CONSUMER PERCEPTION ON ALTERNATIVE POULTRY

Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Livestock Production/Industries,

Screening of polyhydroxyalkanoates producing bacteria isolated from marine ecosystems

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polyesters and environmentally friendly thermoplastics, which are accumulated as carbon and energy storage materials in various bacteria in limited growth conditions with excess carbon sources. In this study, bacteria were isolated from samples taken from various marine ecosystems in the Archipelago of Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean, and screened for their ability to accumulate polyhydroxyalkanoates. These samples were taken from the seabed at depths of 30 and 1,700 meters to obtain a larger diversity of microorganisms and therefore, in an attempt to obtain new structures of PHAs. Strains were directly isolated from 612 mother plates where marine samples had been initially plated. A total of 724 isolates from mother plates were obtained, of which 174 were found PHA-positive using Nile red viable-colony screening. All synthesized intracellular inclusions during growth on starch carbon source. Twenty-five bacterial isolates in 25 mL-scale cultivation were proven promising for PHA production with PHA storage maximum 17.71 % for MD12-107 and 9.30 % for MD12-581 strain. The inclusions were predominantly identified as poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) using gas chromatography. Strains MD12-107 and MD12-581 were tested in 100 mL-scale and bioreactor cultivation. The best results were achieved with strain MD12-581 accumulated PHA storage 15.40 % in less than 6.5 hours with 5.5 g/L of cell dry weight and a specific growth rate was 0.24 h-1 when grown in medium containing 40 g/L of starch, 8 g/L of yeast extract and 4 g/L of peptone during batch cultivation.Os Polihidroxialcanoatos (PHAs) são biopoliésteres biodegradáveis e termoplásticos ecológicos, que são acumulados sob a forma de materiais de armazenamento de energia em várias bactérias em condições de crescimento limitado e fonte de carbono em excesso. Neste estudo, as bactérias foram isoladas a partir de amostras recolhidas a partir de vários ecossistemas marinhos no arquipélago da Madeira, no Oceano Atlântico e seleccionadas pela sua capacidade de acumular poli-hidroxialcanoatos. Estas amostras foram extraídas do fundo do mar a uma profundidade de 30 e 1,700 metros para se obter uma maior diversidade de microorganismos e, por conseguinte, numa tentativa de obter novas estruturas de PHAs. As estirpes foram directamente isoladas de 612 placas mãe onde as amostras marinhas tinham sido previamente espalhadas. Na totalidade foram isoladas 724 estirpes a partir das placasmãe, das quais 174 demonstraram resultado positivo durante o screening com o corante Vermelho do Nilo. Todas as estirpes com resultado positivo sintetizaram inclusões intracelulares durante o crescimento em amido como fonte de carbono. Vinte e cinco isolados bacterianos foram testados em cultura de 25 mL com resultados promissores quanto à produção de PHA com armazenamento de 17,71 % para a estirpe MD12-107 e 9,30 % para a estirpe MD12-581. As inclusões foram analisadas através da técnica de cromatografia gasosa como sendo predominantemente poli-β-hidroxibutirato (PHB). A produção a partir das estirpes MD12-107 e MD12-581 foi testada em 100 ml e em bioreactor. Os melhores resultados foram alcançados pela estirpe MD12-581 com um armazenamento de PHA de 15,40% em menos de 6,5 horas, com 5,5 g/L de concentração de biomassa e uma taxa específica de crescimento de 0,24 h-1 quando cultivada num meio contendo 40 g/L de amido, 8 g/L de extracto de levedura e 4 g/L de peptona durante a produção em bioreactor

Testing multidimensional keys of development: governance, entrepreneurship and social cohesion

This paper intends to contribute to an on-going change of perspective in territorial policies, more focused on a place-based integrative development strategy, which can be enhanced by social capital. This includes organizational and institutional learning for knowledge and skills’ transfer and governance coordination of the layers involved. Several concepts and indicators can be combined to support a conceptual framework for governance redefinition and sustainable growth. A comparison with related quantitative and qualitative indicators across countries highlights an approach for building a common culture that could facilitate governance and growth sustainability. It is less the size or the level of economic development that explains the different performances across countries/regions, than their levels of capital endowment (social, institutional, cultural) and the ability to properly exploit it. The most intangible aspects (entrepreneurship, participation, cohesiveness) are key elements in making the difference through the creation, valuation and maintenance of distinctive places and communities

Critical information as a success factor in organizations: objective and methodological approach

We are witnessing the need for a quick and intelligent reaction from organizations to the level and speed of change in business processes. These imperatives are very often associated to the emerging of new information systems and technologies, sometimes bursting change and other times being burst, which bring more challenges to organizations. The arising problems can be: from wrong information that lasts; systems not fully used or explored; too much staff; slow reaction to change; etc. This can be summarized in a governance problem that requires two main confluent action methods: people to synchronize their visions, ideas and strategies in the whole organization; and, in that context, select the information that strictly answers to the performance factors at the right moment. The proposed methodology is adequate here, once it turns to the potential of approach to the entrepreneurial architecture as well as to the potential of the information system in order to iteratively select and integrate the data and resources needed for that performance. The modeling of an information architecture of the company and its business helps in the identification of critical information, that is, of the one which is according to the mission, prospects and critical factors of business success at the required moment

Professional training efficency: workplace influence factors for the transference of the training

The markets globalization, the new ways of work organization, the changes of demographic characteristics of active workforce and the literacy problems have lead to new demands, not only on individuals but also in organizations as a way to keep the their competitive advantage. Professional training has an increasingly important role as a way for workers to reach the level of proficiency needed to satisfy all those demands by achieving the necessary knowledge to perform more complex jobs. Training has a double goal in contributing to both personal and professional development and, by this way, to improve their organizational performance (Velada & Caetano, 2007). The acknowledgement of the strategic importance of professional training has contributed for a heavy financial investment and effort done by the organizations to trains their workers. This is way organizations spend more and more time and effort in training activities as a way ease the training activities and competences transference related with jobs (cfr. Cascio, 2000; Noe, Hollenbeck; Gerhart & Wright, 2006)

Determination of patulin in apple juice by HPLC using a simple and fast sample preparation method

The goal of this work was to develop a simple and rapid preparation method for patulin analysis in apple juice without previous clean-up. This method combined sonication and liquid extraction techniques and was used for determination of patulin in 37 commercial apple juices available on the market in the South of Brazil. The method performance characteristics were determined using a sample obtained in a local market fortified at five concentration levels of patulin and done in triplicates. The coefficient of variation for repeatability at the fortification level of 20.70µg.L-1 was 3.53 % and the recovery 94.63 %, respectively. The correlation coefficient was 0.9996 and agrees with the requirements for a linear analytical method value. The detection limit was 0.21µg.L-1 and the quantification limit 0.70 µg.L-1. Only three of the analyzed samples were upper the allowed level of 50.00 µg.L-1 recommended for the World Health Organization.O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um método simples e rápido para preparação de amostras para análise de patulina em sucos de maçã sem "clean-up" prévio. Este método combina os métodos de extração líquida com o ultrassom e foi utilizado para a determinação de patulina em 37 amostras de suco de maçã disponíveis no mercado do sul do Brasil. Os parâmetros estatísticos para validação do método foram obtidos através de fortificação de suco de maçã, obtido no mercado local, em cinco níveis de concentração de patulina e realizadas em triplicatas. O coeficiente de variação para a repetibilidade no nível de fortificação de 20,70 µg.L-1 foi de 3,53 % e a recuperação de 94,63 %. O coeficiente de correlação foi de 0,9996 e este valor está de acordo com os requisitos de linearidade de um método analítico. O limite de detecção obtido foi de 0,21 µg.L-1 e o limite de quantificação de 0,7 µg.L-1. Somente três das amostras analisadas tiveram valores superiores ao limite de 50,00 µg.L-1 recomendado pela Organização Mundial da Saúde.FATE

Piauí Central Laboratory of Public Health: frequency of mycobacterial species and epidemiological aspects, 2014-2015

Background and Objectives: Knowledge about species diversity of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and the frequency of tuberculosis (TB) is an important issue in ruralurban regions such as Piauí (northeast of Brazil), of low incidence rate of TB , can help to improve diagnosis and prevention strategies. The aim of this study is to examine some epidemiological aspects and the frequency of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and NTM isolated at the central public health reference laboratory, Dr. Costa Alvarenga, Piauí (LACENPI). Methods: Data records of all mycobacterosis and tuberculosis cases from January 2014 to March 2015 were analyzed. Results : Of the 20% (142/706) positive growths, 70% (99) were Mtb and 10% NTM. The remainde was of inadequate clinical samples, not allowing the identification of even the suspected NTM. The most frequent clinical form was pulmonary with TB patients younger than those infected with NTM (p = 0.001), the majority living in Teresina (52%). NTMs identified were M. abscessus (36%), M. avium, M. intracellulare, Mycobacterium sp. (14% each) and M. asiaticum, M. szulgai, M. kansasii 7% (each). Mtb drug resistance (7.8%) and TB co-infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIVTB) found to be high (49%, 19/39) . Conclusion: The frequencies of Mtb infection, drug resistance and HIV-TB co-infection are still underestimated and failures in the identification of NTM may decrease the actual frequency of these infections. Therefore, there is a need for improvements in TB control and in the diagnosis of NTMs in Piauí

Editorial introduction

This book is based on the International Seminar “Curriculum Autonomy Policies in Europe: Trends, Tensions & Transformations”, which was held at Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, on January 25 and 26, 2019. Besides including a set of papers that were presented in that context, this publication includes texts from other relevant authors who have conducted research on the topic under discussion – curriculum autonomy. This topic has received attention from many researchers, with different theoretical perspectives. In the first decades of the 20th century, which were marked by the predominance of a technical perspective, the conceptualization of curriculum autonomy tended to be limited to the idea of adapting the means to the ends, the latter being usually regarded as instrumental to the satisfaction of societal needs. But by the end of the 1960s, when the first wave of re-conceptualization changed Curriculum Studies, such relation between means and ends was questioned, and the idea that curriculum autonomy may also entail the ends became increasingly accepted. Later on, the consolidation of Critical Theory strengthened this tendency, by contesting the assumption that the ultimate aim of curriculum construction should be to fulfill the needs of society, by uncovering relations between curriculum and interests pursued by different sectors of society, and by legitimating emancipatory ways of dealing with the curriculum. Postcritical approaches also reject a conceptualization of curriculum autonomy as permission to perform technical procedures in adapting curricula whose aims are taken for granted. The concept of curriculum autonomy is not even central in the latter approaches, which emphasize that changing the curriculum requires understanding it from multiple perspectives, which emerge from different identities, related to gender, race, sexual orientation, and other factors. Accordingly, for Pinar, Reynolds, Slattery, and Taubman (1995), curriculum change depends on issues of identity and power.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Los comportamientos relativos a la salud y la calidad del sueño en los adolescentes portugueses: el efecto moderador de la edad y del sexo

Adolescence is marked by changes such as sleep and health behaviors. This study analyzed the relationships and differences on excessive daytime sleepiness, anxiety and depression symptoms, sleep habits, family sleep behaviors, sleep quality and health behaviors in adolescents including the moderating effect of adolescents’ age and gender. Method: The sample included 272 adolescents, 58% being female. Results: Girls and older adolescents reported worse sleep quality. Older adolescents reported healthier behaviors. Female gender, having a family member with sleep quality problems, coffee intake, anxiety and depression symptoms, daytime sleepiness, and family sleep behaviors contributed to worse sleep quality. Father’s alcohol consumption, anxiety and depression symptoms and family sleep behaviors contributed to adolescents’ sleep habits. Being a girl and an older adolescent were moderators in the relationship between the presence of excessive daytime sleepiness and worse sleep quality. Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of health promotion programs regarding sleep quality.La adolescencia está marcada por los cambios en el sueño y comportamientos referidos a la salud. Este estudio analizó las relaciones y diferencias en la somnolencia diurna excesiva, los síntomas de ansiedad y depresión, los hábitos de sueño, los comportamientos de sueño familiares, la calidad del sueño, los comportamientos de salud en adolescentes, incluido el efecto moderador de la edad y el sexo de los adolescentes. Método: La muestra de este estudio estaba compuesta por 272 adolescentes, siendo el 58% de sexo femenino. Resultados: Las niñas y los adolescentes mayores indicaron una peor calidad del sueño. Los adolescentes mayores manifestaron comportamientos más saludables. Ser de sexo femenino, tener un familiar con problemas de sueño, consumir café, tener síntomas de ansiedad y depresión, así como somnolencia diurna y conductas de sueño familiares se asocian con una peor calidad del sueño. El consumo de alcohol del padre, los síntomas de ansiedad y depresión y las conductas de sueño familiares se asocian con los hábitos de sueño de los adolescentes. Ser niña y adolescente de mayor edad modera la relación entre la presencia de somnolencia diurna excesiva y peor calidad del sueño. Conclusiones: Los resultados resaltan la importancia de los programas de promoción de la salud en relación con la calidad del sueño

Analysis of epistemic practices in reports of higher education students groups in carrying out the inquiry-based activity of immunology

International audiencePractical classes in immunology are important to assist the learning of abstract theoretical concepts of biological phenomena learned in the classroom. Here, our proposal was the qualitative characterization of epistemic practices. Analysis of the results obtained from the investigative activities showed that student groups mobilize a huge variety of epistemic practices during reports writing, for example, to predict, conclude, name, describe, explain, opine, and the use of theoretical data for reviewing and evaluating the consistency of the data observed. A better understanding of these interactions can help in the teaching of Immunology classes for undergraduate students of life sciences and health courses