Avaliação de inseticidas e iscas tóxicas para o controle de Linepithema micans na cultura da videira.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de inseticidas e formulações de iscas tóxicas visando ao controle de L. micans.Resumo

Foraging activity and seasonal food preference of Linepithema micans (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a species associated with the spread of Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Hemiptera: Margarodidae).

Linepithema micans (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is the main ant species responsible for the spread of Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Wille) (Hemiptera: Margarodidae), a soil scale that damages vine plants in southern Brazil. The daily foraging activity of L. micans and its seasonal preference for protein- and carbohydrate-based foods were evaluated. The study was carried out in a greenhouse using seedlings of the Paulsen 1103 rootstock (Vitis berlandieriVitis rupestris) planted individually in pots and infested with colonies of L. micans. To determine the daily foraging activity and seasonal preference, a cricket (Gryllus sp.) and a 70% solution of inverted sugar and water were offered once a month for 12 mo. The ants foraging on each food source were counted hourly for 24 h. L. micans foraged from dusk until the end of the next morning, with higher intensity in the spring and summer. Workers of L. micans showed changes in food preference during the year, with a predominance of protein-based food during winter and spring and carbohydrate-based food during autumn. The implications of this behavior for control of the species with the use of toxic baits are discussed

Prediction model for phenology of grapevine cultivars with hot water treatment.

The objective of this work was to prepare a prediction model for the phenology of grapevine cultivars (Bordô, Cabernet Sauvignon, Moscato Embrapa, Paulsen 1103, SO4, and IAC 572) using hot water treatment. The heat treatment with hot water consisted of combinations of three temperatures (50, 53, and 55°C) and three time periods (30, 45, and 60 min), with or without previous hydration for 30 min. After the treatments, the cuttings were planted in the field and their phenological development was evaluated during two months. The six studied cultivars presented different responses to the effects of the factors temperature and time, but did not differ significantly regarding hydration. It was possible to develop a mathematical model for the use of hot water treatment in grapevine cuttings, based on phenological development (yphenology = 48.268 - 0.811x1 - 0.058x2) and validated by the variables sprouting and root emission. From the developed model, it is recommended that the hot water treatment be applied in the temperature range between 48 and 51°C for cuttings of all cultivars. O objetivo deste trabalho foi elaborar um modelo de previsão da fenologia de cultivares de videira (Bordô, Cabernet Sauvignon, Moscato Embrapa, Paulsen 1103, SO4 e IAC 572) com uso de tratamento de água quente. O tratamento térmico com água quente consistiu de combinações de três temperaturas (50, 53 e 55°C) com três intervalos de tempo (30, 45 e 60 min), com ou sem hidratação prévia por 30 min. Após os tratamentos, as estacas foram plantadas a campo e seu desenvolvimento fenológico foi avaliado por dois meses. As seis cultivares estudadas apresentaram respostas distintas quanto à influência dos fatores temperatura e tempo, mas não diferiram significativamente quanto à hidratação. Foi possível desenvolver um modelo matemático para uso do tratamento de água quente em estacas de videira, baseado no desenvolvimento fenológico (yfenologia= 48,268 - 0,811x1 - 0,058x2) e validado com as variáveis brotação e emissão de raízes. Recomenda-se, a partir do modelo desenvolvido, que o tratamento de água quente seja aplicado na faixa de temperatura entre 48 e 51°C para estacas de todas as cultivares.Título em português: Modelo de previsão para fenologia de cultivares de videira com tratamento de água quente

Time-Restricted Feeding during Puberty Ameliorates Adiposity and Prevents Hepatic Steatosis in a Mouse Model of Childhood Obesity

: Background: Time restricted feeding (TRF) refers to dietary interventions in which food access is limited during a specific timeframe of the day. TRFs have proven useful in improving metabolic health in adult subjects with obesity. Their beneficial effects are mediated, in part, through modulating the circadian rhythm. Nevertheless, the translation of these dietary interventions onto obese/overweight children and adolescents remains uncharacterized. The objective of this study is to explore the feasibility of temporal dietary interventions for improving metabolic health in the context of childhood obesity. Methods: We have previously developed a mouse model of early adiposity (i.e., childhood obesity) through litter size reduction. Mice raised in small litters (SL) became obese as early as by two weeks of age, and as adults, they developed several obesity-related co-morbidities, including insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and hepatic steatosis. Here, we explored whether two independent short-term chrono-nutritional interventions might improve metabolic health in 1-month-old pre-pubertal SL mice. Both TRFs comprised 8 h feeding/14 h fasting. In the first one (TRF1) Control and SL mice had access to the diet for 8 h during the dark phase. In the second intervention (TRF2) food was available during the light:dark transitions. Results: TRF1 did not alter food intake nor ameliorate adiposity in SL-TRF1. In contrast, SL-TRF2 mice showed unintentional reduction of caloric intake, which was accompanied by reduced total body weight and adiposity. Strikingly, hepatic triglyceride content was completely normalized in SL-TRF1 and SL-TRF2 mice, when compared to the ad lib-fed SL mice. These effects were partially mediated by (i) clock-dependent signals, which might modulate the expression of Pparg or Cpt1a, and (ii) clockindependent signals, such as fasting itself, which could influence Fasn expression. Conclusions: Time-restricted feeding is an effective and feasible nutritional intervention to improve metabolic health, namely hepatic steatosis, in a model of childhood obesity. These data open new avenues for future safe and efficient chrono-nutritional interventions aimed to improve metabolic health in children with overweight/obesity

Lipase-catalyzed ethanolysis of Jatropha curcas L. oil assisted by ultrasonication

ABSTRACT Transesterification of non-edible oils using immobilized lipase is a promising process for biodiesel production. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the enzymatic transesterification of the non-edible Jatropha curcas oil for FAEE production under ultrasound irradiation in a solvent-free system. The effects of enzyme concentration, water concentration, molar ratio of ethanol to oil and ultrasound power on the FAEE conversion have been evaluated. The results show that enzyme concentration and irradiation power have a positive significant effect on FAEE conversion, where an increase in these variables leads to higher conversions. Conversion above 54% of FAEE was achieved with 1.5 hours of reaction time using ultrasound irradiation, reducing reaction time by at least 3 times, when compared with the same experimental conditions without ultrasound irradiation. Results showed that ultrasound can improve reaction conversion mainly by enhancing the mass transfer between the constituents of the reactions

Introduction to galenic pharmacy: a challenge in the first year of pharmacy

Este curso académico 2009-2010 se implanta el nuevo plan de estudios de Farmacia en la Universidad de Barcelona, diseñado según los planteamientos del EEES. Como consecuencia, y por primera vez en la historia de la Facultad de Farmacia de la UB, se imparte una asignatura troncal de cariz galénico en el primer año de la carrera. Esto constituye un nuevo reto para el Grupo de Innovación Docente de Tecnología Farmacéutica (GIDTF), dado que la asignatura Introducción a la Farmacia Galénica se ha de impartir a grandes grupos de estudiantes, al inicio de su carrera, mediante sesiones teóricas de 1,5 h. Excepcionalmente en este curso académico, la asignatura se imparte en el primer semestre y se repite en el segundo. En este trabajo se presenta el planteamiento metodológico presencial diseñado para esta asignatura, apoyado en estrategias no presenciales como foro de debate, recursos on-line, cuestionarios y tareas de autoevaluación a través de la plataforma Moodle del Campus Virtual de la UB, puesto que el equipo docente considera prioritario iniciar al estudiante en el uso de la misma en el primer año de carrera. Se han efectuado encuestas de satisfacción a los estudiantes que se han evaluado, así también como los resultados académicos obtenidos. En el análisis de los puntos fuertes y débiles de la metodología empleada, se han detectado evaluaciones positivas y también aspectos que podrían mejorarse, estableciendo las medidas correctoras adecuadas. En cuanto a los resultados académicos, han sido muy satisfactorios.This academic year 2009-2010, the new curriculum of Pharmacy according to the premises of the EHEA is started at the University of Barcelona. As a result, for the first time in the history of the Faculty of Pharmacy of UB, an obligatory galenic subject will be given during the first year of the career. This is a new challenge for Teaching Innovation Group of Pharmaceutical Technology (GIDTF), as the subject Introduction to Galenic Pharmacy is given by a team of teachers to large groups of students who began its career, through theoretical sessions of 1.5 h. The subject will be taught exceptionally this academic year in the first semester and repeated in the second. In this paper we present the methodological approach designed to face this subject, supported by virtual strategies as discussion forum, online resources, self-assessment test and work through the platform Moodle of the Virtual Campus UB, as the team considers it a priority to initiate the student in using it in the first year of pharmacy study. Were carried out satisfaction surveys to students and we have evaluated them, as well as academic performance. Through the analysis of the methodology, we detected positive evaluations and areas for improvement that have been used to establish appropriate corrective measures. Academic results have been very satisfactory.Este trabajo forma parte del proyecto de innovación docente 2009PID-UB/28 de la Universidad de Barcelona

Effects of Bifidobacterium animalis Subsp. lactis (BPL1) Supplementation in Children and Adolescents with Prader-Willi Syndrome : A Randomized Crossover Trial

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations, including obesity, hyperphagia, and behavioral problems. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain BPL1 has been shown to improve central adiposity in adults with simple obesity. To evaluate BPL1's effects in children with PWS, we performed a randomized crossover trial among 39 patients (mean age 10.4 years). Participants were randomized to placebo-BPL1 (n = 19) or BPL1-placebo (n = 20) sequences and underwent a 12-week period with placebo/BPL1 treatments, a 12-week washout period, and a 12-week period with the crossover treatment. Thirty-five subjects completed the study. The main outcome was changes in adiposity, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Secondary outcomes included lipid and glucose metabolism, hyperphagia, and mental health symptoms. Generalized linear modeling was applied to assess differences between treatments. While BPL1 did not modify total fat mass compared to placebo, BPL1 decreased abdominal adiposity in a subgroup of patients older than 4.5 years (n = 28). BPL1 improved fasting insulin concentration and insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, we observed modest improvements in some mental health symptoms. A follow-up trial with a longer treatment period is warranted to determine whether BPL1 supplementation can provide a long-term therapeutic approach for children with PWS (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03548480)