Storage Temperature Influences Postharvest Quality of Wild Plum (Ximmenia Americana L.) Fruit

Wild plum has many medicinal, therapeutic and nutritive uses, but its fruits are collected in the wild and less researched. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of storage tem­perature on postharvest fruit quality of wild plum. The fruits of wild plum were subjected to different storage treatments at 0, 5, 10 and 15 ± 1°C in a completely randomized design. The results showed that as storage temperature decreased below 15°C, the incidence and severity of chilling injury significantly (p<0.05) increased. As storage temperature increased from 0 to 15°C fruit titratable acidity (TTA) and vitamin C content significantly (p< 0.05) decreased, but juice pH, soluble solids content (SSC) and weight loss significantly (p< 0.05) increased. The decrease in TTA and vitamin C content, and increase in SSC and juice pH was attributed to fruit ripening. The increase in fruit weight loss was attributed to higher transpiration and respiration. It was concluded that to extend the storage-life and marketing period of wild plum fruits, the fruits should be stored at 15°C and 90-95% RH. Keywords: Ximenia americana, Chilling injury and incidence, Vitamin C, Soluble solids content, Acidit

Reducing the role of the food, tobacco, and alcohol industries in non-communicable disease risk in South Africa

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) impose a growing burden on the health, economy, and development of South Africa. According to the World Health Organization, four risk factors, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity, account for a significant proportion of major NCDs. We analyze the role of tobacco, alcohol, and food corporations in promoting NCD risk and unhealthy lifestyles in South Africa and in exacerbating inequities in NCD distribution among populations. Through their business practices such as product design, marketing, retail distribution, and pricing and their business practices such as lobbying, public relations, philanthropy, and sponsored research, national and transnational corporations in South Africa shape the social and physical environments that structure opportunities for NCD risk behavior. Since the election of a democratic government in 1994, the South African government and civil society groups have used regulation, public education, health services, and community mobilization to modify corporate practices that increase NCD risk. By expanding the practice of health education to include activities that seek to modify the practices of corporations as well as individuals, South Africa can reduce the growing burden of NCDs

Qualidade da água de um córrego sob influência de efluente tratado de abate bovino Water quality of a stream under influence of cattle slaughter treated effluent

As agroindústrias figuram entre as maiores fontes poluidoras das águas no Brasil, em função da grande quantidade de resíduos produzidos, contendo substâncias orgânicas, nutrientes, sólidos, óleos e graxas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o efeito do lançamento de efluente de abate de bovinos sobre a qualidade da água do Córrego Jurubatuba, em Anápolis, GO. As amostras de efluente e a água foram obtidas em seis diferentes dias e em quatro posições, em relação ao ponto de lançamento: P1 - na saída do efluente tratado, antes do lançamento no córrego; P2 - 50 m à montante do ponto de descarga; P3 - 50 m à jusante do ponto de descarga e P4 - 120 m à jusante do ponto de descarga. Analisaram-se as concentrações de OD, DBO, DQO, amônia, nitrito e nitrato. Os valores de DBO em todos os pontos de coleta no Córrego Jurubatuba foram superiores aos padrões descritos na Resolução do CONAMA nº 357/2005 para cursos de água da classe 2. O lançamento de efluente no Córrego Jurubatuba elevou os valores de DBO e DQO no ponto P3, enquanto no ponto P4 foi semelhante aos valores obtidos antes do lançamento de efluente. As concentrações de oxigênio dissolvido, amônia, nitrito e nitrato, não sofreram alterações significativas no córrego.<br>Agroindustrial systems are among the largest sources of water pollution in Brazil, due to the large amount of waste produced, containing organic substances, nutrients, solids, oils and fats. This study aimed to analyze the effect of release of cattle slaughter treated effluent on the water quality of the Jurubatuba Stream in the municipality of Anápolis, GO. The effluent and stream water samples were obtained at six different days and at four positions in relation to the point of discharge: P1 - the discharge of the treated wastewater, before launching it into the stream; P2 - upstream, 50 m away from the discharge point; P3 - downstream, 50 m away from the discharge point; and P4 - downstream, 120 m away from the discharge point. The concentrations of DO, BOD, COD, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate were analyzed. The BOD values at all samphing points in the Jurubatuba Stream were higher than the described standards of CONAMA Resolution n°. 357/2005 for class 2 water bodies. The effluent launch in Jurubatuba Stream increased values of BOD and COD at point P3, while at point P4 values were similar to those obtained upstream the effluent release (P2). The concentrations of DO, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate did not change significantly in the stream