A problem-based learning experience with undergraduate marketing students

O presente artigo descreve a implementação da metodologia de aprendizagem baseada em problemas (ABP) no âmbito da unidade curricular de Publicidade e Relações Públicas, do 2.º ano da licenciatura em Marketing. A ABP é considerada uma abordagem global que tem sido reconhecida pelos académicos. Os resultados mostraram que a metodologia ABP tem resultados similares entre diferentes grupos. Todos os grupos de alunos estavam fortemente motivados, à exceção de um grupo que não demonstrou essas evidências por não ter a assiduidade suficiente para aproveitar o acompanhamento do professor. Em geral, todos os alunos puderam melhorar a colaboração entre os seus pares, bem como capacidades de comunicação. Demonstraram também evidências de uma postura ativa e de um trabalho autónomo. A inovação e a criatividade foram evidentes nos resultados finais. Em conclusão, a abordagem ABP pode influenciar os alunos de uma forma positiva.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mycosterols

Sterols are amphipathic lipids that play essential roles in the physiology of eukaryotic organisms in general. The fungal sterols are collectively known as mycosterols and they exert numerous physiological functions. For humans, the interest on this class of compounds relies heavily on the fact that they can promote health benefits. For this reason, fungal extracts rich in sterols of various forms are valuable and promising ingredients. One of the best-known benefits of mycosterols is their inhibitory actions on cholesterol absorption and biosynthesis, but there are several interesting regulatory and modulatory phenomena that mycosterols can affect and that might eventually be of therapeutic interest. Within this domain, the practical application of mycosterols or mycosterol-enriched fungal extracts presents several challenges. The latter include isolation of novel bioactive mycosterols from still underexploited fungi species, the optimization of existing methodologies for production and recovery, extensive study of their applications and, finally, substantial clinical trials for attesting their health benefits and safety.The authors are grateful to Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação Araucária, and Instituto Cesumar de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (ICETI) for financial support.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Overproduction of Laccase by <i>Trametes versicolor</i> and <i>Pycnoporus sanguineus</i> in Farnesol-Pineapple Waste Solid Fermentation

The effect of farnesol, a sesquiterpene alcohol, on the production of laccases by Trametes versicolor and Pycnoporus sanguineus in pineapple waste solid-state fermentation was evaluated. Extracellular laccase production reached a maximum of 77.88 ± 5.62 U/g (236% above control) in farnesol-induced cultures of T. versicolor on the 17th day, whereas in a similar P. sanguineus culture, a maximal laccase activity of 130.95 ± 2.20 U/g (159% increase) was obtained on the 17th day. A single 45 KDa laccase was produced by both fungi under the influence of farnesol. These and other data allow us to conclude that farnesol acted as an inducer of the same form of laccase in both fungi. Farnesol disfavored fungal growth by increasing the lag phase, but it also clearly improved the oxidative state of the cultures. Contrary to the results obtained previously in submerged cultures, farnesol did not promote hyperbranching in the fungal mycelia. This is the first demonstration that farnesol is an excellent inducer of laccases in T. versicolor and P. sanguineus in solid-state cultivation. In quantitative terms, the results can be regarded as an excellent starting point for developing industrial or at least pre-industrial procedures to produce laccases using T. versicolor and P sanguineus under the stimulus of farnesol

Biotransformation of Pollutants by <i>Pycnoporus</i> spp. in Submerged and Solid-State Fermentation: Mechanisms, Achievements, and Perspectives

Substantial amounts of organo-pollutants, often persistent and toxic, are generated globally each year, posing a threat to soil, water, groundwater, and air. The pollutants encompass a wide range of substances from various sources, which include solid as well as liquid ones, such as landfill leachates and wastewaters. The compounds include paper and pulp mill byproducts, pharmaceuticals, diverse types of plastics, hydrocarbons, pigments, and dyes, as well as pesticides and insecticides. Fungal bioremediation stands out as a promising technology that uses the metabolic potential of fungi to eliminate or mitigate the impact of pollutants. Notably, species of the genus Pycnoporus exhibit significant capabilities for degrading a broad spectrum of toxic molecules. This degradation is facilitated by released ligninolytic enzymes, especially laccase, and cellular enzymes pertaining to the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system. The laccase, which is overproduced by the genus Pycnoporus, is quite remarkable for its high redox potential. The objective of this review is to highlight the proficiency of the Pycnoporus genus in the degradation of pollutants in submerged and solid-state fermentation. Recent studies conducted over the past decade consistently highlight the Pycnoporus genus as a robust contender in the realm of white biotechnology

Full Exploitation of Peach Palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth): State of the Art and Perspectives

The peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) is a palm tree native to the Amazon region, with plantations expanding to the Brazilian Southwest and South regions. This work is a critical review of historical, botanical, social, environmental, and nutritional aspects of edible and nonedible parts of the plant. In Brazil, the importance of the cultivation of B. gasipaes to produce palm heart has grown considerably, due to its advantages in relation to other palm species, such as precocity, rusticity and tillering. The last one is especially important, as it makes the exploitation of peach palm hearts, contrary to what happens with other palm tree species, a non-predatory practice. Of special interest are the recent efforts aiming at the valorization of the fruit as a source of carotenoids and starch. Further developments indicate that the B. gasipaes lignocellulosic wastes hold great potential for being upcycled into valuable biotechnological products such as prebiotics, enzymes, cellulose nanofibrils and high fiber flours. Clean technologies are protagonists of the recovery processes, ensuring the closure of the product&rsquo;s life cycle in a &ldquo;green&rdquo; way. Future research should focus on expanding and making the recovery processes economically viable, which would be of great importance for stimulating the peach palm production chain