70 research outputs found
Production of fructooligosaccharides and b-fructofuranosidase by batch and repeated batch fermentation with immobilized cells of Penicillium expansum
The production of fructooligosaccharides
(FOS) and b-fructofuranosidase (FFase) by immobilized
cells of Penicillium expansum was evaluated. In an initial
stage, different low-cost materials including synthetic fiber,
polyurethane foam, stainless steel sponge, loofah sponge,
and cork oak were tested as carrier for the fungus immobilization.
Additionally, the influence of the inoculum age
(1 or 3 weeks) on cells immobilization, FOS and FFase
production was also verified. Synthetic fiber and polyurethane
foam were the best materials for P. expansum
immobilization (2.21 and 1.98 g/g carrier, respectively)
and FOS production (120.3 and 104.8 g/l), and gave also
high results of FFase activity (23.01 and 32.42 U/ml).
Then, the production of FOS and FFase by repeated batch
fermentation with P. expansum immobilized on synthetic
fiber was studied, aiming to improve the batch fermentation
results. The results obtained in this stage were very
promising with FOS yields of 87, 72, and 44 %, in the 3
initial cycles (60 h), respectively; the FFase activity was
constant throughout the process (6 cycles, 96 h). Repeated
batch fermentation with immobilized cells of P. expansum
was found as being a technology with great potential for
FOS and FFase production on industrial scaleThe financial support from FCT, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (research grant SFRH/BPD/38212/2007) is gratefully acknowledged
Amblyomma nodosum (Neumann, 1899): observations on life cycle under laboratory conditions
The influence of polygenic risk for bipolar disorder on neural activation assessed using fMRI
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have demonstrated a significant polygenic contribution to bipolar disorder (BD) where disease risk is determined by the summation of many alleles of small individual magnitude. Modelling polygenic risk scores may be a powerful way of identifying disrupted brain regions whose genetic architecture is related to that of BD. We determined the extent to which common genetic variation underlying risk to BD affected neural activation during an executive processing/language task in individuals at familial risk of BD and healthy controls. Polygenic risk scores were calculated for each individual based on GWAS data from the Psychiatric GWAS Consortium Bipolar Disorder Working Group (PGC-BD) of over 16â000 subjects. The familial group had a significantly higher polygene score than the control group (P=0.04). There were no significant group by polygene interaction effects in terms of association with brain activation. However, we did find that an increasing polygenic risk allele load for BD was associated with increased activation in limbic regions previously implicated in BD, including the anterior cingulate cortex and amygdala, across both groups. The findings suggest that this novel polygenic approach to examine brain-imaging data may be a useful means of identifying genetically mediated traits mechanistically linked to the aetiology of BD
An overview of the recent developments on fructooligosaccharide production and applications
Over the past years, many researchers have suggested
that deficiencies in the diet can lead to disease states
and that some diseases can be avoided through an adequate
intake of relevant dietary components. Recently, a great interest
in dietary modulation of the human gut has been registered.
Prebiotics, such as fructooligosaccharides (FOS), play a key
role in the improvement of gut microbiota balance and in
individual health. FOS are generally used as components of
functional foods, are generally regarded as safe (generally
recognized as safe statusâfrom the Food and Drug Administration,
USA), and worth about 150⏠per kilogram. Due to
their nutrition- and health-relevant properties, such as moderate
sweetness, low carcinogenicity, low calorimetric value,
and low glycemic index, FOS have been increasingly used
by the food industry. Conventionally, FOS are produced
through a two-stage process that requires an enzyme production
and purification step in order to proceed with the chemical
reaction itself. Several studies have been conducted on the
production of FOS, aiming its optimization toward the development
of more efficient production processes and their potential
as food ingredients. The improvement of FOS yield and
productivity can be achieved by the use of different fermentative
methods and different microbial sources of FOS producing
enzymes and the optimization of nutritional and
culture parameter; therefore, this review focuses on the latest
progresses in FOS research such as its production, functional
properties, and market data.Agencia de Inovacao (AdI)-Project BIOLIFE reference PRIME 03/347. Ana Dominguez acknowledges Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, Portugal, for her PhD grant reference SFRH/BD/23083/2005
2 nd Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease, 2015
Abstract Chagas disease is a neglected chronic condition with a high burden of morbidity and mortality. It has considerable psychological, social, and economic impacts. The disease represents a significant public health issue in Brazil, with different regional patterns. This document presents the evidence that resulted in the Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease. The objective was to review and standardize strategies for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control of Chagas disease in the country, based on the available scientific evidence. The consensus is based on the articulation and strategic contribution of renowned Brazilian experts with knowledge and experience on various aspects of the disease. It is the result of a close collaboration between the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine and the Ministry of Health. It is hoped that this document will strengthen the development of integrated actions against Chagas disease in the country, focusing on epidemiology, management, comprehensive care (including families and communities), communication, information, education, and research
Antibodies for Rickettsia spp. in patients with negative serology for dengue virus, leptospirosis, and meningococcal disease in municipalities of SĂŁo Paulo State, Brazil
The precarious livelihood in waste dumps: a report on food insecurity and hunger among recyclable waste collectors
Effects of heterologous platelet-rich plasma gel on standardized dermal wound healing in rabbits
The flora and vegetation of rocky outcrops in three municipalities in the northern region of CearĂĄ, Brazil: phytosociological characterization
Veja material suplementar em <https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5915233.v2O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar a flora e a vegetação dos afloramentos rochosos isolados e
de baixa altitude (lajedos), na vegetação de Caatinga Arbustiva Aberta, que se encontram nos municĂpios de
Sobral, GroaĂras e Santa QuitĂ©ria, no estado do CearĂĄ, Brasil e propor uma classificação fitossociolĂłgica para
estas comunidades xerófilas. Foram definidas cinco åreas de coleta de dados com elevada proporção de rochas
expostas (> 80%) onde as excursĂ”es de campo decorreram em março de 2014 e 2015 (3Âș56âS e 40Âș23âW, 4Âș01âS
e 40Âș05âW, 4Âș07âS e 40Âș08âW, 4Âș09âS e 40Âș09âW e 4Âș03âS e 40Âș00âW). No estudo da vegetação aplicou-se os
métodos TWINSPAN (two-way indicator species analysis) e o clåssico sigmatista de Braun-Blanquet. As åreas
mĂnimas dos inventĂĄrios fitossociolĂłgicos variaram de 8 a 16 m2. Foram coletadas as espĂ©cies vegetais que
crescem em fissuras, fendas e ilhas de vegetação que se encontram em afloramentos rochosos. Foram registradas
88 espĂ©cies, distribuĂdas em 59 gĂȘneros e 30 famĂlias botĂąnicas. Fabaceae foi a famĂlia que se destacou em riqueza
especĂfica (20 spp.), seguida por Poaceae (dez spp.), Euphorbiaceae (sete spp.) e Convolvulaceae (seis spp.).
Quanto ao endemismo foram registradas, em vegetação rupestre, 19 espĂ©cies endĂȘmicas para o Brasil. Na anĂĄlise
fitossociológica da vegetação propÎs-se estudar a comunidade de Pilosocereus gounellei (FA.C.Weber) Byles &
Rowley e Encholirium spectabile Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f. e a de Crateva tapia L. e Combretum leprosum Martinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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