Techniques for the Evaluation of Physicochemical Quality and Bioactive Compounds in Honey

Honey is a concentrated aqueous solution of sugar, especially glucose and fructose, and minor amounts of dextrin, enzymes, waxes, volatile oils, organic acids, ethers, albuminoidal gum substances and minerals. Commercially available honey samples vary in quality according to various factors such as climate diversity, type of flora of the surrounding region, geographical characteristics, processing, floral supply period, and packaging and storage conditions, which can compromise the standardization and quality of the final product. The different techniques that will be presented in this chapter to assess the quality of honey are tests required by identification standards and national and international quality control or are important quality tools that can be used in the evaluation of the conditions for obtaining and processing of the honey, fraud identification and changes to and/or adulteration of the honey, ensuring the physical and chemical composition of the project and guaranteeing quality standards, directly impacting the shelf life and use and presentation of the product

Techniques for the Evaluation of Microbiological Quality in Honey

The aim of this chapter is to describe the most commonly used techniques to evaluate the microbiological characteristics of honey for the purpose of identifying its contaminant flora, its significance and its control in this type of food. Honey is a product that is rich in simple sugars, minerals, vitamins and bioactive compounds and possesses an antimicrobial activity of great significance for human health. However, as it has physical and chemical properties that are unfavourable for the proliferation of micro-flora, honey can contain a large population of microorganisms from two sources of contamination—the first primarily represented by pollen, the digestive system of the bee, dust, air and the flower itself; and the second as the result of negligence and the absence of good health practices during handling and use; for example, placing honey in wooden beehives directly on the floor or the use of improperly washed honey extraction equipment, rather than equipment based on the oxidizable material, or using very dark honeycombs and storing the honey for long periods in wooden beehives. As honey is a natural product, the risks inherent to the lack of industrial processing, such as pasteurization and strict microbiological quality control, are often overlooked

Growth of Fungal Cells and the Production of Mycotoxins

Some filamentous fungi are able to grow in food and produce toxic metabolites. It occurs mainly in grains, cereals, oilseeds and some by-products. The growth of fungi in a particular food is governed largely by a series of physical and chemical parameters. The production of toxic metabolites is not confined to a single group of molds irrespective of whether they are grouped according to structure, ecology, or phylogenetic relationships. Mycotoxins can be carcinogenic and cause several harmful effects to both human and animal organisms, in addition to generating large economic losses. The major mycotoxins found in food are the aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxins, patulin, zearalenone, and trichothecenes, generally stable at high temperatures and long storage periods. Considering the difficult prevention and control, international organizations for food safety establish safe levels of these toxins in food destined for both human and animal consumption. Good agricultural practices and control of temperature and moisture during storage are factors which contribute significantly to inhibit the production of mycotoxins. The use of some fungistatic products, such as essential oils and antioxidants, as well as physical, mechanical, chemical, or thermal processing, represents important methods to have the concentration of mycotoxins reduced in food

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

PLANEJAMENTO TRIBUTÁRIO: PROPOSTA PARA UMA EMPRESA DE FORNECIMENTO DE REFEIÇÕES PREPARADAS

One way to reduce the tax expenditures of a company through legal provisions is through tax planning. This study has aimed to carry out tax planning and thus identify the most appropriate regime for a small enterprise located in a city in the north of Paraná, Brazil, whose activity is to provide prepared meals. The research is classified as exploratory, in terms of objectives, and as qualitative, in terms of approach, and it uses the case study in the methodological procedures. With the information from the financial statements provided by the company, a simulation has been performed with the three Brazilian tax regimes, simples nacional, presumptive profit, and taxable profit in order to verify which would be the least onerous regime. The analysis of the taxes complied with the current legislation of the regimes according to the company's branch of activity. The option for the simples nacional resulted in lower taxation, in this way ensuring the potentialization of the company's result and the generation of greater profit. However, an exorbitant difference can be observed in tax expenditures between the different types of taxation, which produce different percentages of profitability. The research has contributed theoretically to the area of ​​Tax Accounting, as it has used, as a sample, a field of activity still little explored in other studies.Uma maneira de reduzir os dispêndios tributários de uma empresa através das disposições legais é por meio do planejamento tributário. O presente estudo teve como objetivo realizar planejamento tributário e assim identificar o regime mais adequado para uma empresa de pequeno porte localizada em uma cidade no norte do Paraná, cuja atividade é de fornecimento de refeições preparadas. A pesquisa classifica-se quanto aos objetivos como exploratória, quanto à abordagem como qualitativa e utiliza o estudo de caso nos procedimentos metodológicos. Por conseguinte, dispondo das informações dos demonstrativos contábeis fornecidas pela empresa, foi executada uma simulação com os três regimes tributários, simples nacional, lucro presumido e lucro real com a finalidade de verificar qual seria o regime menos oneroso. A análise dos tributos obedeceu a legislação vigente dos regimes conforme o ramo de atividade da empresa. A opção pelo simples nacional resultou na menor tributação acarretando a potencialização do resultado da empresa, gerando maior lucro. Contudo, pode-se observar uma diferença exorbitante nos dispêndios tributários entre os diferentes tipos de tributação, produzindo percentuais de lucratividade distintos. A pesquisa contribuiu de maneira teórica para a área de Contabilidade Tributária, pois utilizou como amostra, um ramo de atividade ainda pouco explorado em outros estudos

Impact of oil-based drill mud disposal on benthic foraminiferal assemblages on the continental margin off Angola

International audienceIn order to assess the possible environmental impact of oily cuttings discharged during oil exploration activities, we studied the benthic foraminiferal faunas in a five-station, 4-km-long sampling transect around a cuttings disposal site at about 670 m depth offshore Angola (W Africa), where drilling activities started 1.5 years before sampling. Living (Rose Bengal stained) and dead foraminiferal faunas were sampled in March 2006. The faunal patterns mirror the spatial distribution of hydrocarbons, which are dispersed into a southeastern direction. Four different areas can be distinguished on the basis of the investigated faunal parameters (density, diversity and species composition of the living fauna, and comparison with subrecent dead faunas). The fauna at station S31, 300 m SE of the oil cuttings disposal site, appears to be clearly impacted: the faunal density and diversity are maximal, but evenness is minimal. Taxa sensitive to organic enrichment, such as Uvigerina peregrina, Cancris auriculus and Cribrostomoides subglobosus, have largely disappeared, whereas the low-oxygen-resistant taxon Chilostomella oolina and opportunistic buliminids and bolivinids attain relatively high densities. At station S32, 500 m SE of the disposal site, environmental impact is still perceptible. The faunal density is slightly increased, and U. peregrina, apparently the most sensitive species, is still almost absent. The faunas found at 1 and 1.8 km SE of the disposal site are apparently no longer impacted by the drill mud disposal. Faunal density and diversity are low, and the faunal composition is typical for a mesotrophic to eutrophic upper slope environment. Finally, Station S35, 2 km NW of the disposal site, contains an intermediate fauna, where both the low-oxygen-resistant C. oolina and the more sensitive taxa (U. peregrina, C. auriculus and C. subglobosus) are present. All taxa live close to the sediment–water interface here, indicating a reduced oxygen penetration into the sediment. Since the hydrocarbon concentration is low at this station, it appears that the faunal characteristics are the consequence of a slightly different environmental setting, and not due to a contamination with drill cuttings. Our data underline the large potential of benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators of anthropogenic enrichment in open marine settings, such as caused by the disposal of oily drill cuttings. The foraminiferal faunas react essentially by a density increase of a number of tolerant and/or opportunistic taxa, and a progressive disappearance of more sensitive taxa in the most impacted area. Rather surprisingly, large-sized taxa appear to be more sensitive than small-sized foraminiferal taxa.</p

Benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators of drill cuttings disposal

Date du colloque&nbsp;: 05/2008International audienceWe present a study of benthic foraminiferal faunas from the outer continental shelf off Congo, Gabon and Angola (West Africa), with the aim to determine the impact of the discharge of oily drill cuttings on the sea floor environment, to judge the regenerating capacity of the benthic ecosystem, and to investigate the possibility to develop an environmental monitoring method for open marine continental shelf environments, based on benthic foraminifera. We studied the spatial distribution and microhabitats of living and dead foraminiferal faunas. Our results describe a zonation of foraminiferal faunas around the former disposal sites. At the immediate vicinity of the discharge points, faunas are characterized by low foraminiferal densities followed by a very high foraminiferal densities, with high percentages (about 80%) of opportunistic taxa. Far away from the disposal site, foraminiferal densities decrease, and the percentages of opportunistic species are lower (40–60% of indicator species). We used these data to develop a quantitative pollution index, values of which are strongly correlated to distance to the disposal site. This foraminiferal index offers the possibility to quantify the impact of anthropogenic eutrophication in continental shelf environments, but its validity must be tested in other continental shelf environments.</p

A New Monitoring Tool for Assessing Environmental Impact of Offshore Drilling Activities: Benthic Foraminifera

International audienceSince 2003 we have tested the use of benthic foraminiferal faunas as bio-indicators of highly biodegradable oil-based drill fluids and cuttings. In this paper we present data for 4 sites off western Africa (Angola, Congo and Gabon), with water depths varying from 30 to 670 m. A very similar faunal response to environmental perturbation is found in these different environmental settings. In the close vicinity of the oil drill mud and fluids disposal, the combination of lowered bottom water oxygenation, the presence of toxic compounds and a general ecosystem enrichment leads to strongly impoverished faunas. More sensitive taxa become very rare in these areas. Moderately impacted sites are characterized by high to very faunal densities, and a strong dominance of opportunistic taxa, that are favored by the increased amount of organic matter in the benthic environment, resulting from the introduction of hydrocarbons. Beyond 500 m of the disposal sites, the faunas progressively become similar to the natural faunas; the relative frequency of opportunistic and stress-tolerant taxa drops to background values.Two foraminiferal indices are proposed that allow a quantitative evaluation of the impact of the oil drilling activities. A first foraminiferal index, that is based on the cumulative percentage of opportunistic and stress-tolerant taxa, is very effective in continental shelf settings. Severely polluted sites contain more than 70% index species, moderately impacted area between 50 and 70%. In slightly to non impacted sites, the percentage of index species drops from 50 to 20%. A shallow, 30 m deep, area in front of the Ogooué estuary reveals a high percentage of marker species at all investigated stations. This elevated percentage is caused by the presence of naturally eutrophicated conditions due to the supply of important amounts of nutrients and continental organic matter by river outflow. In this a particular setting, oil exploration activities appear to have only a minor environmental impact. At the 670 m deep upper slope site, the impacted stations are characterized by the progressive disappearance of the taxa that are most sensitive to ecosystem perturbation. The cumulative percentage of these taxa strongly decreases at the most impacted areas, which provides a very useful additional quantitative monitoring tool. The present data show that foraminiferal faunas are extremely powerful in monitoring the environmental impact of oil exploration activities. In the near future, the proposed foraminiferal indices will be tested in other areas, and the selected marker species will be formalized for different types of environmental settings, with different water depths and climatic conditions.</p