Search

The decline of oak canopies in Iberian woodlands is strongly influenced by abiotic and biotic stress factors, such as the oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi which has the capacity to infect a wide range of plant species. Understory plant diversity plays an important role in the epidemiology of P. cinnamomi in these ecosystems. This study aimed to identify a set of woody and herbaceous plants that can impact oak decline. Twenty-two herbaceous plant species from three families, and nineteen woody plants (trees and shrubs) from seven families were assessed for their response to infection by P. cinnamomi. Most of the herbaceous species did not show evident susceptibility, only a few exhibited significant biomass root reduction and just seven were identified as hosts. Yellow lupin was the only herbaceous species showing high susceptibility. Among the woody plant species, only two shrub and two tree species exhibited disease symptoms. The other ones, mostly hosts, ranged between low susceptible and tolerant. These results highlight the possibility that many of these species can maintain the pathogen active in the soil or even increase its population. In this context, the findings of this study can contribute to effective management strategies to mitigate Phytophthora infection in woodland soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem diameter growth in living trees refers to the invariably increase in dimension over a given period. However, reversible stem diameter decrease could occur, related to water movement in the vessels within the wood (on a daily basis) and to tree water deficit and depletion of stored water (on a seasonal basis). Recently, the perennial decrement in stem diameter size has been related to a tree decline pathway, and eventually resulting in tree death. In this study, we analysed stem diameter intra-annual growth dynamics of holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia Lam.) trees for two full growing seasons in distinct woodlands, Laborela and Aldeia dos Fernandes, in southern Portugal (Ourique district). Our focus was to assess stem diameter growth patterns and trends in holm oak trees in endangered woodlands with high tree mortality and to question if perennial decrement. Holm oaks in Laborela were much more sensitive in their stem diameter variations than in Aldeia dos Fernandes and, on average, their stem diameter decreased continuously by 1.0 mm along the 2-year study period, with a slightly higher annual decrease in the first study year (0.6 mm.yr−1). In addition, on average, trees had a higher decrease in stem sectional area of 5.8 cm2 in Laborela against a decrease of 3.7 cm2 in Aldeia dos Fernandes, where the stem diameter of holm oaks only decreased in the first study year (0.1 mm.yr−1). In each study area, the repeated- measures ANOVA showed that tree size effect influenced the stem diameter variations in contrast to tree crown defoliation. Trees were, on average, relatively smaller in Laborela, with DBH = 35.5 cm against DBH = 40.6 cm in Aldeia dos Fernandes, and were highly sensitive in their stem diameter decrement along two consecutives full growing seasons. This is the first exploratory study on assessing the stem diameter fluctuations on holm oaks to address a decline pathway. Our results revealed that holm oaks can survive during two consecutive growing seasons, with a continuous decrease in their stem diameters, which might indicate one tree's decline pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective is to test the efficacy of cognitive-narrative therapy in the treatment of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) and borderline symptoms on a sample of women who suffered from intimate partner violence (IPV). Trial design is a longitudinal randomized controlled trial with a sample of 19 battered women allocated in two groups, a control group and treatment group, assessed twice at baseline before intervention, and at follow-up. The outcome measures were the Patient Health Questionnaire, International Trauma Questionnaire, PTSD and CPTSD Diagnostic Interview Schedule for International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, Conjugal Violence Exposure Scale (CVES), Life Events Checklist and Intervention Program Satisfaction Assessment Instrument. The treatment group received a four-session cognitive-narrative manualized intervention. There were no statistically significant differences between groups at baseline and follow-up, however, positive effect sizes ranging between 0.04 and 0.43 were found in depression, PTSD, and borderline, as well in some CPTSD dimensions when analyzing baseline-follow-up deltas between groups. There was also a negative effect size of –0.28 in the CPTSD total. This intervention is effective in the treatment of depression, PTSD and borderline and is an important tool in the treatment of these disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work produced pyrodextrins from breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) starch and evaluated the effect of HCl and CH3COOH as catalysts of pyrodextrinization on physicochemical and structural properties of pyrodextrins. Pyroconversion was performed by spraying the acid solution on starch (1.82 g acid/kg starch) and heated to 140°C for 180 min. The pyrodextrins were analyzed for chemical composition, dextrose equivalent (DE), color parameters, solubility, intrinsic viscosity, infrared spectrum, and granule morphology. The pyroconversion decreased (p <.05) the ash content and the intrinsic viscosity of native starch. The HCl‐pyrodextrin was slightly yellow, very water soluble with 8.8% DE. The CH3COOH‐pyrodextrin was white, 8.8% soluble with 1.2% DE. The pyrodextrinization reduced α(1,4) bonds of glucans without drastically changing the granule's morphology. The use of acetic acid was considered a milder treatment, however, it caused an increase in the total and soluble dietary fiber contents, supporting its use to produce pyrodextrins for food applications. Novelty impact statement: This article provides the first report of pyrodextrinization of breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) starch.The HCl as catalyst caused greater changes in starch properties than acetic acid.The acetic acid caused a 10% increase in the total and soluble dietary fiber contents of pyrodextrin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUÇÃO Estudos demonstraram que a ingestão de fibras promove uma microbiota intestinal (MI) mais saudável, sendo seu consumo adequado associado ao risco reduzido de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. Importante fonte de fibra solúvel, do tipo frutooligossacarídeo (FOS) é o yacon. Os FOS exercem efeitos hipolipidêmicos através da produção de ácido graxo de cadeia curta (AGCC) pela MI, resultando na modulação das vias bioquímicas e celulares relacionadas ao metabolismo lipídico, saciedade e trânsito intestinal. A metabolômica vem se expandindo e se apresenta como uma técnica poderosa na análise de metabólitos primários e/ou secundários em um organismo, detalhando as vias metabólicas de um sistema biológico. Assim, objetivou-se analisar o efeito da suplementação do xarope de yacon no perfil metabolômico em ratos com dieta hiperlipídica. MÉTODOS O protocolo experimental durou 10 semanas. Os grupos experimentais foram utilizados ratos Wistar machos e distribuídos em 4 grupos, com 10 animais por grupo, sendo eles: Control diet group (animais alimentados com dieta padrão por todo o período experimental); HFD group (animais que receberam high fat diet por todo o período); High-fat diet + 1% FOS group e High-fat diet + 2% FOS group (animais que receberam somente HFD por 5 semanas e depois receberam HDF suplementada com 1 e 2 % de FOS respectivamente, correspondendo a uma média de 100mg/dia ou 200mg/dia de FOS). A variabilidade da composição do plasma foi investigada pela 1RNMH acoplada a quimiométrica. O experimento seguiu de acordo com normas dos Princípios Éticos na Experimentação Animal (COBEA), tendo o projeto sido submetido e aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética de Utilização de Animais (CEUA) da Universidade de Fortaleza sob o n° 6078030719. RESULTADOS A amostra com FOS a 2% apresentou diminuição de ácidos graxos (AG), glicose e glicerol comparativamente a HFD. A presença de AGCC nas amostras FOS a 2% evidenciou a ação funcional do prebiótico, o que não se observou no plasma analisado de FOS a 1%, sugerindo, assim, a necessidade de aumento da concentração para ampliação de resultados associativos ao FOS. Outro achado foi que HFD pode levar ao distúrbio da glicólise e também, ao metabolismo anaeróbico alterado com base no aumento do lactato. CONCLUSÃO Assim, a análise da suplementação do xarope de yacon em ratos com dieta hiperlipídica, apresentou-se inovador por utilizar a metabolômica como ferramenta para explorar e compreender o efeito desta suplementação. Corroborando com outros trabalhos recentes, o glicerol, o glutamato e a glutamina foram associados como biomarcadores para hiperlipidemia e assim, evidenciando que a suplementação com FOS a 2% não foi eficiente para atenuar os efeitos da HFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]