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This study aimed to evaluate the influence of chloride ions and acids on the formation of 3-MCPD, 2-MCPD, and glycidyl esters in palm oil as well as the use of metals, adsorbents, salts, amino acid...

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T11:00:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-07-31 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Microencapsulation is a potential biotechnological tool, which can overcome antimicrobial peptides (AMP) instabilities and reduce toxic side effects. Thus, this study evaluates the antibacterial activities of the Ctx(Ile21)-Ha AMP against multidrug-resistant (MDR) and non-resistant bacteria and develop and characterize peptide-loaded microparticles coated with the enteric polymers hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP). Ctx(Ile21)-Ha was obtained by solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) method, purified and characterized by HPLC and Mass Spectrometry. The peptide exhibited potent antibiotic activities against Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR), Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR), and Staphylococcus aureus (MDR). Ctx(Ile21)-Ha microencapsulation was performed by ionic gelation with high efficiency, maintaining the physical-chemical stability. Ctx(Ile21)-Ha coated-microparticles were characterized by DSC, TGA, FTIR-Raman, XRD and SEM. Hemolytic activity assay demonstrated that hemolysis was decreased up to 95% compared to single molecule. In addition, in vitro release control profile simulating different portions of gastrointestinal tract was performed and showed the microcapsules' ability to protect the peptide and release it in the intestine, aiming pathogen's location, mainly by Salmonella sp. Therefore, use of microencapsulated Ctx(Ile21)-Ha can be allowed as an antimicrobial controller in monogastric animal production as an oral feed additive (antimicrobial controller), being a valuable option for molecules with low therapeutic indexes or high hemolytic rates. São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal São Paulo State University (Unesp) Institute of Chemistry, Araraquara São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Sciences and Engineering, Tupã São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Technology and Sciences, Presidente Prudente Poultry Health Specialized Laboratory Biological Institute, Bastos Institute of Microbiology and Infection University of Birmingham School of Chemistry University of Birmingham São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal São Paulo State University (Unesp) Institute of Chemistry, Araraquara São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Sciences and Engineering, Tupã São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Technology and Sciences, Presidente Prudente FAPESP: 2016/00446-7

Uncaria tomentosa, a climbing vine notable for containing high concentrations of oxindole alkaloids and phenolic compounds, is commonly used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent. Also, the citric acid is a food additive widely used for conservation, due to its low cost. In this way, this study aims to evaluate the content of phenolic compounds from Uncaria tomentosa and investigate its antioxidant activity when citric acid, at different concentrations, is added to the extract. For this purpose, a gradient of citric acid concentrations was established, and the antioxidant profile from a aqueous extracts of the plant leaves and bark was analyzed by Folin-Ciocalteu essay; inhibition of the free radical of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH); ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and scavenging capacity of cationic free radicals of 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). The results showed a synergistic effect between citric acid and antioxidant compounds from Uncaria tomentosa, presenting highly statistical significance, the synergistic effect was more efficient in the bark than in the leaves.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T10:23:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 A rapid analytical method for simultaneous quantification of glucose (GLC) and seven short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) was developed for detection of ruminal fermentation parameters. The formic acid (FA), lactic acid (LA), acetic acid (AA), propionic acid (PA), butyric acid (BA), isovaleric acid (IVA), valeric acid (VA), and glucose were identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique, using a reverse-phase column (C-18) and simultaneous detection in UV-Vis and Refraction Index (RID) detectors, linked in series. The method was validated following the requirements of selectivity, linearity, sensitivity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, accuracy, and precision. The developed method operates in isocratic and gradient modes, providing a better SCFA separation, which allows their determination with a high accuracy and repeatability. Therefore, this study provides a fast, reliable, accurate, straightforward, and efficient alternative method for analysis of ruminal fermentation parameters by liquid chromatography using both detectors simultaneously. São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Sciences and Engineering São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Sciences and Engineering São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences

This study verified the formation profile of esters of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPDE), 2-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (2-MCPDE), and glycidol (GE), and evaluated the physicochemical changes (free-fatty acid, acylglycerols, and colour) that occurred during the deodorization of palm oil in different conditions of time (30, 60, 90, and 120 min) and temperature (210, 230, 250, and 270 °C). Levels of 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD esters ranged from 1.91 to 2.70 mg/kg and 0.68 to 1.44 mg/kg, respectively, and were formed at the mildest tested condition (210 °C, 30 min). No correlation was observed between these contaminants and physicochemical changes. GE levels varied from 0.12 to 8.51 mg/kg and showed correlation with color and diacylglycerol content. While the temperature had little influence on the formation of esters of 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD, the content of GE considerably raised above 250 °C.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T02:41:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-05-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) There is no use restriction associated with bees for many fungicides used in agriculture; however, this does not always mean that these pesticides are harmless for these nontarget organisms. We investigated whether the fungicide pyraclostrobin, which acts on fungal mitochondria, also negatively affects honey bee mitochondrial bioenergetics. Honey bees were collected from 5 hives and anesthetized at 4 °C. The thoraces were separated, and mitochondria were isolated by grinding, filtering, and differential centrifugation. An aliquot of 0.5 mg of mitochondrial proteins was added to 0.5 mL of a standard reaction medium with 4 mM succinate (complex II substrate) plus 50 nM rotenone (complex I inhibitor), and mitochondrial respiration was measured at 30 °C using a Clark-type oxygen electrode. Mitochondrial membrane potential was determined spectrofluorimetrically using safranin O as a probe, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis was determined by chemiluminescence. Pyraclostrobin at 0 to 50 μM was tested on the mitochondrial preparations, with 3 repetitions. Pyraclostrobin inhibited mitochondrial respiration in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 10 μM and above, demonstrating typical inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. Pyraclostrobin also promoted a decline in the mitochondrial membrane potential at doses of 5 μM and above and in ATP synthesis at 15 μM and above. We conclude that pyraclostrobin interferes with honey bee mitochondrial function, which is especially critical for the energy-demanding flight activity of foraging bees. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1267–1272. © 2020 SETAC. Department of Animal Science College of Agricultural and Technological Sciences São Paulo State University (Unesp) Department of Genetics Ribeirão Preto Medical School University of São Paulo Department of Biosystem Engineering School of Science and Engineering São Paulo State University (Unesp) Department of Animal Science College of Agricultural and Technological Sciences São Paulo State University (Unesp) Department of Biosystem Engineering School of Science and Engineering São Paulo State University (Unesp) FAPESP: 2016/00446-7 FAPESP: 2016/21818-0

This study investigated the influence of factors that could affect the levels of 3-MCPD esters in French fries, including the cultivar, the type of frying oil, and the use of pre-treatments such as blanching and application of edible coatings. Under the selected experimental conditions of frying, the cultivar Agata, which presented the highest dry matter content, showed the lowest oil uptake and 3-MCPD esters concentrations. In relation to the frying medium, the use of oils containing higher levels of 3-MCPD esters resulted in a higher contamination of French fries. Blanching treatment of potatoes before frying increased up to 33% the concentrations of 3-MCPD esters. On the other hand, the levels of the contaminants decreased by 19% with the application of a pectin solution. It could be observed that factors affecting oil uptake in French fries may also affect the contamination by 3-MCPD esters and should be considered as possible mitigation strategies to minimize human exposure to these chemical contaminants.

The formation of toxic compounds, potentially carcinogenic, during food processing has been considered an important food safety issue. Among them, particular attention has been given to 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDE), 2-monochloropropane-1,3-diol esters (2-MCPDE) and glycidyl esters (GE), which can be formed during vegetable oil refining, especially palm oil. These substances may pose a health risk to humans due to their toxicity and carcinogenicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of washing bleached palm oil (BPO) with different solvents, and evaluate the reduction of 3-MCPDE, 2-MCPDE and GE as well as assess the quality parameters of the final product. For this purpose, we used two types of washing with different solvents. A single washing was carried out in one step and a double washing in two steps using a solvent gradient. Single washing had a limited reduction in the levels of 3-MCPDE and 2-MCPDE and resulted in an increased level of GE, whereas double washing slightly reduced 3-MCPDE and 2-MCPDE and resulted in a significant reduction of GE levels. The reduction achieved in this study was up to 17.1% for 3-MCPDE, 56.4% for 2-MCPDE and 76.9% for GE levels. The reduction of 3-MCPDE and 2-MCPDE might be due to the removal of part of the ethanol-soluble chlorinated precursors from the oil which suggests that highly lipophilic forms of these substances are present in BPO. The substantial reduction on GE levels might be associated with the removal of the precursors present in the oil such as diacylglycerols. Thus, the washing treatment could be used as a supplementary strategy to reduce processing contaminants from palm oil, especially GEs.

Chlorophyll a concentration in aquatic ecosystems is strongly related to the phytoplankton community biomass, the growth of which depends on nutrient availability. Thus, chlorophyll a concentration...

3-MCPDE (3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters), 2-MCPDE (2-monochloropropane-1,3-diol esters) and GE (glycidyl esters) are heat-induced contaminants that are formed during the refining of vegetable oils under high temperatures, mainly during the deodorization step. Samples commercialized as extra virgin olive oils (EVOO), olive oils and oil blends (n = 76) were analysed for 3-MCPDE, 2-MCPDE and GE. A possible correlation with the identity and quality parameters established for olive oils was also evaluated. Concentrations of 3-MCPDE, 2-MCPDE and GE ranged from not detected to 1.16 mg/kg, not detected to 0.58 mg/kg and not detected to 1.98 mg/kg in EVOO, respectively. Samples commercialized as olive oil presented levels ranging from 0.28 to 3.77 mg/kg for 3-MCPDE, 0.17–1.91 mg/kg for 2-MCPDE and not detected to 1.88 mg/kg for GE. For oil blends, 3-MCPDE levels were from 0.18 to 0.61 mg/kg, 2-MCPDE were from not detected to 0.25 mg/kg and GE from 0.31 to 1.84 mg/kg. As the processing of EVOO does not require the use of high temperatures, these esters were not expected at quantifiable levels in these products, indicating that they were probably adulterated with the addition of some type of refined oil. According to this study, analysis of 3-MCPDE, 2-MCPDE and GE may also be used as a complementary indicator of adulteration of EVOO.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T19:40:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 Paraquat is resistant to degradation by conventional treatments, being necessary to use treatments with greater effectiveness, such as advanced oxidative processes. In this work, different advanced oxidative processes were applied (Fenton, electro-Fenton, photoelectro-oxidation and photoelectro-Fenton) employing oxide electrodes to degrade Gramoxone, a commercial herbicide that contains paraquat in its composition. The degradation and formation of by-products were accompanied by high performance liquid chromatography, total organic carbon (TOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The results showed that the photoelectro-Fenton process was the most efficient due to the synergistic effect, reaching 79% degradation of the initial compound and 82% and 71% removal of TOC and COD, respectively. After the application of the electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton oxidation processes, short-chain carboxylic acids such as succinic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid and formic acid were identified as by-products of the oxidation of Gramoxone. The results were satisfactory and deserve to be highlighted, as a commercial formulation was used, making the scenario more realistic. School of Sciences and Engineering Biosystems Engineering Department São Paulo State University (UNESP) School of Sciences and Engineering Biosystems Engineering Department São Paulo State University (UNESP)

Numerous environmental and endogenous factors affect the level of genetic diversity in natural populations. Genetic variability is the cornerstone of evolution and adaptation of species. However, currently, more and more plant species and local varieties (landraces) are on the brink of extinction due to anthropopression and climate change. Their preservation is imperative for the sake of future breeding programs. Gene banks have been created worldwide to conserve different plant species of cultural and economic importance. Many of them apply cryopreservation, a conservation method in which ultra-low temperatures (−135 °C to −196 °C) are used for long-term storage of tissue samples, with little risk of variation occurrence. Cells can be successfully cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen (LN) when the adverse effect of ice crystal formation and growth is mitigated by the removal of water and the formation of the so-called biological glass (vitrification). This state can be achieved in several ways. The involvement of key cold-regulated genes and proteins in the acquisition of cold tolerance in plant tissues may additionally improve the survival of LN-stored explants. The present review explains the importance of cryostorage in agronomy and presents an overview of the recent works accomplished with this strategy. The most widely used cryopreservation techniques, classic and modern cryoprotective agents, and some protocols applied in crops are considered to understand which parameters provide the establishment of high quality and broadly applicable cryopreservation. Attention is also focused on the issues of genetic integrity and functional genomics in plant cryobiology.

Bacterial resistance has intensified in recent years due to the uncontrolled use of conventional drugs, and new bacterial strains with multiple resistance have been reported. This problem may be solved by using antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which fulfill their bactericidal activity without developing much bacterial resistance. The rapid interaction between AMPs and the bacterial cell membrane means that the bacteria cannot easily develop resistance mechanisms. In addition, various drugs for clinical use have lost their effect as a conventional treatment; however, the synergistic effect of AMPs with these drugs would help to reactivate and enhance antimicrobial activity. Their efficiency against multi-resistant and extensively resistant bacteria has positioned them as promising molecules to replace or improve conventional drugs. In this review, we examined the importance of antimicrobial peptides and their successful activity against critical and high-priority bacteria published in the WHO list.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T11:18:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-06-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) The constant use of synthetic antibiotics as growth promoters can cause bacterial resistance in chicks. Consequently, the use of these drugs has been restricted in different countries. In recent years, antimicrobial peptides have gained relevance due to their minimal capacity for bacterial resistance and does not generate toxic residues that harm the environment and human health. In this study, a Ctx(Ile21 )-Ha antimicrobial peptide was employed, due to its previously reported great antimicrobial potential, to evaluate its application effects in laying chicks challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis, resistant to nalidixic acid and spectinomycin. For this, Ctx(Ile21 )-Ha was synthesized, microencapsulated and coated with hypromellose phthalate (HPMCP) to be released in the intestine. Two different doses (3.2 and 6.4 µg of Ctx(Ile21 )-Ha per kg of isoproteic and isoenergetic poultry feed) were included in the chick’s food and administered for 28 days. Antimicrobial activity, effect and response as treatment were evaluated. Statistical results were analyzed in detail and indicate that the formulated Ctx(Ile21 )-Ha peptide had a positive and significant effect in relation to the reduction of chick mortality in the first days of life. However, there was moderate evidence (p = 0.07), not considered statistically significant, in the differences in laying chick weight between the control and microencapsulation treatment groups as a function of time. Therefore, the microencapsulated Ctx(Ile21 )-Ha antimicrobial peptide can be an interesting and promising option in the substitution of conventional antibiotics. School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Sciences and Engineering São Paulo State University (Unesp) Poultry Health Specialized Laboratory Biological Institute School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Sciences and Engineering São Paulo State University (Unesp) School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (Unesp) FAPESP: 2016/00446-7 FAPESP: 2018/25707-3

Freshwater quality maintenance is essential for human use and ecological functions. To ensure this objective, governments establish programs for a continuous monitoring of the inland waters state. This could be possible with Sentinel-2 (S2) and Sentinel-3 (S3), two remote sensing satellites of the European Space Agency, equipped with spectral optical sensors. To determine optimal water quality algorithms applicable to their spectral bands, 36 algorithms were tested for different key variables (chlorophyll a (Chl_a), colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), colored dissolved organic matter (TSS), phycocyanin (PC) and Secchi disk depth (SDD)). A database of 296 water-leaving reflectance spectra were used, as well as concomitant water quality measurements of Mediterranean reservoirs and lakes of Spain. Two equal data sets were used for calibration and validation. The best algorithms were recalculated using all database and used the following band relations: SDD, R560/R700, CDOM, R665/R490, PC, R705/R665 for S2 and R620, R665, R709 and R779 for S3, using a semi-analytical algorithm, R700 for TSS &lt, 20 mg/L and R783/R492 (S2) or R779/R510 (S3) for TSS &gt, 20 mg/L, and for Chl_a, the maximum (R443, R492)/R560 for Chl_a &lt, 5 mg/m3 and R700/R665 for Chl_a &gt, 5 mg/m3. A preliminary test with a satellite image in a well-known reservoir showed results consistent with the expected ranges and spatial patterns of the variables.

An emerging group of process-induced food contaminants including esterified forms of monochloropropanediols (MCPDE) and glycidol (GE) has attracted significant attention of fats and oils producers in the past few years. These substances are mainly formed during the deodorization step of the refining processing of vegetable oils. Literature indicates different precursors, mechanisms and process conditions for the formation of these contaminants. Nephrotoxicity, developmental and reproduction toxicity, and carcinogenicity have been described as the most important adverse effects of MCPDE and GE. Analytical methods for the determination of these contaminants include direct and indirect approaches, and some of them are fully validated for different matrices. However, important gaps still exist, which motivates many research opportunities on this topic.

Albufera of Valencia shallow lagoon experiences water clarification about once a year. This study aimed to observe the timing of water clarity events and to detect the associated flow during these periods. Spatial variation in chlorophyll a along the Albufera was observed using remote sensing images. Due to the lagoon’s spatial complexity and the varying water qualities flowing in from more than 60 tributaries, remote sensing was the only approach that could obtain images simultaneously covering the entire lagoon. The data were used to explore the evolution, duration and intensity of the clear-water phase, and the lagoon’s subsequent re-eutrophication. The duration and intensity of the clear-water phase varied across the lagoon, but complete water quality renovation occurred in 1 week. Our analysis demonstrates that rapid flushing could remediate the lagoon eutrophication.

High concentrations of esters of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPDE) and glycidol (GE) have been reported in infant formulas due to the use of refined vegetable oils that may contain high levels of these contaminants. Commercial infant formulas available on the Brazilian market (n = 40) were analyzed for the first time for 3-MCPDE and GE using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. For 3-MCPDE, the limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) were 0.08 mg/kg and 0.16 mg/kg, respectively. For GE, the LOD and LOQ were 0.10 mg/kg and 0.20 mg/kg, respectively. Mean recoveries varied from 93 to 108% for 3-MCPDE and from 82 to 97% for GE. Levels of 3-MCPDE in the products ranged from not detected to 0.60 mg/kg whereas concentrations of GE ranged from not detected to 0.75 mg/kg. A theoretical preliminary exposure assessment showed that 3-MCPDE and GE intakes were up to 5.81 and 10.46 μg/kg body weight/day, respectively, in a worst case scenario (95th percentile). According to the results obtained in this study, the levels of 3-MCPDE and GE in infant formulas marketed in Brazil may pose a potential risk to the health of the consumers of these products and need to be constantly monitored.

In the present work, different foods including banana, potato, cassava, onion, garlic, polenta, rice balls and beef patties were investigated in relation to the possible endogenous formation of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol fatty acid esters (bound 3-MCPD) and carry-over of these contaminants from the oil due to fat uptake during frying. For that, the samples were fried in two different types of oil and bound 3-MCPD was determined by using an indirect method based on acid transesterification and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry analysis. The compounds were not detected in the fried foods when corn oil containing non-significant levels of bound 3-MCPD (

The formation of toxic compounds that are potentially carcinogenic during food processing has been considered an important food safety issue. Among them, particular attention has been given to 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDE), 2-monochloropropane-1,3-diol esters (2-MCPDE) and glycidyl esters (GE), which can be formed during edible oil refining, especially in palm oil. These contaminants can also occur in a variety of processed foods and the highest concentrations have been found in those that use refined oils in their formulation. 3-MCPDE, 2-MCPDE and GE are formed at high temperatures mainly in the deodorization step of the edible oils refining process, and different mechanisms have been suggested. So far, several strategies have been proposed to mitigate these contaminants in edible oils, including the removal of precursors from the oil prior to deodorization, modifications of processing parameters, the addition of refining aids to prevent the formation of the contaminants during processing, and degradation or removal of the contaminants formed in the refined oil. Moreover, strategies to minimize the contamination of fried foods due to oil uptake during frying have been investigated.

Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil which presents a variety of applications including food, energy, and international trading. However, one of the major concerns associated with palm oil uses as a food ingredient is the significant amount of processing contaminants, such as monochloropropanediol esters (MCPDE) and glycidyl esters (GE) which are formed during the refining process. These contaminants may pose a health risk to consumers due to their carcinogenicity. Thus, mitigation strategies have been studied to reduce these substances in palm oil. In this study, we investigated the effect of the application of an aqueous washing step, as a mitigation strategy, prior to deodorization in three different palm oil cultivation systems: organic, conventional and certified palm oil by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). In addition, we evaluated the quality parameters after the application of the washing step. For the organic, conventional and RSPO palm oil samples, the aqueous washing step reduced approximately 41%, 34% and 36% of the 3-MCPDE, respectively. The levels of 2-MCPDE for the organic, conventional and RSPO palm oil presented a reduction of 55%, 41% and 32%, respectively. The GE levels are considerably low for all the deodorized palm oils, and presented no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). Besides, the quality parameters such as free fatty acids, color, and OSI met the recommended limits. Therefore, the aqueous washing could be used as a supplementary strategy to reduce these contaminants from palm oil.

A total of 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were surveyed in dry whole soybeans (Glycine max L.) sold for human consumption. The analysed samples were commercialised in vegetarian shops and food stores in Southern Brazil regions. The determination of PAHs levels was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)with fluorescence detection. PAHs were present in 89.7% of the samples. Chrysene (Chy) and 5 methyl chrysene (5MeChy) were the main PAHs detected (76.9% and 71.8%, respectively) followed by dibenzo(ai)pyrene (DaiP), however in a much less percentage of samples (23.1%). Apart from those PAHs, also benzo(a)antracene (BaA), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF) and benzo(a)pyrene(BaP) were found. The ΣPAH levels in the positive samples ranged from 0.80 to 38.78 µg kg−1, with exception of one sample that reached 204.46 µg kg−1 (ΣPAHs of six compounds). Despite the present contamination there are no maximum limits set for PAHs in soybeans.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-10T19:53:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-04-17 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Cyclodextrin (CD) is a conical compound used in food and pharmaceutical industry to complexation of hydrophobic substances. It is a product of microbial enzymes which converts starch into CD during their activity. We aim to detect CD using active-electrode biosensor of SnO2. They were grown on active electrode by the VLS method. The CD consists of several glucose units which have hydroxyl groups which tend to bind to interface states present in nanowires changing their conductivity. Experimental results of electrical conductivity at different CD concentrations are presented. A model that describes the influence of adsorbed glucose on nanowires and its electrical properties is also presented. Some general observations are performed on the applicability of the CD adsorption method by the nanowire-based biosensor. Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias & Engn Tupa, Ave Domingos Costa Lopes,780 Jardim Itaipu, Tupa, SP, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Fis Sao Carlos, Box 369, BR-13566970 Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Fis, NanoLab, Rodovia Washington Luiz,Km 235 Monjolinho,CP 676, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Uberlandia, Inst Quim, Ave Joao Naves de Avila 2121, Uberlandia, MG, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias Rio Claro, Dept Bioquim & Microbiol, Ave 24-A,1515 Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Quim, LIEC, Rodovia Washington Luiz,Km 235 Monjolinho, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias & Engn Tupa, Ave Domingos Costa Lopes,780 Jardim Itaipu, Tupa, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias Rio Claro, Dept Bioquim & Microbiol, Ave 24-A,1515 Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil FAPESP: FAPESP 2014/19692-4 FAPESP: 2016/00446-7 FAPESP: 2019/12694-3 CNPq: 305615/ 2014-0

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T17:55:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-08-30 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Actinoporins sticholysin I and sticholysin II (St I, St II) are proposed to lyse model and biomembranes via toroidal pore formation by their N-terminal domain. Based on the hypothesis that peptide fragments can reproduce the structure and function of this domain, the behavior of peptides containing St I residues 12-31 (StI(12)(-)(31)), St II residues 11-30 (StII(11)(-)(30)), and its TOAC-labeled analogue (N-TOAC-StII(11)(-)(30)) was examined. Molecular modeling showed a good match with experimental structures, indicating amphipathic alpha-helices in the same regions as in the toxins. CD spectra revealed that the peptides were essentially unstructured in aqueous solution, acquiring alpha-helical conformation upon interaction with micelles and large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) of variable lipid composition. Fluorescence quenching studies with NBD-containing lipids indicated that N-TOAC-StII(11)(-)(30)'s nitroxide moiety is located in the membranes polar head group region. Pyrene-labeled phospholipid inter-leaflet redistribution suggested that the peptides form toroidal pores, according to the mechanism of action proposed for the toxins. Binding occurred only to negatively charged LUV, indicating the importance of electrostatic interactions; in contrast the peptides bound to both negatively charged and zwitterionic micelles, pointing to a lesser influence of these interactions. In addition, differences between bilayers and micelles in head group packing and in curvature led to differences in peptide-membrane interaction. We propose that the peptides topography in micelles resembles that of the toxins in the toroidal pore. The peptides mimicked the toxins permeabilizing activity, St II peptides being more effective than StI(12)(-)(31). To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that differences in the toxins N-terminal amphipathic alpha-helix play a role in the difference between St I and St II activities. Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Chem, Dept Biochem, Sao Paulo, Brazil Roskilde Univ, Dept Sci & Environm, Roskilde, Denmark State Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Sci & Engn, Tupa, Brazil State Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Chem, Araraquara, Brazil Univ Havana, Ctr Prot Studies, Havana, Cuba State Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Sci & Engn, Tupa, Brazil State Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Chem, Araraquara, Brazil

The Ocean Color 2 (OC2), Ocean Color 3 (OC3) and Dall'Olmo three-band (TBDO) algorithms used for the estimation of the chlorophyll-a concentration [Chl-a] have been calibrated and validated for Sentinel-2 spectral bands. Measurements of in situ chlorophyll-a, radiometry and simulations with HydroLight have been used for this purpose within the Ecological Status of AQuatic Systems Satellites (ESAQS) Project to estimate water quality in aquatic systems in Spain. The results show that Sentinel-2 spectral bands are suitable for studying the chlorophyll-a concentration in inland waters. The TBDO algorithm have been applied to Sentinel-2 images and satisfactory results have been obtained in Albufera of Valencia region (Spain).

In the present study, selected commercial processed foods available in the Brazilian market (232 samples) were analyzed for the first time in relation to 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) content using a validated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Most of the samples (66%) did not show quantifiable levels of the contaminant. However, high concentrations were verified in some samples of specific food groups. Maximum values reported were 2529 μg/kg for foods containing hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), such as soups, seasonings and ready-to-eat meals, 4405 μg/kg for soy sauces, 156 μg/kg for foods and beverages containing malt-derived ingredients, 716 μg/kg for breads, and 49 μg/kg for smoked foods. This study highlights the importance of monitoring the 3-MCPD content in the HVP that is added to food as a savory ingredient.

Levels of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) fatty acid esters were evaluated in commercial deep-fat fried foods from the Brazilian market using a GC-MS method preceded by acid-catalysed methanolysis. A limit of detection of 0.04 mg kg(-1), a limit of quantitation of 0.08 mg kg(-1), mean recoveries varying from 82% to 92%, and coefficients of variation ranging from 2.5% to 5.0% for repeatability and from 3.6% to 6.5% for within-laboratory reproducibility were obtained during in-house validation. The levels of the compounds in the evaluated samples, expressed as free 3-MCPD equivalent, ranged from not detected to 0.99 mg kg(-)(1), and the highest concentrations were observed in samples of chopped onion and garlic. A preliminary estimation of 3-MCPD intake using these occurrence data suggested low risks to human health, but a potential concern may arise in particular cases of consumers of fried food.

The human enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (HsDHODH) has been studied for being a target for development of new antineoplasic and antiproliferative drugs. The synthetic peptide N-t(DH) represents the N-terminal microdomain of this enzyme, responsible for anchoring it to the inner mitochondrial membrane. Also, it is known to harbor quinones that are essential for enzyme catalysis. Here we report structural features of the peptide/membrane interactions obtained by using CD and DEER spectroscopic techniques, both in micelles and in lipid vesicles. The data revealed different peptide conformational states in micelles and liposomes, which could suggest that this microdomain acts in specific regions or areas of the mitochondria, which can be related with the control of the quinone access to the HsDHODH active site. This is the first study to report on conformational changes of the HsDHODH N-terminal microdomain through a combination of CD and DEER spectroscopic techniques.

Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (HsDHODH) enzyme has been studied as selective target for inhibitors to block the enzyme activity, intending to prevent proliferative diseases. The N-terminal microdomain seems to play an important role in the enzyme function. However, the molecular mechanism of action and dynamics of this region are not totally understood yet. This study analyzes the interaction and conformation in model membranes of HsDHODH microdomain using peptide analogues containing the paramagnetic amino acid TOAC at strategic positions. In buffer solution, the analogues presented a disordered conformation, but acquired a high content of α-helical structure in membrane mimetics, which was found to be lipid dependent. The microdomain peptide structure in micelles showed a very different peptide conformation when compared to the reported crystal structure, displaying a conformational flexibility of its helices, promoted by the connecting loop, which might be functionally relevant. Electron spin resonance in membrane compositions containing POPC, POPE, and cardiolipin showed that interaction of the analogues was enhanced by the presence of cardiolipin, indicating that the microdomain preferentially interacts with cardiolipin-containing membranes. Therefore, the great flexibility of the microdomain and the cardiolipin affinity should be considered in further studies aimed at finding new inhibitory compounds to fight proliferative diseases.

Cyanobacteria often have a deleterious effect on zooplankton. We hypothesized that the presence of either M. aeruginosa cells or microcystin extracts from M. aeruginosa would have a significant impact on the population growth rate, survivorship, and fecundity of Moina cf. micrura isolated from L’Albufera, Valencia, Spain. The cladocerans were exposed to different concentrations of Microcystis extracts on a diet of Nannochloris oculata (Chlorococcales) as well as different proportions of Microcystis single cells and N. oculata. Cyanotoxins were extracted from a Microcystis bloom by its repeated freezing, thawing, and sonication. Total microcystin concentration was 138.2 µg l−1. M. aeruginosa single cells were obtained by sonication. We used five microcystin concentrations (from 4.3 to 69.1 µg l−1 and controls without microcystins) with non-toxic Nannochloris oculata at 0.5 × 106 cells ml−1 as diet or on different proportions of M. aeruginosa single cells and N. oculata. Microcystin reduced generation time and longevity of M. cf. micrura but increased daily production of offspring. Single-celled Microcystis (100%) diet for Moina cf. micrura decreased growth rates compared with treatments using cyanotoxin extracts. We suggest routine testing of cyanobacterial crude extracts using plankton to estimate harmful impacts of blooms especially for drinking water reservoirs.

Guaco has several applications in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. This plant is a source of coumarin, a diterpene compound with expectorants properties. In Brazil, guaco extracts are used as medicinal products authorized by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). Studies proved that guaco extracts are also effective against cancer, ulcers and infectious diseases. Supercritical extractions have been widely used to obtain highly pure natural extracts that do not contain organic solvents and have not lost their thermosensitive compounds and therefore are suitable for pharmaceutical applications. In this study, coumarin was obtained from guaco leaves extracts by supercritical extraction under different experimental conditions according to a central composite rotational design (CCRD) with two independent variables, temperature (T) and pressure (P). Lower values of T were used to maintain the stability of thermosensitive compounds and because coumarin is highly soluble in supercritical CO2 even at low T. The responses surface analyzes (RSA) acquired by fitting of linear and quadratic models to experimental extraction yields and coumarin concentrations showed similar conditions for improving yields from both plant species. Although the extract yield values were similar for both plant species, coumarin concentrations were higher in Mikania laevigata than Mikania glomerata. The greater extract yield of 4.20% coumarin, related to the higher coumarin concentration (0.43 g × 100 g−1 in guaco leaves), was obtained under extraction conditions of P above 175 bar and T above 45 °C.

Chloropropanols, including 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) and 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol (1,3-DCP), comprise a group of chemical contaminants with carcinogenic and genotoxic properties. They have been found in a variety of processed foods and food ingredients, such as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, soy sauce, cereal-based products, malt-derived ingredients, and smoked foods. This study aimed to assess the dietary exposure to 3-MCPD and 1,3-DCP in Brazil and verify whether the presence of these substances in foods could represent health risks. The intake was calculated by combining data on food consumption, provided by the Consumer Expenditure Survey 2008-2009, with the levels of contaminant occurrence determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The exposure to 3-MCPD ranged from 0.06 to 0.51 µg.kg bw-1.day-1 considering average and high consumers, while the intake of 1,3-DCP was estimated to be 0.0036 µg.kg bw-1.day-1 in the worst case scenario evaluated. Based on these results, it was verified that the Brazilians' exposure to chloropropanols does not present a significant health risk. However, the consumption of specific foods containing high levels of 3-MCPD could exceed the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake of 2 µg.kg bw-1 established for this compound and, therefore, represent a potential concern. Os cloropropanóis, entre eles o 3-monocloropropano-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) e o 1,3-dicloropropan-2-ol (1,3-DCP), compreendem um grupo de contaminantes químicos com propriedades carcinogênicas e genotóxicas, encontrados em diversos alimentos processados e ingredientes alimentícios, como proteína vegetal hidrolisada, molho de soja, produtos à base de cereais, ingredientes derivados de malte e alimentos defumados. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a exposição ao 3-MCPD e 1,3-DCP pela dieta no Brasil e verificar se a presença destes compostos em alimentos pode representar um risco à saúde da população. A ingestão foi calculada combinando-se dados sobre o consumo alimentar, fornecidos pela Pesquisa de Orçamento Familiares 2008-2009, com os níveis de ocorrência dos contaminantes, determinados por cromatografia gasosa - espectrometria de massas. A exposição ao 3-MCPD variou de 0,06 a 0,51 µg.kg pc-1.dia-1 considerando médios e grandes consumidores, enquanto que a ingestão de 1,3-DCP foi estimada em 0,0036 µg.kg pc-1.dia-1 no pior cenário avaliado. Com base nesses resultados, verificou-se que a exposição aos cloropropanóis não representa um risco significativo à saúde da população brasileira. Entretanto, o consumo de determinados alimentos contendo altos níveis de 3-MCPD poderia ultrapassar a ingestão diária máxima tolerável provisória de 2 µg.kg pc-1 estabelecida para este composto e, assim, representar uma preocupação potencial.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:08:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2016-11-28 Viral membrane fusion is an orchestrated process triggered by membrane-anchored viral fusion glycoproteins. The S2 subunit of the spike glycoprotein from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV) contains internal domains called fusion peptides (FP) that play essential roles in virus entry. Although membrane fusion has been broadly studied, there are still major gaps in the molecular details of lipid rearrangements in the bilayer during fusion peptide-membrane interactions. Here we employed differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electron spin resonance (ESR) to gather information on the membrane fusion mechanism promoted by two putative SARS FPs. DSC data showed the peptides strongly perturb the structural integrity of anionic vesicles and support the hypothesis that the peptides generate opposing curvature stresses on phosphatidylethanolamine membranes. ESR showed that both FPs increase lipid packing and head group ordering as well as reduce the intramembrane water content for anionic membranes. Therefore, bending moment in the bilayer could be generated, promoting negative curvature. The significance of the ordering effect, membrane dehydration, changes in the curvature properties and the possible role of negatively charged phospholipids in helping to overcome the high kinetic barrier involved in the different stages of the SARS-CoV-mediated membrane fusion are discussed. Grupo de Biofísica Molecular Sérgio Mascarenhas Instituto de Física de São Carlos Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São-carlense, 400 Departamento de Física Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Faculdade de Ciências e Engenharia UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista Campus de Tupã, Rua Domingos da Costa Lopes, 780 Departamento de Bioquímica e Tecnologia Química Instituto de Química UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Rua Prof. Franscisco Degni, 55 Faculdade de Ciências e Engenharia UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista Campus de Tupã, Rua Domingos da Costa Lopes, 780 Departamento de Bioquímica e Tecnologia Química Instituto de Química UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Rua Prof. Franscisco Degni, 55

Lakes represent a considerable natural source of methane to the atmosphere compared to their small global surface area. Methanotrophs in sediments and in the water column largely control methane fluxes from these systems, yet the diversity, electron accepting capacity, and nutrient requirements of these microorganisms have only been partially identified. Here, we investigated the role of electron acceptors alternative to oxygen and sulfate in microbial methane oxidation at the oxycline and in anoxic waters of the ferruginous meromictic Lake La Cruz, Spain. Active methane turnover in a zone extending well below the oxycline was evidenced by stable carbon isotope-based rate measurements. We observed a strong methane oxidation potential throughout the anoxic water column, which did not vary substantially from that at the oxic/anoxic interface. Both in the redox-transition and anoxic zones, only aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization and sequencing techniques, suggesting a close coupling of cryptic photosynthetic oxygen production and aerobic methane turnover. Additions of nitrate, nitrite and to a lesser degree iron and manganese oxides also stimulated bacterial methane consumption. We could not confirm a direct link between the reduction of these compounds and methane oxidation and we cannot exclude the contribution of unknown anaerobic methanotrophs. Nevertheless, our findings from Lake La Cruz support recent laboratory evidence that aerobic methanotrophs may be able to utilize alternative terminal electron acceptors under oxygen limitation. ISSN:1664-302X

Oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) isotope compositions of authigenic carbonates measured in Lagunillo del Tejo sediment document precipitation variability during the last millennium in the Iberian Range. Modern water samples show that Lagunillo δ18O and δD plot below the Global Meteoric Water Line (GMWL). Sediment samples show a covariant trend between carbonate δ18O and δ13C, indicating that the precipitation/evaporation ratio has largely controlled the isotopic composition of this lake. This covariant trend is used to extract information about past lake level changes. Humid periods occurred around AD 1300–1450, AD 1620–1775 and AD 1950–1980, while the driest periods were concentrated around AD 1200, AD 1500 and especially around the transition between the 19th and 20th centuries. We compared these inferences with previous studies in this lake and with NAO index and discovered strong correspondence of signals. This sensitive site can be used to extent records of NAO back in time, providing a framework for climatic modeling and ecological management.

A method based on headspace-solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry has been developed and validated for the determination of benzene in soft drinks. The extraction step was optimized using a rotatable central composite design including the following experimental variables: extraction temperature, extraction time, sample weight, and salt concentration. The optimized procedure, which was carried out at 30 °C during 30 min by using a 75 μm carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane fiber, showed good linearity within the concentration range 0–25 μg kg−1 (r 2 > 0.999), mean recoveries from 97.5 to 103.1 %, and coefficients of variation from 1.5 to 13.4 % for repeatability and from 1.5 to 15.7 % for within-laboratory reproducibility. Limits of detection and quantification were calculated at 0.02 and 0.08 μg kg−1, respectively. The method was applied to determine the concentrations of benzene in 77 samples of beverages from the Brazilian market. Levels from

Selected commercial processed foods available in the Brazilian market (306 samples) were analysed for furan content using a validated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method preceded by headspace solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME-GC/MS). Canned and jarred foods, including vegetable, meat, fruit and sweet products, showed levels up to 32.8 µg kg⁻¹, with the highest concentrations observed in vegetables and meats. For coffee, furan content ranged from 253.0 to 5021.4 µg kg⁻¹ in the roasted ground coffee and from not detected to 156.6 µg kg⁻¹ in the beverage. For sauces, levels up to 138.1 µg kg⁻¹ were found. In cereal-based products, the highest concentrations (up to 191.3 µg kg⁻¹) were observed in breakfast cereal (corn flakes), cracker (cream crackers) and biscuit (wafer). In general, these results are comparable with those reported in other countries and will be useful for a preliminary estimate of the furan dietary intake in Brazil.

In Mediterranean ponds, summer drought enhances seasonality whose intensity varies along topographic and climatic gradients. The alternation of wet and dry periods in rain dependent ponds affects their biogeochemistry and differentiates them from ponds fed by more stable water sources, such as groundwater springs. Superimposed onto this, land use is also a very strong factor of variability. In this study we compared nutrients and organic matter concentrations, in water and in sediment, among different types of Mediterranean ponds based on the source of water, hydroperiod and land use. Forty-three ponds were sampled in Eastern Spain corresponding to five pond types: (1) permanent spring ponds in lowlands, (2) permanent spring ponds in mountains, (3) semi-permanent rain ponds, (4) temporary rain ponds with long hydroperiod and (5) temporary rain ponds with short hydroperiod. The results of this study indicate relevant differences among these pond types. The temporary rain ponds with short hydroperiod are characterized by high turbidity due to suspension of sediment particles rich in phosphorous adsorbed onto them (argillotrophic aquatic systems). They are used for watering domestic sheep that enhance sediment suspension by trampling. Total phosphorous (TP) concentrations in the water are high (like those of hypertrophic lakes), but planktonic chlorophyll a is very low and not correlated with TP, because of the low P-bioavailavility in the water. At the other extreme, we have permanent ponds in lowlands fed by groundwater springs. They are heavily loaded with nitrates due to the surrounding intensive agriculture. In these and other permanent/semipermanent ponds chlorophyll is highly correlated with TP. Sediment characteristics provide a good indication of the hydroperiod, since desiccation has important effects on biogeochemical transformations. A threshold of 5% organic matter (OM) in the sediment separates temporary ponds with a short hydroperiod from those with a long hydroperiod, and a threshold of 8% separates the later from the semi-permanent and permanent ponds. Besides OM reduction, important loss of N occurs during desiccation through mineralization, ammonia volatization and the sequential nitrification/denitrification pathway. On the other hand, the increase of organic P mineralization in dry sediments does not represent a loss of P from the system, since o-P remains adsorbed or bound onto the soil. This leads to a low TN/TP ratio in sediments in temporary ponds with short hydroperiod. These characteristics have to be taken into account when establishing pond typologies and ecological thresholds to assess water quality in these unique aquatic habitats.

The use of very highly substituted resins has been avoided for peptide synthesis due to the aggravation of chain–chain interactions within beads. To better evaluate this problem, a combined solvation–peptide synthesis approach was herein developed taking as models, several peptide-resins and with peptide contents values increasing up to near 85%. Influence of peptide sequence and loading to solvation characteristics of these compounds was observed. Moreover, chain–chain distance and chain concentration within the bead were also calculated in different loaded conditions. Of note, a severe shrinking of beads occurred during the α-amine deprotonation step only when in heavily loaded resins, thus suggesting the need for the modification of the solvent system at this step. Finally, the yields of different syntheses in low and heavily loaded conditions were comparable, thus indicating the feasibility of applying this latter “prohibitive” chemical synthesis protocol. We thought these results might be basically credited to the possibility, without the need of increasing molar excess of reactants, of carrying out the coupling reaction in higher concentration of reactants – near three to seven folds – favored by the use of smaller amount of resin. Additionally, the alteration in the solvent system at the α-amine deprotonation step might be also improving the peptide synthesis when in heavily loaded experimental protocol.

Pesticide-induced effects in non-target organisms are a worldwide environmental problem and cladocerans have been used as test organisms to quantify the toxicity effects. However, little is known about the true risks of acceptable levels, when non-traditional end points such as sex determination, egg maturation, and teratogenesis are considered. Aims of the present study were to investigate the effects of sublethal concentrations of the fungicide carbendazim taking into account the above-mentioned endpoints and to evaluate their sensitivity to an environmental factor such as temperature, known to influence growth rates and sex determination in cladocerans. We quantified the effect on the life history variables of Moina micrura at two different temperatures using the life table demographic approach, starting with neonates. The median lethal concentration of carbendazim for M. micrura was 0.12 ± 0.01 mg l−1. The impacts of carbendazim were assessed in experiments conducted at 20°C (experiment 1) and 30°C (experiment 3) using four sublethal concentrations of carbendazim (0.01, 0.02, and 0.04) and controls. An additional experiment (experiment 2) on the next generation (F1) was conducted at 20°C, using the offspring of the second clutches of M. micrura from each of the corresponding treatments of the experiment 1. The increase in temperature from 20 to 30°C significantly reduced always the average lifespan and life expectancy at birth, while raised the rate of population increase, net reproductive rate, and reproductive effort, in controls but not in carbendazim treatments. Higher temperature also increased male/female ratio. The patterns of survivorship curves were weakly affected by carbendazim exposure, but increase in concentration of this fungicide reduced offspring production, reproductive rates, and the rate of population increase, more noticeable at the higher temperature. These detrimental effects were much more striking in the F1 experiment, in which females were unable to produce viable offspring in the two highest carbendazim concentrations, although survival and swimming behavior were not significantly affected. This indicates that sensitivity to the toxicant is greater during egg development and that the fungicide acts as an endocrine disruptor. The presence of carbendazim in the medium resulted in higher male production as compared with controls, indicating also its effect on egg development. We also encountered a few individuals, with abnormal sexual secondary characters (males with reduced antennule length, similar to female antennules) at the highest carbendazim concentration. The role of carbendazim on the demography of cladocerans in natural systems, subject to temperature increase, is discussed taking into account the persistence of this chemical and its elevated impact in the successive generations (through the higher sensitivity of the developing eggs to the chemical at high temperatures). Cladoceran bioassays starting with neonates, which usually utilize offspring as sublethal endpoints should include the first generation to evaluate fecundity responses.

Brazilian green coffee beans of Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora species were roasted to light, medium, and dark roast degrees and analyzed in relation to furan content by using an in-house validated method based on gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry preceded by headspace solid-phase microextraction. Furan was not detected in green coffees, whereas levels between 911 and 5852 μg/kg were found in the roasted samples. Higher concentrations were found in Coffea canephora species and darker ground coffees. Some of the potential furan precursors were observed in significant amounts in green coffee, especially sucrose and linoleic acid, but their concentrations could not be correlated to furan formation. Additionally, coffee brews were prepared from roasted ground coffees by using two different procedures, and furan levels in the beverages varied from

We present the first winter (December to March) rainfall reconstruction based in a novel proxy, the thickness of annual calcite laminations preserved in Lake La Cruz (central–eastern Spain). A previous calibration analysis between laminae thickness and the instrumental data series (1950 to present) indicated a highly significant correlation with winter rainfall. Therefore this study attempts the winter rainfall reconstruction since the onset of laminations (1579 a.d.) by means of the calibration function previously developed. The verification analysis between inferred annual values and earlier instrumental data (1859–1949) confirms the suitability of this novel proxy and the reliability of the series reconstructed. The reconstructed series show the fluctuating character of winter rainfall in the western Mediterranean area; interdecadal dry periods alternated with wetter periods following, in a board sense, the pattern recorded by documentary sources in other regions of the Iberian Peninsula. At present times regional winter rainfall anomalies are highly correlated with the phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). However the time series analysis showed the dominance of nonstationary components at high frequencies of the climate signal over the last four centuries suggesting that the connection between winter rainfall and the NAO has not been stable over time and also other modes of variability, not only NAO, may have conditioned winter rainfall variability.

Commercial baby food samples available on the Brazilian market (n = 31) were analysed for furan content using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method preceded by solid-phase microextraction. A limit of detection of 0.7 microg kg(-1), a limit of quantitation of 2.4 microg kg(-1), mean recoveries varying from 80% to 107%, and coefficients of variation ranging from 5.6% to 9.4% for repeatability and from 7.4% to 12.4% for within-laboratory reproducibility were obtained during an in-house validation. The levels of furan found in the samples were from not detected to 95.5 microg kg(-1). Samples containing vegetables and meat showed higher furan levels as compared with those containing only fruits. An exposure assessment showed furan intakes up to 2.4 microg kg(-1) body weight day(-1) (99th percentile) for babies fed exclusively with commercial baby foods. Margins of exposure obtained from intakes estimated in this work indicated a potential public health concern.

Biodiesel is an alternative to petroleum diesel fuel. It is a renewable, a biodegradable, and also a non-toxic fuel. The general interest to produce biodiesel from Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) seeds oil has increased but its ability to grow on drought-prone areas has barely been investigated. The objective of this work was to identify some physiological processes that allow the Jatropha to produce in severe arid conditions by studying its leaf gas exchange and antioxidant systems under drought stress and recovering. It measured the activity of antioxidant enzymes involved in the scavenge of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutamine synthetase (GS), as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) content. It was also analyzed the chlorophyll (CHL), carotenoids, amino acids and soluble proteins contents. Net photosynthesis (A) and stomata conductance (g(s)) decreased associate with drought stress and dropped to zero in soil water beneath 5%. Drought induced decrease in stomatal and non-stomatal photosynthetic activity. The activities of SOD, CAT, APX and GS and MDA content in leaves were significantly higher in the water-stressed plants compared to well-watered plants and decreased when the plants were rewatered. These observations suggest that oxidative stress resulting from drought deficit in Jatropha could result in the production of antioxidative enzymes to counteract the oxidative damage, and the enzymes may contribute to its ability to survive in the adverse arid environment. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

We analysed photosynthetic pigments in annually laminated sediment of meromictic Lake La Cruz, Spain, to cope with the timing and characterisation of primary productivity changes over the last four centuries. The photosynthetic pigments identified included chlorophyll a and b (and its derivatives) and specific carotenoids of different algal groups, such as zeaxanthin, lutein, alloxanthin, diadinoxanthin and diatoxanthin among others. Marker pigments of phototrophic sulfur bacteria were also observed, including bacteriochlorophyll a derivatives, homologue series of bacteriophaeophytins d and bacterial carotenoids okenone and chlorobactene. We investigated the diagenetic processes of pigment alteration in anoxic sediments and the possible implications for paleoproductivity reconstruction and interpretation. The lack of systematic down-core changes in diagenetic indicators suggests that variability of sedimentary pigment concentrations is the result of changes in lake productivity. The lower concentration of algal photosynthetic pigments in the bottom of sediment sequence corresponds to the onset of meromictic conditions. Before that, sediment was not continuously anoxic and the preservation of pigments was reduced. Regarding photosynthetic bacteria, green sulfur bacteria derivatives indicate that population growth was limited until the settled organic matter was sufficient to provide enough sulphide. Moreover, the presence of bacterioviridine, an oxidised derivative of bacteriochlorophyll a, suggest the competitive relation among photosynthetic bacteria. The high relative abundance of zeaxanthin indicates the dominance of picocyanobacteria in the primary productivity over the last centuries. Fluctuations of the pigment signal observed in the sediment sequence during the meromictic period were well correlated with fluctuations of solar activity.

Brazilian wines of different regions and that commercially available in the city of Campinas, SP, were analysed for their contents of sulfites. Dietary exposure to sulfites from Brazilian wines was also assessed by combining sulfite levels determined analytically with three hypothetical scenarios of daily wine consumption: 150, 300, and 450 mL. In all samples, the concentration of sulfites was below the maximum permitted level (MPL) of 350 mg L−1 set in the Brazilian legislation with most samples (88%) containing residual sulfite below 150 mg L−1. The dietary exposure to sulfites from regular consumption of 150 mL of national white wines containing sulfites at the mean level of 122.0 mg L−1 covered 44% of the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) established by JECFA for these preservatives (0.7 mg kg−1 bw). For high regular consumption (450 mL per day) of white wines, the dietary exposure could reach 131% of the ADI. In the case of national red wines (SO2 mean level of 71.3 mg L−1) the dietary exposure was lower, ranging from 26 to 76% of the ADI for 150 and 450 mL of daily consumption, respectively. The present study indicates that although sulfite levels in national wines is usually below the MPL (mean of 98.5 mg L−1) a regular moderate consumption of 150 mL per day could lead to a dietary exposure of 15 mg of sulfites (0.25 mg kg−1 bw in a 60-kg adult), covering one-third of the ADI. A regular heavy consumption (450 mL per day) would cover the full ADI.