• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.381-392
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• 2018

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganesis (Cmm) is a quarantine-worthy pest in $M{\acute{e}}xico$. The implementation and validation of new technologies is necessary to reduce the time for bacterial detection in laboratory conditions and Raman spectroscopy is an ambitious technology that has all of the features needed to characterize and identify bacteria. Under controlled conditions a contagion process was induced with Cmm, the disease epidemiology was monitored. Micro-Raman spectroscopy ($532nm\;{\lambda}$ laser) technique was evaluated its performance at assisting on Cmm detection through its characteristic Raman spectrum fingerprint. Our experiment was conducted with tomato plants in a completely randomized block experimental design (13 plants ${\times}$ 4 rows). The Cmm infection was confirmed by 16S rDNA and plants showed symptoms from 48 to 72 h after inoculation, the evolution of the incidence and severity on plant population varied over time and it kept an aggregated spatial pattern. The contagion process reached 79% just 24 days after the epidemic was induced. Micro-Raman spectroscopy proved its speed, efficiency and usefulness as a non-destructive method for the preliminary detection of Cmm. Carotenoid specific bands with wavelengths at 1146 and $1510cm^{-1}$ were the distinguishable markers. Chemometric analyses showed the best performance by the implementation of PCA-LDA supervised classification algorithms applied over Raman spectrum data with 100% of performance in metrics of classifiers (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, negative and positive predictive value) that allowed us to differentiate Cmm from other endophytic bacteria (Bacillus and Pantoea). The unsupervised KMeans algorithm showed good performance (100, 96, 98, 91 y 100%, respectively).

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.463-473
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• 2019

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) has proved to be an effective tool in applied environmental nanotechnology, where the decreased particle diameter provides a drastic change in the properties and efficiency of nanomaterials used in water purification. However, the agglomeration and colloidal instability represent a problematic and a remarkable reduction in nZVI reactivity. In view of that, this study reports a simple and cost-effective new strategy for ultra-small (< 7.5%) distributed functionalized nZVI-EG (1-9 nm), with high colloidal stability and reduction capacity. These were obtained without inert conditions, using a simple, economical synthesis methodology employing two stabilization mechanisms based on the use of non-aqueous solvent (methanol) and ethylene glycol (EG) as a stabilizer. The information from UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggests iron ion coordination by interaction with methanol molecules. Subsequently, after nZVI formation, particle-surface modification occurs by the addition of the EG. Size distribution analysis shows an average diameter of 4.23 nm and the predominance (> 90%) of particles with sizes < 6.10 nm. Evaluation of the stability of functionalized nZVI by sedimentation test and a dynamic light-scattering technique, demonstrated very high colloidal stability. The ultra-small particles displayed a rapid and high nitrate removal capacity from water.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.525-537
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• 2024

Pilins are protein subunits of pili. The pilins of type IV pili (T4P) in pathogenic bacteria are well characterized, but anything is known about the T4P proteins in acidophilic chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms such as the genus Acidithiobacillus. The interest in T4P of A. thiooxidans is because of their possible role in cell recruitment and bacterial aggregation on the surface of minerals during biooxidation of sulfide minerals. In this study we present a successful ad hoc methodology for the heterologous expression and purification of extracellular proteins such as the minor pilin PilV of the T4P of A. thiooxidans, a pilin exposed to extreme conditions of acidity and high oxidation-reduction potentials, and that interact with metal sulfides in an environment rich in dissolved minerals. Once obtained, the model structure of A. thiooxidans PilV revealed the core basic architecture of T4P pilins. Because of the acidophilic condition, we carried out in silico characterization of the protonation status of acidic and basic residues of PilV in order to calculate the ionization state at specific pH values and evaluated their pH stability. Further biophysical characterization was done using UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy and the results showed that PilV remains soluble and stable even after exposure to significant changes of pH. PilV has a unique amino acid composition that exhibits acid stability, with significant biotechnology implications such as biooxidation of sulfide minerals. The biophysics profiles of PilV open new paradigms about resilient proteins and stimulate the study of other pilins from extremophiles.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.9
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• pp.279-284
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the frequency of abnormalities in the newborn oral cavity and to evaluate the association with prenatal and perinatal factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 2,216 newborns. Oral findings were assessed in the first 24 hours of life using visual examination. Sex, weight, length, gestational age, and medical disorders at birth were recorded. Maternal demographic and medical information was also obtained. Results: The most common oral findings were Bohn's nodules, Epstein's pearls, and dental lamina cysts. Other intraoral findings included odontogenic cysts, ankyloglossia, and natal teeth, among others. In logistic regression analyses, folic acid consumption during pregnancy was significantly associated with Bohn's nodules (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-2.55; P=0.002), Epstein's pearls (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.14-2.33; P=0.007), and dental lamina cysts (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.02-2.05; P=0.038). Moreover, preterm births were negatively associated with prevalence of Bohn's nodules (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.50-0.80; $P{\leq}0.0001$). Comparison between newborns with and without oral inclusion cysts showed that maternal folic acid and iron intake were significantly different (P<0.05). Conclusion: Maternal folic acid and iron intake were associated with the prevalence of oral inclusion cysts.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.163-176
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• 2019

The Potosinian geological basement in central Mexico is comprised of the Upper Paleozoic metamorphic rocks, which crop out on the Sierra de Catorce nucleus located in the northeastern part of the state. The sedimentary sequence that covers unconformably the Paelozoic basement is represented by an Upper Triassic marine sedimentary sequence, correlating to the Zacatecas Formation and the Upper Triassic continental Huizachal Formation red beds, which in turn are covered either by La Joja Formation Jurassic red beds or by Upper Jurassic marine sediments. This sequence is overlain by the conformable Cretaceous calcareous marine sedimentary rocks in all the state of San Luis Potosi. The Cenozoic sequence unconformably covers some of the aforementioned rocks and is represented by undifferentiated volcanic rocks as well as by marine clastic rocks. The existing intrusive igneous rocks are felsic to intermediate composition, and they intrude the metamorphic basement and sedimentary rocks. Conglomerates with evaporitic sediments were deposited during the Pleistocene. The Quaternary sequence includes basalt flows, piedmont deposits, alluvium, and occasionally evaporites and caliche layers. In the state of San Luis Potosi, a great diversity of mineral deposit types is known as both metallic and nonmetallic. The host rocks of these deposits vary from one another including formations that represent from Paleozoic up to Tertiary. The mineralization age corresponds approximately to Tertiary (75%), and is mainly epigenetic. Conclusively, the data on geology and mineralization in San Luis Potosi, Mexico are helpful to predict a hidden ore body and select promising mineralized zone(s) when the domestic company makes inroads in the mining sector of Mexico.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 1992.05a
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• pp.4-4
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• 1992

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.225-229
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• 2018

Objective: This experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of supplementation with soybean or canola oil on milk production and the composition of long chain fatty acids as well as weight changes in the goats and their kids. Methods: Thirty nine mulitparous crossed Alpine${\times}$Nubian goats (initial body weight [BW] $43.5{\pm}1.7kg$) from the day of parturition were assigned to the treatments: grazing control (n = 15); grazing plus 20 mL/goat/d of supplemental soybean oil (n = 12); and grazing plus 20 mL/goat/d of supplemental canola oil (n = 12) from November 26, 2014 to March 7, 2015. The planned contrasts were: CI (control vs supplemented with oils); CII (soybean vs canola oil) to compare the treatment effects. Results: The vegetable oil supplementation reduced weight losses in lactating goats (CI: -0.060 vs 0.090 kg/d; p = 0.03) but did not improve milk production or affect kids' growth. The content of C4, C6, C8, C10, C11, C14, and C18:1n9t in the milk was increased (p<0.05) with respect to control. However, C12, C14, C16, C18, C18:1n9c, C18:2n6c, and C18:3n3 were reduced (p<0.05) in supplemented goats. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was increased (p<0.05) in goats supplemented with oils compared to the control group. Conclusion: Supplementation with 20 mL/d of soybean or canola oil did not affect milk production or kids' performance; however, it increased CLA concentration and reduced the reduced weight losses in lactating goats.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2020

In this work, we report the use of caffeine as an alternative source of nitrogen to successfully dope graphene (quaternary 400.6 eV and pyridinic at 398 eV according XPS), as well as the growth of silver nanowires (in-situ) in the surface of nitrogen doped graphene (NG) sheets. We used the improved graphene oxide method (IGO), chemical reduction of graphene oxide (GOx), and impregnation with caffeine as source of nitrogen for doping and subsequently, silver nanowires (NW) grow in the surface by the reduction of silver salts in the presence of NG, achieving a numerous of growth of NW in the graphene sheets. As supporting experimental evidence, the samples were analyzed using conventional characterization techniques: SEM-EDX, XRD, FT-IR, micro RAMAN, TEM, and XPS.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.184-193
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• 2024

This paper presents the performance evaluation of an amplify-and-forward (AF) relay-assisted multiuser multiple input-multiple output (MU-MIMO) downlink transmission system for correlated fading channels. The overall system performance was improved by incorporating a double-quadrature spatial modulation (DQSM) scheme. The bit error rate (BER) performance and detection complexity of the AF-MU-MIMO-DQSM system were analyzed and compared with those of a conventional AF-MU-MIMO system under the same conditions and parameters. The results showed that the correlated fading channel severely affected the performance of systems with higher spectral efficiency (SE). Considering an SE of 12 bpcu/user, the AF-MU-MIMO-DQSM system yielded a gain of up to 3 dB in BER performance compared with that of its conventional counterpart for the analyzed cases. In terms of detection complexity, the AF-MU-MIMO-DQSM system showed a reduction of up to 56 % compared with that of the conventional system for the optimal maximum likelihood detection criterion.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.707-717
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• 2017

This paper presents a novel generalized quadrature spatial modulation (GQSM) transmission scheme using antenna grouping. The proposed GQSM scheme combines QSM and conventional spatial multiplexing (SMux) techniques in order to improve the spectral efficiency (SE) of the system. Analytical and simulation results show that the proposed transmission scheme has minimal losses in terms of the average bit error probability along with the advantage of an increased SE compared with previous SM and QSM schemes. For the case studies, this advantage represents a reduction of up to 81% in terms of the number of required transmit antennas compared with QSM. In addition, a detection architecture based on the ordered successive interference cancellation scheme and the QR decomposition is presented. The proposed QRD-M adaptive algorithm showed a near-maximum-likelihood performance with a complexity reduction of approximately 90%.