Chemical characterization and quantification of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Tio2-nps) in seafood by single-particle icp-ms: Assessment of dietary exposure

The significant increase in the production and variety of nanoparticles (NPs) has led to their release into the environment, especially into the marine environment. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) are used in different industrial sectors, from the food industry to several consumer and household products. Since the aquatic environment is highly sensitive to contamination by TiO2-NPs, this work aimed to give a preliminary assessment of the contamination of packaged seafood, where the food additive TiO2 (E171) is not to be intentionally added. This allowed providing a chemical characterization and quantification of TiO2-NPs in processed canned fish products belonging to different trophic positions of the pelagic compartment and in canned clam. The new emerging technique called single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) was applied, which allows the determination of nanoparticle number-based concentration, as well as the dissolved titanium. This study highlights how processed food, where the pigment E171 was not intentionally added, contains TiO2 in its nanoparticle form, as well as dissolved titanium. Processed clam represented the seafood with the highest content of TiO2-NPs. In pelagic fish species, we found progressively higher levels and smaller sizes of TiO2-NPs from smaller to larger fish. Our results highlight the importance of planning the characterization and quantification of TiO2-NPs in food both processed and not, as well as where the pigment E171 is intentionally added and not, as it is not the only source of TiO2-NPs. This result represents a solid step toward being able to estimate the real level of dietary exposure to TiO2-NPs for the general population and the related health risks

Metabolizable energy and metabolizability coefficients of moringa and bocaiuva for slow-growing broilers at different ages.

This study aimed to determine nutrient metabolizability coefficients and apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn) values of moringa leaf meal and bocaiuva pulp for slow-growing broilers. Three hundred and fifty 1-day-old chicks of the Red Naked Neck line were allocated to five treatments in a completely randomized design with seven replicates of 10 birds. Treatments consisted of a control diet and four test diets. The proportion of ingredients evaluated in the test diets was 20% moringa leaf meal and bocaiuva pulp and 40% corn and soybean meal. The total excreta collection method was applied with 1% ferric oxide included in the diets as a marker of start and end of collection, in the starter, grower and finisher phases. The metabolizability coefficients of dry matter, crude protein and ether extract and the AME and AMEn values of moringa leaf meal, bocaiuva pulp, corn and soybean meal were determined. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared by Tukey?s test at the 5% probability level. The protein from moringa leaf meal and the fat from bocaiuva pulp are highly metabolizable by birds at different ages. The AME and AMEn values of moringa leaf meal ranged from 2557 to 2868 Kcal/kg and 2205 to 2479 Kcal/kg, respectively. In bocaiuva pulp, AME and AMen ranged between 2680 and 3119 Kcal/kg and 2483 and 2490 Kcal/kg, respectively. Therefore, the alternative ingredients can be used in the formulation of diets for slow-growing broilers to partially replace corn and soybean meal

Manual de produção de uvas viníferas de alta qualidade.

bitstream/item/129038/1/MANUAL-de-PRODUCAO-de-UVAS-VINIFERAS-de-ALTA-QUALIDADE-2015-Revisado-em-31-08-15.pd

Determinantes Nacionais e Setoriais da Estrutura de Capital na América Latina

This study identified the role of the national environment (the Macroeconomy, Financial Development and Institutional Quality) and industry characteristics (Munificence, Dynamism, Concentration, Life Cycle, Technological Efficiency Dispersion, Product Quality Dispersion, Customer Bargaining Power and Supplier Bargaining Power) on debt of 612 listed companies from 7 Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela). For comparison purposes, the analysis is also extended to 847 U.S. companies. The period of study is 1996-2009 and the analysis employed a Hierarchical Linear Model, which controls the effects according to the level of the variables (country, industry, time and firm). The results suggest that Financial Development eases access to external funds and Institutional Quality is negatively related to firm Leverage. The research also finds evidence that institutional quality can promote asymmetrical development between stock markets and credit markets

Heavy Metals Concentrations in Fish from Sicily (Mediterranean Sea) and Evaluation of Possible Health Risks to Consumers

Cadmium, lead, mercury and chromium concentrations in fish muscle tissue taken from various Sicilian areas were detected. Fish caught in Siracusa, nearby a petrochemical industrial area, were more contaminated by cadmium, lead and chromium (respectively 0.366, 0.32, 0.72 μg/g) than those from the other sites. In the Sicily Channel, we found the highest bioaccumulation of mercury (0.31 μg/g). Although some metals concentrations exceed the limits set by the European regulation, the estimated weekly intake was below the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake established by the European Food and Safety Authority, and the Target Hazard Quotient values indicate that there is no carcinogenic risk for humans

Egg quality of laying hens fed with cassava (Manihot esculenta), moringa (Moringa oleifera) and bocaiuva (Acrocomia aculeata) in semi-intensive rearing system.

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the introduction of cassava flour, moringa leaf meal and bocaiuva pulp in laying hens? diets on egg quality. Nine hundred eggs from Dekalb® White laying hens between 34 and 54 weeks of age rearing in semi-intensive system were used in the experiment. The laying hens were submitted to the following diets: 1 - diet control: maize and soybean meal base diet; 2 - diet with inclusion of 18% of cassava root meal+4% moringa leaf meal+4% of bocaiuva pulp; 3 - diet with the inclusion of 24% of cassava root meal+6% of moringa leaf meal+6% of bocaiuva pulp; 4 - diet with the inclusion of 30% of cassava root meal+8% of moringa leaf meal+8% bocaiuva pulp. The inclusion of higher levels of alternative ingredients intensified yolk color; it improved the percentage of albumen, yolk index, specific gravity and reduced yolk percentage. The association of 30% de cassava root meal+8% de moringa leaf meal+8% de bocaiuva pulp does not decrease the egg quality; it gives the yolk an orange yellow tone and it can be used in diets of laying hens with 34 and 54 weeks of age in semi-intensive systems. Resumo: O estudo foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a inclusão de farelo de mandioca, farinha de folhas de moringa e polpa de bocaiuva em dietas de galinhas poedeiras sobre a qualidade dos ovos. Novecentos ovos de galinhas poedeiras Dekalb® White entre 34 e 54 semanas de idade criadas em sistema semi-intensivo foram utilizados no experimento. As galinhas poedeiras foram submetidas às seguintes dietas: 1 ? dieta à base de milho e farelo de soja; 2 - dieta com inclusão de 18% de farelo de mandioca + 4% de farinha de folhas de moringa + 4% de polpa de bocaiuva; 3 - dieta com inclusão de 24% de farelo de mandioca + 6% de farinha de folhas de moringa + 6% de polpa de bocaiuva; 4 - dieta com inclusão de 30% de farelo de mandioca + 8% de farelo de moringa + 8% de polpa de bocaiuva. A inclusão de níveis mais altos de ingredientes alternativos intensificou a cor da gema; melhorou a porcentagem de albúmen, índice de gema, gravidade específica e reduziu a porcentagem de gema. A associação de 30% de farelo de mandioca + 8% de farinha de folhas de moringa + 8% de polpa de bocaiuva não diminui a qualidade dos ovos, resulta na produção de ovos com gema de cor com tom amarelo alaranjado e pode ser usado em dietas de galinhas poedeiras com 34 e 54 semanas de idade criadas em sistemas semi-intensivos

Sometimes Sperm Whales (Physeter macrocephalus) Cannot Find Their Way Back to the High Seas: A Multidisciplinary Study on a Mass Stranding

BACKGROUND: Mass strandings of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) remain peculiar and rather unexplained events, which rarely occur in the Mediterranean Sea. Solar cycles and related changes in the geomagnetic field, variations in water temperature and weather conditions, coast geographical features and human activities have been proposed as possible causes. In December 2009, a pod of seven male sperm whales stranded along the Adriatic coast of Southern Italy. This is the sixth instance from 1555 in this basin. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Complete necropsies were performed on three whales whose bodies were in good condition, carrying out on sampled tissues histopathology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, and screening of veins looking for gas emboli. Furthermore, samples for age determination, genetic studies, gastric content evaluation, stable isotopes and toxicology were taken from all the seven specimens. The animals were part of the same group and determined by genetic and photo-identification to be part of the Mediterranean population. Causes of death did not include biological agents, or the "gas and fat embolic syndrome", associated with direct sonar exposure. Environmental pollutant tissue concentrations were relatively high, in particular organochlorinated xenobiotics. Gastric content and morphologic tissue examinations showed a prolonged starvation, which likely caused, at its turn, the mobilization of lipophilic contaminants from the adipose tissue. Chemical compounds subsequently entered the blood circulation and may have impaired immune and nervous functions. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: A multi-factorial cause underlying this sperm whales' mass stranding is proposed herein based upon the results of postmortem investigations as well as of the detailed analyses of the geographical and historical background. The seven sperm whales took the same "wrong way" into the Adriatic Sea, a potentially dangerous trap for Mediterranean sperm whales. Seismic surveys should be also regarded as potential co-factors, even if no evidence of direct impact has been detected