Application of edible coatings on minimally processed strawberries

Orientador: Miriam Dupas HubingerDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de AlimentosResumo: O morango é um pseudofruto não climatérico e que possui uma curta vida útil após a colheita. Dentre os fatores responsáveis pela perda de qualidade dos morangos estão a alta atividade metabólica e alta susceptibilidade ao ataque microbiano, principalmente fungos. O objetivo no presente trabalho foi estudar o efeito da aplicação de coberturas comestíveis a base de fécula de mandioca, adicionadas ou não do antimicrobiano sorbato de potássio, nas características físico-químicas e microbiológicas determinantes da vida útil de morangos minimamente processados, armazenados a 5ºC. Primeiramente, foram aplicadas aos morangos coberturas contendo 1%, 2% e 3% de fécula de mandioca, adicionadas ou não de 0,05% e 0,1% de sorbato de potássio com o objetivo de verificar alguma alteração significativa nas características da fruta 24h após o tratamento. A aplicação das coberturas não alterou significativamente as propriedades mecânicas (força máxima de penetração e ruptura) e a cor dos morangos; todos os tratamentos foram bem avaliados sensorialmente (todas as notas acima de 4,5), indicando que não houve rejeição do consumidor pelas coberturas. Verificou-se que coberturas com maiores concentrações de fécula de mandioca foram eficientes em reduzir a taxa de respiração e aumentar a resistência à difusão de água das amostras. O sorbato de potássio teve efeito significativo apenas na resistência à difusão de água, e, entre as duas concentrações estudadas, não foram observadas diferenças significativas. Com base nestes resultados e visando o menor custo, coberturas contendo 3% de fécula de mandioca e 3% de fécula de mandioca + 0,05% de sorbato de potássio foram selecionadas para o estudo da vida útil. Neste estudo verificou-se que, ao longo de 15 dias de armazenamento a 5ºC, as coberturas foram eficientes em reduzir a perda de peso, a taxa de respiração e a perda firmeza das amostras. O teor de antocianinas das amostras com cobertura não sofreu alterações significativas ao longo do armazenamento; no entanto, para a amostra controle, um aumento significativo foi observado no 15º dia. Todos os tratamentos foram bem avaliados sensorialmente, com notas acima do limite de aceitabilidade (4,5). O fator determinante da vida útil dos morangos minimamente processados foi a contaminação pontual observada nas amostras. As amostras controle e as tratadas com 3% de fécula de mandioca + 0,05% de sorbato de potássio apresentaram vida útil de 9 dias, em função da contaminação fúngica. Já morangos tratados com 3% fécula de mandioca obtiveram vida útil de 12 dias, indicando que apenas a cobertura sem sorbato de potássio permitiu um prolongamento da vida útil dos morangos minimamente processadosAbstract: Strawberry is a non climacteric fruit and presents a short postharvest shelflife. Among the main factors for quality loss of strawberries are the high metabolic activity and mold decay. The aim of this work was to study the effect of the application of cassava starch edible coatings, with or without of the antimicrobial potassium sorbate as additive, on the physical-chemical and microbiological characteristics, responsible for the shelf life of minimally processed strawberries, stored at 5ºC. Initially, strawberries were treated with edible coatings containing 1%, 2% or 3% of cassava starch, with or without 0.05% or 0.1% of potassium sorbate, in order to verify any significant change on strawberry characteristics, after 24h of the coating application. Mechanical properties (maximum penetration and rupture forces) and strawberry color were not affected by the coating application and all treatments received good grades on the sensory analyses (all scores above 4,5). It was observed that coatings with higher starch concentrations efficiently reduced the respiration rate and increased water vapor resistance. The addition of potassium sorbate in the coating increased water vapor resistance but no statistical differences were observed between the two concentrations employed. Considering these results and seeking the lower coating cost, coatings containing 3% of cassava starch and 3% of cassava starch + 0.05% of potassium sorbate were the selected conditions to be used in the shelf life study of minimally processed strawberries. During the shelf life study, it was observed that edible coatings were efficient in reducing weight loss, respiration rate and firmness loss of samples for 15 days of storage at 5ºC. Changes in anthocyanin content were not observed on coated samples during storage; for the control samples, a significant increase was observed on the 15th day. All treatments presented good sensory acceptance. Control samples and the samples treated with the coating containing potassium sorbate showed a reduced shelf life of 9 days due to microbial spoilage. A shelf-life of 12 days was obtained for samples coated with 3% of cassava starch, indicating that the coating without the antimicrobial was efficient in increasing the shelf life of minimally processed strawberriesMestradoMestre em Engenharia de Alimento

Amizade e Migração Internacional: O Caso de Gregos no Espírito Santo

O processo de migração internacional afeta os relacionamentos de imigrantes de diferentes formas, incluindo suas amizades. A presente investigação teve por objetivo descrever as amizades de imigrantes gregos no Brasil à luz do processo de migração internacional e as relações percebidas entre essas amizades e o contexto social a partir de entrevistas com 10 imigrantes estabelecidos no Brasil havia mais de 10 anos. Os resultados indicaram que as amizades estavam associadas à percepção da receptividade do país e adaptação ao Brasil. Mudanças nas amizades anteriores à migração e o papel da comunidade grega nas amizades dos migrantes também foram investigados. Os dados são discutidos com base nas propostas de Hinde para o estudo do relacionamento interpessoal.The process of international migration affects relationships of immigrants in different ways, including their friendships. The present study aimed to describe the friendships of Greek immigrants in Brazil in light of the process of international migration and the perceived relations between these friendships and social context based on interviews with 10 immigrants settled in Brazil for over 10 years. The results indicated that friendships were associated with the perception of receptivity as well as adaptation to the new country. Changes in friendships prior to migration and the role of the Greek community in friendships were also investigated. The data are discussed based on the proposals of Hinde for the study of interpersonal relationships

A novel VIVO–pyrimidinone complex: synthesis, solution speciation and human serum protein binding

The pyrimidinones mhcpe, 2-methyl-3H-5-hydroxy-6-carboxy-4-pyrimidinone ethyl ester (mhcpe, 1), 2,3- dimethyl-5-benzyloxy-6-carboxy-4-pyrimidinone ethyl ester (dbcpe, 2) and N-methyl-2,3-dimethyl-5- hydroxy-6-carboxyamido-4-pyrimidinone (N-MeHOPY, 3), are synthesized and their structures determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The acid–base properties of 1 are studied by potentiometric and spectrophotometric methods, the pKa values being 1.14 and 6.35. DFT calculations were carried out to determine the most stable structure for each of the H2L+, HL and L− forms (HL = mhcpe) and assign the groups involved in the protonation–deprotonation processes. The mhcpe− ligand forms stable complexes with VIVO2+ in the pH range 2 to 10, and potentiometry, EPR and UV-Vis techniques are used to identify and characterize the VIVO–mhcpe species formed. The results are consistent with the formation of VIVO, (VIVO)L, (VIVO)L2, (VIVO)2L2H−2, (VIVO)L2H−1, (VIVO)2L2H−3, (VIVO)LH−2 species and VIVO-hydrolysis products. Calculations indicate that the global binding ability of mhcpe towards VIVO2+ is similar to that of maltol (Hmaltol = 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one) and lower than that of 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4- pyridinone (Hdhp). The interaction of VIVO-complexes with human plasma proteins (transferrin and albumin) is studied by circular dichroism (CD), EPR and 51V NMR spectroscopy. VIVO–mhcpe–protein ternary complexes are formed in both cases. The binding of VIVO2+ to transferrin (hTF) in the presence of mhcpe involves mainly (VIVO)1(hTF)(mhcpe)1, (VIVO)2(hTF)(mhcpe)1 and (VIVO)2(hTF)(mhcpe)2 species, bound at the FeIII binding sites, and the corresponding conditional formation constants are determined. Under the conditions expected to prevail in human blood serum, CD data indicate that the VIVO–mhcpe complexes mainly bind to hTF; the formation of VIVO–hTF–mhcpe complexes occurs in the presence of FeIII as well, distinct EPR signals being clearly obtained for FeIII–hTF and to VIVO–hTF–mhcpe species. Thus this study indicates that transferrin plays the major role in the transport of VIVO–mhcpe complexes under blood plasma conditions in the form of ternary VIV–ligand–protein complexes.The authors are grateful to the Fundo Europeu para o Desenvolvimento Regional, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), the POCI 2010 Programme, the Portuguese NMR Network (IST-UTL Center), PEst-OE/QUI/UI0100/2011, University of A Coruña and the Spanish-Portuguese Bilateral Programme (Acção Integrada E-56/05, Acción integrada HP2004- 0074)

Early mobilization in ischemic stroke : a pilot randomized trial of safety and feasibility in a public hospital in Brazil

Abstract Background: The effect of early mobilization after acute stroke is still unclear, although some studies have suggested improvement in outcomes. We conducted a randomized, single-blind, controlled trial seeking to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and benefit of early mobilization for patients with acute ischemic stroke treated in a public teaching hospital in Southern Brazil. This report presents the feasibility and safety findings for the pilot phase of this trial. Methods: The primary outcomes were time to first mobilization, total duration of mobilization, complications during early mobilization, falls within 3 months, mortality within 3 months, and medical complications of immobility. We included adult patients with CT- or MRI-confirmed ischemic stroke within 48 h of symptom onset who were admitted from March to November 2012 to the acute vascular unit or general emergency unit of a large urban emergency department (ED) at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. The severity of the neurological deficit on admission was assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The NIHSS and modified Rankin Scale (mRS, functional outcome) scores were assessed on day 14 or at discharge as well as at 3 months. Activities of daily living (ADL) were measured with the modified Barthel Index (mBI) at 3 months. Results: Thirty-seven patients (mean age 65 years, mean NIHSS score 11) were randomly allocated to an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). The IG received earlier (p = 0.001) and more frequent (p < 0.0001) mobilization than the CG. Of the 19 patients in the CG, only 5 (26%) underwent a physical therapy program during hospitalization. No complications (symptomatic hypotension or worsening of neurological symptoms) were observed in association with early mobilization. The rates of complications of immobility (pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis) and mortality were similar in the two groups. No statistically significant differences in functional independence, disability, or ADL (mBI ≥ 85) were observed between the groups at the 3-month follow-up. Conclusions: This pilot trial conducted at a public hospital in Brazil suggests that early mobilization after acute ischemic stroke is safe and feasible. Despite some challenges and limitations, early mobilization was successfully implemented, even in the setting of a large, complex ED, and without complications. Patients from the IG were mobilized much earlier than controls receiving the standard care provided in most Brazilian hospitals

Anemia as the cause of clinical inability of candidates to blood donation for a hemotherapy and hematology center in the state of Maranhão, Brazil

Objetivo: Avaliar a anemia como causa de inaptidão clínica de candidatos a doação de sangue no estado do Maranhão. Métodos: Este estudo trata de uma série temporal da prevalência de anemia entre os candidatos doadores de sangue. Foram coletados dados secundários do Sistema de Informação do Hemocentro do Maranhão. Os candidatos a doação foram atendidos entre os anos de 2001 e 2010. A análise estatística foi realizada com Epi Info versão 6.04d. Os dados foram considerados estatisticamente significativos quando p &lt;0,05. Resultados: A proporção de inaptidão clínica foi de 16,8% (n=1,672) sendo desses 63,27% (n=6,198) eram homens. Considerando-se o grupo de inaptos, a anemia foi a segunda causa mais frequente com 16.68% (n= 16,729). Nos homens, o uso de drogas foi a causa mais frequente de inaptidão (90.94%; n= 650) e a anemia foi a última causa com 28.76% (n=458). Em mulheres a anemia representou a maior causa de inaptidão clínica (71.24%; p=0,000). Conclusão: A anemia configura-se como causa importante de inaptidão, principalmente em mulheres, sendo a primeira.Objective: To evaluate anemia as a cause of clinical disability in blood donors in the state of Maranhão- Brazil. Methods: This study addresses a time series of prevalence of anemia among blood donor candidates. Secondary data were collected from the Information System of the Blood Center of Maranhão. Donor candidates were treated between 2001 and 2010. Statistical analysis was performed with Epi Info version 6.04d. Results: The proportion of clinical disability was 16.8% (n = 1,672) and 63.27% (n = 6,198) consisted of men. Considering the unfit group, anemia was the second most frequent cause with 16.68% (n = 16,729). In men, drug use was the most frequent cause of inability (90.94%, n = 650) and anemia was the last cause with 28.76% (n = 458). In women, anemia was the major cause of clinical inability (71.24%, p = 0.000). Conclusion: Anemia is an important cause of inability, and in women it is the first one

USE OF PROPOLIS ASSOCIATED WITH HONEY AND ALBUMIN POWDER WOUND HEALING IN PATIENTS WITH SECONDARY MYIASIS - REPORT OF TWO CASES

Miíase necrobiontófaga ou secundária é causada por larvas de moscas não parasitas obrigatórias que infestam áreas em que há perda de integridade do tegumento, causando grandes devastações, estando a gravidade do quadro dependente da localização da lesão e do grau de destruição do tecido. Demonstramos dois casos clínicos exuberantes de miíase secundária em lesões de solução de continuidade, com sucesso terapêutico, sendo proposto de maneira auxiliar ao tratamento convencional com ivermectina o uso tópico de uma mistura cicatrizante constituída de mel, albumina em pó e própolis.Necrotrophic or secondary myiasis is caused by facultative fly larvae by infestating areas in which there is loss of integrity of the skin, causing widespread devastation, with severity of the condition depending on the location of the lesion and the degree of tissue destruction. We demonstrate two exuberant clinical cases of secondary myiasis in lesions with solution of continuity, with therapeutic success, proposing to assist the conventional treatment with ivermec tin the topical use of a healing mixture consisting of honey, albumin powder and propolis

Influência do Fator Socioeconômico no Comportamento dos Adolescentes em Relação à Saúde Bucal

The objective of this study was to analyze the behavior of adolescents in respect to the habits of oral hygiene and the influence of the socioeconomic variable in the city of Caruaru-PE. 279 students were interviewed with a semi-structured form, with open and closed questions, 139 from a public school and 140 from a private school, in 2006. The statistical test used was the Chi-square. The dental surgeon was the main source of information on mouth diseases ( 80.2%). The number of daily brushing presented a significant difference in each type of school, the majority receiving orientation from the dental surgeon on the subject (96.1%) and a smaller number on the type of toothbrush (58.1%), although these without a significant difference. 94.9% answered that there are situations in which they take longer brushing (p>0.05), but the answers when going out and halitosis showed a significant difference in the two types of school. A percentage of 66.1% reported to use dental floss (p0.05. The period of the last consult to the dental surgeon (less than a year, 62.2%), prevention (52.2%) and fillings (21%) as motive for the consult were the data that presented significant difference in the types of school. Regional studies, with the intent of contributing to the implementation of oral health programs, attempting to reverse unsatisfactory indexes, as well as to make possible the elaboration of oral health indicators in adolescence are necessary.O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o comportamento do adolescente em relação aos hábitos de higiene oral e a influência da variável socioeconômica no município de Caruaru-PE. Para isso foram entrevistados com um formulário semi-estruturado com perguntas abertas e fechadas, 279 alunos, 139 de uma escola pública e 140 de uma escola particular no ano de 2006. O teste estatístico utilizado foi o Qui-quadrado. O cirurgião-dentista foi à principal fonte de informação sobre doenças bucais (80,2%). O número de escovações diárias, apresentou diferença significativa entre os dois tipos de escola, sendo que a maioria recebeu orientações do cirurgião-dentista sobre o assunto (96,1%) e um menor número quanto ao tipo de escova (58,1%), porém estes últimos sem diferença significativa. 94,9% respondeu que há situações em que demoram mais na escovação (p0,05. O período da última consulta ao cirurgião-dentista (menos de um ano, 62,2%), a prevenção (52,2%) e a obturação (21%) como motivo da consulta foram os dados que apresentaram diferença significativa entre os dois tipos de escola. Estudos regionais, com vistas a contribuir com a implementação de programas em saúde bucal, na tentativa de reversão dos índices insatisfatórios, assim como possibilitar a elaboração de indicadores de saúde bucal na adolescência se fazem necessários

Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London