Characterization of Bioactive Components in Edible Algae

Algae have been used since ancient times as food for humans, animal feed, agricultural fertilizer, and as a source of substances for therapeutic use. Currently, seaweed represents a vast source of raw materials used in the pharmaceutical, food, traditional medicine, and cosmetics industries. They are nutritionally valuable, both fresh and dried, or as ingredients in a wide variety of pre-made foods. In particular, seaweed contains significant amounts of protein, lipids, minerals, and vitamins. Information is limited on the role of algae and their metabolites in therapy. Only a few taxa have been studied for use in medicine. Many traditional cultures report the healing powers of selected algae in tropical and subtropical marine forms. This is especially true in the maritime areas of Asia, where the sea plays a significant role in daily activities. However, currently, only a few genera and species of algae are involved in aspects of medicine and therapy. The beneficial uses of seaweed or seaweed products include those that can mimic specific manifestations of human disease, production of antibiotic compounds, or improved human nutrition

A New Kind of Art [Based on Autonomous Collective Robotics]

The paper addresses the rationale of a process that produces artworks made by a swarm of robots. This process relies on the interaction, though the environment, of a set of robots designed to create spatiotemporal patterns from an initial homogeneous medium (the canvas). Inspired by social insect societies, the approach presented here exploits robot-robot and robot-environment interactions to develop emergent behaviour. The swarm intelligence concept is crucial to this approach because the viability of the team (group of robots) is required in order to achieve the viability of the individual. Without any central coordination or plan, the group of robots produces its artworks on the basis of a data-driven (bottom-up) process. Moreover, each robot can be viewed as an autonomous agent because it has on board all the resources required to provide the global outcome of the experiment, including sensors, actuators, and the controller, which demonstrates a reactive behaviour by reinforcing a previously made signal (positive feedback). The process is also presented in the context of Machine Art, and a detailed technical description of each robot is given, as well as an example of artworks produced by the collective behaviour of the set of robots

Aplicação do MALDI-TOF ICMS na abordagem polifásicada da identificação de isolados clínicos de Trichophyton rubrum

Introdução: O dermatófito Trichophyton rubrum tem particular interesse em micologia clínica por ser um fungo exclusivamente antropofílico cuja incidência tem vindo a aumentar nos países industrializados. Uma identificação correcta revela‐se de maior importância quer ao nível da administração adequada da medicação ao paciente, quer ao nível da epidemiologia e/ou da taxonomia. A identificação dos dermatófitos é complexa requerendo uma abordagem polifásica. A nova técnica de identificação baseada no Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Time Of Fight Intact Cell Mass Spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF ICMS) começa a dar os primeiros passos como uma alternativa aos métodos moleculares. O objectivo do presente trabalho foi a identificação de isolados clínicos de T. rubrum baseada numa abordagem polifásica, utilizando métodos morfológicos, moleculares e espectrai

Silver nanoparticles as an antimicrobial agent of Tricophyton rubrum

Resistance to antimicrobial agents, such as amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole, by pathogenic bacteria and fungi has been increasing at an alarming rate and has become a serious problem. Microorganisms, such as bacteria, moulds, yeasts, and viruses are often pathogenic to humans. There is a pressing need to search for new antimicrobial agents. Amongst inorganic antimicrobial agents, silver has been employed most widely since ancient times to fight infections. The antimicrobial activities of silver, silver ions, and silver compounds are well known Fungi can be employed for biosynthesis of nanoparticles hence avoiding the use of hazardous chemicals for synthesis. However, the effects of mycological synthesized silver nanoparticles against fungal dermatophytes are not well understod. In this work were used inorganic and biogenic routes for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. In the biogenic route, extracts from Aspergillus oryzae and Penicillium chrysogenum were used. In the inorganic route glucose was used as the reducing agent and polyvinylpyrrolidone as the stabilizer. The nanoparticles were characterized by various techniques. Biogenic nanoparticles from A. ozyzae and P. chrysogenum showed an average size from 19-51 nm to 51-85 nm, respectively. Nanoparticles synthesized by inorganic route had a mean size of 74 nm as determined by Dynamic Light Scattering. The antimicrobial potential activity was tested against strains of Tricophyton rubrum and the silver nanoparticles from P. chrysogenum had antimicrobial effects against T. rubrum strains. The synthesis parameters in future studies should be studied to take full advantage of the potentail for filamentous fungi to synthesise silver nanoparticles

Valorização da agrobiodiversidade como estratégia de desenvolvimento territorial susttentável: estudo exploratório na zona costeira centro-sul de Santa Catarina

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agroecossistemas, Florianópolis, 2013.A dissertação focaliza a problemática da valorização da agrobiodiversidade em três municípios do litoral centro-sul do estado de Santa Catarina. Com base no enfoque de gestão de recursos comuns para o desenvolvimento territorial sustentável (DTS), foram caracterizadas as potencialidades e os principais obstáculos à promoção de espécies vegetais ainda pouco conhecidas ou subutilizadas pelas comunidades ali sediadas. No rol das espécies investigadas, foram assumidas como prioritárias: o araçá, a banana, a batata-doce, o feijão, a goiaba, a hortelã, a jabuticaba, o louro, a mandioca (e o aipim), a orquídea, o palmito juçara e a pitanga. Além disso, a coleta de dados levou em conta as seguintes espécies consideradas potencialmente passíveis de valorização: a aroeira, a camarinha, a erva baleeira, a goiaba, a laranja, a pitanga, o butiá, a ora-pro-nóbis, o palmito juçara, a papa-guela e o pau óleo. Tendo em vista o desenho de um cenário de DTS privilegiando a formação de uma cesta de bens e serviços territoriais, a opção recaiu na valorização de alimentos à base de mandioca e do saber-fazer dos agricultores familiares. Mas vários outros elementos essenciais oportunizando a dinamização socioeconômica foram também incluídos, a exemplo de sistemas agroecológicos e agroflorestais, de agroindústrias de beneficiamento de alimentos e plantas medicinais, de viveiros coletivos e de projetos de turismo ecológico comunitário (com identidade cultural e conservação ambiental). Frente aos níveis cada vez mais elevados de degradação associada à dinâmica hegemônica de desenvolvimento da zona costeira, a valorização da agrobiodiversidade foi assumida como um elemento fundamental de uma estratégia de DTS capaz de viabilizar a conservação do patrimônio ecológico e cultural, no bojo de um processo ainda incipiente de empoderamento e promoção da aprendizagem social adaptativa das comunidades locais.Abstract : This thesis was based on the analytical approach of common property resource management for sustainable territorial development (DTS). It sought to identify the potentials and obstacles to the promotion of plant species yet little known or underutilized on the basis of updated survey of agricultural biodiversity in the study area , with a view to assessing the feasibility of a DTS strategy. The case study was conducted in three municipalities in the south central coast of Santa Catarina. Among the species of local agro-biodiversity as plants were given priority to the territory: guava, banana, sweet potato, beans, guava, mint blemish, bay leaves, cassava (manioc and), orchids, palm juçara and cherry. And yet as potential plants: mastic, camarinha herb whaling, guava, orange, cherry,butia palm, ora-pro-nobis, palm juçara, papa- guela and stick oil. Foods made from cassava and their respective modes of know-how are the first elements to the formation of a basket of goods and services territorial . Projects that focus on the region highlight the DTS design and the possibility of creation of conservation units of sustainable use, as promoters of agrobiodiversity conservation. Similarly, in the quest to expand the socioeconomic dynamics are relevant activities utilizing agroecology, agroforestry, agro-industries processing of food and medicinal plants, the collective farms and the proposed eco-tourism community (with cultural identity and environmental conservation). Faced with increasingly high levels of progressive degradation imposed by the dynamics of hegemonic development, valuing agrobiodiversiade can be a key element among the strategies of DTS, to enable the maintenance of ecological and cultural heritage. Despite need to gradually strengthen the processes of social learning and empowerment of local communities

A trajetória socioeconômica e política do municipío de Imaruí-SC e o processo de migração nas últimas décadas

Dissertação apresentada ao Programa de Pós Graduação de Mestrado em Desenvolvimento Socioeconômico da Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense - UNESC.O estudo teve como propósito investigar a trajetória socioeconômica do município de Imaruí, situado no sul de Santa Catarina. Colonizado a partir do ano de 1833, conquistou sua emancipação político administrativa no ano de 1890. A influência política e administrativa esteve fortemente ligada à família Bittencourt por aproximadamente 70 anos, iniciando em 1891, quando Jerônimo Luiz de Bittencurt tornou-se intendente. A economia do município está vinculada à agropecuária e à pesca. Para compreender a trajetória foram apresentadas as discussões teóricas que diferenciam crescimento e desenvolvimento e as que discutem os aspectos do desenvolvimento rural. O objetivo geral do estudo consiste em descrever a trajetória socioeconômica e política do município e o processo de migração nas últimas décadas. A metodologia utilizada para atingir o objetivo proposto caracteriza-se como exploratória, descritiva, de natureza qualitativa, desenvolvida por meio de estudo bibliográfico e levantamentos estatísticos disponíveis em alguns bancos de dados como: IBGE, Amurel, Atlas do Desenvolvimento Humano, e, adotou-se o método histórico como procedimento, pois se trata de descrever o passado, compreender o presente e refletir o futuro. Desta forma, foi possível conhecer a história e origem da formação do município, em seus aspectos, econômicos, sociais e políticos, para entender a dinâmica atual, possibilitando discussões sobre alternativas para seu futuro para tal foi aplicada a técnica de entrevista semiestruturada. Os resultados da pesquisa apontaram: o domínio político, o desentusiasmo pela agricultura, os problemas ambientais e a captura descontrolada da pesca, como fatores relevantes que influenciaram na trajetória socioeconômica do município. Associado a estes está o desinteresse pela organização político-social. Contudo, o município ainda apresenta fatores sociais positivos, como a melhora dos indicadores de longevidade, mortalidade e alfabetização, apesar de constar como pior IDHM da região da AMUREL

MALDI-TOF ICMS: capability, potentiality and limits in the fast identification of Trichophyton rubrum from clinical cases occurrence in Portuguese health centres

Objective: Trichophyton rubrum is presently the most common worldwide pathogen causing dermatophytoses such as tinea corporis, tinea capitis, tinea pedis, and onychomycosis [1]. The main aim of the present work was assess MALDI-TOF ICMS as a fast and reliable technique in the identification of T. rubrum from clinical cases occurrence in the Portuguese health centres, and evaluates the potentialities and limits of this new microbial identification technique on the taxonomy of these infectious dermatophytes. Methods: Fungi were grown for 10 days in solid medium (SDA, Sabouraud Dextrose Agar) and then the mycelia were direct transferred from the SDA plate to the MALDI stainless steel template and mixed with 1 ml MALDI matrix solution (75 mg/ml 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid in ethanol/water/acetonitrile [1:1:1] with 0.03% trifluoroacetic acid). The sample mixtures were air dried at room temperature. The analyses were performed in our laboratory on an Axima LNR system (Kratos Analytical, Shimadzu, Manchester, UK) equipped with a nitrogen laser (337 nm). The mass range from m/z = 2,000 to 20,000 Da was recorded. Escherichia coli strain DH5a with known mass values of ribosomal proteins was used for external calibration. The fungi classification was performed on the SARAMIS software (AnagnosTec mbH, Potsdam- Golm, Germany). Molecular biology was used when appropriated with PCR based-technology. The presence of a 203-bp PCR product confirmed T. rubrum identification. Results: All strains were accurately and consistently identified as T. rubrum by MALDI-TOF ICMS combined to SARAMIS database analysis. Spectral mass analysis proven to be a rapid method since the analysis took only a few minutes to perform with the benefit of any laborious sample preparation procedures or any expensive chemical reagent was needed. Conclusions: The fungal spectral analysis by MALDI-TOF ICMS was as good as molecular biology in order to identify T. rubrum but much faster and cheaper