Enzymes and secondary metabolites profiles of Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi are affected by chestnut medium

Chestnut tree (Castanea sativa Mill) is a crop with high economic and social importance in Trás-os-Montes Region. The pre and post-harvest quality of its nuts can be affected by many factors, being the lasses dueto fungi very large. During the last decade a new endophyte fungus, Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi, causing brown rot, has been isolated from both rotten and healthy fruits, and its growth seems to be related with the increase of air temperatura and rainfall during spring. The present study aims to understand the influence of chestnut substrate on G. smithogilvyi biochemistry, in arder to develop strategies to reduce its incidence in the fruit and improve the contrai of brown rot. lnitially, the presence of the enzymes involved in the decomposition of chestnuts, such as amylase, proteases, carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), ~-glucosidase, xylanase, among others, was investigated. Further, some hydrolase activities were evaluated in two isolates of G. smithogilvyi incubated in potato (PDB) and chestnut media (CM) along an incubation period (3, 7 and 14 days), in arder to study the effects "isolate", "medium" and "incubation period" on enzymes production. Also, the synthesis of secondary metabolites in fungai dry biomass was assessed by Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Ali isolates produced the enzymes screened and, in general, the enzyme production varied between the isolates (P< 0.0000), the media (P< 0.0000) and along the incubation period (P< 0.0000). Amylase activity was positively correlated with xylanase (P< 0.0001), CMCase (P< 0.0001), and Avicelase {P< 0.01), xylanase with CMCase (P< 0.01) and ~-glucosidase with Avicelase (P< 0.0001 ). By contrast, ~-glucosidase was negatively correlated with CMCase {P< 0.01 ). Twenty secondary metabolites were detected along the incubation: eight in both isolates and media, tive and three only in isolates grew in PD o r CM, respectively. Some of these metabolites had been associated with other fungi and have known biological activities.This work was suported by "ValorCast- Valorização da castanha e otimização da sua comercialização" (PDR2020-1.0.1- FEADER-032034}, funded by Fundo Europeu Agrfcola de Desenvolvimento Rural (FEADER} and the Portuguesa Government (Ação 1.1 Grupos Operacionais, Medida 1. Inovação, PDR 2020- Programa de Desenvolvimento Rural do Continente). AS, IF, JGL, AAD, are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support by national funds FCT/MCTES to CITAB (UIDB/04033/2020) and PR to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biodiesel production from waste frying oils over lime catalysts

Biodiesel production from semi-refined oils (SRO) and waste frying oils (WFO) was studied using commercial CaO as heterogeneous catalyst. The methanolysis tests were carried out in mild reaction conditions (62 A degrees C, atmospheric pressure). With such conditions, SRO (soybean and rapeseed) allowed to produce a biodiesel containing 97-98 % of methyl esters (FAME), whereas WFO only provided 86-87 % of FAME. The lower FAME yield for WFO oil is ascribable to the partial neutralization of the catalyst by free fatty acids. Also, soaps formation from the WFO oil reduced the weight yield of the oil phase (containing FAME) obtained and increased the MONG content of the glycerin phase. The catalysts stability tests showed high stability even when WFO oil was processed. Catalytic tests performed with blends of WFO/semi-refined oils showed blending as a good strategy to process low value raw oils with minor decay of the catalyst performance. Both WFO and semi-refined oils showed S-shape kinetics curves thus discarding significant differences of the reaction mechanisms

Composição química de composto orgânico preparado com esterco de eqüino e leucena. (Leucaena lleucocephalla Lam de Wit).

A compostagem é um dos meios mais eficientes para a transformação dos resíduos vegetais e animais em produtos orgânicos utilizáveis na agricultura, constituindo alternativa para obtenção de insumos, reduzindo a utilização de fertilizantes químicos. Este trabalho foi conduzido na Fazenda Escola da Universidade Estadual do Maranhão – UEMA, com o objetivo de avaliar a composição química do composto de esterco eqüino e leucena, em diferentes proporções. Os tratamentos foram as diferentes pilhas: T1, Testemunha (100kg de esterco de eqüino), T2, 75kg de esterco de eqüino + 25kg de leucena; T3, 50kg de esterco de eqüino +50kg de leucena; T4, 25kg de esterco de eqüino + 75kg de leucena. Aos 67 dias após a montagem das pilhas de compostagem foram coletadas amostras dos compostos resultantes de cada tratamento, para análise da composição química; teores de Matéria Orgânica (M.O), pH, Fósforo (P), Potássio (K), Cálcio (Ca), Magnésio (Mg), Hidrogênio e Alumínio (H+Al), Carbono e Nitrogênio. De acordo com resultados obtidos, os tratamentos diferiram estatisticamente entre si, em relação as características avaliadas. Os resultados das análises demonstraram que o T4 (75kg de esterco de eqüino + 25kg de leucena) apresentou valores elevados em relação à testemunha, T1 nos teores de M.O (14,9%); P (857mg/dm3); e Mg (77,5mmol/dm3), associado a um pH de acidez baixa (6,5), resultando um composto de excelente qualidade. Todos os tratamentos apresentaram características químicas em níveis satisfatórios, em relação à fertilidade do solo, exigidos pela maioria das espécies cultivadas no Brasil

Relating microbiological and physicochemical patterns of a traditional Portuguese fermented sausage along processing

Linguiça is a Portuguese popular ready-to-eat dry fermented sausage. Despite the high diversity of sausages produced in Portugal, all of them are made from cut pork meat macerated with water, wine, salt, garlic, pepper, and undergoes processes of maturation, smoking and drying. During the fermentation and drying of sausages, L. monocytogenes tends to decrease considerably. However, despite the various hurdles in the dry sausage manufacturing process, this foodborne pathogen is able to survive and is detected in the final product. Factors that may affect the growth or survival of foodborne pathogens in sausage products such as linguiça include water activity (aw), pH, temperature, use of starter cultures and use of ingredients with antimicrobial activity (e.g., garlic, smoke). The present study has evaluated the influence of the addition of a commercial starter culture and ripening temperature (10º C and 18ºC) on growth and survival of L. monocytogenes strains, isolated from sausage, in experimentally inoculated linguiça. Sliced raw meat was mixed with salt (20g/kg), dry garlic (4,5g/kg), sweet paper (12,5g/kg), laurel (0,5g/kg), dextrose (10g/kg), a mix of red/white wine (410ml/kg) and water (410ml/kg) and inoculated with L. monocytogenes (5 log10/g). Additionally Commercial starter culture (5 log10/g) was added to one batch. The batter was macerated for 3 days at 4ºC. After stuffing into natural pork casings, sausages were hung vertically in a climate controlled chamber, for ripening at 10℃ or 18ºC with 83% relative humidity (RH) during ten days. During maceration step was observed no changes in growth rate of LAB and L. monocytogenes. However during ripening step was verified an increase of the count of LAB and a concomitantly decrease of L. monocytogenes. In the batches not inoculated with a commercial starter culture was observed a decrease of L. monocytogenes of 1 log10/g at 10ºC and 1,57log10/g at 18ºC of ripening temperature. The addition of a commercial starter culture increased the reduction of pathogen at both temperatures (1,57log10/g at 10ºC and 2,24log10/g at 18ºC). This study points out the fact that the decrease of L. monocytogenes contamination rate during the manufacturing process of sausages is due to the drying and ripening step than to the maceration itself and is due mainly to the effect of starter culture and ripening temperature.This research was supported through the project PTDC/AGR-TEC/3107/2012, awarded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), European Regional Development Funds (ERDF). Dr. Gonzales- Barron also acknowledges the financial support provided by FCT through the award of an Investigator Fellowship (IF) in the mode of Development Grants (IF/00570).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Voluntariado: Missão e Dádiva

O Estudo de Investigação “VOLUNTARIADO, missão e dádiva” foi desenvolvido pela Fundação FÉ e COOPERAÇÃO – FEC – durante o Ano Europeu do Voluntariado (AEV 2011) em parceria com a Escola Superior de Educação Paula Frassinetti, com o objetivo de conhecer melhor o voluntariado missionário em Portugal e os seus agentes – OS VOLUNTÁRIOS.FEC – Fundação Fé e Cooperaçã

Comparação química do composto orgânico de esterco bovino e leguminosas: leucena (Leucaena lleucocephalla (Lam )de Wit) e sombreiro (Clitoria fairchildiana Haward).

O composto é utilizado na agricultura, como alternativa para melhorar as condições físicas e a fertilidade do solo. Com objetivo de conhecer a composição química do composto de esterco bovino e leguminosas; leucena (Leucaena leucocephala Lam de Wit), e sombreiro (Clitoria fairchildiana Haward) em diferentes proporções. O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido na Fazenda Escola da Universidade Estadual do Maranhão (UEMA), no município de São Luís. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com sete tratamentos e quatro repetições: T1 - 75 kg de esterco bovino + 25 kg de folhas de leucena; T2 - 50 kg de esterco bovino + 50 kg de folhas de leucena; T3 - 25 kg de esterco bovino + 75 kg de folhas de leucena; T4 - 75 kg de esterco bovino + 25 kg de folhas de sombreiro; T5 – 50 kg de esterco bovino + 50 kg de folhas de sombreiro; T6 (testemunha) 100 kg de esterco bovino. Foram analisadas amostras do esterco bovino compostado, e dos compostos com leguminosas para determinação dos componentes químicos. Conforme resultados de análises, na maioria dos tratamentos os teores totais de MO, Ph, P, K e Ca, Mg e H+Al foram superiores à testemunha, constituindo fontes alternativas de fertilizantes para a agricultura

Hybrid magnetic nanoparticles for wet peroxide oxidation of paracetamol

A performance de nanopartículas de ferrite de cobalto, ferrite de cobalto recoberta por carbono preparada por uma metodologia tradicional e ferrite de cobalto preparada por metodologia verde foi avaliada na remoção de paracetamol (PCM), escolhido como poluente modelo, por um processo de oxidação húmida com peróxido de hidrogénio (CWPO). O núcelo magnético foi sintetizado por sol-gel, e na metodologia tradicional de recobrimento de carbono foi considerado resorcinol/formaldeído como precursores de carbono, enquanto que na metodologia verde foi considerado phloroglucinol/ácido glioxílico. Todas as nanopartículas magnéticas (NPMs) apresentaram atividade na remoção de PCM por CWPO. Ambas as NPMs recobertas com carbono apresentaram resultados melhores que o núcleo não recoberto, devido à presença da camada de carbono à volta do núcleo, que também tem atividade pelas propriedades eletrónicas do recobrimento de carbono. O catalisador recoberto pela metodologia verde possui uma decomposição de peróxido de hidrogénio mais controlada. O teste de reutilização do catalisador mostrou a estabilidade do material, com perfis de concentração similares e uma remoção de PCM mais rápida que na primeira utilizaçãoThe performance of non-coated magnetic nanoparticle (MNPs) based on cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4), and of carbon-coated cobalt ferrite prepared by a traditional method (CoFe2O4@C1), and by a greener method (CoFe2O4@C2) was assessed in the removal of paracetamol (PCM), used as model pharmaceutical pollutant, by catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO). The magnetic core was synthesized by sol-gel methodology, and the traditional method for carbon coating considered resorcinol and formaldehyde as carbon precursors. In contrast, the greener method was performed considering phloroglucinol and glyoxylic acid as carbon precursors. All MNPs presented activity on the removal of PCM by CWPO. Both carbon-coated MNPs overcome the results obtained with the bare core, due to the carbon layer covering the core, which can also have catalytic activity. The catalyst coated by the greener method (CoFe2O4@C2) shows a more controlled decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. A reutilization test performed to evaluate the stability of this catalyst showed complete removal of PCM faster than in the first usage, with a similar concentration trend profile in both repetitions.Adriano S. Silva thanks his doctoral Grant with reference SFRH/BD/151346/2021 financed by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), with funds from NORTE2020, under MIT Portugal Program. Fernanda F. Roman acknowledges the national funding by FCT through the individual research grant SFRH/BD/143224/2019. This work was financially supported by UIDB/00690/2020 (CIMO), LA/P/0045/2020 (ALiCE), UIDB/50020/2020 (LSRE-LCM), and the project RTChip4Theranostics, with the reference NORTE- 01-0145-FEDER-029394. Jose L. Diaz De Tuesta acknowledges the financial support through the program of “Atracción al Talento” of “Comunidad de Madrid” (Spain) for the individual research grant 2020-T2/AMB-19836.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Selective carious tissue removal using subjective criteria or polymer bur: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial (SelecCT)

Introduction: Selective (incomplete/partial) carious tissue removal is suitable for treating deep carious lesions in teeth with vital, asymptomatic pulps. In the periphery of a cavity, removal to hard dentin is performed, while in pulpo-proximal areas, leathery or soft dentin is left to avoid pulp exposure. As the decision of what contains 'soft' or 'leathery' dentin is subjective, using self-limiting burs which help to standardise the hardness of the remaining dentin, has been suggested to increase the reliability of carious tissue removal. The trial compares subjectively measured selective carious tissue removal in deep lesions in primary teeth with objectively measured selective removal with a self-limiting bur (Polybur, Komet). Methods and analysis: A community-based single-blind clustered randomised controlled superiority trial nested into a larger evaluation is performed. Recruitment for this trial has been concluded. We have recruited 115 children aged 6-8 years with >= 1 vital primary molar with a deep dentin lesion. The unit of randomisation was the child, with all eligible molars per child treated identically. Treatment was performed in a mobile dental unit. Subjective and objective carious tissue removal was performed at random. Teeth were restored using glass ionomer cement (Equia Forte, GC). Our primary outcome will be the time until complications occur, evaluated via multilevel survival analysis. Secondary outcomes will be the time until extraction is needed, subjective satisfaction of the child with the treatment (measured using a Likert scale) and cost-effectiveness. Re-examination will be performed after 12, 24 and 36 months (the final examination is expected in 2020). Ethics and dissemination: This trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Health Sciences of the University of Brasilia (CAAE 51310415.0.0000.0030). Trial results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented on conferences