Yellow cured codfish has a typical yellow colour, distinctive taste, and low salt content due to its special curing process of the raw salted codfish involving several soaks in water of the raw ...salted codfish, alternated with drying steps. The purpose of this study was to assess the main functional groups of bacteria involved in this process and relate them with physicochemical properties of the product. A total of 28 codfish from Iceland were supplied by two local companies. Seven stages of the curing process were analyzed. From each of these seven stages, four fish samples were collected to carry out the microbial and physicochemical analyses (moisture, salt content, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), and trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N)). Bacteria counts were performed using the MPN method and adequate culture media for aerobic, proteolytic, sulphite-reducing, biogenic amine, and trimethylamine-producing and ammonifying bacteria. Strains isolated from the highest dilutions with microbial growth were used to characterize the predominant bacteria. The results showed that total aerobic counts increased from 3.9 log MPN/g in raw salted codfish to 5.9 log MPN/g in the final. Proteolytic, ammonifying, and trimethylamine bacteria producers also increased to 8, 7.5, and 6.5 log MPN/g, respectively. The salt content decreases (from 17% until 8%) and moisture increases (53% until 67%) during the salted-raw-codfish soaking, favoring sulphite-reducing and biogenic amine-producing species, confirming that desalting enhances potential spoilers. The subsequent drying step benefits proteolytic, ammonifying, and trimethylamine-producing bacteria, with a corresponding non-protein-nitrogen content (TVB-N and TMA-N) increase. The dominant bacteria during yellow curing belong to the genera Staphylococcus, Psychrobacter, Pseudomonas, and Alcaligenes with a clear positive correlation between the content of Staphylococcus and Psychrobacter and TVB-N and TMA-N concentration. Staphylococcus spp. are the dominant bacteria in the steps where the product has a higher salt concentration; thus, it could be particularly useful as an indicator to control the industrially yellow curing process and could have an important role in the development of the final characteristics of this product.
Pomegranate by-products can be an asset to the food industry due to the richness in bioactive and antimicrobial compounds. This work studied the influence of conventional solvent and ...sonication-assisted extraction methods on the bioactive profile, antimicrobial properties, and phytotoxicity effect of the peels and seeds extracts from Acco, Big Full, and Wonderful pomegranate cultivars. The bioactive composition of the extracts was evaluated for the content of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity (expressed as the half-maximal inhibitory concentration-IC
) by spectrophotometric methods, while the tannins were determined by titration and the anthocyanins were estimated by the pH-differential method. For the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity, the disk diffusion method of Kirby-Bauer was adapted through inhibition halos against
,
,
,
, and
. The extracts' phytotoxicity was evaluated in vitro on garden-cress seeds. Extracts from conventional extraction were richer in total phenolics, expressed as gallic acid equivalents (0.16-0.73 mg GAE/mg extract), while those from sonication-assisted extraction had higher contents of total flavonoids, expressed as catechin equivalents (0.019-0.068 mg CATE/mg extract); anthocyanins, expressed as cyanidin-3-glucoside (0.06-0.60 µg C3G/mg, dry basis); and antioxidant activity (IC
, 0.01-0.20 mg/mL). All extracts were more effective against Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts than Gram-negative bacteria. In general, the sonication-assisted extracts led to higher inhibition halos (8.7 to 11.4 mm). All extracts presented phytotoxicity against garden-cress seeds in the tested concentrations. Only the lowest concentration (0.003 mg/mL) enabled the germination of seeds and root growth, and the sonication-assisted extracts showed the highest Munoo-Liisa vitality index (51.3%). Overall, sonication-assisted extraction obtained extracts with greater bioactive and antimicrobial potential and less phytotoxicity.
► Butterfly species richness and abundance peaked shortly after fuel management. ► Richness and abundances were also much higher in recurrently managed stands. ► Most life history groups responded ...positively to management. ► Only a few specialist species occurred most often in undisturbed stands. ► Fuel management helps restoring butterfly diversity under land abandonment.
In cultural landscapes there are often negative biodiversity consequences of agricultural abandonment and subsequent scrub and forest encroachment, due to homogenization and the loss of early-successional habitats. The common forestry practice of removing understory vegetation to prevent fire hazard (fuel management) probably has the side-effect of ameliorating these consequences, but it is uncertain whether it effectively restores habitats for early-successional species. Here we examine the influence of time since fuel management and management frequency on butterfly assemblages, using a chronosequence of cork oak (Quercus suber) stands spanning about 70years. Overall species richness increased immediately after management and abundances peaked about 2–3years later, while both declined thereafter for about 10–20years to pre-disturbance levels. Richness and abundances were also much higher in recurrently managed stands. Most life history groups showed successional trends similar to the overall species richness and abundances, though consistent positive effects of fuel management were only observed for species with univoltine life cycle, herbaceous layer feeding, larval overwintering, and intermediate body size. Individual species were largely associated with recent and recurrent management, though a few specialists occurred most often in undisturbed stands. These findings suggest that fuel management at <10years intervals is strongly positive for butterfly assemblages in landscapes under land abandonment. However, to maintain the overall forest biodiversity it is critical that patches of undisturbed habitat are also retained at the landscape scale.
Background:
Functional mobility (FM) is the person's ability to move to accomplish daily living tasks and activities. FM limitations are common in Parkinson's disease, increase with disease ...progression, and can be highly disabling. Although several studies in Parkinson's disease (PD) field use this concept, only recently, a formal definition has been proposed.
Objective:
We aimed to explore patient's and health professional's perspectives of FM in PD.
Methods:
A focus group methodology has been used. Four focus groups, with a total of 10 patients and 10 health professionals, were performed. Six patients were early stage and four advanced stage. The health professional's group was composed of five neurologists and five physiotherapists. The suitability of the new concept, the impact of FM limitations in PD patient's daily routine, and the potential benefit of walking aids have been discussed.
Results:
All participants were able to provide a spontaneous definition of FM, matching with the proposed concept. All agreed that PD affects patient's FM, increasing the limitations with disease progression, and with the existence of a serious prejudice with walking aids that hinders its use. Early-stage patient's perspective seems to be more in line with neurologist's perspective, while the views of advanced-stage patients were closer to physiotherapist's views.
Conclusion:
FM concept was considered as intuitive and useful. FM limitations have an important physical and social impact in the advanced stage of the disease. Although patients and health professionals acknowledge walking aid's benefit improving patient's FM, the prejudice associated with this type of tools limits its recommendation and use.
Resumo O BRAMS-SFIRE é um novo sistema de modelação atmosférica com componente de propagação de fogo desenvolvido no Centro de Previsão de Tempo e Estudos Climáticos (CPTEC / INPE) no Brasil em ...colaboração com o Instituto Mediterrâneo de Agricultura, Ambiente e Desenvolvimento (MED) em Portugal. O presente artigo descreve a incorporação do modelo de propagação de fogo no Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (BRAMS). Os principais objetivos foram desenvolver o acoplamento entre um modelo atmosférico e um modelo de propagação de fogo que simulasse os efeitos da circulação atmosférica sobre um incêndio florestal e vice-versa. Esta ferramenta tem como objetivo ajudar a entender as relações entre o fogo e a paisagem nas florestas de carvalho mediterrâneas, e avaliar os resultados das simulações deste acoplamento na escala fina no ecossistema do Montado na região do Alentejo. Para isso, três grades de alta resolução espacial ao longo de três incêndios foram configuradas com dados de caracterização de superfície realistas e propriedades dos modelos de combustível. Uma grade foi colocada sobre fogo em uma planície e as outras nas montanhas, para avaliar os diferentes tipos de propagação do fogo. Este trabalho demonstra que este sistema simula de forma consistente a interação entre o fogo, os modelos de combustível e a atmosfera, mostrando que o fogo altera a circulação local ao nível da superfície, intensifica as correntes de vento ascendentes e descendentes, alterando a estrutura da atmosfera.
Abstract BRAMS-SFIRE is a new atmospheric modeling system with a fire spreading component developed at the Centro de Previsão de Tempo e Estudos Climáticos (CPTEC/INPE) in Brasil, in collaboration with the Instituto Mediterrâneo para a Agricultura, Ambiente e Desenvolvimento (MED) in Portugal. The present paper describes the incorporation of the fire model into the Brazilian development of the Regional Atmospheric Modelling System (BRAMS). The main objectives were to develop the coupling between an atmospheric and a spreading fire models which simulate the effects of atmospheric circulation over a wildfire and vice-versa. This tool is intended to help understand fire-landscape relationships in Mediterranean oak woodlands and evaluate the simulation results on a fine-scale in the Alentejo region's Montado ecosystem. For this purpose, three grids of very high spatial resolution over three fires were configured with realistic surface characterization data and fuel model properties. One grid was placed at a fire in the plains and the others in the mountains to evaluate fire propagation types. This work demonstrates that this system consistently simulated the interaction between the fire, the fuel models, and the atmosphere, showing the fire changes the local circulation at the surface level, intensify wind currents, and changes the atmosphere structure.
Small ruminant dairy products are common in some Mediterranean countries, in the Middle East and Africa, and can play a particular role in the development of rural areas. Butter has been the object ...of few research studies aimed at evaluating its potential as a vehicle for probiotic microorganisms. Moreover, the recovery of fermented buttermilk with functional properties can be considered an excellent opportunity to value this dairy byproduct. Therefore, the purpose of the present work was to develop different sheep butters and respective buttermilks after cream fermentation by: (1) a mesophilic aromatic starter (A); (2) a kefir culture (K); and (3) a mixture of probiotic bacteria (P). The butters and buttermilk produced with fermented cream were compared with non-fermented sweet cream (S) butter or buttermilk, respectively, regarding their physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics. The adjusted production (%, w/v) obtained for butter were: S (44.48%), A (36.82%), K (41.23%) and P (43.36%). S, A and K butters had higher solids, fat and ashes contents than P butter. The probiotic butter had a total fat of ca. 75% (w/w), below the legal limits, while all others had fat levels above 81.5%. In all samples, the pH decreased and the acidity increased over 90 days of refrigerated storage. These variations were more evident in the P butter, which agrees with the highest lactic acid bacteria counts found in this sample. Differences in color between samples and due to storage time were also observed. In general, the butter samples tended to become darker and yellower after the 60th day of storage. Texture analysis showed comparable results between samples and greater hardness was observed for the P butter, most probably due to its higher relative saturated fatty acids content (66.46% compared to 62−64% in S, A and K butters). Regarding rheological properties, all butters showed pseudoplastic behavior, but butter P had the lowest consistency index (249 kPa.sn−1). The probiotic butter and the corresponding buttermilk had viable cell counts greater than 7 Log CFU/g, indicating their suitability as probiotic carriers. All products were well accepted by consumers and small, but non-significant, differences (p > 0.05) were observed in relation to the sensory parameters evaluated. In general, it can be concluded that the use of adequate starter cultures can allow the production of innovative and potentially healthier products, alongside the valorization of dairy byproducts, improving the income of small-scale producers.
ABSTRACT What can alliances with trees bring about when it comes to teaching experiences in the face of the Anthropocene? This text analyzes the encounters between biological sciences and the arts as ...seen throughout the “Art, science and technology” course. Having been provoked by Haraway’s (2021) concept of “companion species” and established a connection with works by artists and with authors of education and philosophy, its interest in thinking about what happens between material relations and the systems of signs involved in those exercises which have resulted in two book-objects produced within the course: Floresta de luz and Floresta². The trees call upon people to think of teaching as a laboratory-atelier of perceiving-creating forests and to pay attention to the fabulations between biological sciences and the arts.
RESUMO O que as alianças com as árvores podem ativar em experiências de ensino diante do Antropoceno? Partindo dessa pergunta, analisa-se encontros entre biologias e artes nas práticas da disciplina “Arte, ciência e tecnologia”. Mobilizado pelo conceito de “espécies companheiras” de Haraway (2021) e em diálogos com obras de artistas, autores da educação e filosofia, este texto se interessa por pensar no que acontece entre as relações materiais e os regimes de signos envolvidos em exercícios que resultaram em dois livros-objeto criados na disciplina: Floresta de Luz e Floresta². As árvores convocam as pessoas a pensarem o ensino como um laboratório-ateliê de perceber-fazer floresta e a darem atenção às fabulações que brotam pelas frestas, entre biologias e artes.
This article discusses the habit of politicians paying journalists per diem rates in exchange for media coverage. Although bribery and money incentives have been studied as practices that compromise ...the ethics of journalism in several African countries, this paper researches Guinea-Bissau as an example and establishes a distinction. Unlike bribery, the widespread payment of these stipends is legal, but it is chronically damaging for freedom of expression and professional integrity. Drawing on interviews, focus groups and ethnographic observation with professionals from national, local and community media, this paper documents the precarious state of journalism in Guinea-Bissau, particularly the sector's acute lack of financial resources and meagre wages. News sources, and dominantly the government and parties, organise multiple events, attracting coverage in exchange for remuneration. Accepting these payments is, for many journalists, the only possible mode of subsisting, despite compromising their independence. News coverage is consequently saturated with propaganda, and forms of investigative journalism are rare. This article argues that the payment of per diem rates, accepted as legitimate and common practice in several other countries, has led to a pervasive control of journalism.
The emergence of bacterial resistance due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics warrants the need for developing new bioactive agents. In this context, antimicrobial peptides are highly useful for ...managing resistant microbial strains. In this study, we report the isolation and characterization of peptides obtained from the venom of the toadfish
Thalassophryne nattereri
. These peptides were active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi
.
The primary amino acid sequences showed similarity to Cocaine and Amphetamine Regulated Transcript peptides, and two peptide analogs—Tn CRT2 and Tn CRT3—were designed using the AMPA algorithm based on these sequences. The analogs were subjected to physicochemical analysis and antimicrobial screening and were biologically active at concentrations ranging from 2.1 to 13 µM. Zeta potential analysis showed that the peptide analogs increased the positive charge on the cell surface of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The toxicity of Tn CRT2 and Tn CRT3 were analyzed in vitro using a hemolytic assay and tetrazolium salt reduction in fibroblasts and was found to be significant only at high concentrations (up to 40 µM). These results suggest that this methodological approach is appropriate to design novel antimicrobial peptides to fight bacterial infections and represents a new and promising discovery in fish venom.
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