UV-C light processing of Cantaloupe melon juice: evaluation of the impact on microbiological, and some quality characteristics, during refrigerated storage

UV-C light is a non-thermal technology with potential application in food industries. The objective was to assess UV-C radiation effect (13.44 W/m2) on microbiological decontamination and some quality characteristics of Cantaloupe melon juice, during refrigerated storage. Juice was inoculated with Listeria innocua (non-pathogenic surrogate of L. monocytogenes) and Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores (spoilage indicators) used as indicators of the UV-C treatment efficacy. Total mesophylls and yeasts and molds were also enumerated. Results demonstrated that 5 min of exposure allowed 3.7 ± 0.3 log10 cycles reduction of L. innocua, while for A. acidoterrestris, 20 min were required to decrease 4.7 ± 0.1 log10 cycles. At the end of refrigerated storage for 13 days, UV-C treated juices retained color, total phenolics content and antioxidant activity, and yeast and molds did not grow. Since UV-C process was effective on microbial inactivation and allowed juice quality maintenance, it can be considered as a promising alternative to thermal pasteurization.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

UV-C radiation as an effective non-thermal process for ‘Cantaloupe’ melon juice decontamination

Thermal pasteurization has negative impacts on overall quality characteristics of foods. UV-C radiation has a germicidal effect and has been applied to eliminate undesirable microorganisms in food products. This technology is more effective in liquid foods, being an alternative non-thermal processing that can be applied to fruit juices.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of UV-C radiation on some quality characteristics and microbiological decontamination of cantaloupe melon (Cucumis meloL. var. reticulatus) juice, whichis an excellent source of antioxidant compounds, such as vitamins, phenolics and carotenoids. Cantaloupe melon juice was artificially inoculated with Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestrisspores (spoiler indicator) and Listeria innocua(non-pathogenic surrogate of L.monocytogenes), used as indicators of the UV-C treatment efficacy. The initial concentration of both microorganisms was around 107CFU/mL. Juice was exposed to UV-C radiation at an intensity of 13.44 W/m2, during 5 and 20 minutes. Some physic-chemical characteristics (pH, colour and soluble solids content), total phenolics and antioxidant capacity were evaluated before and after treatments. Exposure time affected significantly colour (very distinct alterations) and pH (slight increase from 6.3±0.1 in fresh, to 6.7±0.1 and 7.0±0.1 after 5 and 20 min of radiation; values are mean±margin of confidence interval at 95%). The remaining characteristics were not affected by the radiation and were similar to the ones observed in fresh/untreated juice. In terms of A. Acidoterrestris spores, reductions of 0.8±0.1 and 4.7±0.1log-cycles were observed after 5 and 20 minutes of radiation, respectively. For L. innocua, a reduction of 3.9±0.7 log-cycles was attained after 5 minutes and, for the highest exposure time, no cells were detected. Since UV-C was effective on microbial inactivation and was able to retain the most of quality parameters analysed, this technology can be considered as a promising alternative to traditional pasteurization of fruit juices.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comportamento mecânico do concreto produzido com seixo misto utilizado na Cidade de Tucuruí/ Mechanical behavior of concrete produced with mixed pebble used in the City of Tucuruí

O seixo misto (seixo com grande percentual agregado miúdo) é muito utilizado nas obras de pequeno e médio porte na cidade de Tucuruí no estado do Pará. As construtoras utilizam traços do tipo 1:4 como regra geral para preparação de concretos estruturais sem a adição de agregado miúdo e sem o uso de aditivos. Entretanto, apesar de ter agregado graúdo em sua composição, o material não pode ser caracterizado como agregado graúdo, de acordo com as normas brasileiras, pois na análise granulométrica apresenta 78,4% de sua composição com material miúdo, o que dificulta a dosagem de traços por métodos utilizados no Brasil. Este trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar os resultados da análise granulométrica deste material, verificar a resistência à compressão axial, resistência à tração por compressão diametral, módulo de elasticidade e absorção por imersão aos 7 e 28 dias do concreto executado com o traço 1:4, verificando se as resistências finais estão de acordo com os valores exigidos pelas normas brasileiras para concretos estruturais. Como resultado o seixo misto mostrou-se inapropriado para produção de concretos estruturais, pela baixa resistência mecânica e desempenho obtidos, sendo seus valores abaixo do mínimo exigido pelas normas brasileiras

Avaliação da biblioteca escolar para o desenvolvimento de competências informacionais: a experiência da biblioteca do Instituto Federal da Bahia – Campus Camaçari

Trata a biblioteca escolar como espaço de conhecimento, mediado pela figura do professor e do bibliotecário. O objetivo do estudo é investigar o perfil da comunidade acadêmica do Instituto Federal da Bahia – Campus Camaçari e quais são as suas necessidades de informações, com vistas para o desenvolvimento de competências informacionais. Apresenta a abordagem alternativa para o estudo de usuários que se preocupam com a necessidade e o uso da informação. Aborda que a biblioteca escolar deverá atender a demanda da educação para o novo milênio, desenvolvendo nos alunos as competências relacionadas às dimensões de habilidades (saberfazer); atitudes (saber-agir); e conhecimento (saber), tornando-se sujeitos autônomos. Para isso, traz o modelo de processo de busca da informação de Kuhlthau, necessário a todos os indivíduos na sociedade da Informação. A metodologia utilizada foi a de estudo de usuários com a aplicação de questionários eletrônicos, percebeu-se a necessidade de pesquisas futuras com usuários através da aplicação do protocolo verbal que diante da subjetividade nas respostas, torna-se mais próximo da validade. Conclui que a biblioteca escolar está deixando de ser um espaço estático e silencioso para torna-se um espaço de pesquisa e questionamentos.It considers the school library as a place of knowledge, mediated by the teacher and librarian’s figures. The aim of this study is investigate the profile of the academic community of Instituto Federal da Bahia – Campus Camaçari and what are its information needs aiming at the development of information literacy. It presents an alternative approach to the study of users that cares about the use and need of information. Discusses that the school library shall meet the demand of education for the new millennium, developing in students the competences related to measurements of skills, attitudes and knowledge, becoming autonomous subjects. For this, it brings the model of Kuhlthau’s information searching process, necessary for all individuals in the information society. The methodology used was the study of users with application of electronic questionnaires, it was realized the need for future research with users through the application of verbal protocol that given the subjectivity in the responses, it becomes closer to the validity. It concludes that the school library is no longer a static space and quiet to become a space of research and questions

RENNER S.A: UMA ANÁLISE DOS OBJETIVOS DE DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTÁVEL

A Responsabilidade Social Corporativa vem sendo atribuída ao pensamento de que a empresa não deve buscar somente por lucro. Atualmente com a grande competividade entre as empresas, a responsabilidade social deve ser vista com objetivo de crescimento, isso pelo fato de que o consumidor está comprando com consciência, pensando na sociedade, na economia e na sustentabilidade (JÚNIOR; BERTONCELLO, 2017). De acordo com a Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão (B3), o Índice de Sustentabilidade Empresarial (ISE) é uma análise comparativa feita em empresas listadas na B3, no aspecto sustentabilidade corporativa, visando dar conhecimento a empresa. A Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU) criou a Agenda 2030, definindo prioridades, metas para o desenvolvimento global até o ano 2030, composta por 17 Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS). O objetivo desse resumo é analisar os ODS presentes no relatório de sustentabilidade da Renner S.A, empresa integrante do ISE no período de 2017 a 2019. A pesquisa é descritiva, com análise documental e qualitativa/quantitativa. A empresa em estudo atua no segmento de comércio varejista e publica seu relatório de sustentabilidade desde o ano de 2013. Os resultados apontam que a empresa Renner vem se preocupando cada vez mais em se tornar sustentável. Nos relatórios de sustentabilidade, nos anos de 2017 e 2018 a ação da empresa que teve maior destaque em relação aos ODS foi: Energia Limpa e Acessível (ODS 7) visando a geração de energia solar, eólica e biomassa, com menor impacto global e a troca de lâmpadas fluorescentes para LED, dessa forma reduziu o custo de energia das lojas. No ano de 2019 a empresa focou em ações que envolveram Igualdade de gênero (ODS 5), Consumo de produção responsável (ODS 12) e Combate as alterações climáticas (ODS 13). Nesse contexto, as ações mais relevantes foram: a) empoderamento da mulher na cadeia têxtil; b) agir junto aos fornecedores para monitorar, controlar e fomentar processos produtivos responsáveis; c) promover a conscientização dos clientes para um consumo sustentável; e, d) assegurar estratégia de redução de emissões e mitigação das mudanças climáticas. Conclui-se que nos anos analisados, a Renner vem se preocupando em seguir as melhores práticas globais de transparência e gestão da sustentabilidade

A comparison of two distinct murine macrophage gene expression profiles in response to Leishmania amazonensis infection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The experimental murine model of leishmaniasis has been widely used to characterize the immune response against <it>Leishmania</it>. CBA mice develop severe lesions, while C57BL/6 present small chronic lesions under <it>L. amazonensis </it>infection. Employing a transcriptomic approach combined with biological network analysis, the gene expression profiles of C57BL/6 and CBA macrophages, before and after <it>L. amazonensis </it>infection in vitro, were compared. These strains were selected due to their different degrees of susceptibility to this parasite.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The genes expressed by C57BL/6 and CBA macrophages, before and after infection, differ greatly, both with respect to absolute number as well as cell function. Uninfected C57BL/6 macrophages express genes involved in the deactivation pathway of macrophages at lower levels, while genes related to the activation of the host immune inflammatory response, including apoptosis and phagocytosis, have elevated expression levels. Several genes that participate in the apoptosis process were also observed to be up-regulated in C57BL/6 macrophages infected with <it>L. amazonensis</it>, which is very likely related to the capacity of these cells to control parasite infection. By contrast, genes involved in lipid metabolism were found to be up-regulated in CBA macrophages in response to infection, which supports the notion that <it>L. amazonensis </it>probably modulates parasitophorous vacuoles in order to survive and multiply in host cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The transcriptomic profiles of C57BL/6 macrophages, before and after infection, were shown to be involved in the macrophage pathway of activation, which may aid in the control of <it>L. amazonensis </it>infection, in contrast to the profiles of CBA cells.</p

Effect of drying temperature on yield and phytochemical quality of essential oil extracted from Mikania laevigata (Guaco) leaves / Efeito da temperatura de secagem sobre o rendimento e qualidade fitoquímica de óleo essencial extraído de folhas de Mikania laevigata (Guaco)

Mikania laevigata Sch. Bip. ex Baker, Asteraceae, commonly known as the guaco, is medicinal species native to Brazil. Among the critical points of post-harvest processing of medicinal species, the drying temperature must be considered, because its can interfere in the yield and phytochemical quality of plant material, and, consequently, in the therapeutic action. The effect of the drying temperature was evaluated on the yield and phytochemical quality of the essential oil extracted from M. laevigata leaves. The cultivation was carried out in an organic system and using the select genotype (Cenargen) for this region. The leaves were harvested and immediately submitted to drying process at 40, 50 and 60 °C. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation in Clevenger apparatus and the chemical constituents was evaluated using gas chromatography coupled to the mass spectrophotometer (CG-MS). There was a reduction in the essential oil yield (p &lt;0.05) with increasing drying temperature. However, at 60 ºC there was a higher concentration of coumarin to which the bronchodilator and expectorant action is attributed. Therefore, we recommended dry the M. laevigata leaves at 60 ºC to obtain the highest coumarin content and guarantee the bronchodilator and expectorant therapeutic effect

Effect of drying temperature on the yield and phytochemical quality of the essential oil of pepper rosemary (Lippia origanoides Kunth) and of clove basil (Ocimum gratissimum L.) / Efeito da temperatura de secagem no rendimento e na qualidade fitoquímica do óleo essencial de alecrim-pimenta (Lippia origanoides Kunth) e de alfavaca (Ocimum gratissimum L.)

Among medicinal species, Lippia origanoides Kunth and Ocimum gratissimum L. stand out for its recognized therapeutic value associated with the medicinal properties of their essential oils. Drying is a critical point in post-harvest processing of medicinal plants for the conservation of bioactive compounds. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of drying temperature on the essential oil’s yield and phytochemical quality extracted from leaves of O. gratissimum and L. origanoides. The medicinal species were grown in an organic system and their leaves were harvest and immediately dried at 40, 50 and 60 °C. The essential oils were extracted from the leaves by hydrodistillation in Clevenger apparatus. There was detected a difference (P &lt;0.01) in the essential oil yield of O. gratissimum with the increase in the drying temperature, being 1.35% (40 °C), 0.83% (50 °C) and 0.45% (60 °C) ). In L. origanoides there was detected a difference (P &lt;0.01) in the essential oil yield only between 40 °C (3.4%) and 60 °C (2.84%). The increase of drying temperature reduced the levels of the major constituents of O. gratissimum (eugenol, germacrene D and caryophyllene oxide), but did not change the levels of the major constituents of L. origanoides (thymol, trans-caryophyllene and para-cymene). Considering that the increase of the drying temperature promote a reduction in the essential oil yield of both medicinal species and also in the major constituents concentration in O. gratisssimum, it is essential to select the correct drying temperature to guarantee the best yield and the phytochemical quality of the essential oil to ensure therapeutic efficacy. Here, we conclude that the best drying temperature to the essential oil’s yield and phytochemical quality is 40 °C for O. gratissimum and 40 or 50 °C for L. origanoides

Identities among actin-encoding cDNAs of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and other eukaryote species revealed by nucleotide and amino acid sequence analyses

Abstract Actin-encoding cDNAs of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were isolated by RT-PCR using total RNA samples of different tissues and further characterized by nucleotide sequencing and in silico amino acid (aa) sequence analysis. Comparisons among the actin gene sequences of O. niloticus and those of other species evidenced that the isolated genes present a high similarity to other fish and other vertebrate actin genes. The highest nucleotide resemblance was observed between O. niloticus and O. mossambicus α-actin and β-actin genes. Analysis of the predicted aa sequences revealed two distinct types of cytoplasmic actins, one cardiac muscle actin type and one skeletal muscle actin type that were expressed in different tissues of Nile tilapia. The evolutionary relationships between the Nile tilapia actin genes and diverse other organisms is discussed