Selection of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from San Simón da Costa Cheese (PDO) in Order to Develop an Autochthonous Starter Culture

Traditional cheeses are an important reservoir of microbial diversity that can have important biotechnological applications, especially with a view to improving the characteristics unique to each type of cheese, and in this respect, starter cultures consisting of autochthonous lactic acid bacteria strains are of particular interest. In the present study, we investigated lactic acid bacteria population diversity in San Simón da Costa cheese (PDO, Galicia, Spain) and found a predominance of the genus Lactobacillus, which by the end of ripening accounted for 78% of the strains isolated in Rogosa agar, around 40% of those in M17 agar and about 10% of those in MSE agar. The main species of lactic acid bacteria identified were Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei, Lb. paracasei subsp. paracasei, Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Enterococcus faecalis. Virtually all the strains studied from a technological point of view yielded more than or equal to 0.24 g 100 mL-1 lactic acid. Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (SS 194), Lactobacillus paracasei (SS 1695 and SS 1689) and Enterococcus faecalis (SS 1378 and SS 1449) strains exhibited the greatest proteolytic capacity. Based on the overall technological aptitude of the tested strains, we can propose starter cultures and co-cultures that include different combinations of previous strains with a view to manufacturing San Simón da Costa cheese from pasteurised milk.

Autochthonous Dolomitization and Dissolution in the Microbial Carbonate Rocks of the Fengjiawan Formation in the Ordos Basin

Many euhedral dolomite crystals and related pores are found in the microbial siliceous stromatolite dolomite and siliceous oolitic dolomite in the Fengjiawan Formation of the Mesoproterozoic Jixian System in the southern Ordos Basin.With the application of the microscope,scanning electron microscope,cathodoluminescence and in-situ trace element imaging,it can be seen that different from the phase I dolomite that was damaged by silicification,the intact euhedral phase II dolomite occurred through dolomitization after silicification,concentrated mainly in the organic-rich dark laminae of the stromatolite and the dark spheres and cores of the ooids.A considerable number of phase II dolomite crystals were dissolved,giving rise to mold pores and vugs which constituted the matrix pores and also the major pore space of the Fengjiawan Formation.The formation and dissolution of the dolomite were controlled by the microenvironment favorable,respectively,for carbonate precipitation and dissolution under the influence of microbial biological activities and related biochemical reactions.The driving force and material supply of dolomitization and dissolution were confined to the fabrics enriched with microorganisms,which are highly autochthonous.This mechanism may be a key factor for the development of Precambrian dolomite and related reservoirs,in the context of the domination of microbial rocks.

Identification of terrigenous and autochthonous organic carbon in sediment cores from cascade reservoirs in the upper stream of Pearl River and Wujiang River,southwest China:lignin phenol as a tracer

Organic carbon(OC)source attribution for cascade reservoir sediments has been identified as a critical gap in understanding the effective carbon sink of inland waters.In this study,nine sediment cores were collected from cascade reservoirs in the Wujiang and Pearl Rivers.We analyzed lignin phenol(Λ8),total organic carbon(TOC)content,and stable carbon isotopic composition(δC)of the sediments,focusing on the changes of terrigenous OC,and the variation of OC source in cascade reservoir sediments after damming.Our results showed that theΣ8 and TOC contents decreased from upstream to downstream reservoirs,indicating the significant interception of terrigenous OC by cascade damming.Additionally,theΛ8 content in the Pearl River reservoir sediments was much higher than that in the Wujiang River.From the three-end-member mixing model,we estimated that OC in reservoir sediments mainly comes from soil and plankton.After damming,the proportion of plankton OC in TOC slightly increased in seasonal and annual regulation reservoirs due to the limnetic evolution of the reservoir.These findings suggest that the cascade damming increases the interception capacity of the river to terrigenous OC and nutrients,and that slowing of water velocity caused by damming affected primary productivity and fluvial carbon cycling.

Application of NAA and BA in Chemical Fruit Thinning of Autochthonous Cultivars of Apple

The paper presents the fruit thinning response to NAA and BA plant regulators of autochthonous cultivars of apples. The experiment was designed to evaluate NAA, over a range of concentrations （15, 20 and 30 ppm） when applied alone, and BA ＋ NAA combinations （BA--60, 100, 120 or 140 ppm ＋ NAA 5 ppm） for thinning the assessed apple cultivars. All the applied treatments with NAA and BA ＋ NAA adequately thinned ＂Senabija＂ and ＂Ko2ara＂, whereas application of NAA 20 ppm and 30 ppm and combined treatment BA 140 ppm ＋ NAA 5 ppm were effective fruit thinners for ＂Pasinka＂. In terms of the average fruit weight and number of fruits categorized as large （〉 75 mm or 〉 65 ram）, as well as from the aspect of fruit number per trunk cross-sectional area, the variant of treatment BA 140 ppm ＋ NAA 5 ppm was most effective on ＂Senabija＂ and ＂Paginka＂, whereas BA 100 ppm ＋ NAA 5 ppm had the best effect on ＂Kozara＂.

Dissolved Organic Matter Features of Three Adjacent Eastern Mediterranean Urbanized Watersheds

Landscape urbanization broadly affects ecosystems in coastal watersheds, but, until now, the influence of nonpoint source urban inputs on dissolved organic matter (DOM) amount, composition, and source is poorly understood. To understand how DOM composition varied with urbanization, fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) were determined for urban and non-urban waters from upstream to downstream sites along three adjacent coastal watersheds that flow into the Mediterranean Sea. Two humic DOM fluorescent components (humic-like and fulvic-like peaks) and two proteinic components (tyrosine-like and tryptophane-like peaks) were identified by EEM fluorescence. The results indicated that urbanization had an important influence on DOM concentration and composition, with urban waters having a high degree of DOM variation due to different land uses surrounding each body of water. Urban waters show a higher DOM fluorescence index (FI), the highest fluorescence intensity of protein-like manifested also by BIX values, and a lower value of the humification index (HIX) than non-urban waters which were dominated by allochthonous inputs. In addition, the EEM was compared in dry and wet season where higher DOM amounts and FI appeared in summer due to autochthonous production coming from algae growth compared to allochthonous input from rainfall dominated in wet season. The concentration of DOC increased from upstream to downstream for the three rivers, especially Beirut River. The increase in DOC values was observed in both dry and wet seasons by 39 and 19 times respectively compared to upstream (0.93 - 0.91 mgC/L).

Gluten-free flour fermented with autochthonous starters for sourdough production:Effect of the fermentation process

Refined rice flour and wholegrain quinoa and buckwheat flours were used to prepare gluten-free sourdoughs.Two autochthonous LAB strains were isolated,one from quinoa (Limosilactobacillus fermentum Q3) and the other from buckwheat (Lim.fermentum T5).Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC8014 was used as a reference starter.Two fermentation processes were evaluated,a single-step process (30℃,24 h) named SD1,and a daily refreshment process (backslopping for 10 days) named SD2.Sourdoughs were freeze-dried prior to analyses.Pasting properties,pentosan and polyphenol contents,and antioxidant activity were analysed.Flour properties were significantly modified by fermentation.Polyphenol extractability increased during fermentation,which resulted in a higher antioxidant capacity,mainly through a reducing mechanism.Q3 and T5 strains produced the most remarkable modifications of flour properties.Differences were found between both fermentation processes,mainly as a result of the development of different microbiota.The single-step fermentation (SD1) showed to be a simple and appropriate method for improving flour properties.

Alveolar echinococcosis-spreading disease challenging clinicians: A case report and literature review

Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a potentially deadly disease; recent studies have shown that the endemic area of Echinococcus multilocularis , its causative agent, is larger than previously known. This disease has low prevalence and remains underreported in Europe. Emerging clinical data show that diagnostic difficulties are still common. We report on a 76-year old patient suffering from AE lesions restricted to the left lobe of the liver who underwent a curative extended left hemihepatectomy. Prior to the resection a liver biopsy under the suspicion of an atypical malignancy was performed. After the intervention he developed a pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery that was successfully coiled. Surprisingly, during surgery, the macroscopic appearance of the tumour revealed a growth pattern that was rather typical for cystic echinococcosis (CE), i.e. , a gross tumour composed of multiple large vesicles with several centimeters in diameter. In addition, there were neither extensive adhesions nor infiltrations of the neighboring pancreas and diaphragm as was expected from previous imaging results. The unexpected diagnosis of AE was confirmed by definite histopathology, specific polymerase chain reaction and serology results. This is a rare case of unusual macroscopic presentation of AE that posed immense diagnostic challenges and had an eventful course. To our knowledge this is the first case of an autochthonous infection in this particular geographic area of Germany, the federal state of Saxony. This report may provide new hints for an expanding area of risk for AE and emphasizes the risk of complications in the scope of diagnostic procedures and the limitations of modern radiological imaging.

Influence of the biological carbon pump effect on the sources and deposition of organic matter in Fuxian Lake, a deep oligotrophic lake in southwest China

Biological carbon pumping(BCP)is a key process in which dissolved inorganic carbon in terrestrial aquatic ecosystems is utilized by aquatic autotrophs for photosynthesis and transformed into autochthonous organic matter(AOC).However,the mechanisms underlying BCP and the amount of generated AOC deposited effectively,are still poorly understood.Therefore,we conducted a systematic study combining modern hydrochemical monitoring and a sediment trap experiment in Fuxian Lake(Yunnan,SW China),the second-deepest plateau,oligotrophic freshwater lake in China.Temperature,pH,EC(electrical conductivity),DO(dissolved O2),[HCO3^-],[Ca^2+],SIc,partial CO2(pCO2)pressure,and carbon isotopic compositions of HCO3^-(δ^13CDIc)in water from Fuxian Lake all displayed distinct seasonal and vertical variations.This was especially apparent in an inverse correlation between pCO2 and DO,indicating that variations of hydrochemistry in the lake water were mainly controlled by the metabolism of the aquatic phototrophs.Furthermore,the lowest C/N ratios and highestδ^13Corg were recorded in the trap sediments.Analyses of the C/N ratio demonstrated that the proportions of AOC ranged from 30%to 100%of all OC,indicating that AOC was an important contributor to sedimentary organic matter(OC).It was calculated that the AOC flux in Fuxian Lake was 20.43 t C km^-2 in 2017.Therefore,AOC produced by carbonate weathering and aquatic photosynthesis could potentially be a significant carbon sink and may have an important contribution to solving the lack of carbon sinks in the global carbon cycle.

Hepatitis E in Israel: A nation-wide retrospective study

AIM: To investigate the epidemiology, risk factors and clinical course of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in Israel, an industrialized country.METHODS: A retrospective analysis of acute HEV cases diagnosed in Israel from 1993 to 2013. Acute HEV was defined by ALT/AST elevation and a positive HEV PCR test or positive anti-HEV-IgM serology. HEV RNA was tested by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Antibodies to HEV were tested retrospectively using an ELISA assay. HEV-RNA was sequenced using RT-PCR of ORF1 and ORF2 regions to diagnose genotype of the virus. Epidemiologic and clinical data were collected by reviewing the clinical files and through a telephone interview according to a structured questionnaire.RESULTS: Acute HEV was diagnosed in 68 patients. Among the 59 patients who gave an informed consent and were interviewed, 41% of infections were autochthonous (acquired in Israel), 44% travel-related and 15% imported by foreign workers. Autochthonous patients were mainly females (62.5%), more than half of them pregnant, 26% recalled consuming food or water in areas with poor sanitation, 44% ate non-kosher meat. Fulminant hepatitis developed in 3 patients (5%), all of them were females, two of them with post-partum infection, all acquired the disease in Israel (autochthonous). Israeli travelers with imported infection were predominantly males (73%), acquired the disease in the Indian subcontinent (81%), with 100% reporting having consumed fresh vegetables and drinks with ice cubes abroad. Six patients’ sera were tested for genotype and revealed HEV genotype 1 (all cases acquired in the Indian subcontinent).CONCLUSION: This is the first report which highlights the existence of hepatitis E as an autochthonous infection in Israel. Imported HEV originates mostly from the Indian subcontinent.

Esterase Activities and Biochemical Properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Goat＇s Milk Cheese in Argentina

Twenty-two lactic acid bacteria （LAB） strains isolated from Argentinean goat dairy products were evaluated for its biochemical properties and esterase activities relevant to flavor development. Streptococcus thermophilus （UNSE314）, Lactobacillus （L.） delbrueckii subsp, bulgaricus （UNSE309）, L. rhamnosus （UNSE308）, L. plantarum （UNSE287, UNSE316, UNSE317） and Pediococcus pentosaceus （UNSE315） strains presented high acidifying activity. All strains tested metabolized citrate and produced diacetyl-acetoin in goat milk. Based on these results, 10 strains with the best performance in diverse technological properties were selected to determine esterolytic activity. In all evaluated strains, esterase specific activity （ESA） was detected on ct-naphthyl （ct-NA） acetate and 13-naphthyl （[3-NA） acetate, propionate, eaprylate and ct-NA butyrate. No activity was detected on [3-NA laurate. The highest values were detected when using a-NA instead of fI-NA derivatives as substrate. In Pediocoecus strains, wide variability in ESA were observed, which were species- and strain-specific. These results allow us to select strains with biochemical properties and esterase activities to design starter and adjunct cultures that contribute to flavor development during cheese ripening, thus preserving the typical organoleptic characteristics of Argentinean goat cheeses.

Gravity and Aeromagnetic Studies of the Filabusi Greenstone Belt, Zimbabwe Craton: Regional and Geotectonic Implications

The Filabusi greenstone belt (FGB), Zimbabwe craton, has been geologically remapped relatively recently but its regional tectonic setting and subsurface structure have, until now, remained unresolved. This paper presents gravity and aeromagnetic studies that have been undertaken to provide this important information, and also extend mapping to areas of poor exposure. Several new NNW-trending dykes and structures cutting across the greenstone belt have been revealed, as well as a major extension of one of the metakomatiitic-BIF units, the Shamba Range. ESE-trending dykes identified in the southeast appear on a regional scale to be part of the giant Okavango dyke swarm in northern Botswana. An ~3 km wide NNE-striking magnetic low occurs over the Irisvale-Lancaster shear zone (ILSZ) on the extreme west of the FGB where it roughly marks the boundary with the Bulawayo greenstone belt. Magnetic anomaly trends over ultramafic schists are consistent with strike-slip movement along the ILSZ, and together with the gravity anomalies, support northeasterly directed detachment of the adjacent Fort Rixon belt from the Bulawayo-Filabusi belt. The Bouguer gravity anomaly map shows that the FGB is characterised by a well defined positive anomaly up to 37 mGal, whose symmetry and extent confirm the postulated synclinal structure of the belt. Isolated oval shaped small gravity lows generally correlate with sub-/out-cropping K-rich post-volcanic granite plutons. 2.5D gravity models along three profiles across the greenstone belt show a simple “basin shape” with a possible maximum depth extent of only 4.5 km, compared to an estimated stratigraphic thickness of about 9.0 km. This suggests a truncation at shallow depth of the structurally repeated lithologies. Gravity data and models support the proposed FGB model;deposition of volcanics in an extensional, structurally determined, evolving basin. This autochthonous setting is consistent with other greenstone belts in the Zimbabwe craton and other parts of the world.

Probiotic Potential of Autochthone Microbiota from S&#227;o Jorge and <i>Parmigiano-Reggiano</i>Cheeses

For a long time, ripened cheeses have been officially recognized as having human health beneficial properties. However, to date only a few studies have investigated the complex microbiota of S?o Jorge and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses in order to identify microorganisms with probiotic potential. Hence, with the purpose of analyzing the probiotic potential of autochthone bacteria from S?o Jorge and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses, lactic acid bacteria isolated from both products were isolated and their direct biotic interaction against three bacteria found in the human intestine evaluated. From a total of 225 bacterial autochthone isolates, 67 had synergetic behavior with Bifidobacterium animalis , 34 had no synergetic behavior with Shigella dysenteriae and 33 had antagonistic activity with this human pathogen. Biochemical tests were used to identify these cheese isolates with probiotic potential. Lactobacillus paracasei subsp paracasei Lactobacillus arhamnosus were found in S&#227;o Jorge cheese and Lactobacillus rhamnosus , Lactobacillus buchneri and Lactobacillus curvatus in the Parmigiano cheese. Overall, initial exploratory studies with S&#227;o Jorge cheese seem to show a higher number of potential probiotic agents than those found in the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. However, in order to better understand the functional potential of this traditional Portuguese cheese, further confirmatory studies should be pursued.

Observation and implication of the paleo-cave sediments in Ordovician strata of Well Lundong-1 in the Tarim Basin

Well Lundong-1 is located in the periclinal area on the eastern flank of the Tahe-Lunnan paleo-uplift in the Tarim Basin. A 25-m-high cave fill sequence was observed in the Upper Ordovician interval of the well at 6800-6825m. A third cut of cores was obtained from the top of the cave. The following conclusions were obtained by studying the cave sediments and depositional sequence, and by undertaking paleontological and elemental geochemistry analyses. 1. The cave sediments contain abundant brachiopod, gastropod, echinoderm, ostracod, and acritach fossils, which can be classified into two groups: cave autochthonous and cave allochthonous fossils (from collapse breccia dissolution or transportation by underflow). The fossils indicate that the cave was formed before the Carboniferous and partly-filled and buried during Carboniferous resubsidence. 2. Elemental geochemistry shows that the mud that filled the cave is sourced from calcareous paleo-soil and weathered crust that came from a salty environment with poor water circulation. 3. The formation and evolution of the cave occurred in three stages. The first stage occurred after the deposition of the Late Ordovician Lianglitage Formation, the second stage took place after the deposition of the Late Ordovician Sangtamu Formation, and the last stage happened after Silurian deposition. Major dissolution occurred in the latter two stages as a result of bedding-confined deep underflow karstification. Based on the reconstruction of the cave formation history, favorable paleokarst targets can be predicted and estimated to aid paleogeography and paleokarstology studies.

Hepatitis E: An Underdiagnosed, Emerging Infection in Nonendemic Regions

Although hepatitis E virus(HEV)is the primary cause of enterically transmitted acute hepatitis and jaundice in developing countries,locally acquired HEV infections are increasing in nonendemic countries.As such,HEV is emerging as an underdiagnosed cause of infection.This report describes three clinically variable cases of HEV infection with unusual clinical presentations.These cases highlight the fact that HEV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with unexplained hepatitis(acute or chronic)with or without extrahepatic manifestations.HEV should also be considered in patients with persistently elevated liver enzymes who have not travelled to known HEV-endemic regions.Lack of knowledge among physicians and an absence of standardized diagnostic tests may result in increased morbidity and mortality from HEV infection.