Antioxidant properties of different dietary supplements based on Agaricus blazei Murrill

In 2012, the market for nutraceuticals earned $90 billion worldwide and it is predicted to reach$33.6 billion in the next four years. Agaricus blazei Murrill mushroom is native to Brazil and widely cultivated due to nutritional and medicinal value [I ,2]. Its beneficial effects have long been recognized, becoming popular as ordinary food, increasing also its production and marketing as dietary supplements (3]. A. blazei is traditionally used to combat a variety of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hepatitis and hypercholesterolemia [2]. The use of dietary supplements based on A. blazei has grown significantly, due to pharmacological studies reporting antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunostimulant, apoptotic and chemopreventive effects [2,3], attributed to ®-glucans and other bioactive compounds, such as steroids, tocopherols and phenolic compounds [4]. Herein, the antioxidant activity of A. blazei capsules enriched with fmits of Malpighia glabra L. (acerola), Solanum melongena L. (eggplant) and Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açai), calcium and chitosan, were evaluated though in vitro assays: DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, reducing power, inhibition of G-carotene bleaching and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TSARS) assay. Two capsules (daily recommended dose) were dissolved in 100 mL of distilled water in order to prepare a stock solution. Several dilutions were tested until determination of EC50 values (concentration responsible for 50% of antioxidant activity or 0.5 of absorbance in reducing power assay). Globally, all the tested formulations showed high antioxidant activity. A. blazei with acerola gave the highest DPPH scavenging activity (EC50=0.81±0.0 1 mg/mL) and reducing power (EC50=0.53±0.0 1 mg/mL). Nevertheless, A. blazei with ayai showed the highest activity in the lipophilic assays: f3 - carotene bleaching inhibition (EC50=0.55±0.02 mg/mL) and lipid peroxidation inhibition by TSARS assay (EC50=O. 14±0.01 mg/mL). The studied formulations might be useful as antioxidants-enriched supplements to prevent some of the diseases related to oxidative stress

Synthesis of dietetic structures lipids from spent coffee grounds crude oil catalyzed by commercial immobilized lipases and immobilized Rhizopus oryzae lipase on biochar and hybrid support

The aim of this study was the valorization of coffee industry residues, namely spent coffee grounds (SCG) as a source of oil, and silverskin (CS) as a source of both oil and biomass, under the concept of the circular economy. Therefore, crude oil from SCG was used to produce low-calorie structured lipids (SL) for food and pharmaceutical industries, and CS to produce biochar by pyrolysis for biotechnological uses. SL were obtained by acidolysis with caprylic or capric acid, or interesterification with ethyl caprylate or ethyl caprate, in solvent-free media, catalyzed by immobilized sn-1,3 regioselective lipases. Silverskin biochar (BIO) was directly used as enzyme carrier or to produce hybrid organic-silica (HB) supports for enzyme immobilization. Rhizopus oryzae lipase (ROL) immobilized on Amberlite (AMB), silica (SIL), BIO or HB, and the commercial immobilized Thermomyces lanuginosus (Lipozyme TL IM) and Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme RM IM) lipases were tested. Lipozyme RM IM showed better results in SL production than Lipozyme TLIM or ROL on BIO, SIL or HB. About 90% triacylglycerol conversion was attained after 7 h acidolysis or interesterification. Lipozyme RM IM was more stable in interesterification (80% and 65% activity with ethyl caprylate or ethyl caprate) than in acidolysis (first-order decay) after 10 reusesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Pedregal granite (Portugal): petrographic and geochemical characterization of a peculiar granitoid

The Pedregal granite outcrops in the Central Iberian Zone, northern Portugal, in the eastern border of a synorogenic variscan granite-migmatite complex sub-concordant with the regional metamorphic structures. It is a granitoid (ca. 3 km²) with an elongated NW-SE shape intruded in staurolite-micaschist and banded gneiss-migmatite rocks, with local igneous breccias in the contact. The country rocks belong to a metapelitic and metasammitic sequence of Edicarian-Cambrian age, known as the “Complexo Xisto-Grauváquico” (CXG) which shows a main regional foliation with a NW-SE to NNW-SSE direction. The Pedregal granite is peraluminous (its A/CNK parameter ranges from 1.18 to 1.62), with a magnesian and alkali to alkali-calcic signature. The peculiar features of the granite are high contents of Zr (389 to 435 ppm) and a LREE flat pattern, which are uncommon characteristics for granitic rocks, as well as the corroded shape of the biotite, and the large amount of secondary muscovite. These peculiar features distinguish it from the adjacent synorogenic granites. The field, petrographical and chemical features of the Pedregal granite are in accordance with a second phase of partial melting of a residuum, depleted by melt segregation during a first melting episode with the involvement of peritectic garnet and abundant residual biotite with LREE- and Zr-bearing accessory minerals. Besides, the intrusive character of the granite, and the presence of metasedimentary xenoliths point out to a secondary diatexite.<br><br>El granito de Pedregal aflora en la Zona Centro-Ibérica, en el norte de Portugal, en el borde oriental de un complejo granito-migmatítico sinorogénico varisco, subconcordante con las estructuras metamórficas regionales. Es un granitoide (ca. 3 km²) de forma elongada NW-SE, que intruye en micaesquistos estaurolíticos y en rocas gneissico- migmatíticas bandeadas, con brechas ígneas locales en el contacto. Las rocas encajantes pertenecen a una secuencia metapelítica-metasamítica de edad Ediacariense - Cámbrico, conocida como el “Complejo Esquisto-Grauváquico” (CEG), que muestra una foliación regional principal NW-SE a NNW- SSE. El granito de Pedregal es peralumínico (el parámetro A/CNK oscila desde 1.18 hasta 1.62), con una composición magnesiana, entre alcalina y alcalino-cálcica. Sus características peculiares son el alto contenido de Zr (389–435 ppm) y de tierras raras ligeras (LREE) que presentan un patrón plano, la forma corroída de la biotita, y la gran cantidad de moscovita secundaria. Estas características peculiares lo distinguen de los otros granitos sinorogénicos adyacentes. Las características de campo, petrográficas y químicas del granito de Pedregal parecen apuntar a una segunda fase de fusión parcial de un residuo, empobrecido por la segregación de fundido durante una primera fase de fusión con participación de granate peritéctico y abundante biotita residual con minerales accesorios portadores de LREE y Zr. Además, el carácter intrusivo del granito, y la presencia de xenolitos metasedimentarios sugieren una diatexita secundaria

Pragas da soja no Brasil e seu manejo integrado.

Pragas da soja; Pragas que atacam as folhas: Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lep.: Noctuidae); Pseudoplusia includens (Lep.: Noctuidae); Coleopteros desfolhadores; Outros organismos que atacam as folhas; Pragas que atacam vagens e graos: Percevejos sugadores de sementes; Lagartas das vagens; Brocas das vagens; Pragas que atacam plantulas, hastes e peciolos: Sternechus subsignatus (Col.: Curculionidae); Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Lep.: Pyralidae); Epinotia aporema (Lep.: Tortricidae); Outros insetos que atacam plantulas, hastes e peciolos; Pragas que atacam as raizes da soja: Coros; Percevejos-castanho-da-raiz; Outros insetos que atacam as raizes; Inimigos naturais das pragas da soja; Predadores: Hemipteros; Coleopteros; Parasitoides: Parasitoides de lagartas; Parasitoides de percevejos; Entomopatogenos: Virus; Fungos; Amostragem das pragas; Controle integrado e nivel de acao; Controle integrado das pragas que atacam as folhas: Anticarsia gemmatalis; Pseudoplusia includens e outros Plusiinae;; Coleopteros desfolhadores; Outros organismos que atacam as folhas; Controle integrado das pragas que atacam as vagens e graos: Percevejos; Lagarta-das-vagens; Broca-das-vagens; Controle integrado das pragas que atacam plantulas, hastes e peciolos: Sternechus subsignatus; Epinotia aporema; Controle integrado das pragas que atacam as raizes: Coros; Percevejo-castanho-da-raiz.bitstream/item/128003/1/ID-6173.pd

Chemical, physicochemical and sensorial characterization of nitrite-free dry-cured bísaro shoulders

The aim of the current experiment was to characterize and evaluate the effect of the dry-curing process on chemical composition, physicochemical properties, and sensory characteristics of the dry-cured Bísaro shoulders. For this purpose, thirty-eight raw forelegs were used, and no nitrites were added during the dry-curing process. This process increased protein, fat, ash content, and pH, with a decrease in moisture and water activity (p < 0.001). The dry-cured shoulders were darker (L*), less red (a*), and less yellow (b*) than the raw shoulders (p < 0.001), and this may be mainly due to the moisture reduction. The proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) decreased during processing, whereas the saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) increased (p < 0.001), which could be related with the oxidative degradation. The sensory analysis showed that dry-cured Bísaro shoulders presented similar organoleptic characteristics to other dry-cured meat products. Also, the chemical composition and fatty acid profile of the dry-cured Bísaro shoulder showed results comparable to those of other cured products. This study revealed that it is possible to obtain safer and healthier dry-cured Bísaro shoulder products judging by these characteristics, since nitrites were not added in its preparation. These findings, along with the product’s high sensory attributes similar to more popular products such as ham, would give more advantage for its acceptability and market demandThe authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020) and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020). GAIN (Axencia Galega de Innovación) for supporting this article (grant number IN607A2019/01) and to Laboratory of Carcass and Meat Quality of Agriculture School of Polytechnic Institute of Bragança ‘Cantinho do Alfredo’. Grants of A.L., I.F. and L.V. are due to NORTE-01-0247-FEDER-072234. The authors (R.D., E.M.S., P.C.B.C., S.R., J.M.L. and A.T.) are members of the Healthy Meat network, funded by CYTED (ref: 119RT0568). This study is a part of a project between a research center (Carcass and Meat Quality and Technology Laboratory of Agrarian School of Bragança), two breeder associations (ANCRAS—Serrana Goat National Association of Breed Producers and ACOB—Bragançana Sheep National Association of Breed Producers) and a meat manufacturing industry (Bísaro Salsicharia Tradicional®) to developed and add value of animals reared in the extensive system and creating new processed meat products.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Validação Da Versão De 36 Itens Do Who Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (whodas 2.0) Para A Avaliação De Incapacidade E Funcionalidade Da Mulher Associada à Morbidade Materna

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)To validate the translation and adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese of 36 items from the World Health Organizaton Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0), regarding their content and structure (construct), in a female population after pregnancy. Methods This is a validation of an instrument for the evaluation of disability and functioning and an assessment of its psychometric properties, performed in a tertiary maternity and a referral center specialized in high-risk pregnancies in Brazil. A sample of 638 women in different postpartum periods who had either a normal or a complicated pregnancy was included. The structure was evaluated by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), while the content and relationships among the domains were assessed through Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The sociodemographic characteristics were identified, and the mean scores with their standard deviations for the 36 questions of the WHODAS 2.0 were calculated. The internal consistency was evaluated byCronbach’s α. Results Cronbach’s α was higher than 0.79 for both sets of questons of the questionnaire. The EFA and CFA for the main 32 questions exhibited a total variance of 54.7% (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin [KMO] measure of sampling adequacy = 0.934; p < 0.001) and 53.47% (KMO = 0.934; p < 0.001) respectively. There was a significant correlation among the 6 domains (r = 0.571–0.876), and a moderate correlation among all domains (r = 0.476–0.694). Conclusion The version of the WHODAS 2.0 instrument adapted to Brazilian Portuguese showed good psychometric properties in this sample, and therefore could be applied to populations of women regarding their reproductive history. © 2017 by Thieme-Revinter Publicações Ltda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.3924452471142/2011-5, CNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Qualitative Properties of Magnetic Fields in Scalar Field Cosmology

We study the qualitative properties of the class of spatially homogeneous Bianchi VI_o cosmological models containing a perfect fluid with a linear equation of state, a scalar field with an exponential potential and a uniform cosmic magnetic field, using dynamical systems techniques. We find that all models evolve away from an expanding massless scalar field model in which the matter and the magnetic field are negligible dynamically. We also find that for a particular range of parameter values the models evolve towards the usual power-law inflationary model (with no magnetic field) and, furthermore, we conclude that inflation is not fundamentally affected by the presence of a uniform primordial magnetic field. We investigate the physical properties of the Bianchi I magnetic field models in some detail.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures in REVTeX format. to appear in Phys. Rev.

Atividade antimicrobiana do extrato bruto de Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) em isolados clínicos

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana do extrato de açaí (Euterpe Oleracea Mart.) em isolados clínicos com elevados perfis de resistência a diferentes antimicrobianos provenientes do Centro Hospitalar de Trás – os – Montes e Alto Douro – Unidade de Vila Real. A concentração mínima inibitória (CMI) foi determinada utilizando o ensaio colorimétrico rápido que utiliza o corante cloreto de p-iodonitrotetrazólio (INT) após já ter sido efetuado o método da microdiluição. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, o extrato bruto de açaí possui atividade antimicrobiana para todas as bactérias Gram positivo testadas. A CMI mais baixa (0,25 mg/ml) foi detectada para Staphylococcus aureus sensível à meticilina (MSSA) seguida da CMI 0,5 mg/ml para Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina (MRSA), Streptococcus agalactiae e Enterococcus faecalis. Relativamente às bactérias Gram negativo foi verificada atividade antimicrobiana do açai para Morganella morganii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Acinetobacter baumannii com CMI de 1 mg/ml e 2 mg/ml respectivamente. Foram obtidos melhores resultados para bactérias Gram positivo comparativamente com as bactérias Gram negativo. Assim, podemos constatar que mesmo recorrendo a baixas concentrações (2 mg/ml) os resultados são muito promissores mesmo em bactérias Gram negativo com perfis de resistência elevados e relacionadas com as infeções associadas aos cuidados de Saúde (IACS) como a Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Acinetobacter baumannii

Antibacterial activity of Euterpe oieracea Mart. seeds against clinical isolates

Introduction: The use of antibiotics – including the over- and misuse – in human and veterinary practices selected for resistant pathogens led to their emergence and dissemination along with the transmission of resistant bacteria [1]. Due to this problem, there is a need to investigate new strategies to reverse this tendency in order to achieve the appropriate and effective treatment against infections. Aims: The present work aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of an aqueous extract prepared from Euterpe Oleracea Mart. (açai) seeds (originated from Brazil [2]), against clinical isolates from “Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro- Unidade de Vila Real”, with high resistance profiles to different antibiotics. Material and Methods: The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were determined by the colorimetric assay based on the use of p-iodonitrotetrazolium chloride (INT) dye, after application of the microdilution method. Results and discussion: The açaí aqueous extract showed antimicrobial activity against all the tested Gram-positive bacteria. The lowest MICs (0.25 mg/ml) were obtained against Methicillin Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA), followed by the MIC 0.5 mg/ml correspondent to Streptococcus agalactiae and Enterococcus faecalis. Regarding the inhibition of the growth of Gram-negative bacteria, the extract was active against Morganella morganii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii with MICs 1 mg/ml e 2 mg/ml, respectively. The results were better for Gram-positive bacteria in comparison with Gram-negative bacteria. Conclusion: However, even at low concentration (2 mg/ml) the results are very promising for Gram-negative bacteria with high resistance profiles and commonly related with health care-associated infections, namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii