Morphological description of the immature stages of Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

In the dipteran genus Hermetia, only 6 of the 78 valid species have documented immature stages: H. albitarsis Fabricius, 1805, H. aurata Bellardi, 1859, H. concinna Williston, 1900, H. illucens (Linnaeus, 1758), H. panamensis Greene, 1940 and H. pulchra Weidemann, 1830. In particular, H. illucens stands out due to its reported applicability for forensic, medical and economic purposes. Here, we described the morphology of eggs and immature stages of this species, with a view to detecting differences between instars and in the pupal stage, which should eventually help properly identifying larval age. We utilized both optical and scanning electron microscopy tools. The eggs are elliptical and elongated, and color varies from cream white to yellowish. The larvae are apodal, hemichephalic and holopneustic, flattened dorso‐ventrally and may be recognized by the head elongated, dorsal and ventral chaetotaxy of the cephalic capsule, thoracic and abdominal segments, and the morphology of the anterior and posterior spiracles. The pupae are adecticous and coarctate, tegument dark brown and pruinescence varying from brown to golden. The overall morphology across instars is similar, but marked variations were observed in the shape of the antennal articuli and the shape of the setae (first instar compared to the others). Our results supplement the biological information on Hermetia illucens and should aid the proper identification and aging of juveniles in the field, as a way to minimize errors in the calculation of the post‐mortem interval.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Ti-Nb2O5 Catalysts for Discoloration Reaction of Bromophenol Blue and Indigo Carmine Dyes

Topics in Catalysis - This work investigated the photodegradation of bromophenol blue (BPB) and indigo carmine (IC) dye under UV–Visible light using pure oxides of titanium and niobium, as...     

Solidification microstructure-dependent hydrogen generation behavior of Al–Sn and Al–Fe alloys in alkaline medium

This work deals with the development of quantitative correlations of hydrogen evolution performance with solidification microstructural and thermal parameters in Al–1Sn, Al–2Sn, Al–1Fe, and Al-1.5Fe [wt.%] alloys. The cellular growth as a function of growth and cooling rates is evaluated using power type experimental laws, which allow determining representative intervals of microstructure length scale for comparison purposes with the results of immersion tests in 5 wt%NaOH solution. For both Al alloys systems, hydrogen evolution becomes slower as the alloy solute content increased. However, for a given alloy composition, whereas a more homogeneous distribution of Sn-rich particles promotes faster hydrogen generation using Al–Sn alloys, coarsening of Al₆Fe IMCs (intermetallic compounds) fibers favors hydrogen production using Al–Fe alloys. When solidification conditions that result in a range of cellular spacings within 16 and 19 μm are considered, the specific hydrogen production of the Al-1wt.%Fe alloy is higher than that of the other studied alloys.     

Effect of light,food additives and heat on the stability of sorghum 3-deoxyanthocyanins in model beverages

This work aimed to evaluate the stability of sorghum 3-deoxyanthocyanins (DXA) in model beverages (pH 3.5) elaborated with crude sorghum phenolic extract, containing ascorbic acid and sulphite, under fluorescent light exposure and subjected to heat treatment. There was no significant difference in the DXA degradation during storage under light exposure (24.16%) and absence of light (20.72%). DXA degradation did not differ in the presence of ascorbic acid during storage under light exposure (23.99–25.38%) and absence of light (19.87–21.74%). The addition of sulphite caused an initial bleaching reaction, but as a reversible reaction, the anthocyanin content was higher on the last day of storage compared to the first day. There were no significant differences in total anthocyanin content of all treatments subjected to the heat treatment (80 °C for 5 and 25 min). Thus, crude DXA are very stable under light, additives and heat, and may be useful as natural food colourants.     

Functionalized-radiolabeled hydroxyapatite/tenorite nanoparticles as theranostic agents for osteosarcoma

Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles (NPs) doped with different radioisotopes for use as theranostic systems play an important role in scientific research nowadays due to their ability to simultaneously act in the treatment and diagnosis of various types of cancers. In this work, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a hydroxyapatite/tenorite nanocomposite functionalized with folic acid, representing a nanotheranostic material with potential for application as an agent in positron emission tomography imaging systems and to act specifically in the treatment and diagnosis of osteosarcoma. ⁶⁴Cu and ³²P were produced by nuclear activation in the TRIGA reactor at CDTN. The obtained samples were characterized by XRD with Rietveld refinement, XAFS, SEM, BET, TGA, FTIR, CHN, ICP-AES, XPS and gamma spectroscopy. We investigated how CuO grows in HA NPs, the stability of the interactions between CuO and HA constituents and the interactions between folic acid and the surface of the HA NPs. The results indicate the formation of a second phase (tenorite) besides hydroxyapatite, and that the interactions between the two phases are stable, resulting in a nanocomposite. Furthermore, the activation of ⁶⁴Cu and ³²P inside the HA matrix, through the exposition to a neutron flux, produces a theranostic material of interest for biological tests.     

Microbiological,immunological, and histological changes in the gut of Salmonella Enteritidis-challenged rats fed goat cheese containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus EM1107

Cheeses are able to serve as suitable matrices for supplying probiotics to consumers, enabling appropriate conditions for bacteria to survive gastric transit and reach the gut, where they are assumed to promote beneficial processes. The present study aimed to evaluate the microbiological, immunological, and histological changes in the gut of Salmonella Enteritidis-challenged rats fed goat cheese supplemented with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus EM1107. Thirty male albino Wistar rats were randomly distributed into 5 experimental groups with 6 animals each: negative (NC) and positive (PtC) control groups, control goat cheese (CCh), goat cheese added with L. rhamnosus EM1107 (LrCh), and L. rhamnosus EM1107 only (EM1107). All animals, except NC group were challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis (10⁹ cfu in 1 mL of saline through oral gavage). Microbial composition was assessed with high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing by means of Illumina MiSeq (Illumina, San Diego, CA). Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) from the animal cecum tissue was determined by real-time PCR and interleukins (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, and IFN-γ) by means of ELISA. Myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde levels were determined biochemically. The administration of the L. rhamnosus EM1107 probiotic strain, either as a pure culture or added to a cheese matrix, was able to reduce Salmonella colonization in the intestinal lumen and lessen tissue damage compared with rats from PtC group. In addition, the use of cheese for the probiotic strain delivery (LrCh) was associated with a marked shift in the gut microbiota composition toward the increase of beneficial organisms such as Blautia and Lactobacillus and a reduction in NF-κB expression. These findings support our hypothesis that cheeses might be explored as functional matrices for the efficacious delivery of probiotic strains to consumers.     

Rapid Determination of the Amino Acid Configuration of Xenotetrapeptide

An E. coli strain with deletions in five transaminases (ΔaspC ΔilvE ΔtyrB ΔavtA ΔybfQ) was constructed to be unable to degrade several amino acids. This strain was used as an expression host for the analysis of the amino acid configuration of nonribosomally synthesized peptides, including the novel peptide “xenotetrapeptide” from Xenorhabdus nematophila, by using a combination of labeling experiments and mass spectrometry. Additionally, the number of D ‐amino acids in the produced peptide was assigned following simple cultivation of the expression strain in D₂O.     

Platelets: Still a Therapeutical Target for Haemostatic Disorders

Platelets are cytoplasmatic fragments from bone marrow megakaryocytes present in blood. In this work, we review the basis of platelet mechanisms, their participation in syndromes and in arterial thrombosis, and their potential as a target for designing new antithrombotic agents. The option of new biotechnological sources is also explored.