Aims
To investigate the probiotic potential of yeasts isolated from naturally fermented Brazilian table olives.
Methods and Results
Eighteen yeast strains were tested in terms of: safety; survival of ...gastrointestinal and digestion conditions; antimicrobial activity; cellular hydrophobicity; autoaggregation ability and adhesion to epithelial cells; coaggregation and inhibition of pathogenic bacteria adhesion. Six yeasts showed favourable results for all probiotic attributes: Saccharomyces cerevisiae CCMA 1746, Pichia guilliermondii CCMA 1753, Candida orthopsilosis CCMA 1748, Candida tropicalis CCMA 1751, Meyerozyma caribbica CCMA 1758 and Debaryomyces hansenii CCMA 1761. These yeasts demonstrated resistance to 37°C, pH 2·0 and bile salts, and survived in vitro digestion (≥106 CFU per ml). Furthermore, the yeasts exhibited a hydrophobic cell surface (42·5–92·2%), autoaggregation capacity (41·0–91·0%) and adhesion to Caco‐2 (62·0–82·8%) and HT‐29 (57·6–87·3%) epithelial cell lines. Also, the strains showed antimicrobial activity against Salmonella Enteritidis as well as the ability to coaggregate and reduce the adhesion of this pathogen to intestinal cells.
Conclusions
Autochthonous yeasts from naturally fermented Brazilian table olives have probiotic properties, with potential for development of new probiotic food products.
Significance and Impact of Study
These data are important and contribute to the knowledge of new potential probiotic yeasts capable of surviving gastrointestinal tract conditions and inhibiting pathogenic bacteria.
Interfaces are crucial factors in shaping the properties of colloidal quantum dots (QDs), in particular the size-dependent optical properties that are a hallmark of these materials. However, the role ...played by the interfaces associated with QDs on the kinetics of photoluminescence (PL) decay of these nanocrystals is not fully understood even for the most extensively investigated II–VI QDs. In particular, interfaces are a hotbed of trapping sites over which control is essential for the efficient performance of QD-based devices because traps condition PL lifetimes and may be related to PL intermittency. In this work, we analyze the room-temperature PL decay of drop-cast films of CdSe/ZnS QDs varying a number of factors (casting solvent, capping ligands, core/shell interface character). We show how the use of a function that accounts for reversible trapping of photogenerated charge carriers with physically meaningful parameters (time constant, trapping and detrapping rate constants, and average number of traps per QD) can provide valuable information concerning the relevant interfaces, and therefore the nature of the trap states, involved in the recombination of those charge carriers. This approach should be applicable to QDs of a variety of compositions as well as materials beyond inorganic semiconductors.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to detect signs of dysphagia in older adults with and without Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Study design
A cross-sectional study.
Setting and Participants
A total of ...280 institutionalized older adults (with AD = 145; without AD = 135), aged > 70 years, with oral feeding, both sexes were examined.
Measurements
Modified water-swallowing test determined the dysphagia. Independent variables were dependency level (modified Barthel Index), oral health and function status (residual teeth, occlusal contacts, passive lip sealing, tongue function, rinsing and gargling ability), nutritional status (Body Mass Index, Mini Nutritional Assessment), and diet-related assessments (appetite, storing or stuffing food in the mouth). Statistical analysis was carried out by Fisher’s Exact and chi-square tests. The analyzes of associations with the dysphagia outcome were performed by simple and multiple logistic regression models.
Results
Severity of AD was significantly associated with dysphagia. The signs associated with dysphagia were decreased nutritional status, absence of appetite, and storing food in the mouth.
Conclusion
These signs can be useful tools for early diagnosis of dysphagia in AD older adults.
Abstract This study investigated the influence of nanoscale implant surface features on osteoblast differentiation. Titanium disks (20.0 × 1.0 mm) with different nanoscale materials were prepared ...using sol–gel-derived coatings and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and analyzed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer. Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) were cultured on the disks for 3–28 days. The levels of ALP, BSP, Runx2, OCN, OPG, and OSX mRNA and a panel of 76 genes related to osteogenesis were evaluated. Topographical and chemical evaluation confirmed nanoscale features present on the coated surfaces only. Bone-specific mRNAs were increased on surfaces with superimposed nanoscale features compared to Machined (M) and Acid etched (Ac). At day 14, OSX mRNA levels were increased by 2-, 3.5-, 4- and 3-fold for Anatase (An), Rutile (Ru), Alumina (Al), and Zirconia (Zr), respectively. OSX expression levels for M and Ac approximated baseline levels. At days 14 and 28 the BSP relative mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated for all surfaces with nanoscale coated features (up to 45-fold increase for Al). The PCR array showed an up-regulation on Al coated implants when compared to M. An improved response of cells adhered to nanostructured-coated implant surfaces was represented by increased OSX and BSP expressions. Furthermore, nanostructured surfaces produced using aluminum oxide significantly enhanced the hMSC gene expression representative of osteoblast differentiation. Nanoscale features on Ti implant substrates may improve the osseointegration response by altering adherent cell response.
In this paper, the electrochemical degradation of polypyrrole film was studied by means of overpotential application. The overpotential was 0.58 V versus SCE, and after every 5 min of application of ...0.58 V, a cyclic voltammogram was recorded in the range of −0.7 to 0.5 V as well as an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EIS and EQCM). The main characteristic is the huge increase in the charge transfer resistance (r ct), which indicates that the insertion process of ions in the polymer matrix is hindered by the electrochemical degradation. Once the process of insertion is damaged, the number of intercalated ions in the matrix should decrease, which is expressed by the low-frequency capacitance, which is proportional to the number of intercalated ions in the polymeric matrix. The decrease of intercalated ions has an influence in the mass variation of the polymer film, which is confirmed by EQCM measurements.
•Unlike eCG, FSH does not promote follicular growth in beef cows submitted to TAI.•FSH failed to increase P/AI, particularly in primiparous cows.•eCG and FSH do not increase occurrence of estrus ...compared to untreated cows.•eCG is more effective at increasing fertility in primiparous versus multiparous cows.
Effects were evaluated in Bos indicus cows of eCG and FSH on follicular growth, estrous expression, and pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI) as a result of fixed-time artificial insemination (TAI). In Experiment 1, extent of timing-of-ovulation synchronization among cows was evaluated after imposing an estrogen/progesterone-based treatment regimen. At progesterone device removal (D8), cows were administered: eCG, or FSH or served as untreated Controls. In Experiment 2, percentage of cows P/AI was evaluated when the Experiment 1-treatment regimen was imposed. On D10, all cows were artificially inseminated. In Experiment 3, cows were assigned to two treatment groups (Control and eCG) on D8 to evaluate percentage of cows P/AI and estrous expression. In Experiment 1, follicular dynamics were similar among treatment groups. In Experiment 2, follicular growth was greater (P = 0.0001) with the eCG treatment. There was an interaction of treatment × parity (P = 0.007) on percentage of cows P/AI. There was a greater percentage of primiparous cows P/AI in the eCG-treated than Control and FSH-treated cows. There was a greater percentage of eCG-treated multiparous cows pregnant as a result of TAI than Control cows. There was an interaction of treatment × parity (P = 0.005) on P/AI in Experiment 3, in which the eCG effect was more pronounced in primiparous cows. Treatment with FSH, therefore, was not as effective as eCG in stimulation of follicular growth or enhancing percentage of cows pregnant as a result of TAI. Physiological effects of eCG, however, were also more evident in primiparous cows.
Abstract Many studies have been dedicated to the development of scaffolds for improving post-traumatic nerve regeneration. The goal of this study was to develop and test hybrid chitosan membranes to ...use in peripheral nerve reconstruction, either alone or enriched with N1E-115 neural cells. Hybrid chitosan membranes were tested in vitro , to assess their ability in supporting N1E-115 cell survival and differentiation, and in vivo to assess biocompatibility as well as to evaluate their effects on nerve fiber regeneration and functional recovery after a standardized rat sciatic nerve crush injury. Functional recovery was evaluated using the sciatic functional index (SFI), the static sciatic index (SSI), the extensor postural thrust (EPT), the withdrawal reflex latency (WRL) and ankle kinematics. Nerve fiber regeneration was assessed by quantitative stereological analysis and electron microscopy. All chitosan membranes showed good biocompatibility and proved to be a suitable substrate for plating the N1E-115 cellular system. By contrast, in vivo nerve regeneration assessment after crush injury showed that the freeze-dried chitosan type III, without N1E-115 cell addition, was the only type of membrane that significantly improved posttraumatic axonal regrowth and functional recovery. It can be thus suggested that local enwrapping with this type of chitosan membrane may represent an effective approach for the improvement of the clinical outcome in patients receiving peripheral nerve surgery.
Understanding the physics behind the kinetics of photoluminescence (PL) decay of colloidal quantum dots (QDs) is of critical importance for the characterization and potential applications of these ...materials. The nonexponential decays typically observed present a challenge due to a lack of models for their description that are simultaneously physically meaningful and practical to use. In this work, a new function for the description of the whole PL decay curves of drop-cast films of CdSe/ZnS QDs at room temperature is proposed whose parameters have a straightforward physical meaning, accounting for the long-time tails of the decays and highlighting the role of detrapping of charge carriers. This function and the interpretation of the PL decay that it provides represent an alternative to the widespread assumption that Förster resonance energy transfer takes place in systems of densely packed nearly monodisperse colloidal QDs.
The length and number of streams experiencing intermittency is expected to increase in response to human population growth, associated water use, and climate change. In these streams, habitat ...contraction may occur at distinct rates giving rise to drying periods of distinct duration. To date, the impact of drought installation rate and duration have been mostly overlooked. In this microcosm study, stream conditioned oak leaf litter was subjected to either a short (5 weeks) or a long (8 weeks) drying period, originating from a very slow, slow, or abrupt contraction. The effects of these treatments were compared at the end of the drying period in terms of microbial-mediated litter mass loss, fungal biomass, respiration, and sporulation rates. A very slow contraction pattern led to 1.3 times higher mass loss than both slow or abrupt contraction. Fungal biomass, respiration and sporulation rates were up to 2.3 times lower under slow than abrupt contraction. Both drying period durations inhibited leaf decomposition, suggesting an early, critical effect of drying on microbial-mediated processing, regardless of contraction pattern. This seems to be related to an impoverishment of leaf associated fungal communities and resultant lower functional efficacy – species richness decreased by up to 75% in response to a long (vs. short) drying period, despite the maintenance of mycelial biomass. Our results show the relevance of aquatic hyphomycetes to litter decomposition in dry streambeds, particularly following slower habitat contraction patterns. Faster wet-to-dry transitions and longer drying periods strongly impaired microbial functioning, with potential impacts on global processing rates and cascading effects through changes of detritus quality. If confirmed in field tests, such impacts on stream functioning may be mitigated by preserving riparian forests, which may protect against extreme drying events by buffering temperature changes.
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•The number and length of streams experiencing intermittency is increasing worldwide.•Microbial responses to contraction patterns and drying duration were evaluated.•Aquatic hyphomycetes may remain active during drying periods.•Slower contraction patterns favoured microbially-mediated leaf mass loss.•Longer drying periods reduced fungal species richness and inhibited leaf mass loss.
Corn crop, due to its easy adaptation to the most diverse agroecosystems, spreads throughout the different regions of the world, making it one of the most important agricultural crops. In this crop, ...pest insects stand out for causing losses both in the field and in warehouses. The application of essential oils can be an important technique to be investigated in the management of insects due to its known insecticidal activity and low risk to the environment. The objective of the work was to value the insecticide and repellent effect of essential oils of exotic lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and native lemongrass (Elionurus sp.) for the management of maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais (Mots., 1855, Coleoptera: Curculionidae)). The chemical analysis of the oils made by CG-MS showed that the chemical composition of the native and exotic lemongrass is similar, however, the exotic species presented a greater number of compounds. The essential oils of native and exotic lemon grass have efficiency on maize weevil mortality, and it is verified that the increase in the applied dose reflects in a reduction in the insect's exposure time for death to occur. The essential oil of both species showed repellent capacity at all times evaluated. Thus, it can be said that both species have the capacity and potential to be used in the management of corn weevil, and can be an alternative for smallhorders farmers and organic production.
