Nutritional and Health Profile of Goat Products: Focus on Health Benefits of Goat Milk

Goat (Capra hircus) is one of the main sources of milk and meat products for human consumption. Goat milk differs from cow and human milk in both composition and nutritional properties. Goat milk and other goat-derived products contain several bioactive compounds that might be useful in patients suffering from a variety of chronic diseases. Several peptides, fats, and oligosaccharides present in goat’s milk can be potentially useful in cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, neurological degeneration, or in promoting intestinal health. They have also shown chemopreventive properties in cancer. In addition, the oligosaccharides present in goat’s milk have immunomodulatory properties, prevent adhesion of pathogenic bacteria, and have prebiotic, probifidogenic effects. Due to its potential health benefits, goat milk is particularly recommended for infants, older adults, and convalescing people. This chapter gives an overview of the biological activities of goat products and the effects of peptides, fats, and oligosaccharides present in goat milk on pathogenic bacteria, as well as their ability to regulate immunological, gastrointestinal, hormonal, and neurological responses in humans

MHC Class II Expression Restricted to CD8α+ and CD11b+ Dendritic Cells Is Sufficient for Control of Leishmania major

Control of the intracellular protozoan, Leishmania major, requires major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II)–dependent antigen presentation and CD4+ T cell T helper cell 1 (Th1) differentiation. MHC II–positive macrophages are a primary target of infection and a crucial effector cell controlling parasite growth, yet their function as antigen-presenting cells remains controversial. Similarly, infected Langerhans cells (LCs) can prime interferon (IFN)γ–producing Th1 CD4+ T cells, but whether they are required for Th1 responses is unknown. We explored the antigen-presenting cell requirement during primary L. major infection using a mouse model in which MHC II, I-Aβb, expression is restricted to CD11b+ and CD8α+ dendritic cells (DCs). Importantly, B cells, macrophages, and LCs are all MHC II–negative in these mice. We demonstrate that antigen presentation by these DC subsets is sufficient to control a subcutaneous L. major infection. CD4+ T cells undergo complete Th1 differentiation with parasite-specific secretion of IFNγ. Macrophages produce inducible nitric oxide synthase, accumulate at infected sites, and control parasite numbers in the absence of MHC II expression. Therefore, CD11b+ and CD8α+ DCs are not only key initiators of the primary response but also provide all the necessary cognate interactions for CD4+ T cell Th1 effectors to control this protozoan infection

Mitigation and adaptation in polycentric systems: sources of power in the pursuit of collective goals

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138383/1/wcc479_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138383/2/wcc479.pd

The C677T polymorphism in MTHFR is not associated with migraine in Portugal

Migraine is a debilitating disorder affecting a large proportion of the population. The effect of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (GeneID: 4524) polymorphisms in migraine etiology and development has been a theme of great interest. Several populations were evaluated with contradictory results. In this case-control study, we investigated the effect of the C677T polymorphism in MTHFR, as a genetic risk factor for migraine, in the Portuguese population. We observed that, overall, there was no significant difference in the frequencies of MTHFR C677T genotypes or of the T-allele among the Portuguese migraineurs when compared to controls. There was also no association of migraine with aura with MTHFR genotypes or with the T-allele, in contrast with previous studies. Regarding the risk of the T-allele homozygote carriers, there was an equal probability to develop migraine with aura over migraine without aura in our patients. Thus, we conclude that the C677T MTHFR polymorphism, responsible for a reduction of the MTHFR activity in folate metabolism, is not a major genetic susceptibility factor for migraine in the Portuguese population.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (POCTI-034390/99/FCT) and A.F. (SFRH/BD/ 1288/2000), M.-J.C. (POCTI-034390-PR332009-BTI), M.S. (SFRH/BD/9111/2002), C.L. (SFRH/BD/17761/ 2004

Microspatial Distributional Patterns of Vectors of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jtm/2012/642910/abs/The purpose of this study is to analyze the spatial distribution and population trends through time of Lutzomyia species in a long-term focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission in an Atlantic Forest area, northeastern Brazil. Sand fly populations of different ecological niches were monitored spatiotemporally in 2009. To summarize vegetation characteristics and phenology, we calculated the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index from Landsat images. Using niche modeling approaches, we assessed suites of environmental factors to identify areas of transmission risk. Although 12 species were detected, L. whitmani was the most abundant and broadly distributed across the area, particularly in peridomiciliary locations, and associated negatively with denser vegetation areas. On the other hand, L. complexa, L. sordelli, and L. tupynambai were found almost exclusively in forested areas ( < 0 . 0 5 ), and associated positively with denser vegetation. Lutzomyia species' occurrences are related to specific environmental combinations (with contrast among species) in the region

Spatial and temporal patterns of occurrence of lutzomyia sand fly species in an endemic area for cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Atlantic forest region of northeast Brazil

Sand fly populations of different ecological niches in the Amaraji endemic American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) focus of the Pernambuco Atlantic Forest region of northeastern Brazil were monitored spatiotemporally. Lutzomyia whitmani was dominant in all niches but occurred in smaller numbers in forested locations. L. whitmani was significantly less seasonal than the other species, being present throughout the year while other species were more abundant between February and April. These results suggest that L. whitmani may potentially be the principal vector of ACL in the region, even though the sand fly fauna was diverse: 88% were L.whitmani and 12% belonged to 11 other species. Two other species, L. complexa (1.3%) and L. migonei (0.8%), considered to be ACL vectors in other regions, were also present. This detailed picture of the sand fly population's abundance and spatiotemporal distribution provides a basis for future modeling studies of forecasting sand fly activity patterns and ACL occurence361Sand fly research and controlS71S76CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQ410481/2006-

The combined effect of pressure and temperature on kefir production - a case study of food fermentation in unconventional conditions

Food fermentation under pressure has been studied in recent years as a way to produce foods with novel properties. The purpose of this work was to study kefir production under pressure (7–50 MPa) at different temperatures (17–32 °C), as a case study of unconventional food fermentation. The fermentation time to produce kefir was similar at all temperatures (17, 25, and 32 °C) up to 15 MPa, compared to atmospheric pressure. At 50 MPa, the fermentation rate was slower, but the difference was reduced as temperature increased. During fermentation, lactic and acetic acid concentration increased while citric acid decreased. The positive activation volumes (Va) obtained indicate that pressure decreased the fermentation rate, while the temperature rise led to the attenuation of the pressure effect (lower Va). On the other hand, higher activation energies (Ea) were observed with pressure increase, indicating that fermentation became more sensitive to temperature. The condition that resulted in a faster fermentation, higher titratable acidity, and higher concentration of lactic acid was 15 MPa/32 °C. As the authors are aware, this is the second work in the literature to study the combined effect of pressure and temperature on a fermentative process.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Superdotação mitos e realidades da superdotação: perspectiva inclusiva e social do superdotado na educação do Distrito Federal

No contexto escolar, o educando considerado superdotado ou apresentando altas habilidades, tem encontrado dificuldades na situação de ensino-aprendizagem, tanto no que se refere ao aproveitamento de suas potencialidades como no desenvolvimento integral da sua personalidade. Tais dificuldades se devem ao fato de que por apresentar altas habilidades, ou mostrar-se talentoso, o educando considerado superdotado tem sido negligenciado no contexto escolar. Desde a década de 50, do século XX, o superdotado tem sido considerado como necessitando de consideração especial no lar, na escola e na sociedade. Entretanto, ainda hoje, a sociedade educacional parece não prever que o indivíduo com altas habilidades é merecedor de adaptações curriculares como qualquer outro indivíduo que apresenta necessidades educacionais especiais. Na literatura pertinente, encontra-se estudos referentes ao currículo, ao desenvolvimento sócio-afetivo, a intervenção psicológica. Entretanto, são raros os estudos que fundamentam a prática pedagógica do educador de educandos com altas habilidades. Sem uma prática pedagógica efetiva que contemple a diversidade de características apresentadas pelos superdotados, a escola apresenta-se num contexto sem desafios, acarretando o desinteresse que pode conduzir a um desempenho acadêmico aquém das suas potencialidades. A ausência de estudos consistentes tem conduzido a formação de mitos e crenças populares, sobre o indivíduo que apresenta altas habilidades. O objetivo deste estudo centrou-se na investigação dos mitos e crenças que cercam o superdotado, interferindo na prática pedagógica e na sua integração no contexto escolar. Buscou-se conhecer a realidade do processo educacional destes indivíduos, considerando a perspectiva inclusiva educacional das escolas do Distrito Federal. Foi utilizado como procedimento de coleta de dados, entrevistas com profissionais da educação, procurando conhecer a realidade da inclusão destes educandos, quais os mitos e crenças que o cercam e averiguando as propostas que a comunidade educacional tem elaborado para o atendimento a estes educandos. Os dados foram examinados através de análise do relato verbal de cada resposta dos sujeitos entrevistados. Os resultados extraídos dos dados coletados indicaram que os sujeitos apresentam várias crenças e mitos que corroboram com os citados na literatura pertinente. Alem disso, foi verificado que muitos educandos que podem possuir altas habilidades, não foram identificados pelos educadores e muitas vezes são considerados como apresentando déficit cognitivo pelo desinteresse em acompanhar o desempenho da sua classe. A conclusão deste estudo aponta que não há uma política educacional que contemple o processo educacional destes educandos. Indica, também, a necessidade de buscar alternativas curriculares que propicie sua inserção educacional e social

Eco-friendly healing agents for recycled concrete

Abstract An innovative option to extend the service life of construction and building materials is the use of bio-healing agents. This study was focused on assessing the protection and consolidation effect of eco-friendly healing agents by analysing the water absorption of recycled concrete. A recycled concrete with 50% replacement of natural coarse aggregate by construction and demolition waste (CDW) aggregate and a similar recycled concrete in which, additionally, the Portland cement was replaced by recycled cement (with 25% ceramic waste) were biotreated by healing agents. These agents were obtained by using waste biomass of two different mixed microbial cultures from polyhydroxyalkanoates production processes. Results have shown that biotreatments decreased the water absorption significantly, more evident in concrete samples with both recycled cement and aggregates than on the other type of concrete. Resumen Una innovadora posibilidad planteada para prolongar la vida útil de los materiales de construcción y edificación es el uso de agentes bioreparadores. Este estudio se centró en la evaluación del efecto protector y consolidante de agentes reparadores y respetuosos con el medio ambiente mediante el análisis de la absorción de agua del hormigón reciclado. Un hormigón reciclado con sustitución del 50% de los áridos gruesos naturales por residuos de construcción y demolición (RCD) y un hormigón reciclado similar en el cual, además, se sustituyó el cemento convencional Portland por cemento reciclado (con 25% de residuo cerámico) fueron biotratados con agentes reparadores. Estos agentes se obtuvieron en el proceso de producción de polihidroxialcanoatos utilizando biomasa residual de dos cultivos microbianos mixtos diferentes. Los resultados mostraron que los biotratamientos disminuyen significativamente la absorción de agua del hormigón, siendo más eficaces en las muestras de hormigón que combinan cemento y árido reciclado que en el otro tipo de hormigón.authorsversionpublishe

Boat noise impacts Lusitanian toadfish breeding males and reproductive outcome

Anthropogenic noise is a growing threat to marine organisms, including fish. Yet very few studies have addressed the impact of anthropogenic noise on fish reproduction, especially in situ. In this study, we investigated the impacts of boat noise exposure in the reproductive success of wild Lusitanian toadfish (Halobatrachus didactylus), a species that relies on advertisement calls for mate attraction, using behavioural, physiological and reproductive endpoints. Two sets of artificial nests were deployed in the Tagus estuary and exposed to either ambient sound or boat noise during their breeding season. Toadfish males spontaneously used these nests to breed. We inspected nests for occupation and the presence of eggs in six spring low tides (in two years) and assessed male vocal activity and stress responses. Boat noise did not affect nest occupation by males but impacted reproductive success by decreasing the likelihood of receiving eggs, decreasing the number of live eggs and increasing the number of dead eggs, compared to control males. Treatment males also showed depressed vocal activity and slightly higher cortisol levels. The assessment of oxidative stress and energy metabolism-related biomarkers revealed no oxidative damage in noise exposed males despite having lower antioxidant responses and pointed towards a decrease in the activity levels of energy metabolism-related biomarkers. These results suggest that males exposed to boat noise depressed their metabolism and their activity (such as parental care and mate attraction) to cope with an acoustic stressor, consistent with a freezing defensive response/behaviour. Together, our study demonstrates that boat noise has severe impacts on reproductive fitness in Lusitanian toadfish. We argue that, at least fishes that cannot easily avoid noise sources due to their dependence on specific spawning sites, may incur in significant direct fitness costs due to chronic noise exposure.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio