Alkaline-Tolerant Bacillus cereus 12GS: A Promising Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Producer Isolated from the North of Mexico.

Environmental pollution caused by petroleum-derived plastics continues to increase annually. Consequently, current research is interested in the search for eco-friendly bacterial polymers. The importance of Bacillus bacteria as producers of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) has been recognized because of their physiological and genetic qualities. In this study, twenty strains of Bacillus genus PHA producers were isolated. Production was initially evaluated qualitatively to screen the strains, and subsequently, the strain B12 or Bacillus sp. 12GS, with the highest production, was selected through liquid fermentation. Biochemical and molecular identification revealed it as a novel isolate of Bacillus cereus. Production optimization was carried out using the Taguchi methodology, determining the optimal parameters as 30 °C, pH 8, 150 rpm, and 4% inoculum, resulting in 87% and 1.91 g/L of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). Kinetic studies demonstrated a higher production within 48 h. The produced biopolymer was analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confirming the production of short-chain-length (scl) polyhydroxyalkanoate, named PHB, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed thermal properties, making it a promising material for various applications. The novel B. cereus isolate exhibited a high %PHB, emphasizing the importance of bioprospecting, study, and characterization for strains with biotechnological potential.

Muffin-Type Bakery Product Based on Mexican Mesquite (Prosopis spp.) Flour: Texture Profile, Acceptability, and Physicochemical Properties.

In this research, muffin-type bakery products were developed based on wheat flour (WF) and mesquite flour (MF) in the following proportions: WFMF 90:10, WFMF 75:25, and WFMF 50:50. The products were characterized based on various properties in which it was possible to observe that the water activity (aw) did not show a significant change with the increase in the concentration of MF. In addition, the increase in the concentration of MF modified the sensory properties (color, odor, flavor, texture, and acceptance), further decreasing the luminosity and increasing the values of the a* and b* coordinates. Moreover, in the texture profile analysis, it was found that the increase in the MF concentration increased hardness, fracturability, and gumminess and decreased adhesiveness and cohesiveness. All the previously mentioned changes were more evident in the WFMF50:50 and, to a lesser degree, in WFMF75:25. In general, in most evaluations realized, the WFMF90:10 treatment was the most similar to the control (without MF). However, WFMMF75:25 provided a higher protein and fiber content and a lower fat content. Finally, it is possible to use the flour obtained from the mesquite fruit to make bakery products since it is an important source of food due to the wide distribution of mesquite in the country.

Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation Architecture Supported by a Distributed Data Acquisition System.

Rehabilitation robotics aims to facilitate the rehabilitation procedure for patients and physical therapists. This field has a relatively long history dating back to the 1990s; however, their implementation and the standardisation of their application in the medical field does not follow the same pace, mainly due to their complexity of reproduction and the need for their approval by the authorities. This paper aims to describe architecture that can be applied to industrial robots and promote their application in healthcare ecosystems. The control of the robotic arm is performed using the software called SmartHealth, offering a 2 Degree of Autonomy (DOA). Data are gathered through electromyography (EMG) and force sensors at a frequency of 45 Hz. It also proves the capabilities of such small robots in performing such medical procedures. Four exercises focused on shoulder rehabilitation (passive, restricted active-assisted, free active-assisted and Activities of Daily Living (ADL)) were carried out and confirmed the viability of the proposed architecture and the potential of small robots (i.e., the UR3) in rehabilitation procedure accomplishment. This robot can perform the majority of the default exercises in addition to ADLs but, nevertheless, their limits were also uncovered, mainly due to their limited Range of Motion (ROM) and cost.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Polyhydroxyalkanoate-Producing Bacillus cereus Strain Isolated from Nuevo Leon State, Mexico.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are microbially produced biopolymers which are biodegradable and biocompatible. These compounds produced by microorganisms have been described as a potent alternative to synthetic plastics, which are often recalcitrant. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a PHA-producing Bacillus cereus isolated in our laboratory.

Conidia production of Isaria fumosorosea (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) in organic substrates through two propagation techniques / Produção de conídios de Isaria fumosorosea (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) en substratos orgânicos atraves de duas técnicas de propagação

In the last decades, the use of entomopathogenic fungi for the control of pest insects has increased globally, however a key step to achieve the successful application of fungal propagules as biocontrol agents depends of various factors, inoculum production being one of the essential stages for these microorganisms to be used in pest management programs. The objective of this study was to evaluate theproduction of conidia by solid fermentation and biphasic culture in different sporulation matrices for four native isolates and a strain of Isaria fumosorosea that have been shown potential for the control of various insects at the laboratory level. The experimental design was completely randomized, two propagation methods were used with six treatments and ten repetitions per treatment; the data were analyzed using an analysis of variance and the means were compared using the Tukey test (p≤ 0.05). In the production by solid fermentation the minimum value of 5.30 × 105 conidia g-1 was registered with the pericarp of peanut and the maximum of 2.35 × 107 conidia g-1 in the corn grain; in the biphasic culture the minimum of 7.60 × 105 conidia g-1 was observed in birdseed and the maximum of 2.07 × 107 conidia g-1 in rice. The differences were significant (p ≤0.05) in the production by method and by substrate, in solid fermentation 6.84 × 106 conidia g-1 and in biphasic culture 8.85 × 106 conidia g-1. In the production by substrate, the rice showed 1.75 × 107 conidia g-1 and the lesser canary seed concentration (7.80 × 105 conidia g-1). The average production per isolate and / or strain was of the order of 106 and significant difference was registered (p ≤ 0.05) among the fungi, the isolate HIB-9 showed concentration in average higher in the production (7.90 × 106 conidia g-1) and the isolated HIB-19 was the least effective, with only 1.08 × 106 conidia g-1. The results obtained show marked differences between the isolates with respect to their capacity to use the different substrates used as propagation media to obtain conidia of I. fumosorosea.

Nas últimas décadas, o uso de fungos entomopatogênicos para o controle de insetos-pragatem aumentado globalmente, porém um passo fundamental para o sucesso da aplicação de propágulos fúngicos como agentes de biocontrole depende de varios fatores, sendo a produção de inóculo um dos estágios essenciais para esses insetos microorganismos a serem usados em programas de controle de pragas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção de conídios por meio de fermentação sólida e cultura bifásica emdiferentes matrizes de esporulação para quatro isolados nativos e um alinhagem de Isaria fumosorosea que tem demonstrado potencial para o controle de varios insetos em nível laboratorial. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, foram utilizados dois métodos de propagação com seis tratamentos e dezrepetições por tratamento; os dados foraman alisados por meio de análise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey (p ≤ 0.05). Naprodução por fermentação sólida foi registrado o valor mínimo de 5.30 × 105 conídios g-1 com o pericarpo de amendoim e o máximo de 2.35 × 107 conídios g-1 no grão de milho; na cultura bifásica, o mínimo de 7.60 × 105 conídios g-1 foi observado emsementes de aves e o máximo de 2.07 × 107conídios g-1em arroz. As diferençasforam significativas (p ≤ 0.05) na produção pelo método e pelo substrato, na fermentação sólida 6.84 × 106 conídios g-1 e na cultura bifásica 8.85 × 106 conídios g-1. Naprodução por substrato, o arroz apresentou 1.75 × 107conídios g-1 e a menor concentração de sementes de canário (7.80 × 105conídios g-1). A produção média por isolado e / ou cepa foi da ordem de 106 e registrou-se diferença significativa (p ≤ 0.05) entre os fungos, o isolado HIB-9 apresentou concentração em média maior na produção (7.90 × 106conídios g-1) e o isolado HIB-19 foi o menos efetivo, com apenas 1.08 × 106 conídios g-1. Os resultados obtidos mostram diferenças marcantes entre os isolados quanto à capacidade de utilização dos diferentes substratos utilizados como meio de propagação para obtenção de conídios de I. fumosorosea.

Producción de unidades infectivas de Isaria fumosorosea (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) a partir de aislados nativos del noreste de México mediante 3 estrategias de propagación / Production of infectious units of Isaria fumosorosea ( Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) from different indigenous isolates of northeastern Mexico using 3 propagation strategies

El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la producción de blastosporas y conidios de diferentes aislados nativos de México del hongo entomopatógeno Isaria fumosorosea y de una cepa de colección mediante diferentes técnicas de propagación. En la producción de blastosporas se utilizaron 2 medios de cultivo líquidos (sumergidos), uno a base de casaminoácidos y el otro a base de peptona de colágeno como fuentes de nitrógeno, con glucosa como fuente de carbono en ambos. Para la producción de conidios, los hongos se cultivaron en agar papa dextrosa, a partir de esos cultivos se prepararon suspensiones de 1 x 10(6) conidios/ml para inocular matraces con caldo dextrosa Sabouraud, para iniciar así la fase líquida del cultivo bifásico, denominado también precultivo. Posteriormente con el precultivo y las suspensiones de conidios se inocularon bolsas con granos de arroz, que se incubaron durante 14 días para el cultivo bifásico y para la fermentación sólida, respectivamente. El aislado HIB-23 fue el que logró la más elevada concentración de blastosporas obtenida en el cultivo sumergido: 4,90 x 10(8) blastosporas/ml en el medio casaminoácidos; y en el medio con peptona de colágeno se obtuvieron 2,15 x 10(8) blastosporas/ml. La máxima producción de conidios en fermentación sólida la logró la cepa Pfr-612 (1,58 x 10(9) conidios/g), mientras que la máxima en cultivo bifásico correspondió al aislado HIB-30 (9,00 x 10(6) conidios/g). La fermentación sólida resultó ser el método más efectivo, con un promedio de 1,09 x 10(9) conidios/g, mientras que el cultivo bifásico fue el menos efectivo, con un promedio de 2,76 x 10(6) conidios/g. Para la producción de blastosporas en los medios sumergidos no se obtuvo diferencia significativa alguna.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of blastospores and conidia of different native isolates and a strain of Isaria fumosorosea using different propagation techniques. Two liquid culture media of casamino acids and peptone as nitrogen sources and glucose as carbon source for both media cultures were respectively used in the production of blastospores, while for the production of conidia, the fungi were grown in potato dextrose agar; from these cultures, solutions of conidia to a concentration of 1 x 10(6) per milliliter were prepared to inoculate flasks with Sabouraud dextrose broth for the liquid phase of the biphasic culture, also known as preculture. Subsequently, rice grain bags were inoculated with the preculture and the conidia solutions, which were incubated for 14 days for solid fermentation and biphasic culture, respectively. The HIB-23 isolate recorded a concentration of 4.90 x 10(8) blastospores/ml in the casamino acid medium, while a concentration of 2.15 x 10(8) blastospores/ml was obtained in the peptone collagen medium. For the Pfr-612 strain, the conidia production in solid-state fermentation was 1.58 x 10(9) conidia/g, and for HIB-30 in the biphasic culture of 9.00 x 10(6) conidia/g. Solid-state fermentation proved to be the most effective method with an average of 1.09 x 10(9) conidia/g, whereas the biphasic culture was the least effective method with 2.76 x 10(6) conidia/g; no significant difference was reported for the submerged production media.

[Production of infectious units of Isaria fumosorosea (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) from different indigenous isolates of northeastern Mexico using 3 propagation strategies]. / Producción de unidades infectivas de Isaria fumosorosea (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) a partir de aislados nativos del noreste de México mediante 3 estrategias de propagación.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of blastospores and conidia of different native isolates and a strain of Isaria fumosorosea using different propagation techniques. Two liquid culture media of casamino acids and peptone as nitrogen sources and glucose as carbon source for both media cultures were respectively used in the production of blastospores, while for the production of conidia, the fungi were grown in potato dextrose agar; from these cultures, solutions of conidia to a concentration of 1×106 per milliliter were prepared to inoculate flasks with Sabouraud dextrose broth for the liquid phase of the biphasic culture, also known as preculture. Subsequently, rice grain bags were inoculated with the preculture and the conidia solutions, which were incubated for 14 days for solid fermentation and biphasic culture, respectively. The HIB-23 isolate recorded a concentration of 4.90×108 blastospores/ml in the casamino acid medium, while a concentration of 2.15×108 blastospores/ml was obtained in the peptone collagen medium. For the Pfr-612 strain, the conidia production in solid-state fermentation was 1.58×109 conidia/g, and for HIB-30 in the biphasic culture of 9.00×106 conidia/g. Solid-state fermentation proved to be the most effective method with an average of 1.09×109 conidia/g, whereas the biphasic culture was the least effective method with 2.76×106 conidia/g; no significant difference was reported for the submerged production media.

Incremento de interleucina-6 (IL-6) en condensado de aire exhalado de niños asmáticos / Increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) in exhaled breath condensate of asthmatic children

No disponible

Optimizacion del sistema de informacion : Compañia Minera del Sur, COMSUR, S.A.

El presente proyecto busca determinar los cambios tecnologicos que COMSUR S.A. debe realizar para optimizar sus sistema de informacion. Dadas las condiciones actuales del mercado internacional de metales y minerales las empresas dedicadas a esta actividad se ven en la necesidad de disminuir sus costos operativos con la finalidad de mantener su competitividad. COMSUR, empresa minera boliviana con mas de 30 años de actividad; persigue este objetivo y ha visto en la mejora de su eficiencia administrativa con la ayuda de un nuevo sistema de informacion, un camino para lograrlo. En este sentido, el presente proyecto en su primera parte realiza un diagnostico de la situacion actual de la empresa y del sector minero nacional, con la finalidad de determinar las perspectivas del mismo en el sistema de informacion actual y en los procesos administrativos de los sistemas de compras, administracion de inventarios, distribucion, mantenimiento y finanzas. Este analisis demostro la importancia para COMSUR de un sistma de informacion integrado y adecuado a sus necesidades que facilite el proceso de toma de decisiones en todos los niveles