Mineral content of young leaves of yerba mate.

A Erva-mate é muito usada para produção de bebidas para consumo humano. Na primavera, a planta desenvolve folhas jovens que podem representar um novo nicho de mercado na indústria de erva-mate; este período é chamado nesse estudo de prea-safrinha. Este estudo teve por objetivo investigar os teores nutricionais totais e hidrossolúveis de folhas jovens de erva-mate coletadas na primavera e seu potencial nutricional para o consumo humano. Para representar folhas jovens da pre-safrinha, o material vegetal recolhido foi limitado ao terceiro botão terminal. A análise química total e hidrossolúvel de folhas das procedências Cascavel (progênie 174), Ivaí (progênie 6), Barão de Cotegipe (progênies 68 e 69) incluiu os seguintes elementos: P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu e Zn.O conteúdo dos elementos da bebida obtida a partir da infusão de folhas jovens de erva-mate na ingestão diária recomendada variou de 0,5 a 11,5 % e se apresentou na seguinte ordem: Cu > Mn > K > P > Mg > Fe > Zn > Ca > Na. Progênies e morfotipos de erva-mate mostraram pouca variação no conteúdo total de nutrientes e não diferiram quanto ao conteúdo de nutrientes hidrossolúveis avaliados nas folhas jovens. Sendo assim, o extrato obtido a partir de folhas jovens de erva-mate apresenta potencial de uso para o consumo humano

Valor nutricional total e hidrossolúvel de folhas jovens de erva mate (Ilex paraguariensis) coletadas na época de pré-safrinha.

Morfotipos de erva-mate apresentam diferenças na composição mineral e no teor de compostos fitoquímicos como teobromina, cafeína e taninos. O aperfeiçoamento do conhecimento da variação química das folhas relativo às características de cada procedência, progênies e da época de colheita das folhas permite gerar produtos com características de interesse para o setor industrial. O objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar as diferenças na composição química das folhas de 4 progênies de erva-mate, colhidas na época de pré-safrinha. Foram coletadas folhas jovens de plantas adultas na Fazenda Experimental Caguiri, pertencente à UFPR, município de Pinhais em novembro de 2011. Foram quantificados os teores totais e hidrossolúveis de P (fósforo), K (potássio), Ca (cálcio), Mg (magnésio), Cu (cobre), Fe (ferro), Mn (manganês), Zn (zinco) e Na(sódio). O objetivo desse trabalho foi quantificar os teores totais e hidrossolúveis de macro e micro elementos em folhas de erva-mate colhidas na época de pré-safrinha. Conclui-se as progênies apresentaram diferentes teores totais de K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Na e hidrossolúveis de Mn; para aumentar os teores de P no chá produzido com erva mate, a progênie mais indicada é a Barão de Cotegipe 69, para K e Zn a progênie Ivai 4, para Ca a Barão de Cotegipe 68, para Mg a Barão de Cotegipe 68 e 69, para Mn a Barão de Cotegipe 68 e para Fe a Cascavel 174; os nutrientes mais disponíveis para alimentação humana em uma xícara de chá são em ordem decrescente: K, Cu, P, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn e Na sendo a contribuição desses nutrientes na ingestão diária recomendada pela ANVISA em ordem decrescente: Cu, Mn, P, Mg, Fe, Zn e Ca.Resumo expandido

Personality\u27s Relationship to Instagram Photo Characteristics and Themes

This study examined the relationship of personality, narcissism, and academic achievement to social media usage among 210 participants (35% Male, 65% Female). Findings demonstrate several relationships between person characteristics and the self- and other-rated behavioral and situational characteristics of posts on Instagram. Overall, personality predicts social media usage and content

Personality Assessment Through the Situational and Behavioral Features of Instagram Photos

This study explores whether photos posted on online social networks can be used to assess personality. We have demonstrated that personality is connected to human- and machine- detected situational cues, characteristics, classes, behavior, and affect displayed in Instagram photos. Observations of individual relationships between normal or dark side personality characteristics and situational features of photos give insight into the various aspects of online portrayal of oneself and the personality behind the photos

Methods to quantify nickel in soils and plant tissues.

RESUMO: Em comparação a outros micronutrientes, os teores de níquel (Ni) disponíveis no solo e tecido vegetal são bastante baixos, com alto grau de dificuldade para a quantificação deles. O objetivo deste estudo foi apresentar métodos otimizados de determinação da disponibilidade de Ni em solos com extratores e teor total em tecido vegetal para análises de rotina em laboratórios comerciais. Foram processadas e analisadas amostras de solos naturais e agrícolas com extração pelo extrator Mehlich-1 e por DTPA. Para quantificar o Ni no tecido vegetal, as amostras foram digeridas com ácido nítrico em sistema fechado em forno micro-ondas. A determinação foi realizada em espectrômetro de emissão óptica com plasma induzido (ICP-OES). Houve correlação positiva e significativa entre os teores disponíveis de Ni nos solos extraídos em Mehlich-1 e DTPA, enquanto, para o tecido vegetal os teores de Ni recuperados foram altos e similares aos materiais de referência. A disponibilidade de Ni em algumas amostras de solos naturais e tecido vegetal foram inferiores aos limites de quantificação. Os teores desse micronutriente foram maiores em amostras de solo em que houve fornecimento de Ni. A concentração de Ni difere nas partes vegetais analisadas, e os grãos de soja apresentaram os maiores teores. Os grãos, em relação às partes aérea e foliar, têm melhor correlação com os teores disponíveis no solo para ambos extratores. Os métodos descritos nesta pesquisa foram eficientes na quantificação de Ni e podem ser adotados em laboratórios de rotina de solos e tecido vegetal. ABSTRACT: In comparison with other micronutrients, the levels of nickel (Ni) available in soils and plant tissues are very low, making quantification very difficult. The objective of this paper is to present optimized determination methods of Ni availability in soils by extractants and total content in plant tissues for routine commercial laboratory analyses. Samples of natural and agricultural soils were processed and analyzed by Mehlich-1 extraction and by DTPA. To quantify Ni in the plant tissues, samples were digested with nitric acid in a closed system in a microwave oven. The measurement was performed by inductively coupled plasma/optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). There was a positive and significant correlation between the levels of available Ni in the soils subjected to Mehlich-1 and DTPA extraction, while for plant tissue samples the Ni levels recovered were high and similar to the reference materials. The availability of Ni in some of the natural soil and plant tissue samples were lower than the limits of quantification. Concentrations of this micronutrient were higher in the soil samples in which Ni had been applied. Nickel concentration differed in the plant parts analyzed, with highest levels in the grains of soybean. The grain, in comparison with the shoot and leaf concentrations, were better correlated with the soil available levels for both extractants. The methods described in this article were efficient in quantifying Ni and can be used for routine laboratory analysis of soils and plant tissues

Stability and magnetically induced heating behavior of lipid-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Magnetic nanoparticles that are currently explored for various biomedical applications exhibit a high propensity to minimize total surface energy through aggregation. This study introduces a unique, thermoresponsive nanocomposite design demonstrating substantial colloidal stability of superparamagnetic Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (SPIONs) due to a surface-immobilized lipid layer. Lipid coating was accomplished in different buffer systems, pH 7.4, using an equimolar mixture of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and l-α-dipalmitoylphosphatidyl glycerol (DPPG). Particle size and zeta potential were measured by dynamic laser light scattering. Heating behavior within an alternating magnetic field was compared between the commercial MFG-1000 magnetic field generator at 7 mT (1 MHz) and an experimental, laboratory-made magnetic hyperthermia system at 16.6 mT (13.7 MHz). The results revealed that product quality of lipid-coated SPIONs was significantly dependent on the colloidal stability of uncoated SPIONs during the coating process. Greatest stability was achieved at 0.02 mg/mL in citrate buffer (mean diameter = 80.0 ± 1.7 nm; zeta potential = -47.1 ± 2.6 mV). Surface immobilization of an equimolar DPPC/DPPG layer effectively reduced the impact of buffer components on particle aggregation. Most stable suspensions of lipid-coated nanoparticles were obtained at 0.02 mg/mL in citrate buffer (mean diameter = 179.3 ± 13.9 nm; zeta potential = -19.1 ± 2.3 mV). The configuration of the magnetic field generator significantly affected the heating properties of fabricated SPIONs. Heating rates of uncoated nanoparticles were substantially dependent on buffer composition but less influenced by particle concentration. In contrast, thermal behavior of lipid-coated nanoparticles within an alternating magnetic field was less influenced by suspension vehicle but dramatically more sensitive to particle concentration. These results underline the advantages of lipid-coated SPIONs on colloidal stability without compromising magnetically induced hyperthermia properties. Since phospholipids are biocompatible, these unique lipid-coated Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles offer exciting opportunities as thermoresponsive drug delivery carriers for targeted, stimulus-induced therapeutic interventions. PACS: 7550Mw; 7575Cd; 8185Q

Immunohistochemical evaluation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast carcinoma in Jordan

INTRODUCTION: Although breast carcinoma (BC) is the most common malignancy affecting Jordanian females and the affected population in Jordan is younger than that in the West, no information is available on its biological characteristics. Our aims in this study are to evaluate the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) and Her-2/neu overexpression in BC in Jordan, and to compare the expression of these with other prognostic parameters for BC such as histological type, histological grade, tumor size, patients' age, and number of lymph node metastases. METHOD: This is a retrospective study conducted in the Department of Pathology at Jordan University of Science and Technology. A confirmed 91 cases of BC diagnosed in the period 1995 to 1998 were reviewed and graded. We used immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression of ER, PR, and Her-2. Immunohistochemical findings were correlated with age, tumor size, grade and axillary lymph node status. RESULTS: Her-2 was overexpressed in 24% of the cases. The mean age of Her-2 positive cases was 42 years as opposed to 53 years among Her-2 negative cases (p = 0.0001). Her-2 expression was inversely related to ER and PR expression. Her-2 positive tumors tended to be larger than Her-2 negative tumors with 35% overexpression among T3 tumors as opposed to 22% among T2 tumors (p = 0.13). Her-2 positive cases tended to have higher rates of axillary metastases, but this did not reach statistical significance. ER and PR positive cases were seen in older patients with smaller tumor sizes. CONCLUSION: Her-2 overexpression was seen in 24% of BC affecting Jordanian females. Her-2 overexpression was associated with young age at presentation, larger tumor size, and was inversely related to ER and PR expression. One-fifth of the carcinomas were Her-2 positive and ER negative. This group appears to represent an aggressive form of BC presenting at a young age with large primary tumors and a high rate of four or more axillary lymph node metastases