Projeto Balal Gainako – projeto de dinamização dos sistemas de produção pecuários nos sectores de Pitche e Gabú (Guiné-Bissau): implementação do maneio alimentar

Os efetivos bovinos da região de Gabú (Guiné-Bissau), além das limitações naturais impostas pela produtividade da raça e pelas doenças endémicas, estão sujeitos a um forte stress alimentar na estação seca. A experiência internacional mostra que as espécies arbóreas e arbustivas indígenas, ou alóctones, produtoras de forragem de elevado valor nutritivo, rica em proteína bruta, integradas em sistemas agrosilvopastoris, são uma solução técnica eficaz e eficiente para obviar a escassez de alimentos animais nos períodos secos, nas áreas tropicais de chuvas sazonais. A estruturação de sistemas agro-silvopastoris para a área de estudo envolveu nove etapas metodológicas, entre as quais: (i) seleção e entrevista no campo de informantes locais; (ii) identificação e seleção, à escala da espécie, das plantas autóctones de maior interesse veterinário ou na alimentação animal; (iii) elaboração de uma proposta modelo de recolha, multiplicação e distribuiçãode germoplasma das espécies selecionadas (autóctones e alóctones). Foram identificadas 10 espécies autóctones de interesse potencial, das quais foram selecionadas para multiplicação: Faidherbia albida (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae), Afzelia africana (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae), Dichrostachys cinerea (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae), Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) e Prosopis africana (Fabaceae, Faboideae). As espécies indígenas são insuficientes para cumprir os objectivos do projeto. Entre as espécies arbóreas forrageiras alóctones de uso corrente em sistemas silvo-pastoris em outros países africanos, elegeram-se para multiplicação e distribuição duas leguminosas de origem centro-americana: Gliricidia sepium e a Leucaena leucocephala

Omacetaxine may have a role in chronic myeloid leukaemia eradication through downregulation of Mcl-1 and induction of apoptosis in stem/progenitor cells

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is maintained by a rare population of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-insensitive malignant stem cells. Our long-term aim is to find a BcrAbl-independent drug that can be combined with a TKI to improve overall disease response in chronic-phase CML. Omacetaxine mepesuccinate, a first in class cetaxine, has been evaluated by clinical trials in TKI-insensitive/resistant CML. Omacetaxine inhibits synthesis of anti-apoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family, including (myeloid cell leukaemia) Mcl-1, leading to cell death. Omacetaxine effectively induced apoptosis in primary CML stem cells (CD34<sup>+</sup>38<sup>lo</sup>) by downregulation of Mcl-1 protein. In contrast to our previous findings with TKIs, omacetaxine did not accumulate undivided cells <i>in vitro</i>. Furthermore, the functionality of surviving stem cells following omacetaxine exposure was significantly reduced in a dose-dependant manner, as determined by colony forming cell and the more stringent long-term culture initiating cell colony assays. This stem cell-directed activity was not limited to CML stem cells as both normal and non-CML CD34<sup>+</sup> cells were sensitive to inhibition. Thus, although omacetaxine is not leukaemia stem cell specific, its ability to induce apoptosis of leukaemic stem cells distinguishes it from TKIs and creates the potential for a curative strategy for persistent disease

International survey of Cronobacter sakazakii and other Cronobacter spp. in follow up formulas and infant food

A coordinated survey for Cronobacter and related organisms in powdered infant formula, follow up formula and infant foods was undertaken by 8 laboratories in 7 countries in recognition of and in response to the data needs identified in an FAO/WHO call for data in order to develop global risk management guidance for these products. The products (domestic and imported) were purchased from the local market and were categorised according to their principle ingredients. A total of 290 products were analysed using a standardised procedure of pre-enrichment in 225 ml Buffered Peptone Water (BPW), followed by enrichment in Enterobacteriaceae Enrichment (EE) broth, plating on the chromogenic Cronobacter Druggan–Forsythe–Iversen (DFI) agar and presumptive identification with ID 32 E. Presumptive Cronobacter isolates were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Aerobic plate counts (APC) of the products were also determined on nutrient agar. Fourteen samples had APC > 105 cfu/g, 3 of which contained probiotic cultures. C. sakazakii was isolated from 27 products; 3/91 (3%) follow up formulas (as defined by Codex Alimentarius Commission), and 24/199 (12%) infant foods and drinks. Hence C. sakazakii was less prevalent in follow up formula than other foods given to infants over the same age range. A range of other bacteria were also isolated from follow up formulas, including Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii, and Serratia ficaria. There was significant variation in the reconstitution instructions for follow up formulas. These included using water at temperatures which would enable bacterial growth. Additionally, the definition of follow up formula varied between countries

El artificio de la nada en la obra del joven Sota

Este texto profundiza en cinco interiores, cinco locales comerciales, proyectados por Alejandro de la Sota entre 1952 y 1953. Durante estos dos años de supuesta inactividad el joven Sota fundó su corpus conceptual. Aunque en su mayoría frustrados, y a pesar de la distancia formal y su entrega a la expresión y la sensualidad, estos proyectos comparten la raíz poética –el vocabulario sotiano– con las obras maestras que produjo inmediatamente después. El maestro gallego evolucionó desde estrategias fondo-figura en los primeros proyectos hasta llegar a la anulación del entorno, la nada, como espacio expositivo ideal. La nada, el silencio, el vacío, la ausencia o la desaparición, que tanto resonarán en la obra posterior, fue literal y artificiosa en estas primeras tentativas. El morbo de explorar territorio prohibido, las obras posteriores, la habilidad para escapar del entorno y el esfuerzo de Sota en crearse una personalidad artística propia justifican esta investigación

Efficacy of electrolyzed water to inactivate foodborne pathogens on fresh-cut apples

Chlorine is the most common disinfectant used in the fresh-cut industry but nowadays environmental and health risks have led to the need to find new sanitizers. Electrolyzed water (EW) appears to be a promising alternative. In this work, disinfection efficacy of acidic (AEW) and neutral (NEW) electrolyzed water in fresh-cut apple slices inoculated with Escherichia coli, Listeria innocua or Salmonella choleraesuis was studied. Apple slices were inoculated with a 10(7) cfu/ml suspension of pathogens and treated with the sanitizer EW solutions, with 100 or 50 ppm of free chlorine solutions and with distilled water. Population reduction was determined 30 min after washings and untreated apple slices were used as control in all assays. AEW100 was the treatment with more effective bactericidal activity followed by NEW100 and AEW50. EW had higher or similar efficacy than chlorine treatments in all tested conditions

The Q2Q^2 dependence of the measured asymmetry A1A_1: the test of the Bjorken sum rule

We analyse the proton and deutron data on spin dependent asymmetry $A_1(x,Q^2)$ supposing the DIS structure functions $g_1(x,Q^2)$ and $F_3(x,Q^2)$ have the similar $Q^2$-dependence. As a result, we have obtained that $\Gamma_1^p - \Gamma_1^n = 0.190 \pm 0.038$ at $Q^2= 10 GeV^2$ and $\Gamma_1^p - \Gamma_1^n = 0.165 \pm 0.026$ at $Q^2= 3 GeV^2$, what is in the best agreement with the Bjorken sum rule predictions.Comment: LaTeX, 5 pages, no figures, to be published in JETP Letter

Innovating portuguese traditional pastry – on the use of pasteurised egg yolk in “ovos moles”

“Ovos moles” is a renowned traditional Portuguese sweet that is confectioned with egg yolk, sugar and water. In this work a safer and easier to manipulate raw material - pasteurised liquid egg yolk - is proposed to substitute the intact shell eggs used in traditional “ovos moles” production. Due to previous heat treatment, pasteurised liquid egg yolk presents different sensorial, nutritional and physical properties. These changes may alter the final product’s characteristics. In order to develop a safer formulation, using pasteurised raw products, with minimised differences from the traditional product, a study on adding pasteurised egg white (as bulking agent) to the pasteurised liquid yolk was carried out. Samples made with normal shell eggs and with pasteurised liquid eggs were compared in terms of rheological parameters. Results allow characterising the physical properties of traditional ovos moles and of alternative formulations, using pasteurised egg yolk and white. A new formula, with rheological properties identical to the traditional one, was developed

Study of the effect of freezing on the visco-elastic properties of strawberries

The objective of this work was to study the influence of freezing on the visco-elastic properties of strawberries. Food structure plays an important role in food quality and functionality. It is important for the consumers to find an identical sensation when they eat a fresh strawberry and when the strawberry is defrosted. The visco-elastic properties of a food product are an indirect measure of its structure. Experimental measurements of these properties may correlate to changes on the physical attributes of the product. In this work, a dynamic mechanical analyser was used to assess changes on loss (E’’) and storage (E’) modulus, applying a compressive test with a Ø1.5 cm parallel plate geometry. Strawberries were acquired in a local market and frozen in a blast and fluidized bed freezer at –30 ºC for 1 hour. Samples were stored at –30 ºC in freezing chambers. Analyses were performed on fresh strawberries, after freezing and during storage. The samples were cut in small cylinders (1.5cm x 1.5cm) and left to relax during 1 hour at room temperature. Preliminary tests were performed in order to evaluate the linear visco-elastic region and the loss and storage modulus were determined. A dynamic frequency sweep test was also performed. Results showed that the behaviour of fresh strawberry sample varies significantly when compared with a defrosted sample. The influence of the storage still cannot be evaluated and is currently under study. Overall, it can be concluded that the freezing process greatly influenced the visco-elastic properties of the strawberries