The Joanes River is located in the northeast of Brazil, crosses the Camaçari Petrochemical Complex, the largest integrated industrial complex in the Southern Hemisphere, which has over 90 companies ...in the chemical and petrochemical industry. The present study aims to evaluate spatial distribution, seasonal variation and identify possible sources of trace metal contamination in surface water samples of the Joanes River. Samples were collected in the dry (December 2018) and rainy (August 2019) seasons. Analysis of trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Mn and Pb) were performed by ICP-MS. A total of 60 water samples were obtained. Samples were analyzed using exploratory techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). It was possible to characterize the samples according to the seasonal variation. The formation of two groups was observed. Among these, samples from the rainy season presented the higher levels of metals in relation to the samples of the dry season. Natural and anthropic sources of metal contamination were identified using CA. Similarity was shown in the relationship between the metals As–Pb and Ni–Cd–Cr–Cu in the dry season, and Cd–Ni and Pb–As–Cr–Cu in the rainy season. Dermal absorption (HQderm) and ingestion hazard quotients (HQing) routes exhibited values of less than one for all the elements analyzed for adults and children, in both rainy and dry seasons. This indicated that the pollutants analyzed posed little or no health risk over a lifetime of exposure. According to international guidelines (US EPA), the values of Cu, Pb and Cr were above the limit established.
•First evaluation of trace metals pollution in Joanes River water were conducted.•In this region that concentrates the Brazil's largest industry complex.•The CA and PCA analyses were effective to identify the water pollution sources.•CA suggested that As, Cr, Cu, Cd, Ni and Pb were mainly anthropogenic sources.•As showed the highest values for HQing for adults in the dry and rainy periods.
Avocado (
Mill.) is an oleaginous fruit source of fatty acids with high levels of neuroprotective phytocomplexes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the development of reflex and somatic ...maturation, fatty acid profiles in the brain, and memory in different stages of life in the offspring of dams supplemented with avocado pulp and oil during gestation and lactation. The dams were randomly divided into three groups (
= 15 pups/group), and recieved by gavage supplementation: control group (CG)-distilled water; Avocado Oil (AO)-3,000 mg avocado oil/kg animal weight, and Avocado Pulp (AP)-3,000 mg avocado pulp/kg animal weight. We performed the following tests: Analysis of Somatic Development and Ontogeny of Postnatal Reflex (T0 to T21), the Open Field Habituation Test and the Object Recognition Test (ORT) in the adolescent (T45) and adult (T90) phases. The cerebral fatty acids content was evaluated at times T0, T21, T45, and T90. The results were analyzed using the statistical program GraphPad Prism and significant statistics were considered when
< 0.05. Acceleration of reflex maturation and reflex ontogeny was observed in the offspring of AO and AP fed dams, with the results being more pronounced in the pulp fed group (
< 0.05). All groups presented a decrease in the ambulation parameter in the second exposure to the Open Field Habituation Test, at T45 and T90 (
< 0.05). In the ORT, the AO and AP offspring presented memory improvements in the short and long term in the adult and adolescent phases (
< 0.05). The results of the brain fatty acid profiles presented higher polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content in the AO and AP groups at T21, T45, and T90. The docosahexaenoic fatty acid (DHA) content was higher at T21 (AO and AP), at T45 (AO and AP), and at T90 (AP) (
< 0.05). The arachidonic acid (ARA) content was higher at T45 (AO and AP), and at T90 (AO) (
< 0.05). Maternal supplementation with avocado oil and pulp anticipates reflex maturation and somatic postnatal development, and improves memory during the adolescent and adult phases.
Estudos em ambientes aquáticos amazônicos são incipientes, no que se refere à investigação de antimicrobianos produzidos por fungos filamentosos. Este trabalho avaliou qualitativamente o potencial ...antimicrobiano de fungos da Bacia do Baixo Rio Tapajós, Pará, Brasil. A coleta foi realizada em diferentes pontos da Bacia do Baixo Rio Tapajós, de onde foram selecionados quinze fungos. As cepas foram submetidas à fermentação em meio de cultura Caldo Batata Dextrose e filtradas após 15 dias de incubação. Utilizando o método Cup Plate, foram adicionadas alíquotas de 100 μL do caldo bruto em poços (6 mm de diâmetro) perfurados em placas de Petri (90 mm de diâmetro) contendo meio para cultivo específico das cepas ATCC utilizadas nos testes (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 e Candida albicans ATCC 60193). Para validação da técnica, foram utilizados como controle positivo os antibióticos comerciais específicos contra as bactérias, assim como para a levedura. Para controle negativo, utilizou-se o solvente da solução padrão, sem adição dos antibióticos utilizados contra as cepas testadas. Aspergillus sp. BBRT 01 se destacou por apresentar ação antimicrobiana para as três cepas de micro-organismos testadas, além dessa, Paecilomyces sp. BBRT 11, Penicillium sp. BBRT 12 e Penicillium sp. BBRT 13 apresentaram ação antimicrobiana contra S. aureus. Fusarium sp. BBRT 09 apresentou atividade contra C. albicans e S. aureus. Diante dos resultados, salienta-se que os fungos filamentosos da Bacia do Baixo Rio Tapajós apresentaram potencial para bioprospectar substâncias bioativas e representam um horizonte para as pesquisas envolvendo os rios amazônicos.
•Flour obtained in a greenhouse has a higher content of total phenolic compounds.•Drying by the greenhouse is beneficial in the preservation of nutrients.•The flour of the aroeira leaf is rich in ...total dietary fiber.
The present work aimed at the development and characterization of aroeira leaf flour (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi), obtained by lyophilization and drying in an air circulation oven. The technological, physical, physico-chemical, morphological, functional, and microbiological aspects were analyzed. Physico-chemical analysis identified the following properties with values provided respectively for fresh leaves (FOin) and flours (FES and FLIO): low water activity (0.984, 0.370, 0.387 g/100 g), moisture (64.52, 5.37, 7.97 g /100 g), ash (2.69, 6.51, and 6.89 g/100 g), pH (0.89, 4.45, 4.48 g/100 g), lipids (0.84, 1.67, 5.23 g/100 g), protein (3.29, 8.23, 14.12 g/100 g), carbohydrates (17.02, 53.12, 33.02 g/100 g), ascorbic acid (19.70, 34.20, 36.90 mg/100 g). Sources of fiber from plant leaves and flours (11.64, 25.1, 32.89 g/100 g) showed increased levels of luminosity. For NMR, the presence of aliphatic and aromatic compounds with olefinic hydrogens and a derivative of gallic acid were detected. The most abundant minerals detected were potassium and calcium. Micrographs identified the presence of irregular, non-uniform, and sponge-like particles. The main sugars detected were: fructose, glucose, and maltose. Malic, succinic, citric, lactic, and formic acids were found. Fifteen phenolic compounds were identified in the samples, highlighting: kaempferol, catechin, and caffeic acid. The values found for phenolics were (447, 716.66, 493.31 mg EAG/100 g), flavonoids (267.60, 267.60, 286.26 EC/100 g). Antioxidant activity was higher using the ABTS method rather than FRAP for analysis of FOin, FES, and FLIO. Since the flours of the aroeira leaf have an abundant matrix of nutrients with bioactive properties and antioxidant activity, they have a potential for technological and functional use when added to food.
Human milk is important for modulating the newborn's immune and antioxidant response. The applicability of lyophilization and spray-drying processes in human milk donated to human milk banks are ...alternatives for storage and distribution when breastfeeding is not possible. Therefore, the aim of this work was to detect and quantify cytokines (IFN-ɣ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17 A/F, IL-21, and IL-22) and to evaluate the antioxidant capacity in different phases of donated HM submitted to lyophilization and spray-drying processes. The HM donated in natura was submitted to pasteurization, lyophilization and spray-drying processes, then cytokine concentrations were measured using Luminex technology and antioxidant capacity of the superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes and reduced glutathione levels in vitro. Cytokine profiles, catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione profiles were preserved after processing of lyophilization and spray-drying in all phases of donated human milk.
OBJECTIVE To describe food and macronutrient intake profile and estimate the prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intake of Brazilian adolescents. METHODS Data from 71,791 adolescents aged from 12 ...to 17 years were evaluated in the 2013-2014 Brazilian Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA). Food intake was estimated using 24-hour dietary recall (24-HDR). A second 24-HDR was collected in a subsample of the adolescents to estimate within-person variability and calculate the usual individual intake. The prevalence of food/food group intake reported by the adolescents was also estimated. For sodium, the prevalence of inadequate intake was estimated based on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL). The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) method used as cutoff was applied to estimate the prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake. All the analyses were stratified according to sex, age group and Brazilian macro-regions. All statistical analyses accounted for the sample weight and the complex sampling design. RESULTS Rice, beans and other legume, juice and fruit drinks, breads and meat were the most consumed foods among the adolescents. The average energy intake ranged from 2,036 kcal (girls aged from 12 to 13 years) to 2,582 kcal (boy aged from14 to 17 years). Saturated fat and free sugar intake were above the maximum limit recommended (< 10.0%). Vitamins A and E, and calcium were the micronutrients with the highest prevalence of inadequate intake (> 50.0%). Sodium intake was above the UL for more than 80.0% of the adolescents. CONCLUSIONS The diets of Brazilian adolescents were characterized by the intake of traditional Brazilian food, such as rice and beans, as well as by high intake of sugar through sweetened beverages and processed foods. This food pattern was associated with an excessive intake of sodium, saturated fatty acids and free sugar.
This study evaluated the cytocompatibility and antimicrobial/antibiofilm effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) associated with peptide LL-37 and its analogue KR-12-a5 against oral pathogens. ...The effect of the compounds on metabolism of fibroblasts was evaluated by methyltetrazolium assays. Antimicrobial activity of the compounds was evaluated on
Streptococcus mutans
,
Enterococcus faecalis
,
Actinomyces israelii
, and
Fusobacterium nucleatum
under planktonic conditions, on single- and dual-species biofilms and
E. faecalis
biofilms in dentinal tubules and analyzed by bacterial counts and confocal microscopy. Data were statistically analyzed considering
p
< 0.05. EGCG and peptide combinations were not toxic to fibroblasts. KR-12-a5 showed synergistic or addictive effects with EGCG and LL-37 against all bacteria tested. However, EGCG associated with KR-12-a5 demonstrated the highest bactericidal activity on all bacteria tested, at lower concentrations. In single-species biofilms, EGCG + KR-12-a5 eliminated
S. mutans
and
A. israelii
and reduced
E. faecalis
and
F. nucleatum
counts around 5 log CFU/mL. EGCG + KR-12-a5 reduced
E. faecalis
(-3.93 log CFU/mL) and eliminated
S. mutans
in dual-species biofilms. No growth of
E. faecalis
and significant reduction in
A. israelii
(−6.24 log CFU/mL) and
F. nucleatum
(−4.62 log CFU/mL) counts were detected in dual-species biofilms. The combination of EGCG and KR-12-a5 led to 88% of
E. faecalis
dead cells inside dentin tubules. The association of EGCG and KR-12-a5 was cytocompatible and promoted synergistic effect against biofilms of bacteria associated with endodontic infections.
Um dos maiores impactos causados pelas rodovias ocorre justamente durante o período de operação, no qual, o mau gerenciamento das áreas ou a falta de planejamento territorial facilitam o surgimento ...de entraves ambientais. Estes fatos justificam esta pesquisa, cujo objetivo é efetuar uma avaliação dos principais impactos ambientais no solo avindos do processo de abertura e duplicação de rodovias. Esta análise prioriza documentos secundários, que tem por objetivo reunir estudos semelhantes, publicados, avaliando-os criticamente em sua metodologia e reunindo-os numa análise estatística, para posterior seleção das variáveis. Foram analisadas minuciosamente as variáveis objeto desta pesquisa: supressão vegetal, compactação, erosão (Erodibilidade e Erosividade), deslizamento e contaminação do solo. No processo de busca no banco de dados, foram analisados 64 trabalhos acadêmicos referentes às cinco variáveis. A análise dos dados obtidos indicou que a supressão vegetal apresentou maior frequência relativa (fr=29,6%), no que fomenta que tal impacto demonstra ser abordado com bastante frequência por pesquisadores, se comparado com as demais, superada apenas pela variável Erosão (fr=32,8%). Quanto à contaminação do solo, a análise dos dados obtidos indicou que a frequência relativa (fi=9,3%) dos artigos observados abordam esse impacto, o que representa o menor percentual em relação às demais variáveis. Dessa forma, torna-se necessário abordar de forma conjunta e igualitária todos os impactos ambientais causados na abertura e duplicação de rodovias, pois há carência de pesquisas que abordem diretamente as variáveis analisadas neste trabalho, com destaque para a contaminação do solo, que apresentou a menor frequência, a qual evidencia tal problemática.
RESUMO: As vespas são insetos reguladores naturais de diversas pragas em cultivos agrícolas, possuindo papel biológico como importantes bioindicadores da qualidade do ambiente. Objetivou-se conhecer ...populações de vespas solitárias em diferentes dispositivos artificiais em policultivos na região do Agreste do Estado de Alagoas. O estudo concentrou-se em três áreas: Área I – frutíferas e cultivo de fumo (Craíbas – AL); Área II – Viveiro de mudas; Área III – Frutíferas, cultivo de fumo e mata secundária (capoeira), estas duas últimas áreas no município de Arapiraca – AL. Foram instaladas 45 armadilhas (15 armadilhas/Área) distribuídos em diferentes dispositivos e diâmetros: Papel ‘kraft’(5, 7, 9 e 10 mm); Papel cartolina preta (9 mm) e Bambu (3 mm). As amostras foram encaminhadas ao Laboratório de Biologia da UFAL/Campus de Arapiraca-AL para a quantificação e identificação do material. Um total de 29 ninhos foi ocupado (Ni = 105 indivíduos) foi registrado e com elevada taxa de ocupação para área III (1,89%; Ni = 17), registrando apenas duas espécies de vespas: Trypoxylon sp. (74,3%; Ni = 78) da família Crabonidae e Pachodynerus cf. serrulatus (25,7%; Ni = 27), revelando maior preferência de nidificação em ninhos tipo ‘kraft’ nos diâmetros 5 e 7 mm, respectivamente. Na análise do teste qui-quadrado (χ2) com associação existente entre o número de ninhos ocupados e taxa de nidificação para as três áreas estudadas, apresentou uma diferença altamente significativa (<0,0001) na área III, demonstrando maior disponibilidade de recursos para o forrageamento das espécies. Por outro lado, o número reduzido de espécies de vespas nas amostragens pode estar relacionado com o impacto de defensivos químicos e práticas agrícolas, prejudicando os sítios de nidificação, além de prejudicar outros polinizadores locais. Essas informações são relevantes, e um alerta aos produtores locais com o uso moderado de agrotóxicos, conscientizando-os à conservação e qualidade ambiental nas áreas.
PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Vespoidea, Nidificação, Agroecossistemas
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