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Among the most consumed cheeses in Brazil are Minas Padrão and Prato. The objective of this work was to discriminate these cheeses added with probiotic bacteria from the control cheeses by Infrared Spectroscopy during maturation. The probiotic cultures (Lactobacillus acidophilus L10, Lacticaseibacillus casei L26 and Bifidobacterium lactis B94) were individually added in amounts of 108 cells/mL of pasteurized milk and cheeses were prepared. Also, cheeses without the addition of probiotics, control, containing only the starter culture were produced. The acquisition of data by Fourier transforms mid-infrared spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflectance (FT-MIR-ATR) and Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) occurred at times 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 days in Minas Padrão and at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 days in Prato, both cheeses being stored between 7 °C and 10 °C. Subsequently, data processing and Principal Component Analysis were carried out. The FT-MIR technique separated control samples, mainly, at time 0, from those containing probiotics, but did not differentiate maturation times. One of the factors responsible for limiting the discriminatory power of the FT-MIR was the heterogeneity of the samples, revealed by the differences in terms of relative peak intensities for each spectrum of the triplicates. The FT-NIR technique only discriminated against the types of cheese, but did not separate the control samples from those containing probiotics. Therefore, the MIR and NIR techniques showed sensitivity to identify the differences between the cheeses, showing potential for use in the quality control of cheeses added with probiotics.

Envenomation due to exposure to caterpillars is an emerging public health problem. A life-threatening bleeding diathesis has been described in South America after exposure to Lonomia obliqua or L. acheolus. Deforestation, forest degradation, and global warming might increase the frequency of human exposure to these insects. Prompt recognition and administration of antivenom are crucial to ensure a favorable outcome.

This article presents a blend design methodology using a real case study of Arabica and Robusta coffee blends, which are the primary coffee species produced worldwide. Arabica coffee is known for its superior sensory quality compared to Robusta, resulting in significant price differences. However, undisclosed mixtures between these species after roasting and grinding are common in the coffee market and challenging to detect, especially when Robusta beans are added to coffees claimed to be 100 % Arabica. Thus, this method proposes a rapid and reliable solution to ensure the authenticity of coffee beans. The calibration curve is constructed using only three points and demonstrates excellent predictive efficiency. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of coffee species in a blend. For this purpose, a quadratic model was fitted using Fourier transform mid-infrared measurements (FT-MIR). By employing mixture design, the number of samples was reduced. The adjusted model was y^=5.63±(0.03)X1+1.28±(0.03)X2−1.36±(0.13)X1X2. Additional measurements were conducted to verify the method's efficiency, and the predicted versus observed values exhibited a high correlation, with R² = 0.99 and Q² = 0.45. The results demonstrate a promising approach for quantifying blends of commercialized coffees. This methodology offers a rapid and cost-effective solution to authenticate coffee blends, enabling producers, distributors, and consumers to ensure the accuracy and quality of coffee products in the market. The proposed technique can contribute to the prevention of fraudulent practices and uphold the integrity of the coffee industry. Further research and application of this method can be extended to other food products where the authentication of blends is crucial for quality control and consumer satisfaction.

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are formed from embryonic cells and usually occur in patients between age 11 and 30 years. GCT can present as extra-gonadal tumors, with the anterior mediastinum being the most common site in 50 to 70 % of cases. We present a 21-year-old male patient with a solid mediastinal tumor of 17 x 15 cm that, according to the chest tomography (CT), it was occupying the entire left thoracic cavity moving the heart towards the right thoracic cavity. The pathological study was reported by the pathologist as a GCT tumor.

BackgroundThe Global Research on the Impact of Dermatological Diseases (GRIDD) team is developing the new Patient-Reported Impact of Dermatological Diseases (PRIDD) measure of the impact of dermatological conditions on the patient’s life, in partnership with patients. To develop PRIDD, we conducted a systematic review, followed by a qualitative interview study with 68 patients worldwide and subsequently a global Delphi survey of 1,154 patients to ensure PRIDD items were meaningful and important to patients.ObjectiveTo pilot test PRIDD with patients with dermatological conditions, focusing on its content validity (comprehensiveness, comprehensibility, and relevance), acceptability, and feasibility.MethodsWe conducted a theory-led qualitative study using the Three-Step Test-Interview method of cognitive interviewing. Three rounds of semi-structured interviews were conducted online. Adults (≥ 18 years) living with a dermatological condition and who spoke English sufficiently to take part in the interview were recruited through the International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations’ (GlobalSkin) global membership network. The topic guide met the gold-standard COSMIN (Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments) standards for cognitive interviewing. Analysis followed the thematic analytical model of cognitive interviewing.ResultsTwelve people (58% male) representing six dermatological conditions from four countries participated. Overall, patients found PRIDD to be comprehensible, comprehensive, relevant, acceptable, and feasible. Participants were able to discern the conceptual framework domains from the items. Feedback resulted in: the recall period being extended from 1 week to 1 month; removal of the ‘not relevant’ response option; and changes to the instructions and item ordering and wording to improve clarity and increase respondents’ confidence in their ability to respond. These evidence-based adjustments resulted in a 26-item version of PRIDD.ConclusionThis study met the gold-standard COSMIN criteria for the pilot testing of health measurement instruments. The data triangulated our previous findings, in particular the conceptual framework of impact. Our findings illuminate how patients understand and respond to PRIDD and other patient-reported measurement instruments. The results of comprehensibility, comprehensiveness, relevance, acceptability, and feasibility of PRIDD provide evidence of content validity from the target population. The next step in the development and validation of PRIDD is psychometric testing.

The present work was proposal the potential evaluation of Fourier-Transform Mid-Infrared (FT-MIR) associated with chemometric approach in green beans, in order to discriminate the origin of special Arabica coffees in a single state that has heterogeneous environments. Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) model presented as result: 3 latent variables, R2X (cum) = 0.892, R2Y (cum) = 0.659; Q2Y (cum) = 0.494, RMSEP = 0.182387, p-value CV-Anova = 0.009, 100% of both sensitivity and specificity and the prediction classification obtained was: 100, 83.33, 100, 83.33% for class 1, class 2, class 3 and class 4, respectively. These results can be considered adequate for the proposed hypothesis. The obtained results that the regions have markers such as trigonelline, chlorogenic and fatty acids, sensitive to absorption in the mid-infrared and that are able to determine the origin of green coffee beans of Arabica. Thus, the FT-MIR associated with chemometrics has the potential to employ speed, modernity and cost reduction in the certification of origin of coffees.

ABSTRACT: Yeasts of the genus Hanseniaspora gained notoriety in the last years due to their contribution to wine quality, and their loss of several genes, mainly related to DNA repair and cell cycle processes. Based on genomic data from many members of this genus, they have been classified in two well defined clades: the “faster-evolving linage” (FEL) and the “slower-evolving lineage” (SEL). In this context, we had detected that H. vineae exhibited a rapid loss of cell viability in some conditions during the stationary phase compared to H. uvarum and S. cerevisiae. The present work aimed to evaluate the viability and cell cycle progression of representatives of Hanseniaspora species along their growth in an aerobic and discontinuous system. Cell growth, viability and DNA content were determined by turbidity, Trypan Blue staining, and flow cytometry, respectively. Results showed that H. uvarum and H. opuntiae (representing FEL group), and H. osmophila (SEL group) exhibited a typical G1/G0 (1C DNA) arrest during the stationary phase, as S. cerevisiae. Conversely, the three strains studied here of H. vineae (SEL group) arrested at G2/M stages of cell cycle (2C DNA), and lost viability rapidly when enter the stationary phase. These results showed that H. vineae have a unique cell cycle behavior that will contribute as a new eukaryotic model for future studies of genetic determinants of yeast cell cycle control and progression.

The recent social and legal debate in several European countries on abortion, euthanasia, and assisted suicide has caused a strong resurgence of the concerns of healthcare personnel as to the real possibility of protecting their consciences in their professional sphere. Individual refusal for religious, moral, deontological, or ethical reasons to participate in activities that directly or indirectly could result in the termination of a human life constitutes the most extreme manifestation of the legal phenomenon of conscientious objection. Although the European Convention on Human Rights does not recognize a general right to conscientious objection, since Bayatyan v. Armenia, the case law of the European Court of Human Rights has identified a connection between conscience-related claims to compulsory military service and Article 9 of the Convention. However, to this date, this doctrine has not been applied to cases that affect health-sensitive areas like abortion and contraception. This article analyzes the activity of the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the right to freedom of conscience and to conscientious objection, particularly in healthcare, and offers several final observations projected to possible future conflicts.

The use of carbon-based materials as catalyst supports for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is thoroughly reviewed. The main factors to consider when using a carbonaceous catalyst support for FTS are first discussed. Then, the most relevant and recent literature on the topic from the last 2 decades is reviewed, classifying the different examples according to the carbon structure and shape. Some aspects such as the carbon textural properties, carbon support modification (functionalization and doping), catalyst preparation methods, metal particle size and location, catalyst stability and reducibility, the use of promoters, and the catalyst performance for FTS are summarized and discussed. Finally, the main conclusions, advantages, limitations, and perspectives of using carbon catalyst supports for FTS are outlined.

Introdução: O leite é um dos alimentos mais consumidos pelos seres humanos. Proteínas, vitaminas, gordura, carboidratos e sais minerais fazem parte de sua composição e desempenham importantes funções para a nutrição humana. A prática de adulteração no leite é antiga e ainda se faz presente nos dias de hoje em diversos países, inclusive no Brasil. A fim de obter lucro maior, alguns fornecedores costumam adicionar ao leite: água, amido, citrato, ureia, soda cáustica, cloreto de sódio, sacarose, soro do leite, melamina e outros componentes. No entanto, ainda há outro problema, o da contaminação do leite por medicamentos veterinários. Estes podem causar danos à saúde do consumidor e prejuízos para a produção de seus derivados. Objetivo: O presente trabalho propõe uma metodologia que permite detectar de maneira rápida a presença de resíduos de medicamentos veterinários em leites, dentro do limite máximo de resíduos de cada droga. Métodos: Fez-se o uso da espectroscopia no infravermelho próximo por transformada de Fourier associada à análise de componentes principais. A espectroscopia no infravermelho tem sido utilizada não somente para a autenticidade de laticínios, mas para determinar sua qualidade. Resultados: Conseguiu-se detectar resíduos de penicilina, oxitetraciclina e enrofloxacino, e também do antiparasitário ivermectina nas amostras de leites. Conclusão: A metodologia detectou de maneira rápida e precisa os resíduos das drogas analisadas, mesmo em concentrações muito baixas. Assim, é uma opção a outras existentes, já utilizadas para tal objetivo.

Hanseniaspora species are the main yeasts isolated from grapes and grape musts. Regarding genetic and phenotypical characterization, especially fermentative behavior, they can be classified in two technological clusters: the fruit group and the fermentation group. Among the species belonging to the last group, Hanseniaspora osmophila and Hanseniaspora vineae have been previously isolated in spontaneous fermentations of grape must. In this work, the oenological aptitudes of the two species of the fermentation group were compared with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the main species of the fruit group, Hanseniaspora uvarum. Both H. osmophila and H. vineae conferred a positive aroma to final wines and no sensory defects were detected. Wines fermented with H. vineae presented significantly higher concentrations of 2-phenylethyl, tryptophol and tyrosol acetates, acetoin, mevalonolactone, and benzyl alcohol compared to H. osmophila. Sensorial analysis showed increased intensity of fruity and flowery notes in wines vinificated with H. vineae. In an evolutionary context, the detoxification of alcohols through a highly acetylation capacity might explain an adaption to fermentative environments. It was concluded that, although H. vineae show close alcohol fermentation adaptations to H. osmophila, the increased activation of phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway is a particular characteristic of H. vineae within this important apiculate genus.

Melatonin is a bioactive compound that is present in fermented beverages and synthesized by yeast during alcoholic fermentation. Many studies have shown that melatonin interacts with some mammalian proteins, such as sirtuins or orphan receptor family proteins. The aim of this study was to determine the intracellular synthesis profile of melatonin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and to identify the proteins that may interact with this molecule in yeast cells. Melatonin from fermentation samples was analyzed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, and proteins bound to melatonin were immunopurified by melatonin-IgG-Dynabeads. Melatonin was produced intracellularly in the lag phase of yeast growth and was exported to the extracellular media during the stationary phase. During this period, melatonin was bound to six proteins with molecular weights from 55 to 35 kDa. Sequence analysis showed that most proteins shared high levels of homology with glycolytic enzymes. An RNA-binding protein was also identified, the elongation alpha factor, which is related to mitochondria. This study reports for the first time the interaction of melatonin and proteins inside yeast cells. These results highlight the possible role of melatonin as a signal molecule and provide a new perspective for understanding its role in yeast.

In this work, the protein analyzer SprintTM was assessed regarding its capacity of predicting addition of whey in milk. This type of practice is relatively common in dairy plants, since whey, as it is a protein component, may be added with little loss of milk protein content. Besides,its incorrect elimination contributes to environmental pollution. Mixtures of milk and whey were prepared in different levels of addition and two methods of milk partition were tested. The results indicated that the concentration of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) from the selected method was not suitable for the present purpose while the chosen method using glacial acetic acid (GAA) has presented a satisfactory separation of the soluble and insoluble milk components. Even though the concentration of whey protein and casein are the essential parameters for determining whey addition in milk, the use of measurements from total protein was important in order to improve the linearity of the method due to the fact that the rates whey protein/total protein and casein/total protein presented the best results concerning fraud prediction capacity. Therefore, as the equipment is a rapid, safe and efficient platform, it can be used as an alternative to be implemented in laboratories of food quality control which perform or plan to perform assays to verify the whey addition in fluid milk.

Hanseniaspora species can be isolated from grapes and grape musts, but after the initiation of spontaneous fermentation, they are displaced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Hanseniaspora vineae is particularly valuable since this species improves the flavour of wines and has an increased capacity to ferment relative to other apiculate yeasts. Genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic studies in H. vineae have enhanced our understanding of its potential utility within the wine industry. Here, we compared gene sequences of 12 glycolytic and fermentation pathway enzymes from five sequenced Hanseniaspora species and S. cerevisiae with the corresponding enzymes encoded within the two sequenced H. vineae genomes. Increased levels of protein similarity were observed for enzymes of H. vineae and S. cerevisiae, relative to the remaining Hanseniaspora species. Key differences between H. vineae and H. uvarum pyruvate kinase enzymes might explain observed differences in fermentative capacity. Further, the presence of eight putative alcohol dehydrogenases, invertase activity, and sulfite tolerance are distinctive characteristics of H. vineae, compared to other Hanseniaspora species. The definition of two clear technological groups within the Hanseniaspora genus is discussed within the slow and fast evolution concept framework previously discovered in these apiculate yeasts.

The ripening changes over time of special cheeses (Pecorino, ewes’ ripe, and Gouda) made with ewes’ milk were evaluated using FTIR/ATR spectroscopy during approximately one year. The midinfrared FTIR/ATR analyses were carried out in different ripening times between the cheese varieties and processed by means of multivariate statistical approaches. Overall, during the maturation, we observed a downward trend of the absorbance intensity of the amide group peaks (1700 to 1500 cm−1), which is linked to the breakdown of peptide bonds. Similar behavior was obtained for the lipidic region (3000 to 2800 cm−1 and 1765 to 1730 cm−1). Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis allowed the evaluation of the physicochemical changes of the cheeses. The proteolysis occurs in a fast pace during the first trimester of the ripening process, and the lipids are converted to smaller species as the times goes by. Our results indicate that infrared spectroscopy can be a useful tool in determining optimal temporal parameters in stages involving the development, production, and even a possible estimation of shelf life of cheeses.

This study focuses on detection of antimicrobial residues in milk through Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy. Simulated and real samples were considered. The simulated ones take into account veterinary drugs added in milk samples in the following concentrations: enrofloxacin 100 μg/L, terramycin 100 μg/L, and penicillin 4 μg/L. The statistical tool used to discriminate the samples was the principal component analysis (PCA). Our results show that, with this experimental procedure, it is possible to discriminate different types of antimicrobials dissolved in milk. Moreover, the methodology was able to detect real sample milked on different days after the injection of ceftiofur hydrochloride which is in principle a zero grace period antimicrobial. The methodology proved to be fast and accurate within the maximum residue limits allowed by European Agency for Medicinal Products and Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Food Supply from Brazil.

Analizamos la manera en que trece es - tudiantes de traducción inglés-español leen críticamente un texto auténtico de la co - munidad británica. Nuestros tres objetivos son: a) explorar si los aprendices identifican la visión del mundo contenida en el texto; b) documentar y analizar las estrategias de lectura crítica y recursos en línea que em - plean para comprender el texto; y c) describir sus percepciones y actitudes acerca de su rol como lectores críticos. Empleamos técnicas cualitativas para analizar varios tipos de da - tos: 1) las respuestas a una tarea de compren - sión y traducción de una noticia publicada en un periódico digital británico; 2) cinco entrevistas semiestructuradas centradas en la tarea de lectura, y 3) vídeos de la actividad de las pantallas de cinco informantes. Los re - sultados muestran que buena parte de los es - tudiantes no logra comprender críticamente el texto y que este hecho se debe sobre todo a la escasa conciencia sobre el carácter situado socioculturalmente de los textos y al uso in - eficaz de estrategias de comprensión crítica y recursos de lectura en línea.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão de literatura sobre aspectos composicionais e propriedades funcionais, nutricionais e sensoriais do leite de cabra aplicados à sua tecnologia de processamento. A escassez de publicações contendo informações específicas sobre o leite de cabra motivou a realização deste artigo. Para a realização da revisão bibliográfica foi feita uma busca de artigos científicos nas bases de dados da SpringLink, Nature, Scientific Electronic Library Online, principalmente, acessados através do portal de periódicos da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior por intermédio do Sistema Integrado de Gestão Acadêmica da UFJF. As principais palavras-chave utilizadas como descritor do assunto foram "leite de cabra" em português, em inglês "goat milk" e em espanhol "leche de cabra". O leite de cabra tem um importante papel como fonte de cálcio, de gordura de elevada digestibilidade, de proteína de alto valor biológico e hipoalergenicidade. Comparando o leite caprino com o leite bovino em relação aos aspectos composicionais, observou-se que os leites das duas espécies são distintos. Informações específicas sobre o leite de cabra facilitam o seu processamento e desenvolvimento de novos produtos a partir deste. As propriedades nutricionais e funcionais do leite de cabra justificam sua singularidade e demonstram que o leite caprino e seus produtos representam um nicho promissor para diversificar e inovar a indústria láctea. As propriedades sensoriais relativas ao sabor e odor do leite de cabra representam dificuldades para a sua aceitação, sendo necessárias pesquisas para melhorar estas características.

Apiculate yeasts of the genus Hanseniaspora/Kloeckera are the main species present on mature grapes and play a significant role at the beginning of fermentation, producing enzymes and aroma compounds that expand the diversity of wine color and flavor. Ten species of the genus Hanseniaspora have been recovered from grapes and are associated in two groups: H. valbyensis, H. guilliermondii, H. uvarum, H. opuntiae, H. thailandica, H. meyeri, and H. clermontiae; and H. vineae, H. osmophila, and H. occidentalis. This review focuses on the application of some strains belonging to this genus in co-fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae that demonstrates their positive contribution to winemaking. Some consistent results have shown more intense flavors and complex, full-bodied wines, compared with wines produced by the use of S. cerevisiae alone. Recent genetic and physiologic studies have improved the knowledge of the Hanseniaspora/Kloeckera species. Significant increases in acetyl esters, benzenoids, and sesquiterpene flavor compounds, and relative decreases in alcohols and acids have been reported, due to different fermentation pathways compared to conventional wine yeasts.

Lignin valorization plays a crucial role within the modern biorefinery scheme from both the economic and environmental points of view; and the structure and composition of lignin becomes it an ideal precursor for the preparation of advanced carbon materials with high added-value. This review provides an overview of the different carbonaceous materials obtained by thermochemical conversion of lignin, such as activated carbons, carbon fibers, template carbons; high ordered carbons; giving information about the new strategies in terms of the preparation method and their possible applications.