Trichothecene genotypes and chemotypes in Fusarium graminearum strains isolated from wheat in Argentina

Argentina is the fourth largest exporter of wheat in the world. The main pathogen associated with Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) of wheat in Argentina is Fusarium graminearum lineage 7 also termed F. graminearum sensu stricto in the F. graminearum species complex, which can produce the Type B trichothecenes, usually deoxynivalenol (DON) and its acetylated forms (3-ADON and 15-ADON) or nivalenol (NIV). We used a multiplex PCR assay of Tri3, Tri7, and Tri13 to determine the trichothecene genotype of 116 strains F. graminearum collected from three locations in Argentina and then verified the chemotype by chemical analysis. PCR assays and chemical analyses gave the same results for all strains that produced trichothecenes. Most strains (> 92%) had the 15-ADON genotype, with the remaining strains having the DON/NIV genotype. We observed neither the NIV nor the 3-ADON genotypes amongst the strains evaluated. The nine strains with the DON/NIV genotype produced DON when analyzed chemically. Thus, the Argentinean populations of F. graminearum are similar to those from wheat elsewhere in the world, in that all the strains produced DON/15-ADON and belong to lineage 7. However approximately 8% of the strains tested were incorrectly diagnosed as DON/NIV producers with the current multiplex PCR and were only DON producers by chemical analysis.     

Evaluation of antioxidant capacity,genotoxicity and polyphenol content of non conventional foods: Prosopis flour

Fruits such as Prosopis pod have been food sources (patay, arrope, chicha or aloja) of inhabitants of arid and semi-arid lands in South America. The aims of the present study were determine some nutritional and functional properties as well as genotoxicity of flour obtained from Prosopis ripe pods that were submitted to different processing. Sucrose constituted the main sugar for flours obtained from Prosopis alba and Prosopis nigra. Decoctions and macerations showed around 2.9% and 1.4% of soluble proteins, respectively. The highest free phenolics, flavonoids and condensed tannins contents were observed in aqueous extractions with heating. None of the samples presented phytic acid levels high enough to constitute a nutritional problem. Antioxidant activity (AA) was evaluated by DPPH, ABTS and β-carotene bleaching assays. Results showed that the antioxidant potential was significantly higher in flour obtained from P. nigra pods than in that from P. alba pods, and it was also higher in aqueous extracts than in alcoholic ones. Data obtained suggests that compounds responsible for AA are thermostable; therefore, Prosopis flour might be capable of retaining a significant amount of antioxidant capacity after heating. Prosopis extracts did not show any mutagenic effect with and without metabolic activation. Prosopis flour proved to be a non conventional, novel and rich source of antioxidant compounds that could help to prevent pathologies associated with oxidative stress.     

Interhemispheric integration in psychopathic offenders.

The goal of the present study was to determine whether a reduced capacity for interhemispheric integration can explain the attention deficits seen in psychopathic individuals under conditions that place substantial demands on left-hemisphere-specific resources. The present study examined the performance of 54 incarcerated psychopathic and nonpsychopathic male offenders on a same-different global-local paradigm that permits manipulation of both the magnitude of processing demands and the demand for interhemispheric coordination. Prior studies with similar paradigms have demonstrated that the cerebral hemispheres can function more efficiently as relatively independent processors on simple tasks, whereas communication between the hemispheres improves performance when processing demands are heavy. Analyses indicated that psychopathic offenders are not deficient in interhemispheric integration but provided additional evidence consistent with the left hemisphere activation hypothesis of psychopathy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mechanisms of Antibacterial Activity of MgO: Non‐ROS Mediated Toxicity of MgO Nanoparticles Towards Escherichia coli

The toxicity of metal oxide nanomaterials and their antimicrobial activity is attracting increasing attention. Among these materials, MgO is particularly interesting as a low cost, environmentally‐friendly material. The toxicity of MgO, similar to other metal oxide nanomaterials, is commonly attributed to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We investigated the toxicity of three different MgO nanoparticle samples, and clearly demonstrated robust toxicity towards Escherichia coli bacterial cells in the absence of ROS production for two MgO nanoparticle samples. Proteomics data also clearly demonstrate the absence of oxidative stress and indicate that the primary mechanism of cell death is related to the cell membrane damage, which does not appear to be due to lipid peroxidation.     

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction and Characterization of Argentinean Chia Seed Oil

Extraction of chia seed oil was performed with supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂). To investigate the effects of pressure and temperature on the oil solubility and yield, two isobaric (250 and 450 bar) and two isothermal (40 and 60 °C) extraction conditions were selected. The global extraction yield of chia oil increased with pressure enhancement, but temperature had a little influence on it. The maximum oil recovery using SC-CO₂ at a mass flow rate of 8 kg/h was 97%, which was obtained at 60 °C, 450 bar for a 138-min extraction. The results showed that solubility changed from 4.8 g oil/kg CO₂ at 60 °C–250 bar to 28.8 g oil/kg CO₂ at 60 °C–450 bar. The final extract obtained by SC-CO₂ under different conditions and Soxhlet extraction contained mainly α-linolenic (64.9–65.6%) and linoleic (19.8–20.3%) acids. SC-CO₂ extraction is an interesting alternative methodology because it is possible to achieve a chia oil yield close to that obtained by conventional extraction with a similar fatty acid composition using an environmentally friendly process.     

A Chimeric UDP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase Produced by Protein Engineering Exhibits Sensitivity to Allosteric Regulators

In bacteria, glycogen or oligosaccharide accumulation involves glucose-1-phosphate partitioning into either ADP-glucose (ADP-Glc) or UDP-Glc. Their respective synthesis is catalyzed by allosterically regulated ADP-Glc pyrophosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.27, ADP-Glc PPase) or unregulated UDP-Glc PPase (EC 2.7.7.9). In this work, we characterized the UDP-Glc PPase from Streptococcus mutans. In addition, we constructed a chimeric protein by cutting the C-terminal domain of the ADP-Glc PPase from Escherichia coli and pasting it to the entire S. mutans UDP-Glc PPase. Both proteins were fully active as UDP-Glc PPases and their kinetic parameters were measured. The chimeric enzyme had a slightly higher affinity for substrates than the native S. mutans UDP-Glc PPase, but the maximal activity was four times lower. Interestingly, the chimeric protein was sensitive to regulation by pyruvate, 3-phosphoglyceric acid and fructose-1,6-bis-phosphate, which are known to be effectors of ADP-Glc PPases from different sources. The three compounds activated the chimeric enzyme up to three-fold, and increased the affinity for substrates. This chimeric protein is the first reported UDP-Glc PPase with allosteric regulatory properties. In addition, this is a pioneer work dealing with a chimeric enzyme constructed as a hybrid of two pyrophosphorylases with different specificity toward nucleoside-diphospho-glucose and our results turn to be relevant for a deeper understanding of the evolution of allosterism in this family of enzymes.     

Lipid and protein changes in chilled sea salmon (Pseudopercis semifasciata): effect of previous rosemary extract (Rossmarinus officinalis L.) application

The aim of this work was to analyse the effect of rosemary extract application (200 and 500 ppm) on lipid oxidation, colour and protein modifications during the chilled storage (1.0 ± 0.7 °C) of sea salmon ( Pseudopercis semifasciata ). Lipid oxidation and ω3-22:6 fatty acid content modification were prevented by the addition of rosemary extract. Analysis of interaction between lipid oxidation products and proteins by fluorescence showed no relationship between their temporal changes in the aqueous phase and the lipid oxidation evolution since a similar behaviour was observed in both absence and presence of antioxidant. Protein extractability, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, differential scanning calorimetry and lysine content determinations revealed no differences between muscle untreated or treated with rosemary. Fluorescent compounds evolution in organic phase would be in relation with the appearance of lipid oxidation products. In addition, rosemary extract partially prevented the loss of red colour in chilled muscle. Although protein alterations could not be prevented, rosemary extract shows to be a promissory antioxidant in sea salmon muscle.     

Single-channel response of hamster oocytes to fertilization with homologous spermatozoa.

Electrophysiological events occur early after fertilization, along with changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Passive electrical parameters were determined in golden hamster oocytes by whole cell patch-clamp method. In separate experiments the effect of 4-aminopyridine on resting oocytes was tested. The single-channel patch clamp configuration was employed to assess the electrical response to fertilization with homologous sperm. Structure of oocytes submitted to patch clamp was evaluated with scanning electron microscopy and found to be preserved. Oocyte diameter was 70.2 +/- 2.2 microm; their resting parameters were: membrane potential 23.8 +/- 0.8 mV; total membrane specific resistance 519.1 +/- 94.6 ohms.cm2, and specific capacity 0.99 +/- 0.03 microF.cm(-2). Total membrane current was decreased by 42 % by 4-aminopyridine. Control oocytes and oocytes exposed to sperm differed in their membrane currents in response to a voltage ramp clamping membrane potential from - 100 mV to + 100 mV. In both cases, currents were largest at the most negative potentials, but sperm-exposed oocytes had larger currents. Additionally, while in control oocytes the current was inward at negative potentials but outward at positive potentials, in the presence of spermatozoa oocytes was inward within the whole voltage range tested. This latter current may represent Ca2+ entry.     

Seasonal variations in the heterologous binding of viscacha spermatozoa. A scanning electron microscope study.

Seasonal changes in the reproductive activity of the adult male viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus) were investigated during the annual reproductive cycle. Assays of heterologous in vitro binding between compatible gametes were used to evaluate the ability of viscacha spermatozoa to achieve primary binding during its annual reproductive cycle. Sperm were collected by mincing cauda epididymis in HECM-3 medium and the sperm concentration and motility were evaluated. Cumulus-free and zona-free oocytes obtained from superovulated hamsters were inseminated in vitro with capacitated sperm suspensions, incubated at 37 degrees C, 5% CO2 for 3 h, and then processed for studies by scanning electronic microscopy. Statistical analysis was used to compare the quantitative differences. The number of spermatozoa significantly decreases during the regression period, while sperm motility was progressive speed in both periods. During the active period elevated sperm binding to cumulus-free and zona-free oocytes was observed, while the binding during the regression period decreased drastically. In both periods, oocyte microvilli covered sperm heads and tails. These results suggest that the ability of viscacha spermatozoa to participate in gamete recognition is profoundly affected. This would likely be related to different functional stages of the spermatozoa and their epididymal microenvironment during the annual reproductive cycle of viscacha.     

Adequacy evaluation of wind power generation systems

This paper attempts to assess the adequacy of wind power generation systems using the data collected from seven wind farms in Muppandal, Tamilnadu (India) with a total capacity of 37 MW. A Monte Carlo model simulation is incorporated in the algorithm to obtain the hourly power output of wind farms, which also takes into account the unavailability of wind turbines. A typical load demand profile is used to examine the chronological hourly wind power generation for each month. The reliability index of LOLE (loss of load expectation) is used to estimate the reliable contribution of wind farm power generation.