ABSTRACT Lactobacillus plantarum strains have been extensively used in food processing and preservation. L. plantarum also has the potential to convert polyunsaturated fatty acids, e.g. linoleic acid (LA) into bioactive and less toxic fatty acid metabolites. The objective of this study was to assess the capability of probiotic L. plantarum 13-3 to convert Linoleic Acid (LA) to different fatty acid metabolites in the medium supplemented with differential concentrations of LA, and the relevant reactions were characterized by in silico calculation. L. plantarum 13-3 was grown in MRS medium containing LA from 1% to 10%, and the fatty acid metabolites formed in the medium were identified and quantitated by GC-MS and in silico studies were done to confirm the enzymatic reactions involved in its conversion. The results showed that L. plantarum 13-3 could convert LA at different concentrations to 5 different fatty acid metabolites i.e, (Z)-Ethyl heptadec-9-enoate, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z), methyl ester, Octadec-9-enoic acid, cis-11,14-Eicosadienoic acid, methyl ester and (Z)-18-Octadec-9-enolide. Among these metabolites, the formation of an long chain fatty acid Octadec-9-enoic Acid, also known as 18:1, N-9 or Delta(9)-Octadecenoic acid, is classified as a member of the Long-chain fatty acids in media supplemented with 4% to 10% LA, is being reported for the first time. Putative candidate enzymes involved in biotransformation of LA into fatty acid metabolites were identified in whole genome of L. plantarum 13-3, sequenced previously. In silico studies confirmed that several enzymes including the linoleate isomerase, acetoacetate decarboxylase and oxidoreductase may be involved in biotransformation of LA into fatty acid metabolites. These enzymes could effectively bind the LA molecule mainly by forming hydrogen bonding between the acidic groups of LA and the proline residues at the active sites of the enzymes validating the putative reacting partners.

Resumen Los ambientes acuáticos en la cuenca del río Hondo, sureste de la península de Yucatán, enfrentan diversas amenazas. Algunos de estos impactos, e.g. contaminación por plaguicidas, pueden depender del uso de suelo o cobertura. El objetivo fue evaluar el efecto del uso del suelo/cobertura sobre un índice biótico de integridad (IBI) basado en peces, publicado previamente, diseñado para arroyos someros en esta cuenca. La hipótesis era que los usos del suelo que involucran deforestación y contaminación, entre ellos urbanización, ganadería o cultivo de caña de azúcar, se verían reflejados en valores bajos del IBI, por lo menos a ciertas escalas espaciales. Los 23 sitios usados originalmente para estimar por electropesca la abundancia relativa y otras características de especies y gremios selectos de peces, para construir el IBI, fueron visitados de nuevo en febrero 2010 para validar por inspección directa el tipo de uso del suelo/cobertura sugerido por la información de paisaje en bases de datos digitales. Se analizó el efecto de siete tipos de uso del suelo/cobertura (agricultura, ganadería, asentamientos humanos, cuerpos de agua, humedales, bosque y vegetación secundaria) sobre los valores del IBI, a cuatro escalas espaciales, i.e., el porcentaje de cada uso del suelo/cobertura en círculos progresivamente mayores (125, 250, 500 y 1 000 m de diámetro) centrados en el cuerpo de agua donde se midió el valor del IBI. Los porcentajes de uso del suelo/cobertura por escala se correlacionaron entre sí y con los valores correspondientes del IBI para explorar su asociación; luego, mediante pruebas t de Student se buscaron diferencias significativas en cobertura entre grupos de localidades por encima y por debajo del valor mediano del IBI, así como pruebas U de Mann-Whitney para comparar valores del IBI entre localidades con o sin una cobertura dada. La agricultura, asentamientos humanos y vegetación secundaria mostraron una relación negativa con el IBI, lo cual sugiere un impacto de las actividades humanas sobre la salud de los ecosistemas acuáticos. Las diferencias fueron significativas para el bosque (mayor en sitios con mejor integridad acuática) y los asentamientos humanos (menor en sitios con mayor valor del IBI). De todas las clases paisajísticas en la cuenca del río Hondo, las de origen antrópico, excepto los pastizales para ganadería, tendieron a ser perjudiciales para la integridad biótica acuática.

Abstract Aquatic environments face a variety of threats in the Hondo River basin, Southeastern Yucatán Peninsula. Some of these impacts, like pollution by pesticides, may depend on land use and cover. Our objective was to assess the effect of land use/cover using a previously published index of biotic integrity (IBI), based on fishes and designed for shallow streams in the Hondo River basin. Our hypothesis was that land uses that cause deforestation and pollution, such as urbanization, cattle breeding, or sugar cane fields, would be reflected in low IBI values, at least at some spatial scales. The 23 sites originally used in 2008-2009 to estimate by electrofishing the relative abundance and other characteristics of selected fish species and guilds to construct the IBI, were revisited in February 2010, to validate by direct inspection the type of land use/cover suggested by landscape information in digital databases. We analyzed the effect of seven types of land use/cover (agriculture, pasture, human settlements, water bodies, wetlands, forest, and secondary vegetation) on the IBI values, at four spatial scales, i.e., the percent of every land use/cover at progressively larger circles (125, 250, 500, and 1 000 m diameter) centered on the water body where the IBI value was measured. Correlations were established among the percent land/use cover by scale around 23 sites, and with their corresponding IBI values. Then, Student’s t tests were calculated to examine significant differences in land use/cover between groups of localities above and below the median IBI value, and Mann-Whitney’s U tests were applied to compare IBI values between localities with andwithout a given landscape cover. Agriculture, human settlements, and secondary vegetation correlated negatively with the IBI; forests positively. Differences were significant (p<0.05) for forest (higher in sites with higher IBI values) and human settlements (lower in sites with higher IBI). Of all the landscape categories located in the Hondo River basin, with the exception of pasture, those of anthropogenic origin tended to be detrimental to aquatic biotic integrity.

Listeria monocytogenes é um agente patogênico veiculado por alimentos, capaz de sobreviver e proliferar em temperaturas de refrigeração. Como resultado, os produtos cárneos, prontos para consumo, têm sido associados a graves surtos mortais. A elaboração de produtos cárneos envolve tratamentos letais de conservação, como o tratamento térmico. Entretanto, a contaminação por Listeria pode ser causada quando o produto é fatiado e embalado em estabelecimentos de varejo ou em operações de delicatessen. No Brasil, a comercialização de mortadela fatiada é muito popular. Entretanto, a vida de prateleira da mortadela, após ser fatiada no mercado varejista, é curta. Este trabalho objetivou o estudo do efeito da incorporação de pediocina na carga na ruptura e na permeabilidade ao vapor de água, e da estrutura, por análise microscópica, das embalagens celulósicas antimicrobianas. Também foi estudada a aplicação potencial das embalagens desenvolvidas na preservação de mortadela e a inibição de biofilmes de Listeria. Os filmes celulósicos foram produzidos com acetato de celulose e acetona. A pediocina foi usada na forma do concentrado comercialmente disponível ALTA TM 2341, incorporado a 30, 40 e 50 % p/p. Foi estudada a carga na ruptura dos filmes usando a Máquina Universal de Ensaio de Materiais (Instron) a 10 °C e 25 °C, e a permeabilidade ao vapor de água (PVA), determinada pelo método gravimétrico. Para estudar a estrutura dos filmes desenvolvidos, foi usado o microscópio eletrônico de varredura. A atividade antimicrobiana dos filmes contra Listeria innocua e Listeria monocytogenes foi testada por análise in vitro e em mortadela, respectivamente. Os resultados mostraram que a carga na ruptura diminuiu com altas concentrações de pediocina a 10 °C e 25 °C. Com relação à PVA, só o filme controle e o filme com 50 % de pediocina apresentaram diferença estatística, sendo mais permeável o filme com 50 % de pediocina. Os testes in vitro mostraram a atividade antimicrobiana contra L. innocua. Os filmes celulósicos com 50 % de pediocina reduziram o crescimento de L. monocytogenes na mortadela fatiada em 1,2 ciclo log após nove dias, evitando a formação de biofilmes na superfície da embalagem e da mortadela. Portanto, os filmes celulósicos ativos com 50 % pediocina, na forma do concentrado comercial ALTA™ 2341, têm potencial para serem usados em um sistema de tecnologia de barreiras como um obstáculo final para o controle de L. monocytogenes, na conservação de mortadela.

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen, able to survive and proliferate at refrigeration temperatures. As a result, ready-to-eat meat products have been associated with major outbreaks. Producing meat products involves lethal preservation treatments, e.g. thermal treatments. Listeria contamination, however, may be introduced when products are sliced and packaged at retail businesses or delicatessens. In Brazil, sliced bologna is very popular at retail markets. After slicing, however, bologna has a short shelf-life. The aim of this work was to study the effects of pediocin incorporation on the load at break, water vapor permeability rate and structure, by microscopic analysis, of antimicrobial cellulosic packaging. The potential application of the developed packaging for the preservation of bologna and inhibition of Listeria biofilm formation was also studied. Cellulosic antimicrobial packaging films were produced with cellulose acetate and acetone. Pediocin (commercially available concentrate ALTA TM 2341) was incorporated at 30, 40 and 50 % w/w. The load at break of films was studied using the Universal Testing Machine (Instron) at 10 °C and 25 °C. The water vapor permeability was determined by gravimetric method. A scanning electron microscope was used to study the developed packaging structure. Antimicrobial activity of films against Listeria innoucua and L. monocytogenes was tested both in vitro and in bologna samples. Results showed that values of load at break decreased with increasing concentrations of pediocin at 10 °C and 25 °C. Regarding water vapor permeability, only the control and 50 % pediocin films presented statistical difference, with the 50 % pediocin film being more permeable. In vitro tests showed antimicrobial activity against L. innocua. Cellulosic film with 50 % pediocin reduced L. monocytogenes growth on sliced bologna by 1.2 log cycles after 9 days and prevented biofilm formation on packaging and bologna surfaces. Hence, active cellulosic films made with 50 % pediocin in the form of commercially available concentrated ALTA™ 2341 have the potential of being used in a system of hurdle technologies as a final obstacle for L. monocytogenes control in bologna preservation.

The goal of this work was to evaluate the inclusion of different levels of ractopamine to finishing rations for swine, during 21 days before the slaughter, on the performance, carcass and meat quality parameters and on physiologic and serum characteristics related with behavior. Thirty six pigs (Large White x Landrace), 18 barrows and 18 females, weighting 87.0±5.02 kg, fed ad libitum with isonutrient rations, with 0, 10 and 20 ppm of ractopamine, were used. The experimental design was randomized blocks, factorial 3 x 2 (3 levels of ractopamine and 2 genders), with 6 repetitions for the performance parameters and 12 repetitions for the other characteristics. There were a positive linear effect (p<0.05) to the weigh gain and to the feed conversion rate and a quadratic effect to the feed consumption (been the minimal point to 9.4 ppm of ractopamine). To the carcass parameters there was a quadratic effect to the carcass yield (been the minimal point to 9.5ppm of ractopamine). The parameters a*(red-blue component) and c*values (saturation index) and marbling presented a negative linear effect according to the levels of ractopamine. The fiber diameter of the L. dorsi muscle and the tonality angle index (h*) showed a positive linear effect to the levels of ractopamine. There were no effects on the other meat quality characteristics, resulting meats without PSE and DFD. The ractopamine can be used until 20 ppm with positive effects on the performance and carcass parameters, without effects on the behavior and on meat quality.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a inclusão de diferentes níveis de ractopamina em rações de suínos em fase de terminação, durante 21 dias pré-abate, sobre as características de desempenho, carcaça, qualidade de carne e sobre parâmetros fisiológicos e sanguíneos indicadores de bem-estar. Foram utilizados 36 suínos comerciais, 18 machos castrados e 18 fêmeas, com peso médio inicial de 87,0±5,02 kg, alimentados ad libitum com rações isonutrientes, com 0, 10 e 20 ppm de ractopamina. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, fatorial 3 x 2, com seis repetições para os parâmetros de desempenho e 12 repetições para os demais parâmetros. Houve efeito linear (p<0,05) positivo para o ganho de peso e para a conversão alimentar e efeito quadrático (ponto de mínima de 9,4 ppm de ractopamina) para o consumo de ração. Para os parâmetros de carcaça houve efeito quadrático para o rendimento de carcaça (com ponto de máxima para 9,5 ppm de ractopamina). O valor de a*(componente vermelho-verde), c*(índice de saturação) e marmoreio apresentaram efeito linear negativo. O diâmetro da fibra muscular do músculo L. dorsi e o ângulo de tonalidade (h*) apresentaram efeito linear positivo para os níveis de ractopamina. Outros parâmetros relacionados à qualidade da carne não foram influenciadas pelos tratamentos, resultando em carnes livres de PSE e DFD. A ractopamina pode ser utilizada nas rações de suínos até 20 ppm com efeitos positivos no desempenho e na carcaça, sem alterações no comportamento dos animais e comprometimentos na qualidade da carne.

The gold and iron mining activities in the Velhas River yield considerable amounts of suspended solids as well as metals to the hydrological system of the region. The risks were assessed by sequential extraction procedures. They were carried out in sediment samples, aiming to evaluate the presence of Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn and As. Although being at high levels in some parts of the river (e.g. As 527 mg g-1 and Cr 475 mg g-1) they are associated with the residual fraction. Mobility factors were also calculated and show that these species are enriched along the river, e.g. for As 0.02 at the spring and 0.33 at the high course of the river.

Baseando-se nos efeitos estimuladores do metabolismo energético pelo pré-condicionamento isquêmico (PCI) no tecido hepático, estudou-se dois grupos de ratos cirróticos submetidos a isquemia de 20 min e reperfusão de 120 min, após o PCI ou não respectivamente, determinando assim o valor do seu uso no prolongamento da manobra de Pringle e na regeneração hepática na hepatectomia.

We studied the influence of ischemic preconditioning in rat liver cirrhosis.The cirrhosis were induced in wistar rat with occlusion of biliary duct before 30 days operation and divided into group A, ischemic preconditioning and ischemic/reperfusion, and group B, only ischemic/reperfusion. In group A the preconditioning consisted of 5 min ischemic and 10 min reperfusion. The ischemic/reperfusion consisted of 20 min ischemic and 120 min reperfusion for both groups. The level of respiratory control reason (RCR) in the liver tissue 120 min after reperfusion was not difference significantly in the groups. Therefore it suggests that the preconditioning cam be viability and another object of studies must be rated in future this work.