Effects of guavira fruit (Campomanesia adamantium) peel extract on performance and meat quality of broilers

This article assessed the performance, carcass yield, and meat quality of finishing broilers fed increasing levels of hydroethanolic extract of guavira fruit peel (HEGP) were assessed. A total of 480, three-weeks-old male broilers were randomly allocated to dietary levels of HEGP (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg/kg), with five replicates and 16 birds each. There was a quadratic effect of HEGP inclusion on weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), with the greatest WG and FCR being calculated at levels of 314 and 219 mg/kg HEGP, respectively. Broilers fed diets containing the extract had better performance than those fed an extract-free diet. There was no effect of extract inclusion on carcass yield and cuts. There was a quadratic effect of HEGP inclusion on a* (redness) of thigh meat at 15 min post-mortem, and on water-holding capacity (WHC), with the lowest and highest values being calculated at 270 mg/kg and 263 mg/kg HEGP, respectively. There was a quadratic influence of HEGP inclusion on the malonaldehyde content at 30-day storage, with highest value being calculated at 218 mg/kg HEGP. Dietary inclusion of 219 mg/kg of HEGP resulted in better FCR for broilers in the finishing phase but without improvement in meat quality

Estudo da Variação Intradiária das Concentrações de Pólen de Gramíneas na Atmosfera de Portugal Continental

Introdução: O pólen da família das Poaceae (gramíneas) é uma das principais fontes de aeroalergénios no mundo, particularmente na Europa Mediterrânica. Representa, por isso, um importante factor de risco de asma, rinite e/ou conjuntivite alérgica e constitui a principal causa de polinose em Portugal. Objectivo: Analisar a variação intradiária das concentrações de pólen de gramíneas na atmosfera das 5 estações de monitorização continentais da Rede Portuguesa de Aerobiologia (RPA): Porto, Coimbra, Lisboa, Évora e Portimão. Métodos: Neste estudo utilizaram -se os dados diários e horários das monitorizações de pólen de gramíneas das cinco estações de monitorização continentais da RPA, ao longo de 7 anos (2002 -2008). Resultados: Entre as localidades encontraram -se diferenças significativas, em termos de Estudo da variação intradiária das concentrações de pólen de gramíneas na atmosfera de Portugal Continental O pólen atmosférico de gramíneas constitui a principal causa de rinite, asma, conjuntivite e eczema nos indivíduos alérgicos ao pólen na área Mediterrânica1,2, nomeadamente em Portugal3,4. Dado que o pólen, particularmente o pólen de gramíneas, é um factor de risco para as doenças alérgicas respiratórias exercendo um impacto negativo sobre a qualidade de vida dos indivíduos sensibilizados, é de particular interesse, quer dos profissionais de saúde, quer do doente conhecer a sua distribuição intradiária, ou seja a variação horária das concentrações de pólen de gramíneas ao longo do dia, de modo a adequar de forma mais eficaz medidas de evicção e de intervenção terapêutica. curvas horárias. O pólen encontrou -se presente na atmosfera durante 24 horas em todas as localidades, e os valores das concentrações horárias variaram ao longo do dia e de ano para ano. As concentrações mais baixas registaram -se entre as 22 e as 6 horas e as mais elevadas, entre as 7 e as 21 horas, as quais em Évora ultrapassaram os 30 grãos de pólen/m3/hora. Em geral, registaram -se 2 picos de concentrações máximas, um de manhã (9 -10 horas) ou à tarde (12 -13 horas) e outro no final da tarde / início da noite (19 -20 horas). Conclusões: O ritmo diurno difere muito de local para local. Cada localidade tem o seu próprio padrão de variação das concentrações horárias do pólen atmosférico de gramíneas que se pode dever, quer às diferentes espécies presentes, quer às diferentes condições ambientais. O risco de exposição variou de localidade para localidade e ao longo do dia, sendo o Porto a localidade onde este é menor, enquanto Évora apresenta o maior risco

Disrupting MLC1 and GlialCAM and ClC-2 interactions in leukodystrophy entails glial chloride channel dysfunction

Defects in the astrocytic membrane protein MLC1, the adhesion molecule GlialCAM or the chloride channel ClC-2 underlie human leukoencephalopathies. Whereas GlialCAM binds ClC-2 and MLC1, and modifies ClC-2 currents in vitro, no functional connections between MLC1 and ClC-2 are known. Here we investigate this by generating loss-of-function Glialcam and Mlc1 mouse models manifesting myelin vacuolization. We find that ClC-2 is unnecessary for MLC1 and GlialCAM localization in brain, whereas GlialCAM is important for targeting MLC1 and ClC-2 to specialized glial domains in vivo and for modifying ClC-2's biophysical properties specifically in oligodendrocytes (OLs), the cells chiefly affected by vacuolization. Unexpectedly, MLC1 is crucial for proper localization of GlialCAM and ClC-2, and for changing ClC-2 currents. Our data unmask an unforeseen functional relationship between MLC1 and ClC-2 in vivo, which is probably mediated by GlialCAM, and suggest that ClC-2 participates in the pathogenesis of megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts

Semi-industrial development of nutritious and healthy seafood dishes from sustainable species

This study aimed to devise innovative, tailor-made, appealing, tasty and semi-industrialized dishes, using sustainable and under-utilized seafood species (bib, common dab, common carp, blue mussel and blue whiting), that can meet the specific nutritional and functional needs of children (8-10-years), pregnant women (20-40-years) and seniors (≥60-years). Hence, contests were organised among cooking schools from 6 European countries and the best recipes/dishes were reformulated, semi-industrially produced and chemically and microbiologically evaluated. The dishes intended for: (i) children and pregnant women had EPA + DHA and I levels that reached the target quantities, supporting the claim as “high in I”; and (ii) seniors were “high in protein” (24.8%-Soup_S and 34.0%-Balls_S of the energy was provided by proteins), “high in vitamin B12”, and had Na contents (≤0.4%) below the defined limit. All dishes reached the vitamin D target value. Sausages_C, Roulade_P, Fillet_P and Balls_S had a well-balanced protein/fat ratio. Roulade_P presented the highest n-3 PUFA/n-6 PUFA ratio (3.3), while Sausages_C the lowest SFA/UNS ratio (0.2). Dishes were considered safe based on different parameters (e.g. Hg-T, PBDEs, Escherichia coli). All represent dietary sources contributing to meet the reference intakes of target nutrients (33->100%), providing valuable options to overcome nutritional and functional imbalances of the three groups.This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement no. 773400 (SEAFOODTOMORROW). This work was also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CEX 2018-000794-S), the Generalitat de Catalunya (Consolidated Research Group Water and Soil Quality Unit 2017 SGR 1404) and Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MCTES) through national funds (UID/QUI/50006/2019, UIDB/50006/2020, UIDP/50006/2020, UIDB/04423/2020 and UIDP/04423/2020). The authors also thank FCT and the European Union's H2020 Research and Innovation Programme for funding through the project Systemic - An integrated approach to the challenge of sustainable food systems: adaptive and mitigatory strategies to address climate change and malnutrition. Sara Cunha also acknowledges FCT for the IF/01616/2015 contract. Biotage is acknowledged for providing SPE cartridges and Bekolut for the QuEChERS kits. This output reflects the views only of the author(s), and the European Union cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein

Protecção integrada em tomate de indústria: modelo de previsão do míldio

In Portugal, the processing tomato is of great economical importance. The maintenance of the quality of the final product is of growing preoccupation due to the ever increasing consumer demand. IPM has been considered as the best alternative due to the guarantee of some of these demands, in particular the non existence of pesticide residues. The objectives of the work carried out in the Ribatejo were to establish risk assessment methodologies and decision rules for the main enemies of the tomato crop and also to contribute for IPM development in this area. Of these main enemies late blight and the fruitworm are of great importance and determine the treatment schemes. The rationalization of the treatments is based on: the reduction of the fungicide interventions by better timing and the substitution of the insecticides by non chemical alternatives. For the prior we intend to adapt an existing model the “Tom-cast” which is largely used in Mexico. The present study presents the model and describes the first steps that have been taken in validating the model in the conditions of the Ribatejo. The results are an indication of the strong potential of the model. The next two years prospects and orientation are also presented

Second Workshop on Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) (WKCOLIAS2)

The Atlantic chub mackerel Scomber colias has become an increasingly important commercial species in the European Atlantic waters in the last 10–15 years, probably through an expansion process from NW African waters and due to market needs. However, at present there are no assessment or advice requirements. In the WK framework, available information of the species in the West Atlantic waters has been compiled in order to evaluate possible geographical differences and trends, and the feasibility to describe its population structure. Though the Atlantic chub mackerel is not routinely included among the target species in the acoustic surveys performed in the Atlantic Iberian waters and the Mediterranean Sea, a synoptic overview of the species is possible over all its West Atlantic distribution. Moreover, the data available have indicated latitudinal trends, mainly in the landings’ length composition, L50 and the spawning periods. Nevertheless, even if some degree of connectivity likely exists and migrations are occurring between adjacent areas, some subunits could be considered for management purposes. From the assessment models’ trials carried out, the results or reference points obtained for the European fisheries cannot be retained at present. Therefore, continuing collating information from fisheries and biological sampling of the species, obtaining reliable biomass estimations from scientific surveys and identifying management units seem the main priorities to address in future research work and in case of assessment requirements

Phenazine N,N′-dioxide scaffold as selective hypoxic cytotoxin pharmacophore. Structural modifications looking for further DNA topoisomerase II-inhibition activity

Phenazine-5,10-dioxides have been identified as prodrugs for antitumour therapy that undergo hypoxic-selective bioreduction, in the solid tumour cells, to form cytotoxic species. We investigated structural modifications of the phenazine-5,10-dioxide scaffold attempting to find new selective hypoxic cytotoxins with additional ability to inhibit DNA topoisomerase II. Four series of new phenazine-5,10-dioxides aryl-substituted connected by different linkers were prepared. The clonogenic survivals of V79 cells on aerobic and anaerobic conditions were determined, and studies of oxic DNA-interaction and hypoxic DNA topoisomerase II-inhibition, for the most relevant derivatives, were performed. Four new hypoxic-selective cytotoxins were identified at the assayed doses. In some of them were operative the DNA-interaction and/or the inhibition of DNA topoisomerase II. For one of the unselective cytotoxin biotransformation studies were performed on aerobic and anaerobic conditions, explaining the lack of selectivity