Since the primordial of humanity, pollen has been considered a good source of nutrients and energy. Its promising healing properties have also been referred to. The present study aimed to ...characterize, for the first time, eight commercial pollens from Portugal and Spain available on the market studying the legislation on labeling, pollinic origin, physicochemical and microbiological analyses and identification of yeasts. Eleven botanical families were found amongst the samples. The most abundant family and the most dominant pollen was Cistaceae. The moisture content, ash, a(w), pH, reducing sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and energy were analyzed and the specific parameters were within the specifications required by some countries with legislation regarding these parameters. Microbiologically commercial pollen showed acceptable safety for the commercial quality and hygiene. All samples showed negative results for toxigenic species. The microorganisms studied were aerobic mesophiles, yeasts and moulds, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and sulfite-reducing Clostridium. During the work, six yeasts species were isolated from pollen, with Rhodotorula mucilaginosa being the most abundant, as it was present in four samples.
Anthropogenic nutrient enrichment and shifts in herbivory can lead to dramatic changes in the composition and diversity of aboveground plant communities. In turn, this can alter seed banks in the ...soil, which are cryptic reservoirs of plant diversity. Here, we use data from seven Nutrient Network grassland sites on four continents, encompassing a range of climatic and environmental conditions, to test the joint effects of fertilization and aboveground mammalian herbivory on seed banks and on the similarity between aboveground plant communities and seed banks. We find that fertilization decreases plant species richness and diversity in seed banks, and homogenizes composition between aboveground and seed bank communities. Fertilization increases seed bank abundance especially in the presence of herbivores, while this effect is smaller in the absence of herbivores. Our findings highlight that nutrient enrichment can weaken a diversity maintaining mechanism in grasslands, and that herbivory needs to be considered when assessing nutrient enrichment effects on seed bank abundance.
Mediterranean ecosystems are threatened by climate change and shrub encroachment. An increase in shrub cover can intensify the competition for water, aggravating the impacts of drought on ecosystem ...functioning. The effects of shrubs can be positive or negative, depending on the shrub species and density. We used a Mediterranean cork oak (Quercus suber) woodland to investigate the effects of increasing gum rockrose (Cistus ladanifer) cover on leaf carbon assimilation (Amax) and tree growth. The experiment consisted of a gradient of shrub cover, with four treatments: control, LD, MD, and HD, with 0%, 25%, 45%, and maximum shrub cover (>90%), respectively. Increasing shrub cover significantly decreased Amax in trees from HD (−15%) compared to control treatment, with intermediate effects on trees from LD (−5%) and MD (−12%). There was a large variability in tree growth, resulting in no significant effects of shrub cover, despite higher trunk diameter relative increments in LD (+40%), and lower in MD (−17%) and HD (−32%) compared to the control. The results indicate that a dense shrub cover (>90%) affected cork oak carbon assimilation and growth, while a low-to-medium shrub cover (≤45%) only induced mild intermediate effects. This information is important for the effective management of shrub density to improve the health and productivity of cork oak woodlands.
Leisure of the elderly Brazilian: the southeast in focus Ungheri, Bruno Ocelli; Carla Augusta Nogueira Lima e Santos; Maria Aparecida Dias Venâncio ...
International journal of tourism cities,
08/2022, Volume:
8, Issue:
3
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Purpose>This paper is an excerpt from a countrywide study entitled “Leisure in Brazil: representations and realizations of daily experiences”, which aims to investigate what Brazilians do in their ...leisure time, what they would like to do and why they do not do it.Design/methodology/approach>Specifically, in this paper, the authors analyze data referring to the elderly population from southeastern Brazil. Sampling of the national survey comprised representative quotas of the population, considering region and state, and, in each state, quotas of sex, age, education level and family income, according to data obtained by IBGE in 2010. A total of 2,400 interviews were conducted in total. For the present study, the 91 interviews conducted with elderly subjects from the Southeast region of Brazil were considered.Findings>The majority of participants understand leisure as a time for resting and fun and have physical/sports interests as their favorite leisure activity during the week. On weekends, social and tourism interests stand out, and idleness stands out in the preference of this public during the holiday period. Lack of time and financial resources are the main barriers to the access to and permanence in the desired leisure practices.Originality/value>Having knowledge of the relationship between leisure and aging in Brazil is a way to contribute to the potential of this stage of life, based on the quality of life and continued learning provided by the content they enjoy.
The study performed on the stone materials from the Convent of Christ revealed the presence of a complex microbial ecosystem, emphasizing the determinant role of microorganisms on the biodecay of ...this built cultural heritage. In this case study, the presence of Rubrobacter sp., Arthrobacter sp., Roseomonas sp., and Marinobacter sp. seems to be responsible for colored stains and biofilm formation while Ulocladium sp., Cladosporium sp., and Dirina sp. may be related to structural damages. The implementation of high‐throughput sequencing approaches on the Convent of Christ's biodecay assessment allowed us to explore, compare, and characterize the microbial communities, overcoming the limitations of culture‐dependent techniques, which only identify the cultivable population. The application of these different tools and insights gave us a panoramic view of the microbiota thriving on the Convent of Christ and signalize the main biodeteriogenic agents acting on the biodecay of stone materials. This finding highlighted the importance of performing metagenomic studies due to the improvements and the reduced amount of sample DNA needed, promoting a deeper and more detailed knowledge of the microbiota present on these dynamic repositories that support microbial life. This will further enable us to perform prospective studies in quarry and applied stone context, monitoring biogenic and nonbiogenic agents, and also to define long‐term mitigation strategies to prevent biodegradation/biodeterioration processes.
A multianalytical approach based on culture‐dependent methods, high‐throughput sequencing, and scanning electron microscopy was implemented to characterize the microbiota on stone of the Convent of Christ (Tomar, Portugal). The biocolonizer agents detected induce aesthetic damages and structural alterations on these materials, promoting the appearance of stains, biofilms, and detachment of stone fragments. These findings are a starting point for the implementation of a long‐term monitoring plan to prevent the decay of this monument and promote its safeguard.
The beetle Coraebus undatus, during its larval stage feeds, and excavates galleries on the cork-generating layer of Quercus suber L. trees, seriously affecting the cork quality with significant ...economic losses for the cork industry. This work compared the composition of the extracts present in the innermost cork layers (the belly) of cork planks from Q. suber trees with low and moderate C. undatus attack in one stand. The total extractives in the inner cork layer from trees with moderate and low C. undatus attacks were similar (on average 22% of the cork mass) with a high proportion of polar compounds (91% of the total extractives). The chemical composition of the inner cork lipophilic extractives was the same in trees infested and free of larvae, with triterpenes as the most abundant family accounting for 77% of all the compounds, predominantly friedeline. The hydrophilic extractives differed on the levels of phenolic compounds, with higher levels in the inner cork extracts of samples from trees with low attack (90.0 mg GAE g−1 vs. 59.0 mg GAE g−1 of inner cork mass) The potential toxic activity of phenolic compounds may have a role in decreasing the larval feeding.
Resumo O uso de índices de estresse hídrico nas fases de desenvolvimento da cultura pode atuar como uma ferramenta essencial no manejo da irrigação. Objetivou-se com este trabalho determinar o ...momento ideal de irrigar a cultura do amendoim, por meio de índices de estresse hídrico utilizando-se a termometria a infravermelho. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida na área experimental do Departamento de Engenharia Rural da FCAV/UNESP, Jaboticabal-SP, situada a 22°15’22” S, 48°18’58” W, e altitude de 575 m, em uma “Bacia Hidrográfica Experimental”, utilizando superfícies com diferentes declividades (0%, 20% e 40%) e exposições solares (Norte, Sul, Leste e Oeste), sob déficit hídrico induzido. O solo da área experimental é o LE1, Vermelho-Escuro, eutrófico, A moderado, caulinítico, hipoférrico, textura argilosa, relevo suave ondulado (Eutrustox). O índice de estresse hídrico foi determinado por meio da medição da temperatura da cobertura vegetal e do ar ambiente. A rega foi realizada utilizando-se sistema de irrigação por gotejamento. Os resultados indicam que o momento de irrigar difere para cada fase de desenvolvimento do amendoim, em uma faixa entre 1,3 °C até 3,3 °C. A superfície mantida na capacidade de campo obteve menor índice de estresse hídrico (-1,4 °C).
Abstract The use of water stress indexes in the developmental phases of the crop can be an essential tool for irrigation control. The aim of this study was to determine the ideal time to irrigate a peanut crop, using a water stress index found using infrared thermometry. The research was developed in the experimental area of the Department of Rural Engineering of FCAV / UNESP, Jaboticabal-SP, located at 22°15’22” S, 48°18’58” W, and altitude of 575 m, in an “Hydrographic Basin” (0%, 20% and 40%) and solar exposures (North, South, East and West), under induced water deficit. The soil of the experimental area is LE1, Red-Dark, eutrophic, A moderate, kaolinite, hypoferric, clayey texture, smooth undulating relief (Eutrustox). Water stress level was determined by measuring the temperatures of the vegetation cover and the ambient air. Watering was carried out using a drip irrigation system. The results indicate that the time of irrigation differs for each stage of development of the peanut, in a range between 1.3 °C and 3.3 °C. The area maintained in the field capacity obtained lower water stress index (-1.4°C).
Objectives A single-blinded, randomized, parallel clinical trial evaluated the use of 37% carbamide peroxide (CP) on bleaching effectiveness and tooth sensitivity reported by patients undergoing ...in-office tooth bleaching, in comparison with the results of using 35% hydrogen peroxide. Material and Methods Forty patients were allocated to receive two sessions of in-office tooth bleaching using either 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP) or 37% CP. Each patient's sensitivity level was evaluated during and up to 24 h after bleaching. The effectiveness of the bleaching procedures was evaluated with a spectrophotometer one week after each session and 30 days after the last session. The impact of tooth bleaching on the patients' perceptions regarding smile changes, in addition to the bleaching procedures and their results, were also recorded. Absolute and relative sensitivity risks were calculated. Data on sensitivity level were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney or T-test, and data from the color evaluation were subjected to 2-way repeated measures ANOVA. Results The use of CP reduced the risk and level of tooth sensitivity to values close to zero, whereas the difference between the bleaching agents disappeared after 24 h. An increased bleaching effect was observed for HP, mainly due to an improved reduction of redness and yellowness. Participants perceived improved tooth bleaching for HP and reduced sensitivity for CP, but no differences regarding the comfort of the techniques were noted. Conclusions In our study, 37% CP resulted in reduced tooth sensitivity but decreased the tooth bleaching effectiveness. However, both bleaching agents resulted in high levels of patient satisfaction.
To analyze serum concentrations of retinol, β-carotene and zinc in women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy, considering different modalities of previous treatment and toxic effects.
...longitudinal study in a cohort of women with breast cancer assessed in pre-treatment (T0), 7 (T2) and 120 (T3) days after radiation therapy. Patients were divided into 3 groups, according to treatment modality prior radiation: breast-conserving surgery (G1), chemotherapy (G2) and breast-conserving surgery and chemotherapy (G3). Serum concentrations of retinol, β-carotene and zinc was assessed. Presence and degree of toxicity were assessed according to the scale of the RTOG for and RTOG/EORTC for acute and late toxicity, respectively.
230 patients were assessed, mean age of 63.6 (±9.3) years. There was significant reduction in the mean of all micronutrients studied when comparing T0 to T1. At T2, all nutrients increased when compared to T1. For acute toxicity, there was no difference in antioxidant levels according to the degree of toxicity for any of the groups, with the exception of G3, which presented lower serum zinc concentrations in women with a higher degree of acute toxicity. In late toxicity, G1 had lower serum concentrations of retinol and B-carotene, when compared to G2 and G3.
The significant reduction of all micronutrients after radiotherapy, regardless of the type of the previous treatment, reinforces the oxidative impact of radiation and draws attention to the importance of maintaining an adequate nutritional status of antioxidants to improve the prognosis.
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•There is a reduction of antioxidants a week after radiation.•This reduction is observed regardless of the type of the previous treatment.•In acute toxicity, there is a reduction of zinc according to toxicity grading only for women submitted to surgery + chemotherapy.•In late toxicity, there is lower concentrations of antioxidants among women who had undergone surgery.
Familial interstitial pneumonia (FIP) is defined as idiopathic interstitial lung disease (ILD) in two or more relatives. Genetic studies on familial ILD discovered variants in several genes or ...associations with genetic polymorphisms. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features of patients with suspected FIP and to analyze the genetic variants detected through next-generation sequencing (NGS) genetic testing. A retrospective analysis was conducted in patients followed in an ILD outpatient clinic who had ILD and a family history of ILD in at least one first- or second-degree relative and who underwent NGS between 2017 and 2021. Only patients with at least one genetic variant were included. Genetic testing was performed on 20 patients; of these, 13 patients had a variant in at least one gene with a known association with familial ILD. Variants in genes implicated in telomere and surfactant homeostasis and
variants were detected. Most variants were classified with uncertain clinical significance. Probable usual interstitial pneumonia radiological and histological patterns were the most frequently identified. The most prevalent phenotype was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonologists should be aware of familial forms of ILD and genetic diagnosis.
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