosphates and polysaccharides. In PCA, the first two principal components explain more than 72% variance of the spectral data set contained in the data structure, allowing a clear discrimination among samples of different concentrations. Based on this information and using as reference the results obtained by analytical methods, PLS prediction models were successfully defined for the quantification of Pb+2, Cd+2 and Ni+2 attached to the bacterial surface. Conclusions: The calibration and validation of methods based on multivariate analysis allowed the definition of models for the quantification of Pb+2, Cd+2 and Ni+2 attached to bacterial surfaces. The high percentages of explained variances in PCA gave a strong support to calibrate the prediction models, depicting very good correlations with the reference method (correlations ∼0·90 in all cases). Significance and Impact of the study: Lactobacillus kefir CIDCA 8348 and JCM 5818 bind Pb+2, Cd+2 and Ni+2 in an efficient way. This fact gives support for their potential use as sequestrants of traces of these metals in products addressed to human and animal consume. The prediction models developed would be useful for the determination of the investigated metal ions in unknown samples giving at the same time, structural information about this interaction. This is certainly the most important contribution of this work.

This paper presents the resistivity and piezoresistivity behavior of cement-based mortars manufactured with graphene nanoplatelet filler (GNP), virgin carbon fibers (VCF) and recycled carbon fibers (RCF). GNP was added at 4% of the cement weight, whereas two percentages of carbon fibers were chosen, namely 0.05% and 0.2% of the total volume. The combined effect of both filler and fibers was also investigated. Mortars were studied in terms of their mechanical properties (under flexure and compression) and electrical resistivity. Mortars with the lowest electrical resistivity values were also subjected to cyclic uniaxial compression to evaluate the variations in electrical resistivity as a function of strain. The results obtained show that mortars have piezoresistive behavior only if they are subjected to a prior drying process. In addition, dry specimens exhibit a high piezoresistivity only when loaded with 0.2 vol.% of VCF and 0.4 wt.% of GNP plus 0.2 vol.% RCF, with a quite reversible relation between their fractional change in resistivity (FCR) and compressive strain.

The impact of light (1,000 × 100,000 lx) on the inactivation of S. aureus and V. parahaemolyticus has been assessed under different concentrations of dissolved biodegradable organic compound (BOC) at pH 7.0. First, a gradual decrease in the number of cultivable cells was observed. Secondly, a cell reactivation was observed and it was marked in the absence of BOC. In the absence of BOC, the lowest value of cell inhibition rate (CIR) during the first 3 h was 0.138 h−1 for S. aureus and 0.218 h−1 for V. parahaemolyticus. In the presence of 10,100 and 1,000 mg/l of BOC, it was 0.196 h−1, 0.243 h−1 and 0.257 h−1 for S. aureus respectively, and 0.285 h−1, 0.306 h−1 and 0.409 h−1 for V. parahaemolyticus respectively. The CIRs values of each bacterial species significantly varied (P

To compare procedure-related pregnancy loss after second-trimester genetic amniocentesis in women given an antibiotic prophylaxis and controls.Prospective, open randomised controlled single-centre study between January 1999 and December 2005 at Artemisia Fetal Maternal Medical Centre. A follow-up within 4 weeks after the procedure was done.Of 36,347 eligible women, 1424 refused to participate and 34,923 were enrolled and randomised with unequal chance of selection, 21,991 were assigned to treatment group and 12,932 were assigned to the control group, and did not receive any placebo. Oral azithromycin, 500 mg per day, was administered 3 days before amniocentesis. The primary endpoint was the procedure-related pregnancy loss. The secondary endpoint was the rate of preterm premature rupture of membranes.The rate of abortion related to the amniocentesis was 7/21 219 women (0.03%, 95% CI 0.009-0.057) in the intervention group, and 36/12 529 (0.28%, 0.28-0.30) in controls (p = 0.0019). The rate of preterm premature rupture of membranes was 14/21 219 (0.06%, 0.031-0.101) in the intervention group, and 140/12 529 (1.12%, 0.94-1.30) in the control group (p = 0.001).Antibiotic prophylaxis before second-trimester amniocentesis reduced the risk of abortion and of rupture of the membranes.

Since the presence of S-layer protein conditioned the autoaggregation capacity of some strains of Lactobacillus kefir, S-layer proteins from aggregating and non-aggregating L. kefir strains were characterized by immunochemical reactivity, MALDI-TOF spectrometry and glycosylation analysis. Two anti-S-layer monoclonal antibodies (Mab5F8 and Mab1F8) were produced; in an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Mab1F8 recognized S-layer proteins from all L. kefir tested while Mab5F8 recognized only S-layer proteins from aggregating strains. Periodic Acid-Schiff staining of proteins after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions revealed that all L. kefir S-layer proteins tested were glycosylated. Growth of bacteria in the presence of the N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin suggested the presence of glycosydic chains O-linked to the protein backbone. MALDI-TOF peptide map fingerprint for S-layer proteins from 12 L. kefir strains showed very similar patterns for the aggregating strains, different from those for the non-aggregating ones. No positive match with other protein spectra in MSDB Database was found. Our results revealed a high heterogeneity among S-layer proteins from different L. kefir strains but also suggested a correlation between the structure of these S-layer glycoproteins and the aggregation properties of whole bacterial cells., Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos

Erbium doping (0.1, 0.15, 0.20 at % Er) markedly increases the photosensitivity and photoluminescence (PL) intensity of GaS crystals. Most likely, erbium substitutes on the gallium site. Irradiation with low gamma doses increases the photosensitivity and PL intensity of the crystals, broadens their PL spectrum, and shifts the PL peaks to longer wavelengths. It seems likely that the radiation-induced recombination centers consist of gallium vacancies and erbium atoms. The concentration of such defect complexes depends on the gamma dose.

Gamma irradiation of p-GaS at 300 K has been shown to produce both donors and acceptors. Their effect on the electrical properties of p-GaS depends on the gamma dose and the defect system in the unirradiated material. Low gamma doses (30–50 krad) reduce the hole concentration, which is due to the compensation of native acceptors by radiation-induced donors (sulfur interstitials). Studies of defect annealing in gamma-irradiated p-GaS at temperatures from 300 to 600 K indicate that this process occurs in three steps.

Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are mixtures of oligosaccharides composed of fructose and glucose units. As their composition is determined by the synthesis conditions, the goals of this work were: (a) to engineer FOS of different composition by adjusting the sucrose concentration used as initial substrate; (b) to define partial least square (PLS) based-models to quantify all the sugars present in the reaction medium directly from the FTIR spectra. The yield of each reaction was calculated as the percentage of initial sucrose converted to each oligosaccharide, as monitored by HPLC. In parallel, the reactions were followed by FTIR. Six different PLS models aiming to determine the concentration of each carbohydrate present in the reaction medium were calibrated and independently validated. The means of predicted values fitted well to those obtained by HPLC. Determining FOS composition directly from the FTIR spectra represents a useful tool to monitor enzymatic synthesis, with strong impact at both an academic and an industrial level. Fil: Romano, Nelson Gastón. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina Fil: Santos, Mauricio Ismael. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina Fil: Mobili, Pablo. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina Fil: Vega, Roberto. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Perú Fil: Gomez Zavaglia, Andrea. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina

Las particulares características de riesgo en trabajos realizados en espacios reducidos y la gravedad de los accidentes y afecciones que puedan producirse en los trabajadores, plantea la necesidad de desarrollar este estudio para poder establecer las medidas de prevención y protección especiales. Los trabajos en espacios reducidos implican la potencialidad de diferentes riesgos: como son atmósferas peligrosas por falta de oxígeno, mala iluminación, la amplificación de otros riesgos como en el caso del ruido, riesgos ergonómicos tales como las posturas forzadas, riesgos químicos, etc. Las medidas de prevención y protección contempladas para lugares de trabajos regulares pueden no ser efectivas en el caso de un espacio reducido. Por lo tanto se plantea el desarrollo de un apartado que contemple las medidas especiales que requieren las actividades en este tipo de recinto. Estudio ergonómico de los espacios reducidos para establecer la forma de realizar trabajos de manera segura en este tipo de recintos, con el fin de prevenir los riesgos existentes, fomentando el control y la prevención de los mismos para evitar potenciales pérdidas y daños a las personas y/o equipos., Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo

El trabajo tiene como finalidad realizar un estudio ergonómico del puesto de trabajo de un colocador de revestimientos en pisos dentro de un espacio de dimensiones reducidas que trabaja y desarrolla su tarea principalmente en edificios de viviendas en altura seriados. Se ha seleccionado este tema por la gran importancia económica de este tipo de emprendimientos en la ciudad de la plata en la industria de la construcción y por las incidencias que este proceso pudiera generar graves afectaciones en la salud de la mano de obra que realiza esta actividad. Últimamente, se hace verdadero hincapié y se planifica desde la Seguridad e Higiene en la industria de la construcción ya que además de favorecer los tiempos y costos de este tipo de emprendimientos, se logra minimizar los riesgos laborales. Se podrá establecer entonces un plan de mejoras en el puesto de trabajo, tanto de los elementos y herramientas con los que cuenta, de los procesos que son utilizados para desarrollar la tarea, como así también las mejoras necesarias para establecer las condiciones ambientales óptimas del mismo. El desarrollo de este trabajo parte desde el interés de la empresa, por su preocupación en disminuir las afecciones en los trabajadores y el ausentismo por lesiones de los mismos a consecuencia del desarrollo de estas tareas. Además, se pretende con aportar un documento base para el control y prevención de los diferentes factores de riesgo ergonómicos relacionados con esta actividad, sirviendo de respaldo a los planes de obras futuras de características similares, incorporándole las correcciones correspondientes., Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo

S-layers are paracrystalline bidimensional arrays of proteins or glycoproteins that overlay the cell surface of several genus and species of bacteria and archaea. As the outermost layer of several genus and species of microorganisms, S-layer proteins (SLP) are in direct contact with bacterial environment and thus may be involved in many of their surface properties, including adherence to various substrates, mucins and eukaryotic cells, aggregation and coaggregation with yeasts and other bacteria. In addition, SLP have been reported to be responsible for the bacterial protection against detrimental environmental conditions and to play an important role in surface recognition or as carriers of virulence factors. In this mini-review, we bring together the latest evidences about functional and mechanical properties of bacterial SLP from two different perspectives: (A) their role on bacterial adherence to different substrates and surfaces, and (B) their role as mechanical barriers in bacterial harmful environments. Fil: Gerbino, Oscar Esteban. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina Fil: Carasi, Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina Fil: Mobili, Pablo. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina Fil: Serradell, María de los Ángeles. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina Fil: Gomez Zavaglia, Andrea. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina

The aim of the present work was to develop a healthy snack as a vehicle of probiotic bacteria. Apple snacks were coated with methylcellulose films containing fructooligosaccharides and Lactobacillus plantarum CIDCA 83114. Dehydration of the snacks at 60 °C for 50 min allowed obtaining a product with water content, crispness and visual aspect similar to those before applying the film-forming solution, without major detrimental effects for microorganisms. Sensory attributes of coated snacks were evaluated by an experienced sensory panel, receiving good scores in taste (6.5 ± 0.6), color (7.7 ± 0.4), texture (7.2 ± 0.4) and overall acceptability (7.2 ± 0.3). Storage of the snacks at 20 °C and 60% RH caused only a mild decrease in the bacterial cultivability after 90 days (1.4 log CFU/g), and a significant number of bacteria were still alive after the simulated gastric (5.5 × 106 ± 0.7 × 106 CFU/g) and intestinal (1.0 × 106 ± 0.4 × 106 CFU/g) digestions of the stored samples. The force–deformation curves showed a typical pattern of brittle materials up to 90 days of storage.The Tg followed a similar trend, in accordance with the constant moisture content. An organoleptically attractive food product was obtained which after 90 days of storage presented a high load of cultivable lactobacilli (2.0 × 108 ± 0.7 × 108 CFU/g). This concentration is well above the minimum considered necessary (106–107 CFU/g) to obtain the benefits of probiotic consumption., Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos, Facultad de Ingeniería

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease and hyperlipidaemia is one of the main risk factors for aging, hypertension and diabetes. Variance in plasma LDL cholesterol concentration may be associated with differences in cardiovascular disease risk and high levels of lipids are associated with increased risk of developing atherosclerosis. Macrophages, which generate pro-inflammatory cytokines, mainly interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-alpha), are deeply involved in atherosclerosis, as well as mast cells which generate several cytokines, including IL-6 and IFN-gamma, and chemokines such as eotaxin, MCP-1 and RANTES involved in monocyte recruitment and differentiation in the arterial wall. In addition, mast cells participate in lipid retention and vascular cell remodeling, and are mediators of innate and adaptive immunity during atherosclerosis. Mast cells which accumulate in the human arterial intima and adventitia during atherosclerotic plaque progression, release vasoactive and angiogenic compounds, and pro-inflammatory mediators, such as arachidonic acid metabolites, histamine, cytokines/chemokines, platelet activating factor (PAF) and proteolytic enzymes. Mast cells can be activated by pro-inflammatory stimuli, including cytokines, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperglycemia, and trigger the endothelial expression of adhesion molecules such as P-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and chemokines which mediate the recruitment and adhesion of leukocytes. The participation of mast cells in atherosclerosis is still an enigma and it may be of therapeutic interest to clarify this process.

International audience; Synergistic effect of abiotic and biotic factors is not completely established in the process of disinfecting water by plant extracts. The present study aims to evaluate the synergistic effect of different pH values (4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) and different infusion concentrations (10, 20 and 30%) of Artemisia annua on Enterococcus faecalis growth in aquatic microcosm under dark and lighting conditions. The results showed that under dark condition, there was a relative increase in abundance of E. faecalis cells in the presence of A. annua extract. Under lighting, there is a decrease in the abundance of E. faecalis at different infusion concentrations of A. annua. Extract of A. annua seems to favour the growth of E. faecalis cells in the dark, especially at slightly acidic pH. This growth was relatively significant at pH 6. In the presence of light, A. annua extract inhibited the growth of E. faecalis cells and this varied from one extract sample to another; and was significant at slightly basic pH. Under the lighting, different pH values do not appear to have significant influence on the inhibition of bacterial growth except for pH 8. Monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and triterpenes molecules present in infusions could be involved in chemical reactions responsible for cellular inhibition under light condition. Research on photosensitizing compounds and a comparative study with conventional photosensitizers might attest for the involvement of photosensitivity reaction with the A. annua extracts.

Sequence capture of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) associated with massively parallel sequencing has become a common source of nuclear data for studies of animal systematics and phylogeography. However, mitochondrial and microsatellite variation are still commonly used in various kinds of molecular studies, and probably will complement genomic data in years to come. Here we show that besides providing abundant genomic data, UCE sequencing is an excellent source of both sequences for microsatellite loci design and complete mitochondrial genomes with high sequencing depth. Identification of dozens of microsatellite loci and assembly of complete mitogenomes is exemplified here using three species of Poospiza warbling finches from southern and southeastern Brazil. This strategy opens exciting opportunities to simultaneously analyze genome-wide nuclear datasets and traditionally used mtDNA and microsatellite markers in non-model amniotes at no additional cost.

With the constant advances in technology and expertise of prenatal diagnosis, necessity of early counseling in cases of bilateral obstructive uropathy has become of paramount importance. To better evaluate fetal renal function new biochemical (serum and urine) fetal markers have been introduced in the literature. However, they are only available at select centers and always requiring an invasive approach. Furthermore, paucity of normal controls sometimes makes interpretation of results difficult. Owing to this growing interest towards biochemical evaluation of fetal renal function, assessment of amniotic fluid, which is mostly expression of fetal urination, has progressively fallen into disrepute, and studies comparing the amount of amniotic fluid with renal function are scant.In a 3-year period 28 cases of bilateral obstructive uropathy were seen prenatally at the Artemisia Medical Center. All cases were initially reviewed at 17 to 20 weeks of gestation when a distended fetal bladder with thickened wall and enlarged kidneys were visualized. At the same time ultrasonographic assessment of amniotic fluid was performed by calculating the amniotic fluid index. An amniotic fluid index less than the 25th percentile was considered below average and an index less below the 5th percentile was considered oligohydramnios, whereas an index between 50th and 75th percentiles was considered normal. All cases were subsequently evaluated for renal function up to age 1 year. Impaired renal function was defined as a serum creatinine greater than 1.2 mg/dl before age 1 year.Of the 28 cases 18 had an index of oligohydramnios (group 1) and 10 had a normal index (group 2). No significant variations were observed in amniotic fluid index at repeated consultations throughout pregnancy. Two cases in group 1 and 1 case in group 2 were lost to followup while in the other group 1 cases intrauterine death occurred. Bilateral obstructive uropathy was confirmed in all instances after birth as valves in 18 cases and urethral atresia in 3. Of the 12 surviving group 1 cases there were 3 neonatal deaths from severe lung hypoplasia, and in the remaining 9 cases mean serum creatinine at each evaluation before age 1 year was 1.3 +/- 0.2 mg/dl. All patients in group 2 survived with a mean serum creatinine at each evaluation of 0.6 +/- 0.1 mg/dl (p0.05).Despite widespread use of prenatal biochemistry, evaluation of amniotic fluid by the amniotic fluid index remains a reproducible and inexpensive method to predict renal function in cases of bilateral obstructive uropathy of any origin. It retains its validity not only in severe, but also in milder reductions. Conversely, intact amniotic fluid mostly invariably predicts normal renal function at long-term evaluation. For a better understanding of the disease such information is to be promptly conveyed to the prospective parents at each prenatal consultation.

The effect of a new passivation treatment, obtained by immersion of the galvanized reinforcements in a trivalent chromium salts based solution, on the chlorides induced corrosion has been investigated. To investigate also the effect of cement alkalinity on corrosion behaviour of reinforcements, concretes manufactured with three different European cements were compared. The obtained results show that the alternative treatment based on hexavalent chromium-free baths forms effective protection layers on the galvanized rebar surfaces. The higher corrosion rates of zinc coating in concrete manufactured with Portland cement compared to those recorded for bars in concrete manufactured with pozzolanic cement depends strongly on the higher chloride content at the steel concrete interface.

The use of stainless or galvanized steel reinforcements, a hydrophobic admixture or a flexible polymer-cement coating were compared as methods to improve the corrosion resistance of sound or cracked reinforced concrete specimens exposed to chloride rich solutions. The results show that in full immersion condition, negligible corrosion rates were detected in all cracked specimens, except those treated with the flexible polymer-cement mortar as preventive method against corrosion and the hydrophobic concrete specimens. High corrosion rates were measured in all cracked specimens exposed to wet-dry cycles, except for those reinforced with stainless steel, those treated with the flexible polymer-cement coating as restorative method against reinforcement corrosion and for hydrophobic concrete specimens reinforced with galvanized steel reinforcements.

The effect of fly ash on the corrosion behaviour of galvanised steel rebars in cracked concrete specimens exposed to wet-dry cycles in a chloride solution has been investigated. The obtained results show that the use of fly ash, replacing either cement or aggregate, always improves the corrosion behaviour of galvanised steel reinforcements. In particular, the addition of fly ash, even in the presence of concrete cracks, decreases the corrosion rate monitored in very porous concretes, as those with w/c = 0.80, to values comparable with those obtained in good quality concretes, as those with w/c = 0.45. Therefore, fly ash cancels the negative effect, at least from the corrosion point of view, of a great porosity of the cement matrix.

The goal of this work was to investigate the physicochemical properties of methylcellulose (MC) based films as stabilizers of two strains of lactobacilli: Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CIDCA 333 and Lactobacillus plantarum CIDCA 83114. The incorporation of 3% w/v fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) into the MC film formulation improved the viability of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CIDCA 333 after film preparation. L. plantarum CIDCA 83114 was intrinsically more resistant as no viability loss was observed upon preparation of the films in the absence of FOS. Scanning electronic microscopy images also showed a good incorporation of microorganisms without affecting the homogeneity of the films. FTIR spectroscopy provided structural information about the bacteria-loaded films. Water sorption isotherms showed an impervious behavior at low aw but on exceeding 0.7 of aw the film started to dissolve and form syrup, causing a drastic drop of bacterial viability (log N/N0 ≤ − 5). Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) demonstrated that the incorporation of microorganisms into the MC films had no effect on vitreous transition temperatures. FOS incorporated into the MC films had a plasticizing effect. Microorganism-loaded films were stored at relative humidities (RH) ranging from 11 to 75%. Both strains could be stored at 11% RH for 90 days. At 33 and 44% RH L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CIDCA 333 could be stored up to 15 days and L. plantarum CIDCA 83114 up to 45 days. At 75% RH only L. plantarum CIDCA 83114 could be equilibrated (log N/N0: − 2.05 ± 0.25), but CFU/g films were undetectable after 15 days of storage. The results obtained in this work support the use of MC films containing FOS as a good strategy to immobilize lactic acid bacteria, with potential applications in the development of functional foods. Fil: Romano, Nelson Gastón. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina Fil: Tavera Quiroz, Maria Jose. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina Fil: Bertola, Nora Cristina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina Fil: Mobili, Pablo. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina Fil: Pinotti, Adriana Noemi. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina Fil: Gomez Zavaglia, Andrea. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina

to assess the performance of a combined first-trimester screening for trisomy 21 in an unselected Italian population referred to a specialized private center for prenatal medicine.a retrospective validation of first-trimester screening algorithms [risk calculation based on maternal age and nuchal translucency (NT) alone, maternal age and serum parameters (free β-hCG and PAPP-A) alone and a combination of both] for fetal aneuploidies evaluated in an unselected Italian population at Artemisia Fetal-Maternal Medical Centre in Rome. All measurements were performed between 11(+0) and 13(+6) weeks of gestation, between April 2007 and December 2008.of 3,610 single fetuses included in the study, we had a complete follow-up on 2,984. Fourteen of 17 cases of trisomy 21 were detected when a cut-off of 1:300 was applied [detection rate (DR) 82.4%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 64.2-100; false-positive rate (FPR) 4.7%, 95% CI 3.9-5.4; false-negative rate (FNR) 17.6%, 95% CI 0-35.8%].in our study population the detection rate for trisomy 21, using the combined risk calculation based on maternal age, fetal NT, maternal PAPP-A and free β-hCG levels, was superior to the application of either parameter alone. The algorithm has been validated for first trimester screening in the Italian population.

Recent studies have proposed the introduction of cell-free fetal DNA testing (NIPT - Non Invasive Prenatal Testing) in routine clinical practice emphasizing its high sensibility and specificity. In any case, false positive and false negative findings may result from placental mosaicism, because cell-free fetal DNA originates mainly from placenta. Case: we report six cases of women who underwent chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis to confirm the results from NIPT: two Turner syndromes, two Triple X, one Patau syndrome, one Edward syndrome. Results: using classic cytogenetic analysis and, also, Array - Comparative Genomic Hybridization(Array CGH) the karyotype of all 5 fetuses was found to be normal. Conclusion: results from NIPT must always be confirmed by invasive prenatal diagnosis. It is mandatory to inform the patient that the CVS and amniocentesis still represent the only form of prenatal diagnostic test available.

Photosynthetic organisms inhabiting the caves of Frasassi (Italy) were identified and aspects of their strategy of acclimation to the cavern environment investigated. The habitats of the organisms were characterized with special reference to light, the inorganic carbon system and the availability of inorganic N, P and S. The availability of nutrients was low. The availability of inorganic C was mostly affected by pH, but it was generally high enough to support photosynthesis at the photon flux density measured. The blue-green alga Phormidium sp. was by far the most abundant photosynthetic organism in the caves. The adaptation of Phormidium to growth at low light and abundant inorganic carbon was mediated by a down-regulation of photosynthesis and the CO2-concentrating mechanism. The down-regulation of these processes is probably an adaptive adjustment that paces the energy output to the limited light input. Heterotrophy may also be important for the survival of Phormidium.

Objectives: The influence of abiotic factors of water which may affect Artemesia annua (A. annua) efficiency as a disinfectant is not clearly elucidated. This study aimed to assess the potential effects of various water pH values of the infusion of A. annua leaves extract on some bacteria of hygiene and sanitary evaluation. Methodology and Results: A. annua leaves were collected in Bangante (West region, Cameroon) and bacteria were isolated from the surface water (lotic hydrosystems) in Yaoundé (Cameroon, Central Africa). The bacteria used were S. paratyphi, S. aureus and E. coli. Experiments were carried out in aquatic microcosms under dark conditions. The pH values considered were 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. These values were adjusted using diluted HCl and NaOH. The results showed the temporal changes of cell abundance from one bacteria species to another with respect to the pH value in one hand, and also with respect to the number of cell species in solution on the other hand. In monospecific culture condition, the extract of A. annua seemed to appear as a source of carbon and energy for bacteria growth. In mixed cultures the influence of pH in the presence of the extract of A. annua in the dark seemed to foster trophic relations among bacteria in some cases and stimulate the production of inhibitory substances in other cases. Conclusions and application of findings: Molecules contained in the extract of A. annua were potentially implicated in the physical and chemical changes of the medium, enabling the cell growth observed. A. annua extract did not have a significant bacterial inhibitory property in the water in the darkness. Although A. annua extract is often used as antibacterial component, it should not be used in the bacteriological treatment of drinking water under dark condition whether the water pH is acidic, neutral or alkaline. Key words: A. annua extract, water pH, S. aureus, S. paratyphi, E. coli, temporal abundance, variation.

Surface-layers (S-layers) are macromolecular paracrystalline arrays of proteins or glycoproteins that can self-assemble into 2-dimensional semi-permeable meshworks to overlay the cell surface of many bacteria and archaea. They usually assemble into lattices with oblique, square or hexagonal symmetry and serve as an interface between the bacterial cell and the environment. Isolated S-layers can recrystallize into two-dimensional regular arrays in suspension or on various surfaces, thus being an appropriate material for several bionanotechnological purposes. Promising applications of S-layers include their use as biotemplates for the capture of metal ions or the synthesis of metal nanoclusters. Considering the use of S-layers as biotemplates for the organization of metal ions or metallic nanoclusters, research on potential of surface layer proteins (SLP) and metals can be understood as an interdisciplinary field, in which different biophysical techniques supply complementary information. In this review, we discuss the SLP as native or engineered “bottom-up” building blocks for metal immobilization structures. We also describe the biophysical techniques used to analyze metal binding properties as well as the information obtained from the investigation of these structures., Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas

Introduction: placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) is a rare placental anomaly characterized by placentomegaly and grapelike vesicles which resemble molar pregnancy. Case: we report the case of 33-year-old woman (1-gravid) who visited our clinic at 11 weeks of gestation due to a suspected molar pregnancy. Ultrasound examination showed an enlarged placenta with multiple vesicular lesions. Maternal human chorionic gonadotropin level was normal and chorionic villus sampling showed a normal male karyotype (46 XY). The fetus exhibited no specific anomalies and fetal growth was normal during pregnancy with no signs of fetal suffering. At 31 weeks, the pregnancy ended owing to intrauterine fetal death (IUFD). The patient delivered a normal-sized male fetus (1800g) with no definite anomalies. A pathological examination led to a diagnosis of placental mesenchymal dysplasia. Conclusion: in the presence of placental ultrasound anomalies with no other sign of fetal suffering, the pregnancy should be considered at risk and, therefore, should be monitored carefully including the option of hospitalization.