Studies of Carotenoids with Provitamin A Activity in Cultivars of Manioc (Manihot esculentaCrantz) in Terra-Firme Ecosystem at Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

Competition experiments were carried out between different cultivars of manioc (Manihot esculentaCrantz) in the terra firme ecosystem (Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil), with the productivity and pro-vitamin A carotene content. Roots from sevem cultivars of yellow manioc were selected for the identification and quantification of carotenes with vitamin A activity, according to the method described by Rodriguez. Pro-vitamin A loss due to processing and storage of the flour was also determined. The presence of three b - carotene isomers was noted (13 - cis - β - carotene, all trans β - carotene and 9 - cis - β - carotene). The amount of vitamin A present in the roots varied from 4.4 to 18.8 retinol equivalents. The loss of vitamin A due to processing was high, ranging from 25.3 to 40.0 %. The storage of the roots for six months in transparent plastic bags at room temperature and exposure to the sun, resulted in a total degradation of the carotenoids. The results allow one to conclude that three cultivars (IM 232; IM 104 and BGM 021) containt the highest pro-vitamin A content.Foram conduzidos experimentos de competição entre cultivares de mandioca (Manihot esculentaCrantz) em ecossistema de terra firme (Manaus - Amazonas), com objetivo de obter melhores cultivares de mandioca com relação a produtividade e teor de caroteno pró-vitamínico A. Raízes de sete cultivares de mandioca amarela foram selecionadas para identificação e quantificação de carotenos com atividade de vitamina A, mediante o método descrito por Rodriguez. Observou-se, também, as perdas de pró-vitamina A pelo processamento e armazenamento de farinha. Constatou-se a presença de três isômeros do β - caroteno (o 13 - eis -β - caroteno, o β - caroteno todo trans e o 9 - eis -β - caroteno U). Quanto aos teores de vitamina A, expressos em equivalente de retinol, nas raízes variaram de 4,4 a 18,8. Com relação a perda de atividade da vitamina A pelo processamento variou de 25,0 a 40,0 %, enquanto que o armazenamento por 6 meses em sacos plásticos transparentes, à temperatura ambiente e à exposição de luz, resultou em degradação total de seus carotenóides. Os resultados permitem concluir que três cultivares (IM 232; IM 104 e BGM 021) apresentaram os maiores teores de pró-vitamina A

Impact of surface topography on the bacterial attachment to micro- and nano-patterned polymer films

The development of antimicrobial surfaces has become a high priority in recent times. There are two ongoing worldwide health crises: the COVID-19 pandemic provoked by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the antibiotic-resistant diseases provoked by bacteria resistant to antibiotic-based treatments. The need for antimicrobial surfaces against bacteria and virus is a common factor to both crises. Most extended strategies to prevent bacterial associated infections rely on chemical based-approaches based on surface coatings or biocide encapsulated agents that release chemical agents. A critical limitation of these chemistry-based strategies is their limited effectiveness in time while grows the concerns about the long-term toxicity on human beings and environment pollution. An alternative strategy to prevent bacterial attachment consists in the introduction of physical modification to the surface. Pursuing this chemistry-independent strategy, we present a fabrication process of surface topographies [one-level (micro, nano) and hierarchical (micro+nano) structures] in polypropylene (PP) substrates and discuss how wettability, topography and patterns size influence on its antibacterial properties. Using nanoimprint lithography as patterning technique, we report as best results 82 and 86% reduction in the bacterial attachment of E. coli and S. aureus for hierarchically patterned samples compared to unpatterned reference surfaces. Furthermore, we benchmark the mechanical properties of the patterned PP surfaces against commercially available antimicrobial films and provide evidence for the patterned PP films to be suitable candidates for use as antibacterial functional surfaces in a hospital environment.This work is funded by the European Commission, under the project FLEXPOL (H2020-NMBPPILOT-2016-721062). The present study was carried out as part of a European project called “Antimicrobial FLEXible POLymers for its use in hospital environments” (FLEXPOL grant agreement No. 721062) funded by Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020)

Planting time for maximization of yield of vinegar plant calyx (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)

Objetivou-se avaliar a produtividade de cálices de Hibiscus sabdariffa L., planta medicinal, em quatro épocas de plantio em Lavras M.G. Os tratamentos foram quatro épocas de plantio (18 de outubro; 15 de novembro; 18 de dezembro de 2001 e 15 de janeiro de 2002) e realizada uma colheita quando praticamente não existiam cálices em desenvolvimento, quase no final do ciclo da planta. Foram considerados os números de cálices por planta, as fitomassas frescas e secas dos cálices e a qualidade. Concluiu-se que a época de plantio influenciou o rendimento por planta e as fitomassas frescas e secas dos cálices, diferindo entre si pelo teste de Tukey a 5%. No plantio de outubro, houve maior rendimento (2.522 kg/ha), com produção de 5,24 vezes a mais em relação ao plantio do mês de janeiro (481 kg/ha). Os plantios nos meses de novembro e dezembro tiveram produções de 1.695 e 1.093 kg.ha-1 de cálices secos, respectivamente, e em relação ao mês de janeiro, a produção foi 3,52 e 2,27 vezes a mais.Deve-se realizar a colheita assim que os cálices estiverem maduros, a fim de preservar a qualidade

An fMRI study of cognitive reappraisal in major depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder

Background: One common denominator to the clinical phenotypes of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) is emotion regulation impairment. Although these two conditions have been extensively studied separately, it remains unclear whether their emotion regulation impairments are underpinned by shared or distinct neurobiological alterations. Methods: We contrasted the neural correlates of negative emotion regulation across an adult sample of BPD patients (n = 19), MDD patients (n = 20), and healthy controls (HCs; n = 19). Emotion regulation was assessed using an established functional magnetic resonance imaging cognitive reappraisal paradigm. We assessed both task-related activations and modulations of interregional connectivity. Results: When compared to HCs, patients with BPD and MDD displayed homologous decreased activation in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) during cognitive reappraisal. In addition, the MDD group presented decreased activations in other prefrontal areas (i.e., left dorsolateral and bilateral orbitofrontal cortices), while the BPD group was characterized by a more extended pattern of alteration in the connectivity between the vlPFC and cortices of the visual ventral stream during reappraisal. Conclusions: This study identified, for the first time, a shared neurobiological contributor to emotion regulation deficits in MDD and BPD characterized by decreased vlPFC activity, although we also observed disorder-specific alterations. In MDD, results suggest a primary deficit in the strength of prefrontal activations, while BPD is better defined by connectivity disruptions between the vlPFC and temporal emotion processing regions. These findings substantiate, in neurobiological terms, the different profiles of emotion regulation alterations observed in these disorders

Sensor noise in LISA Pathfinder: in-flight performance of the optical test mass readout

We report on the first subpicometer interferometer flown in space. It was part of ESA’s Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder mission and performed the fundamental measurement of the positional and angular motion of two free-falling test masses. The interferometer worked immediately, stably, and reliably from switch on until the end of the mission with exceptionally low residual noise of 32.0 + 2.4 - 1.7 ¿ ¿ fm / v Hz , significantly better than required. We present an upper limit for the sensor performance at millihertz frequencies and a model for the measured sensitivity above 200 mHz.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Molecular characterization of the diet of the planktonic community in Málaga Bay (NW Alboran Sea)

The seasonal changes in structure and functioning of the pelagic trophic web in Málaga Bay (NW Alboran Sea) are related to the annual hydrological cycle. However, time series analyses have shown that the relationship between interannual hydrological variability and the plankton community composition is weak. This might be due to different human-induced pressures (nutrient pollution, coastal fisheries) acting on different compartments of the trophic web. The net effect of all these factors would depend on how the ecosystem channels changes in the composition and abundance of each trophic level. Interactions of phytoplankton-ciliates-zooplankton might have a central role in the regulation of the trophic web in Málaga Bay, although the trophic relations of the dominant groups remain still undefined. In order to identify the dominant trophic relationships we aimed to characterise the diet of key ichthyo- and mesozooplankton species in the field. Given that gut content preys (phyto- and microplankton) are fragile and not easy to identify visually, we developed species-specific molecular markers to detect their presence/absence within the predators gut

Solid air hydrogen liquefaction, the missing link of the hydrogen economy

The most challenging aspect of developing a green hydrogen economy is long-distance oceanic transportation. Hydrogen liquefaction is a transportation alternative. However, the cost and energy consumption for liquefaction is currently prohibitively high, creating a major barrier to hydrogen supply chains. This paper proposes using solid nitrogen or oxygen as a medium for recycling cold energy across the hydrogen liquefaction supply chain. When a liquid hydrogen (LH2) carrier reaches its destination, the regasification process of the hydrogen produces solid nitrogen or oxygen. The solid nitrogen or oxygen is then transported in the LH2 carrier back to the hydrogen liquefaction facility and used to reduce the energy consumption cooling gaseous hydrogen. As a result, the energy required to liquefy hydrogen can be reduced by 25.4% using N2 and 27.3% using O2. Solid air hydrogen liquefaction (SAHL) can be the missing link for implementing a global hydrogen economy