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The possibility of using Annona seed oil as an added value product, namely as a source of biodiesel, is explored. Milled Annona seeds were extracted with hexane at room temperature (72 h) and at solvent boiling point (6 h). Oil content was found to be 25 and 22.4% respectively. The oil was characterized in terms of lipid composition (HPLC–APCI–MS and 13C NMR), resistance to oxidation and acidity index. FAME composition was determined by GC–MS and five major peaks were identified. Production of biodiesel from Annona’s seed oil was achieved by base-catalyzed transesterification. Density, viscosity, refraction coefficient, acid value, cold filter plugging point, cloud point and oxidation stability were measured. The iodine value and the “apparent cetane number” were calculated. Density, viscosity, acid value, iodine value, cold filter plugging point and cloud point were within EN14214 specifications and the calculated “apparent cetane number” was also indicative of a suitable product.

A simple and rapid method has been used for the screening and identification of the main phenolic compounds from Helichrysumdevium using high-performance liquid chromatography with on-line UV and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (LC-DAD/ESI-MSn). The total aerial parts and different morphological parts of the plant, namely leaves, flowers and stems, were analyzed separately. A total of 34 compounds present in the methanolic extract from Helichrysumdevium were identified or tentatively characterized based on their UV and mass spectra and retention times. Three of these compounds were positively identified by comparison with reference standards. The phenolic compounds included derivatives of quinic acid, O-glycosylated flavonoids, a caffeic acid derivative and a protocatechuic acid derivative. The characteristic loss of 206 Da from malonylcaffeoyl quinic acid was used to confirm the malonyl linkage to the caffeoyl group. This contribution presents one of the first reports on the analysis of phenolic compounds from Helichrysumdevium using LC-DAD/ESI-MSn and highlights the prominence of quinic acid derivatives as the main group of phenolic compounds present in these extracts. We also provide evidence that the methanolic extract from the flowers was significantly more complex when compared to that of other morphological parts. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The beetle Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), considered a worldwide pest in the poultry industry, is difficult to control and it is a vector for pathogens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological control of the lesser mealworm, by strains of fungi Beauveria bassiana, Cladosporium sp. and Trichoderma sp. Larvae and adults of the A. diaperinus were inoculated with suspensions of conidia in the concentration of 10 7 conidia.mL -1 . The B. bassiana isolate caused higher insect mortality as compared to Cladosporium sp. and Trichoderma sp. isolates, with the larvae being more susceptible than adults. The entomopathogenicity of B. bassiana was further evaluated with 200 larvae and 200 adults of A. diaperinus inoculated with suspensions 10 6 , 10 7 , and 10 8 conidia.mL -1 , and observed for ten days. Larvae mortality started at the fourth day at the lowest concentration, and the adult mortality was only observed on the sixth day at the concentration of 10 8 conidia.mL -1 .

Rhodacaridae are cosmopolitan mites mentioned as predators, although nothing is known about their potential as biological control agents. One of the objectives of the work reported in this paper was to evaluate the potential of Protogamasellopsis posnaniensis (Acari: Rhodacaridae) as predator of representative species of insects of the families Sciaridae (Bradysia matogrossensis (Lane)) and Thripidae (Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)), of mites of the family Acaridae (Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) and Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Fumouze & Robin) and of nematodes of the family Rhabditidae (Protorhabditis sp.). Another objective was to determine the biological cycle of P. posnaniensis when fed the prey on which it performed best in the preceding predation test. The study was conducted in a laboratory where the experimental units were maintained at 25 ± 1 °C, 97 ± 3% RH and in the dark. Although the predator was able to kill all prey species considered in this study, the most favorable prey were T. putrescentiae, F. occidentalis and Protorhabditis sp. Survivorship of the predator in predation tests was always 98% or higher. Life table biological parameters when the predator was fed T. putrescentiae were: Ro = 109.29; T = 19.06 days; λ = 1.28 e rm = 0.32 female/female/day. Despite preying upon larvae of B. matogrossensis, eggs of the former can also be killed by the latter. The results indicated that P. posnaniensis is a promising biological control agent, deserving additional studies on its possible use for the control of soil pests.

The overall production costs of precast concrete elements are important to quantify. Analyses of the constructive stages of these elements, however, may more realistically lead to a function representing production, transport, assembly and casting costs. This article investigates the cost minimisation problems of joists in beam-block floors using a heuristic method known as genetic algorithm (GA) and a conventional method known as generalised reduced gradient (GRG2). The continuous variables considered in the problem were prestressed reinforcements in the three levels, distance between reinforcements, concrete layer strength, distance between joists, concrete layer thickness and degree of redistribution of the continuous slabs’ negative moments. Based on the results, the heuristic method was found to be effective in identifying the solution for precast element cost minimisation problems. The performance of the cost function vis-a-vis market alterations was evaluated considering the influence of concrete, ...

Tunas have an extraordinary physiology including elevated metabolic rates and high cardiac performance. In some species, retention of metabolic heat warms the slow oxidative swimming muscles and visceral tissues. In all tunas, the heart functions at ambient temperature. Enhanced rates of calcium transport in tuna myocytes are associated with increased expression of proteins involved in the contraction-relaxation cycle. The cardiac SR Ca 2+ -ATPase (SERCA2) plays a major role during cardiac excitation–contraction (E-C) coupling. Measurements of oxalate-supported Ca 2+ -uptake in atrial SR vesicles isolated from four species of tunas indicate that bluefin have at least two fold higher Ca 2+ -uptake than all other tunas examined between 5 and 30 °C. The highest atrial Ca 2+ -uptake was measured in bluefin tuna at 30 °C (23.32 ± 1.58 nmol Ca 2+ /mg/min). Differences among tunas in the temperature dependency of Ca 2+ -uptake were similar for ATP hydrolysis. Western blot analysis revealed a significant increase in SERCA2 content associated with higher Ca 2+ uptake rates in the atrial tissues of bluefin tuna and similar RyR expression across species. We propose that the expression of EC coupling proteins in cardiac myocytes, and the higher rates of SERCA2 activity are an important evolutionary step for the maintenance of higher heart rates and endothermy in bluefin tuna.

Larvae of Sciaridae flies (Diptera) cause considerable damage to the mushroom Agaricus blazei (Murrill) ss. Heinemann in Brazil. Brazilian growers have had considerable difficulties in controlling this pest. The objective of this work was to test the effect of the predatory Laelapidae mite Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley) as a control agent of Bradysia matogrossensis (Lane) in cultures of A. blazei. The work corresponded to an evaluation of the efficiency of that predator when released in boxes containing each about 15 L of commercial mushroom compost naturally infested with the pest. The results showed a significant effect of that predator on the population of B. matogrossensis. The release of either 665 or 1330 S. scimitus per box significantly reduced the pest population to levels that, according to grower's experience, apparently could not cause considerable damage. The positive results obtained warrant the conduction of complementary studies to determine the lowest rates of the predator that could still produce acceptable levels of control.

Clinopodium ascendens (Jordan) Sampaio [synonyms = Calamintha ascendens Jordan = C. officinalis Moench ssp. ascendens (Jord.) Mateo = C. sylvatica Bromf. ssp. ascendens (Jord.) P.W. Ball] is a small herbaceous plant with a very strong and distinctive mint aroma. The plant is known for its medical uses in folk medicine and as a spice in Italian kitchens. In Madeira Island, Clinopodium ascendens, known locally as ‘neveda’, grows wild along the shady paths of the Laurissilva forest. The local population uses the leaves of calamint as a mouth freshener and to alleviate headache and toothache. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of C. ascendens growing wild in Madeira was analysed by a combination of CC, GC, GC–MS, 1H- and 13C-NMR. The oil was dominated by C3 oxygenated p-menthane derivatives: cis-isopulegone (75.2%), pulegone (6.9%), neoiso-isopulegol (6.0%) and trans-isopulegone (4.5%). The whole essential oil was tested against a variety of bacteria, both Gram-positive and Gram-negative, and two fungi; it exhibited remarkable activity against Escherichia coli and was active against Agrobacterium tumefasciens and Staphylococcus aureus and the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. It was ineffective against Streptococcus faecium, Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Hydrogamasellus alagoensis n. sp. is described based on the morphology of adult females and males collected from litter in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. Six new combinations are proposed, namely A cugamasus avium (Karg, 1976) n. comb., Ologamasus lanceolatus (Karg, 1976) n. comb., Ologamasus microcrinis (Karg, 1979) n. comb., Ologamasus testudinis (Karg, 1976) n. comb., Rykellus longopilus (Karg, 1976) n. comb. and Rykellus ubatubaensis (Hirschmann, 1966) n. comb., and a key for the separation of females of the eighteen recognizable world Hydrogamasellus species is provided.

Two species of rhodacarid mites, Multidentorhodacarus aegypticus n. sp. and Protogamasellopsis zaheri n. sp., are de- scribed from adult females and males collected from soil and litter in Egypt. A key to identify the species of Rhodacaridae reported from the Mediterranean region is provided.

Rykellus anibali n. sp. and Rykellus mineiroi n. sp. are described from adult females and males collected from litter and soil in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. A key for the identification of females of the eight recognisable world species of Rykellus is provided.

Bituminaria bituminosa is a wild legume that can endure drastic conditions, including contaminated and degraded soils. It has been traditionally used as feeding for livestock, and different uses in folk medicine are known. The chemical composition of leaves and flowers from B. bituminosa is presented for the first time. The screening of phytochemical compounds was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-ESI-MSn). More than 40 compounds were identified or tentatively characterized. A high percentage of the detected compounds corresponded to glycosylated flavonoids, especially from apigenin, although phenolic acids, lignans, and saponins were also identified.

In this study, we report the use of clay-based catalysts in the methoxylation of α-pinene, for the selective synthesis of α-terpinyl methyl ether, TME. The main reaction products and intermediates were identified by GC-MS. The reaction conditions (stirring rate and catalyst load) that afford a kinetic regime were established. SAz-1 (Cheto, Arizona, USA) source clay and a montmorillonite (SD) from Porto Santo, Madeira Archipelago, Portugal, were modified by ion-exchange with Al3+ to produce catalysts with markedly different acidities and textural properties. The catalysts based on the high layer-charge SAz-1 montmorillonite proved to be the most active. Ion-exchange with Al3+, followed by thermal activation at 150°C, afforded the highest number of Bronsted acid sites - a significant proportion of which were located in the clay gallery - and this coincided with the maximum catalytic activity. The influence of various reaction conditions, to maximize α-pinene conversion and selectivity, was studied over AlSAz-1. When the reaction was performed for 1 h at 60°C, the conversion reached 65% with 65% selectivity towards the mono-ether, TME. Similar conversions and selectivities required up to 50 h over zeolites and other solid acid catalysts. The kinetic dependencies of this reaction on temperature and reagent concentration, over the selected clays were also investigated. It was established that, in the temperature and reagent concentration regime studied, the reaction was first order with respect to α-pinene. The apparent activation energies over the two catalysts, calculated from Arrhenius plots, were almost identical at 72 kJ mol-1

The Mesostigmata is a large mite order corresponding to about 20 % of all known mite species. These are found in different habitats, but are most abundant and diverse in the soil. Several mesostigmatid groups have been little studied, especially for not being abundant or for being difficult to handle, especially those living in the soil. Knowledge about the diversity of soil mites is still very small in most of the world. Considering just the number of described mesostigmatid species (let aside the number of undescribed species), the number of biological and ecological studies is very limited. Available studies most often are restricted to the evaluation of the ability of particular species to feed on pre-determined food sources. A few have received some attention, among which two superfamilies of the infraorder Gamasina, Rhodacaroidea (in the hyporder Dermanyssiae) and Parasitoidea (in the hyporder Parasitiae). This chapter comprises the biological and ecological information regarding the Mesostigmata.

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Annona cherimola Mill. seeds are a residue of the industrial processing of this fruit, for which, presently, there is no industrial application. They have a considerable amount of oil, which can be converted into biodiesel, but the remaining lignocellulosic fraction still needs relevant added-value valorization routes. In this work, the selective hemicelluloses removal by autohydrolysis was optimized aiming to maximize the yield of oligosaccharides with potential applications in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. A maximum of 10.4 g L−1 of oligosaccharides was obtained, for a severity factor of 3.6, where 74.5% of the original hemicellulose was solubilized. The process kinetics is presented, modeled (based on the Arrhenius equation) and its scale-up is discussed. The hydrolyzate shelf-life was evaluated and the produced oligosaccharides are stable at room temperature for, at least, 3 weeks. Furthermore, all oligosaccharides are also stable at 100 °C for 1 h, in pH values between 1 and 11, enabling their industrial processing, and at 37 °C for 3 h, in pH values between 1 and 3, thus indicating its potential classification as non-digestible oligosaccharides. The remaining cellulose enriched solids presented an increased enzymatic digestibility (as a function of the autohydrolysis severity) that assures its efficient use in subsequent processes (e.g., bioethanol production). The upgrade route developed in this work in combination to the previously reported use of A. cherimola seed oil for biodiesel production can lead to an integrated zero-waste valorization strategy within the biorefinery framework.

The volatile metabolomic profile of Monstera deliciosa fruits (M. deliciosa, ceriman) at three ripening stages, ripe, half-ripe and unripe, was established using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography–quadrupole mass spectrometry detection (GC–qMS). To obtain the optimal HS-SPME conditions, the main experimental parameters that influence the extraction efficiency and experimental response were analyzed. The highest extraction efficiency was achieved with 1 g of ceriman sample, using a polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber for 60 min at 40 °C with 15% NaCl (w/w). After optimization, all ceriman samples were analyzed with the best extraction conditions that allowed to identify 80 volatile metabolites (VOMs), belonging to different chemical groups namely ethyl esters (88.61–77.94%), terpenoids (18.08–9.83%), carbonyl compounds (3.41–1.05%), higher alcohols (1.41–0.51%) and lactones (0.14–0.03%). Thirty-eight of the identified volatile metabolites (47.50%) have not been reported in M. deliciosa, so far, providing a more complete characterization of its volatile composition. The predominant VOMs identified in M. deliciosa fruits were ethyl butanoate, linalool, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl 2-methyl butanoate, butanoic acid, ethyl benzoate and propyl butanoate. Remarkable differences were found in both the quantitative and qualitative composition of M. deliciosa fruits at different ripening stages. Principal component analysis (PCA) provided a suitable tool to differentiate the volatile profile of target fruits among three ripening stages.

The hydrolysis of hemicellulosic oligosaccharides (OS) was investigated using acid-activated clays (prepared from natural Porto Santo montmorillonite clay) as catalysts. Acid activation was performed in HCl solution or with aluminium exchange. The clay catalysts were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption isotherms, CEC, FTIR, titration of acid sites in water and adsorption of sugars and disaccharides. They were tested for the hydrolysis of a model compound, maltose, and of OS-rich liquor from rice straw fractionation. The HCl-activated clays were the most efficient catalysts for maltose hydrolysis. It was demonstrated that the hydrolysis of OS into monomer sugars over a clay catalyst is technically feasible and that this reaction leads to the selective removal of glucose, arabinose and acetic acid side groups from the OS structure, thus yielding simpler xylo-oligosaccharide chains. Furthermore, no significant conversion of monomer sugars into furans was observed.

Doenças congênitas e adquiridas das vias aéreas podem causar dispnéia e estridor em crianças. Nas UTIs tem-se registrado maior sobrevida de prematuros, porém também elevada incidência de complicações relacionadas à intubação. OBJETIVO: Analisar retrospectivamente os achados endoscópicos em crianças com estridor. TIPO DE ESTUDO: Corte transversal. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Foram revisados 55 prontuários de crianças com estridor, submetidas aos exames endoscópicos de janeiro de 1997 a dezembro de 2003. Endoscopias foram: estridor pós-extubação (63,63%) e avaliação de estridor neonatal (21,82%). Observou-se alto índice de doenças associadas, como pulmonares (60%), neurológicas (45,4%) e DRGE (40%). Os principais achados endoscópicos e as indicações de traqueotomia foram: estenose subglótica (27,27%) e processos inflamatórios das vias aéreas (21,82%), principalmente em crianças com menos de cinco anos. Lesões congênitas foram mais freqüentes em crianças com menos de um ano. CONCLUSÕES: O estridor na infância possui múltiplas etiologias, sendo as relacionadas à intubação traqueal as mais freqüentes em hospitais com atendimento de doenças complexas. Pediatras e otorrinolaringologistas devem conhecer as causas de estridor, realizando avaliação clínica detalhada para determinar a gravidade do caso. O exame endoscópico deverá ser minucioso e detalhado.Congenital and acquired airway diseases are responsible for upper respiratory distress and stridor in children. In neonatal intensive care units, we have seen increased survival in premature babies, but also a high incidence of airway complications related to intubation, which present as stridor. AIM: To review endoscopic findings in children with stridor. STUDY DESING: a cross-sectional cohort study. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was done of 55 cases of children with stridor who underwent endoscopic exams, between January 1997 and December 2003. RESULTS: 69% were aged below one year. The main indications for endoscopy were post-extubation stridor (63.63%) and evaluation of neonatal stridor (21.82%). Many associated diseases were seen, including lung diseases (60%), neurological condition (45.4%), and GERD (40%). The main endoscopic findings and indications for tracheotomy were subglottic stenosis (27.27%) and airway inflammatory process (21.82%) occurring in children under five years old. Congenital disorders were more frequent in children under age one year. CONCLUSION: Neonatal stridor has many causes; those related to tracheal intubation are more frequent in hospitals that treat more complex diseases. Pediatricians and otorhinolaryngologists should know the main causes of stridor and perform detailed clinical evaluations to determine case severity. The endoscopic examination, must be meticulous.

A bentonite collected at Serra de Dentro (SD), Porto Santo Island, Portugal, and the source clay SAz-I (Cheto, Arizona) were ion-exchanged with different cations (Al3+, Ni2+, Cr3+ and Na+). Variable temperature diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (VT-DRIFTS) of pyridine treated samples, thermal desorption of cyclohexylamine and real time mass spectrometry of the evolved gases were used to evaluate the acidic properties of the prepared catalysts. The catalytic activity of these ion-exchanged clays was tested in the acid-catalysed conversion of limonene at 150 degrees C, to yield isomerization products (terpinolene, alpha-terpinene, gamma-terpinene and isoterpinolene), disproportionation products (p-cymene and p-menthenes) and high molecular-weight compounds. The possibility of increasing the selectivity toward p-cymene, over a catalyst with substantial Lewis acid character, was particularly envisaged. Catalysts derived from SD were significantly more active than their SAz-I counterparts. This was mainly attributed to the greater inherent acidity, to the higher structural iron content (providing dehydrogenation activity) and to the higher nitrogen surface area of the starting SD clays. Within the Mn+-SD series, the order of activity decreased as Ni2+ > Al3+ > Cr3+ > Na+. A direct comparison between Al3+-SD (with maximized Bronsted acidity) and Ni2+-SD (with predominant Lewis acid character) provided no support for enhanced p-cymene production over Lewis acid sites. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A estenose congênita da abertura piriforme é uma rara causa de obstrução nasal que pode ocorrer no recém-nascido. É provocada pelo crescimento excessivo do processo nasal medial da maxila causando um estreitamento do terço anterior da fossa nasal. Inicialmente foi relatada uma deformidade isolada, posteriormente a estenose congênita da abertura piriforme foi considerada como apresentação de forma menor da holoprosencefalia. Neste artigo relatamos um caso de recém-nascido do sexo masculino que apresentava desde o parto dispnéia, cianose e episódios de apnéia. O paciente foi submetido a cirurgia com alargamento da abertura piriforme por acesso sublabial. No seguimento apresentou boa evolução durante o acompanhamento. O relato desta deformidade mostra sua importância como causa de obstrução nasal congênita e diagnóstico diferencial de atresia coanal. A estenose congênita da abertura piriforme pode ser reparada adequadamente, quando necessário, através de procedimento cirúrgico.The congenital stenosis of pyriform aperture is an unusual cause of neonatal nasal obstruction. It is due to bony overgrowth of the nasal lateral process of the maxilla. Initially this narrowest part of nasal airway was considered an isolated deformity; subsequently the congenital Stenosis of pyriform aperture was thought to represent a microform of holoprosencephaly. In this report a male neonate had respiratory distress, cyclic cyanosis and apnea after delivery. The patient underwent surgical correction of pyriform stenosis by sublabial access. In the follow up, the patient had good evolution. The report of this deformity shows an important cause of neonatal nasal obstruction and its differential diagnosis with bilateral choanal atresia. Congenital stenosis of nasal pyriform aperture can be surgically corrected when necessary.

A fenda mediana congênita do pescoço é anomalia rara da parte ventral do pescoço. Em torno de 100 casos foram relatados na literatura, sendo o primeiro caso descrito por Bailey em 1924. Este defeito é relatado em associação com fenda mediana do lábio inferior, fenda da mandíbula e da língua, e hipoplasia de outras estruturas cervicais medianas. Acredita-se que seja uma malformação originada dos dois primeiros arcos branquiais. O tratamento da lesão consiste na excisão vertical da lesão e reparação do defeito resultante. A maioria dos autores recomenda evitar a reparação simples da lesão, preferindo a fechamento com a utilização de zetaplastia múltiplas, com o intuito de evitar fibrose e retração local. Neste artigo relatamos dois casos dessa anomalia e realizamos revisão bibliográfica.The midline cervical cleft is an unusual congenital anomaly of the ventral neck and fewer than 100 cases have been reported overall and the first described by Bailey in 1924. This anomaly is report in association with median cleft of lower lip, cleft mandible and tongue, and hypoplasia of other midline neck structures. Its considered an anomaly originated from the two first branchial arches. The treatment of this cleft is a vertical complete excision and a closure with multiple Z-plasty. Many authors recommend avoid linear closure and prefer multiple Z-plasty for evicted fibrosis and local retraction. In this paper we report 2 case of this anomaly and the literature is reviewed.

Descrevemos as principais complicações das vias aéreas relacionadas à intubação endotraqueal, por meio de revisão da literatura e apresentação dos resultados de pesquisas clínicas e experimentais realizadas pelo nosso grupo de estudo. Procuramos alertar os profissionais de saúde quanto à alta incidência de complicações secundárias à intubação, as quais podem ser reduzidas com a adoção de medidas profiláticas simples e de cunho prático, estabelecidas após a compreensão da fisiopatologia das lesões.We reviewed the main airway complications associated with endotracheal intubation, presented some results of our researches and alert health professionals for the high incidence of airway injuries. The knowledge of the physiopathology of these injuries will help to proper prophylactic and practice conducts to prevent the airway complications associated with endotracheal intubation.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the putative antidepressive and cognitive enhancer effects of phosphatidylserine (BC-PS). The antidepressive effect of BC-PS (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg), compared to saline or imipramine (IMI; 25 mg/kg), was studied in the forced swimming test in rats. These drugs were administered 1 and 8 h after training and 1 h before the test. BC-PS (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg)-treated rats exhibited a significant decrease in immobility time (IT) in the test session (performed 24 h after training) when compared to control rats. Moreover, the IMI-treated group showed a significant reduction in IT in comparison to control rats. The cognitive enhancer effect of BC-PS (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) was studied in the three versions of the water maze task: spatial working memory version, spatial reference memory version, and cued version. There was no significant difference between the BC-PS-treated groups and control animals in these memory tasks. Taken together, the present results are suggestive of an antidepressive effect of BC-PS in the forced swimming test in rats but not of a cognitive enhancer effect of the drug in the water maze test.

Myrica faya is a fruit tree endemic of the Macaronesia (Azores, Madeira, and Canary Island), and its edible fruits are known as "amorinhos" (little loves), bright red to purple berries, used fresh and in jams and liquors. The phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of leaves and berries from M. faya are presented here for the first time. The screening of phytochemical compounds was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography with online UV and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS(n)). There were 55 compounds characterized, mostly galloyl esters of flavonoids and phenolic acids; 26 of the identified compounds (anthocyanins, isoflavonoids, lignans, terpenes, fatty acids, and phenylethanoids) have not been reported in Myrica genus so far. From the data presented here, it can be concluded that faya berries represent a rich source of cyanidin-3-glucoside, flavonoids, and vitamin C. In fact, higher antioxidant activity than that of the well-known Myrica rubra berries (Chinese bayberry) has been observed.

The increasing interest in plant sterol enriched foods is due to the fact that they reduce blood cholesterol concentrations without adverse side effects. In this context, enriched foods with phytosterols may be helpful in protecting population against atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present work was to evaluate in a population of Viseu, Portugal, the consumption habits low-fat, plant sterol-enriched yoghurt. For this study, 577 inquiries were made and the sample was randomly selected for people shopping in various supermarkets. The preliminary results showed that the biggest consumers of these products were women aged 45 to 65 years old. Most of the people who claimed to buy these products consumed them once a day. Also, most of the consumers under antidyslipidemic therapeutics noticed positive effects on hypercholesterolemia., {"references":["AH Lichtenstein and RJ Deckelbaum for the American Heart\nAssociation Nutrition Committee. Stanol/sterol ester-containing foods\nand blood cholesterol levels. A statement for health professionals from\nthe nutrition Committee, American Heart Association. Circulation 2001;\nvol.103, pp. 1177-1179.","Hasler, C.M., \"Functional Foods: Benefits, Concerns and Challenges - A\nPosition Paper from the American Council on Science and Health,\n2002,vol. 132, pp. 3772-3781.","F. Y. Ntanios and G. S. Duchateau, \"A healthy diet rich in carotenoids is\neffective in maintaining normal blood carotenoid levels during the daily\nuse of sterol- enriched spreads \" Int. J. Vitamin Nutr Res, vol. 72, pp.\n32–39.","SCF / CS/ DOS/ 20 ADD 1. Final. General view of the Scientific\nCommittee on Food on the long-term effects of the intake of elevated\nlevels of Phytosterols from multiple dietary sources, with particular\nattention to the effects on beta carotene. 2002.","A Pérez, C. Gemma; E. R. Rahola and K. Arguiñano; Comer sano con la\nFundación Grande Covián y las recetas de Carlos Arguiñano.Editora:\nBilbao Bainet 2007, ch.2.","A. Jong, J. Plat and R.P.Mensik. Metabolic effects of plant sterols and\nstanols. J. Nutr. Biochem, vol. 14, pp. 362-369, 2003.","European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical\nPractice (version 2012).","A.H. Lichtenstein, LJ Appel and M Brands. Summary of American\nHeart Association Diet and Lyfestyle Recommendations: Revision.\nArteriocler Thromb Vasc Biol,vol. 26, pp. 2186-2191, 2006.","AB Awad, AJ Smithand and CS Fink. Plant sterols regulate rat vascular\nsmooth muscle cell growth and prostacyclin release in culture.\nProstaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids, vol.64, pp.323-330, 2001.\n[10] A De Jong, Plat J and RP Mensik. Metabolic effects of plant sterols and\nstanols (review). J. Nutr Biochem, vol.14, pp. 362-369, 2003.\n[11] PJ Jones, R Barake, SS Abumweis. Plant sterols/stanols as cholesterol\nlowering agents: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Food\nNutr Res. 2008;52.\n[12] PJ Boick, A Clarck, J. Lamprecht, M. Freestone, EJ Pool, RW\nLiebenberg, D Kotze and PP van Jaarsveld. The effects of B-sitosterol\nand B-sitosterol glucoside mixture on selected immune parameters of\nmarathon runner's inhibition of post marathon immune suppression and\ninflammation. Int J Sports Med, vol. 20, pp. 258-262, 1999."]}

The potential bioactivity of dietary and medicinal endemic Helichrysum plants from Madeira Archipelago was explored, for the first time, in order to supply new information for the general consumer. In vitro antioxidant properties were investigated using DPPH, ABTS(+), FRAP and beta-Carotene assays, and the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were also determined. Although the results generally showed a large variation among the three analyzed plants, the methanolic extracts showed the highest antioxidant capacity. Exception is made for H. devium n-hexane extract that showed good radical scavenger capacity associated to compounds with good reducing properties. In the Artemia salina toxicity assay and antimycobaterial activity, H. devium was the most potent plant with the lowest LD50 at 216.7 ± 10.4 and MIC ≤ 50mug·mL(-1). Chemometric evaluation (Principal Component Analysis-PCA) showed close interdependence between the ABTS, TPC and TFC methods and allowed to group H. devium samples.

In the present study we evaluated the nutritional status of 214 institutionalized elderly residents of both genders, aged 65 years and older of 11 care homes located in the district of Viseu (center of Portugal). The evaluation was based on anthropometric measurements and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score. The mean age of the subjects was 82.3 ± 6.1 years-old. Most of the elderly residents were female (72.0%). The majority had 4 years of formal education (51.9%) and was widowed (74.3%) or married (14.0%). Men presented a mean age of 81.2±8.5 years-old, weight 69.3±14.5 kg and BMI 25.33±6.5 kg/m2. In women, the mean age was 84.5±8.2 years-old, weight 61.2±14.7 kg and BMI 27.43±5.6 kg/m2. The evaluation of the nutritional status using the MNA score showed that 24.0% of the residents show a risk of undernutrition and 76.0% of them were well nourished. There was a high prevalence of obese (24.8%) and overweight residents (33.2%) according to the BMI. 7.5% were considered underweight. We also found that according to their waist circumference measurements 88.3% of the residents were at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 64.0% of them presented very high risk for CVD (WC≥88 cm for women and WC ≥102 cm for men). The present study revealed the coexistence of a dual form of malnutrition (undernourished and overweight) among the institutionalized Portuguese concomitantly with an excess of abdominal adiposity. The high prevalence of residents at high risk for CVD should not be overlooked. Given the vulnerability of the group of institutionalized elderly, our study highlights the importance of the classification of nutritional status based on both instruments: the BMI and the MNA., {"references":["Haub.C. Global aging and the demographic divide. Public Policy and Aging Report, 2007; 17,1, 3-6.","Parker MG, Thorslund M. Health trends in the elderly population: getting better and getting worse. Gerontologist. 2007;47:150.","Carneiro R.,Chau F., Soares C., Sousa Fialho J., Sacadura MJ. O Envelhecimento da População: Dependência, Ativação e Qualidade, Centro de Estudos dos Povos e Culturas de Expressão Portuguesa, Faculdade de Ciências Humanas, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 2012","Bourdel-Marchasson, I, Rollandb, C, Jutand, MA, Egeab, C,Baratchart, B, Barberger-Gateau, P. Undernutrition in geriatric institutions in South-West France: policies and risk factors.Nutrition 2009; 25: 155-64.","Gariballa SE. Nutritional support in elderly patients. J Nutr Health Aging. 2000;4:25–7.","Mihalynuk TV, Knopp RH, Scott CS, et al. Physician informational needs in providing nutritional guidance to patients. Fam Med. 2004;36:722–6","Bonnefoy M, Jauffret M, Kostka T, Jusot JF. Usefulness of calf circumference measurement in assessing the nutritional state of hospitalized elderly people. Gerontology2002; 48: 162-9.","Pérez-Llamas F. Risk of desnutrition in the Spanish population. Evaluation of the current situation and need for a nutritional intervention. Med Clin(Barc) 2012; 139: 163-4","Esteban M, Fdez. Ballart J, Salas J. Estado nutricional de la población anciana en función del régimen de institucionalización. NutrHosp 2000; 15: 105-13\n[10]\tStratton RJ, Green CJ, Elia M (2003) Disease-related malnutrition. An evidence based approach to treatment. Wallingford: CABI Publishing (CAB International)..\n[11]\tSerra J, Salva A. Cribado de la desnutrición en personas mayores. Med Clinic.2001; 116: 35-9\n[12]\tFontanive R, De Paula TP, Peres WAF. Avaliação da Composição Corporal de Adultos. In: Duarte ACG. Avaliação Nutricional: aspectos clínicos e laboratoriais. São Paulo: Atheneu. 2007, p. 41-63.\n[13]\tRubenstein LZ, Harker JO, Salvà A, et al. Screening for undernutrition in geriatric practice: developing the short-form mini-nutritional assessment (MNA-SF) J Gerontol A Bio Sci Med Sci. 2001;56A:M366–72.\n[14]\tVellas B, Guigoz Y, Garry P, et al. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and its use in grading the nutritional state of elderly patients. Nutrition. 1999;15:116–22.\n[15]\tGuigoz Y, Vellas B, Garry PJ. Mini Nutritional Assessment: a practical tool for grading the nutritional state of the elderly patients. Facts Res Gerontol1994 ; (suppl 2): 15-60. \n[16]\tW. C. Chumlea, S. S. Guo, K. Wholihan, D. Cockram, R. J. Kuczmarski, and C. L. Johnson,\"Stature prediction equations for elderly non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Mexican-American persons developed from NHANES III data,\" Journal of the American Dietetic Association,1998; 98, 2:137–142.\n[17]\tWHO. Physical status: the use and interpretation of anthropometry WHO Technical Report, Series No. 854, 1995. World Health Organization. Geneve. pp. 439.\n[18]\tLean ME, Han TS, Morrison CE:Waist circumference as a measure for indicating need for weight management. BMJ 1995,311:158-161\n[19]\tRolland Y, Lauwers-Cances V, Cournot M, NourhashémiF,Reynish W, Rivière D, Vellas B, Grandjean H. Sarcopenia, calf circumference, and physical function of elderly woman: a cross-sectional study. J Am GeriatrSoc 2003; 51: 1120-4."]}

Mild fractionation/pretreatment processes are becoming the most preferred choices for biomass processing within the biorefinery framework. To further explore their advantages, new developments are needed, especially to increase the extent of the hydrolysis of poly- and oligosaccharides. A possible way forward is the use of solid acid catalysts that may overcome many current drawbacks of other common methods. In this Review, the advantages and limitations of the use of heterogeneous catalysis for the main groups of solid acid catalysts (zeolites, resins, carbon materials, clays, silicas, and other oxides) and their relation to the hydrolysis of model soluble disaccharides and soluble poly- and oligosaccharides are presented and discussed. Special attention is given to the hydrolysis of hemicelluloses and hemicellulose-derived saccharides into monosaccharides, the impact on process performance of potential catalyst poisons originating from biomass and biomass hydrolysates (e.g., proteins, mineral ions, etc.). The data clearly point out the need for studying hemicelluloses in natura rather than in model compound solutions that do not retain the relevant factors influencing process performance. Furthermore, the desirable traits that solid acid catalysts must possess for the efficient hemicellulose hydrolysis are also presented and discussed with regard to the design of new catalysts.

Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins, so reliable information about its content in foodstuffs is a concern to both consumers and quality control agencies. However, the heterogeneity of food matrixes and the potential degradation of this vitamin during its analysis create enormous challenges. This review addresses the development and validation of high-performance liquid chromatography methods for vitamin C analysis in food commodities, during the period 2000-2014. The main characteristics of vitamin C are mentioned, along with the strategies adopted by most authors during sample preparation (freezing and acidification) to avoid vitamin oxidation. After that, the advantages and handicaps of different analytical methods are discussed. Finally, the main aspects concerning method validation for vitamin C analysis are critically discussed. Parameters such as selectivity, linearity, limit of quantification, and accuracy were studied by most authors. Recovery experiments during accuracy evaluation were in general satisfactory, with usual values between 81 and 109%. However, few methods considered vitamin C stability during the analytical process, and the study of the precision was not always clear or complete. Potential future improvements regarding proper method validation are indicated to conclude this review.

Mild fractionation/pretreatment processes are becoming the most preferred choices for biomass processing within the biorefinery framework. To further explore their advantages, new developments are needed, especially to increase the extent of the hydrolysis of poly- and oligosaccharides. A possible way forward is the use of solid acid catalysts that may overcome many current drawbacks of other common methods. In this Review, the advantages and limitations of the use of heterogeneous catalysis for the main groups of solid acid catalysts (zeolites, resins, carbon materials, clays, silicas, and other oxides) and their relation to the hydrolysis of model soluble disaccharides and soluble poly- and oligosaccharides are presented and discussed. Special attention is given to the hydrolysis of hemicelluloses and hemicellulose-derived saccharides into monosaccharides, the impact on process performance of potential catalyst poisons originating from biomass and biomass hydrolysates (e.g., proteins, mineral ions, etc.). The data clearly point out the need for studying hemicelluloses in natura rather than in model compound solutions that do not retain the relevant factors influencing process performance. Furthermore, the desirable traits that solid acid catalysts must possess for the efficient hemicellulose hydrolysis are also presented and discussed with regard to the design of new catalysts.

This paper describes genetic subtypes of HIV-1 found in blood samples from 31 HIV-1-infected people who visited the Counseling and Testing AIDS Center of Instituto de Medicina Tropical in Manaus, Brazil. Manaus, the main city in Brazil's Amazon Basin, is also the closest urban connection for more than 100,000 Indians living in the rain forests of this region. Although to date there is no evidence of increased incidence of HIV-1 infection among the indigenous population, our understanding of both the prevalence and nature of the epidemic in the region as a whole is limited. From the 31 samples analyzed by C2V3 sequencing, we found almost equal proportions of HIV-1 strains belonging to subtype B (n = 16; 51.6%) and subtype F (n = 15; 48.4%), a finding that differs from results from previous studies conducted in urban areas of southeastern Brazil. We also observed the presence of the GWGR amino-acid sequence in the critical tetra-peptide crown of the env V3 loop in the HIV-1 subtype B samples analyzed. Among these samples, we also found 14 mosaic genomes (45.16%) in which different combinations of subtypes B, C, and F were identified between the p24 gag, pro, and env regions. Our data support the hypothesis that the Amazonian HIV-1 infections linked to the urban epidemic in southeastern Brazil. The genetic diversity and the prevalence of mosaic genomes among the isolates in our study confirm an integral role of recombination in the complex Brazilian epidemic.

Girolando (Gir x Holstein) is a very common dairy breed in Brazil because it combines the rusticity of Gir (Bos indicus) with the high milk yield of Holstein (Bos taurus). The ovarian follicular dynamics and hormonal treatments for synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination were studied in Girolando heifers. The injection of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist was followed 6 or 7 days (d) later by prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha). Twenty-four hours after PGF2alpha injection either human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, GPh-d6 and GPh-d7 groups) or estradiol benzoate (EB, GPE-d6 and GPE-d7 groups) was administered to synchronize ovulation and consequently allow timed artificial insemination (AI) 24 and 30 h after hCG and EB injection, respectively. Follicular dynamics in Girolando heifers was characterized by the predominance of three follicular waves (71.4%) with sizes of dominant follicles (10-13 mm) and corpus luteum (approximately 20 mm) similar to those for Bos indicus cattle. In the GnRH-PGF-hCG protocol, hCG administration induced earlier ovulation (67.4 h, P

Shark populations are declining globally, yet the movements and habitats of most species are unknown. We used a satellite tag attached to the dorsal fin to track salmon sharks ( Lamna ditropis ) for up to 3.2 years. Here we show that salmon sharks have a subarctic-to-subtropical niche, ranging from 2° to 24°C, and they spend winter periods in waters as cold as 2° to 8°C. Functional assays and protein gels reveal that the expression of excitation-contraction coupling proteins is enhanced in salmon shark hearts, which may underlie the shark's ability to maintain heart function at cold temperatures and their niche expansion into subarctic seas.

Three species of Rhodacaroidea are reported from soil in Colombia. Desectophis anthuriumsetis n. sp. (Ologamasidae) and Multidentorhodacarus colombianus n. sp. (Rhodacaridae) are described from newly-collected material. Multidentorhodacarus triramulus (Karg, 1998) is redescribed from the holotype and adult females collected in this study. A key for the separation of females of the five recognisable world species of Desectophis Karg is provided.

In this study, we report the use of clay-based catalysts in the methoxylation of limonene, for the selective synthesis of α-terpinyl methyl ether. Na-SAz-1, Ca-SWy-2 and Sap-Ca source clays and a montmorillonite (SD) from Porto Santo, Madeira Archipelago, Portugal were modified by (i) ion-exchange with Al, Fe, Ni and Na and (ii) acid activation, to produce catalysts with markedly different acidic and textural properties. The lack of activity of Ni 2+ -SAz-1 (with Lewis acidity maximized), provided evidence that the process occurs preferentially on Bronsted acid sites. The catalysts based on the high layer-charge SAz-1 montmorillonite proved to be the most active. Ion-exchange with Al 3+ , followed by thermal activation at 150 °C, afforded the highest number of Bronsted acid sites located in the clay gallery and this coincided with the maximum catalytic activity. The influence of various reaction conditions, to maximize limonene conversion and selectivity, was studied over Al-SAz-1. When the reaction was performed for 20 h at 40° C, the conversion reached 71% with 91% selectivity to the mono-ether. Mild acid activation (1 M HCl, 30 min, reflux) of the raw SAz-1 clay leads to a material with a good catalytic behaviour (slightly inferior to Al-SAz-1), while any increase in the severity of the acid-treatment (6 M HCl, 30 min, reflux), caused a marked decrease in catalytic activity.

Andryala glandulosa spp. varia (Lowe ex DC.) R.Fern. (Asteraceae), is a small shrub that grows in mountains of Madeira Island, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote from Canary Islands. The flowerheads are used traditionally for the treatment of edemas and in homemade dermo-cosmetic preparations. In this paper the chemical composition of the extracts of this plant, used in folk medicine, and their antioxidant capacity were established; the presence of potentially harmful lactones, so commonly associated with related species used for the same purposes was also evaluated. A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method (RP-HPLC) coupled with diode-array detection (DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS n ) was used for the characterization of phenolic compounds in ethanol extracts of flowers from A. glandulosa spp. varia collected in Madeira Island. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were established and three assays (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP) were used to measure the antioxidant capacity of the dichloromethane and ethanol extracts. The dichloromethane extract of A. glandulosa contain long linear chain hydrocarbons and esters. In the alcoholic extracts, a total of 16 compounds were characterized based on their UV, mass spectra and HPLC retention time. Quinic acid and luteolin derivatives were found to be the main compounds. Quantification of caffeoylquinic acids (CQA) detected was performed by HPLC-DAD and 5- O -CQA and 3,5- O -diCQA were the major compounds (with values of 22.40 ± 0.21 and 59.69 ± 1.07 mg/100 g dried plant, respectively). Only the ethanol extract was active, revealing a high radical scavenging capacity and a moderate reducing potential. The potent antioxidant alcoholic extracts are composed mainly of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and flavonoids. The presence of sesquiterpene lactones was not detected. Since lactones are very common among related plants, like arnicas, and known to cause dermatitis and other unwanted effects, this can be an explanation for the preference for Andryala over other more easily available alternatives.

An attractive, fast, low-consumption and very promising high-throughput strategy based on microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS), and reversed phase ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC), was developed and validated for the determination and quantification of hydroxybenzoic (gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, gentisic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid), and hydroxycinnamic acids ( p -coumaric acid, m -coumaric acid, o -coumaric acid, ferrulic acid and cinnamic acid) in wines. Important factors affecting the performance of MEPS such as the type of sorbent material (C2, C8, C18, SIL and C8/SCX), number of extraction cycles (extract–discard), sample volume and elution volume were tested and optimized. The optimal MEPS extraction conditions were obtained using C8 phase as sorbent and 50 μL of the sample in five extraction cycles. The analytes were separated on a new Trifunctional High Strength Silica analytical column (HSS T3; 100% silica particle), specially designed for polar compounds, using a binary mobile phase composed of aqueous 0.1% formic acid (eluent A) and methanol (eluent B) in the gradient elution mode (10 min of total analysis). This new stationary phase, proved to be an excellent alternative to conventional C18 columns for the determination of benzoic and cinnamic acids derivatives in wines. The analytical method was fully validated in terms of linearity, limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantification (LOQ), extraction yield, accuracy and inter/intra-day precision, using a synthetic wine spiked with hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, and demonstrated good linearity with r 2 ‐values > 0.998 within the established concentration range (0.2–40 μg mL − 1 ). Under the optimized conditions, LOD of 0.01–0.2 μg mL − 1 , LOQ of 0.03–0.7 μg mL − 1 , and precision, expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD %), within 0.3–6% were observed. The proposed method was also applied to the analysis of hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids in red and white wines and recoveries of 80–100% and 77–99%, respectively, were obtained. The new approach offers an attractive alternative for analysis of phenolic acids from wine samples, providing a number of advantages including decreased sample preparation, faster sample throughput and easy to perform as compared to traditional methodologies. Moreover it could potentially be extended to other extraction media.

Multidentorhodacarus saboorii n. sp. and Rhodacarellus iraniensis n. sp. (Acari: Mesostigmata: Rhodacaroidea: Rhodacaridae) are described and figured. These are the first descriptions of Rhodacaridae mites from Iran.

Tick-borne diseases, such as anaplasmosis and babesiosis, are of major concern for Norwegian sheep farmers. Ticks can be controlled on and off the host, usually with the long-term, high-rotation use of chemicals. Fungal pathogens, predatory mites and ants are thought to be important tick killers in nature. However, the prevalence and diversity of predatory mites in tick habitats has barely been evaluated. It is known that most soil mite species of the cohort Gamasina (order Mesostigmata) are predators. Until now, 220 mesostigmatid species have been reported from Norway, most of them belonging to the Gamasina. One of the first recommended steps in a biological control program involves the determination of the fauna in the pest habitat. The objective of this study was to determine the groups of gamasines co-occurring with I. ricinus in sheep grazing areas in Isfjorden and Tingvoll in Western Norway. A total of 2,900 gamasines of 12 families was collected. The most numerous families were Parasitidae (46.9%) and Veigaiidae (25.7%), whereas the most diverse families were Laelapidae, Macrochelidae, Parasitidae and Zerconidae. Our results showed that the tick density was significantly related only to locality, elevation and rainfall. Differences in the prevailing environmental conditions resulted in more outstanding differences between Gamasina abundances than diversities. Based on our present knowledge of the potential of different gamasine groups as biological control agents, the results suggested that laelapid mites should be among the priority groups to be further evaluated for their role in the natural control of I. ricinus in Norway.

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.; Sapindaceae) is a plant native to Southeast Asia, where it is mostly cultivated. This crop has been severely damaged in Australia, Brazil, China, Hawaii, India and Pakistan by the litchi erineum mite, Aceria litchii (Keifer) (Eriophyidae), which attacks mainly leaves but also flowers and fruits. Phytoseius intermedius Evans & McFarlane is one of the phytoseiid mites most commonly found in association with this pest in Brazil. The objectives of this study were to: a) to compare the predation and oviposition rates of P. intermedius when fed A. litchii with the same rates when the predator was fed other food sources [the eriophyid Aculops lycopersici Tryon, the spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch and pollen of Typha domingensis (Pers.)]; b) to evaluate the life history parameters of P. intermedius fed A. litchii. The results indicated that A. litchii is a suitable food source for nymphs and adults P. intermedius. The combined immature stages (egg-adult) lasted 6.0 ± ...

Origanum vulgare subsp. virens growing wild in Madeira Island, Portugal was studied within the ongoing investigations on polymorphic Lamiaceae species. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils and n -hexane extracts of origanum was determined against 10 strains of bacteria and yeasts, found as human pathogenic or food spoilage microorganisms. The essential oils, n -hexane extracts and isolated compounds showed moderately activity, compared to standard antibiotics, inhibiting all tested bacteria except Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The most sensitive microorganism was Mycobacterium smegmatis, reaching MIC = 25 μg mL −1 . The results obtained suggest a potential application of these oils in preventing the human pathogenic and food spoilage due to microorganism’s growth. The essential oils and n -hexane extracts have greater RSC than polar extracts, probably due to the high contents in thymol, which demonstrated the highest activity in the DPPH assay. All studied origanum samples showed a large content in non-esterified 1-hexacosanol, C 26 H 54 O, accumulated mainly in bracts and flowers.

Synopsis Laurus novocanariensis is an endemic plant from the Madeira Island forest that derives a fatty oil, with a strong spicy odour, from its berries that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat skin ailments. This work aimed to investigate the effect of the application of both the oil and its essential oil on normal skin, to assess their safety and potential benefits. Diffusion studies with Franz cells using human epidermal membranes were conducted. The steady-state fluxes of two model molecules through untreated skin were compared with those obtained after a 2-h pre-treatment with either the oil or the essential oil. Additionally, eleven volunteers participated in the in vivo study that was conducted on the forearm and involved daily application of the oil for 5 days. Measurements were performed every day in the treated site with bioengineering methods that measure erythema, irritation and loss of barrier function. Slightly higher steady-state fluxes were observed for both the lipophilic and the hydrophilic molecule when the epidermal membranes were pre-treated. Nevertheless, such differences had no statistical significance, which seems to confirm that neither the oil nor the essential oil impaired the epidermal barrier. Results collected with the Chromameter, the Laser Doppler Flowmeter and the visual scoring are in agreement with those established in the in vitro study. They indicate that the repeated application of the oil did not cause erythema, because the results observed in the first day of the study were maintained throughout the week. Application of the oil did not affect the skin barrier function, because the transepidermal water loss remained constant throughout the study. The stratum corneum hydration was slightly reduced on days 4 and 5. This work shows that both the oil and the essential oil were well tolerated by the skin and did not cause significant barrier impairment or irritation. Resume Laurus novocanariensis est une plante endemique de la foret l'ile de Madere qui contient une huile grasse de forte odeur epicee dans ses baies qui a ete utilisee pendant des siecles en medecine traditionnelle pour traiter des maladies de la peau. Ce travail visait a etudier l'effet de l'application de l'huile et de son huile essentielle sur la peau normale, afin d'evaluer leur innocuite et les avantages potentiels. Des etudes de diffusion ont ete menees avec des membranes epidermiques humaines en utilisant les cellules de Franz. Le flux a l'equilibre de deux molecules modeles a travers la peau non traitee a ete compare a celui obtenu apres quelques 2 heures de pretraitement avec soit de l'huile ou de l'huile essentielle. En outre, onze volontaires ont participe a l'etude in vivo, qui a ete menee sur l'avant-bras et a implique l'application quotidienne de l'huile pendant 5 jours. Des mesures ont ete effectuees chaque jour sur le site traite avec des methodes de bio-ingenierie qui mesurent l'erytheme, l'irritation et la perte de la fonction de barriere. Des flux a l'equilibre legerement plus eleves ont ete observes a la fois pour la molecule lipophile et la molecule hydrophile, lorsque les membranes epidermiques ont ete pretraitees. Neanmoins, ces differences n'etaient pas statistiquement significatives, ce qui semble confirmer que ni l'huile ni l'huile essentielle porte atteinte a la barriere epidermique. Les resultats recueillis avec le Chromametre, le debitmetre Laser Doppler et par la notation visuelle sont en accord avec ceux etablis dans l'etude in vitro. Ils indiquent que l'application repetee de l'huile ne cause pas d'erytheme, puisque les resultats observes lors du premier jour de l'etude ont ete maintenus tout au long de la semaine. L'application de l'huile n'a pas d'incidence sur la fonction barriere de la peau, puisque la perte insensible en eau est restee constante tout au long de l'etude. L'hydratation du stratum corneum etait legerement reduite aux jours 4 et 5. Ce travail montre que l'huile et l'huile essentielle ont ete bien tolerees par la peau et n'ont pas cause de deterioration de la barriere significative ou d'irritation.

Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (artichoke) and Cynara cardunculus var. ferocissima (Madeira cardoon) are two Asteraceae plants used in Madeira Archipelago in diet and also for medicinal issues. The present work aimed to compare the phenolic composition and quantify the main compounds of these two plants and two artichoke-based dietary supplements (juice and dragees). The methanolic extract of the endemic plant cardoon was basically composed of caffeoylquinic acid isomers. The same compounds were observed in artichoke extract, where there was a larger number and variety of other phenolic compounds. Variations in qualitative and quantitative composition of the three artichoke based products were extensive, with only 3 components being common to all 3 products. Mono-O-diglycosilated flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin and quercetin) were found in the artichoke products but not in Madeira cardoon. 1,3-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (cynarin), usually considered mainly responsible for the biological properties of artichoke, was found in high amounts ranging in most samples but was not detected in the analyzed commercial dragees. The antioxidant assays results reflected the highly diversified composition of the artichoke-based products, showing a high radical scavenger and reducing capacities, while the extract from Madeira cardoon was a poor antioxidant.

Artemisia argentea, known as losna or Madeira wormwood is used as aperitif drink with tonic effects. A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method (RP-HPLC) coupled with diode-array detection (DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS) was used for the separation/characterization of phenolic compounds in A. argentea. A wide variety of components was found, mainly flavonoids (O- and C-glycosylated) and hydroxycinnamic acids derivatives. Five saponins, an uncommon type of compound in Artemisia species, were reported. Quantification of caffeoylquinic acids (CQA) was performed and 5-O-CQA and 3,5-O-diCQA were the major compounds (ca. 300 mg/100 g dried plant). Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were established and four assays were used to measure the antioxidant capacity of the plant, revealing a high radical scavenging capacity and a weak reducing potential. Unlike other Artemisia subspecies, A. argentea is totally free of harmful components such as thujene, thujone or artemisia ketone.

Gamasiphis paulista n. sp. is described based on specimens representing all postembryonic stages, collected from litter and soil in Piracicaba, State of São Paulo. This is the first species of Gamasiphis described from Brazil. A key is provided for the separation of species of this genus known from the Neotropical Region.