Photosensitized degradation in water of the phenolic pesticides bromoxynil and dichlorophen in the presence of riboflavin, as a model of their natural photodecomposition in the environment

Within the context of environmentally friendly methods for the elimination of surface-water pollutants, the photodegradation of the phenolic pesticides bromoxynil (BXN) and dichlorophen (DCP) under simulated natural conditions has been studied. The work was done in the presence of the visible-light absorber photosensitizer riboflavin (Rf), usually present in trace quantities in natural waters. Under aerobic conditions, an efficient photooxidation of both pesticides was observed. The relatively intricate photochemical mechanism involves pesticide and oxygen consumption and, to a lesser extent, Rf degradation. The kinetic and mechanistic study supports that both H(2)O(2) and singlet molecular oxygen, O(2)((1)Δ(g)), are involved in the process. Kinetic data for the O(2)((1)Δ(g))-mediated oxidation indicate that BXN and DCP are photodegraded with this species faster than the parent compound phenol, very frequently employed as a model for aquatic contaminants, likely due to their lower pK(a) values. This observation allows the design of phenolic pesticides with different photodegradation rates under environmental conditions.     

Multiresidue determination of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in honey by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography

An analytical procedure based on solid-phase extraction, using ethyl acetate as the elution solvent, and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence and diode array detection was developed for the identification and quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in honey. The method has been optimized and validated in accordance with Commission Regulation 333/2007 and Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. This method allows the identification of the 15 PAHs that should be monitored in food matrices, as proposed in 2002 by the Scientific Committee on Food and later by the European Union in the Commission Recommendation 2005/108/EC, because of their genotoxic and carcinogenic properties. The results of the validation study were in agreement with quality criteria described in European legislation in terms of sensitivity, accuracy, and ruggedness, and the method was applied to the analysis of 42 honey samples (21 from Spain and 21 from other regions). The honey samples were not contaminated by PAHs at detectable levels and thus could be marketed without health risk.     

Effect of slaughter season on fatty acid composition, conjugated linoleic acid isomers and nutritional value of intramuscular fat in Barrosã-PDO veal

This paper describes the influence of slaughter season on lipid content, fatty acid composition, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomeric profile and nutritional value of fat in Barrosã veal from calves reared according to the specifications of the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Barrosã purebred calves (n = 27) were raised in a traditional production system and slaughtered in early autumn (October) and late spring (June). Barrosã-PDO veal only presented seasonal differences in the levels of some minor fatty acids and CLA isomers, as well as in the PUFA/SFA ratio. Based on the analysed grass intake indicators, it was shown that veal-PDO has similar values to pasture-fed cattle for both slaughter seasons. From a human nutrition perspective, intramuscular fat in Barrosã-PDO veal has a high nutritional value throughout the year, since CLA contents and the percentages of the c9,t11 isomer are relatively high, and the n − 6/n − 3 ratios are within the recommended values for the human diet.     

Relevance of the Exocyst in Arabidopsis exo70e2 Mutant for Cellular Homeostasis under Stress

Plants must adapt to cope with adverse environmental conditions that affect their growth and development. To overcome these constraints, they can alter their developmental patterns by modulating cellular processes and activating stress-responsive signals. Alongside the activation of the antioxidant (AOX) system, a high number of genes are expressed, and proteins must be distributed to the correct locations within the cell. The endomembrane system and associated vesicles thus play an important role. Several pathways have been associated with adverse environmental conditions, which is the case for the exocyst-positive organelle—EXPO. The present work, using Arabidopsis mutants with T-DNA insertions in the gene EXO70, essential for EXPO vesicles formation, was designed to characterise the anatomical (morphology and root length), biochemical (quantification of stress markers and antioxidant system components), and molecular responses (gene expression) to abiotic stresses (saline, drought, oxidative, and metal-induced toxicity). The results obtained showed that mutant plants behave differently from the wild type (WT) plants. Therefore, in the exo70 mutant, morphological changes were more noticeable in plants under stress, and the non-enzymatic component of the antioxidant system was activated, with no alterations to the enzymatic component. Furthermore, other defence strategies, such as autophagy, did not show important changes. These results confirmed the EXPO as an important structure for tolerance/adaptation to stress.     

Unhealthy Diets Induce Distinct and Regional Effects on Intestinal Inflammatory Signalling Pathways and Long-Lasting Metabolic Dysfunction in Rats

The intestinal epithelium is a principal site for environmental agents’ detection. Several inflammation- and stress-related signalling pathways have been identified as key players in these processes. However, it is still unclear how the chronic intake of inadequate nutrients triggers inflammatory signalling pathways in different intestinal regions. We aimed to evaluate the impact of unhealthy dietary patterns, starting at a younger age, and the association with metabolic dysfunction, intestinal inflammatory response, and obesity in adulthood. A rat model was used to evaluate the effects of the consumption of sugary beverages (HSD) and a Western diet (WD), composed of ultra-processed foods. Both diets showed a positive correlation with adiposity index, but a positive correlation was found between the HSD diet and the levels of blood glucose and triglycerides, whereas the WD diet correlated positively with triglyceride levels. Moreover, a distinct inflammatory response was associated with either the WD or HSD diets. The WD induced an increase in TLR2, TLR4, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) intestinal gene expression, with higher levels in the colon and overexpression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase. In turn, the HSD diet induced activation of the TLR2-mediated NF-κB signalling pathway in the small intestine. Altogether, these findings support the concept that early intake of unhealthy foods and nutrients are a main exogenous signal for disturbances of intestinal immune mechanisms and in a region-specific manner, ultimately leading to obesity-related disorders in later life.     

Brown Adipose Tissue Sheds Extracellular Vesicles That Carry Potential Biomarkers of Metabolic and Thermogenesis Activity Which Are Affected by High Fat Diet Intervention

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a key target for the development of new therapies against obesity due to its role in promoting energy expenditure; BAT secretory capacity is emerging as an important contributor to systemic effects, in which BAT extracellular vesicles (EVs) (i.e., batosomes) might be protagonists. EVs have emerged as a relevant cellular communication system and carriers of disease biomarkers. Therefore, characterization of the protein cargo of batosomes might reveal their potential as biomarkers of the metabolic activity of BAT. In this study, we are the first to isolate batosomes from lean and obese Sprague–Dawley rats, and to establish reference proteome maps. An LC-SWATH/MS analysis was also performed for comparisons with EVs secreted by white adipose tissue (subcutaneous and visceral WAT), and it showed that 60% of proteins were exclusive to BAT EVs. Precisely, batosomes of lean animals contain proteins associated with mitochondria, lipid metabolism, the electron transport chain, and the beta-oxidation pathway, and their protein cargo profile is dramatically affected by high fat diet (HFD) intervention. Thus, in obesity, batosomes are enriched with proteins involved in signal transduction, cell communication, the immune response, inflammation, thermogenesis, and potential obesity biomarkers including UCP1, Glut1, MIF, and ceruloplasmin. In conclusion, the protein cargo of BAT EVs is affected by the metabolic status and contains potential biomarkers of thermogenesis activity.     

Updated safety analysis of ITER

An updated version of the ITER Preliminary Safety Report has been produced and submitted to the licensing authorities. It is revised and expanded in response to requests from the authorities after their review of an earlier version in 2008, to reflect enhancements in ITER safety provisions through design changes, to incorporate new and improved safety analyses and to take into account other ITER design evolution. The updated analyses show that changes to the Tokamak cooling water system design have enhanced confinement and reduced potential radiological releases as well as removing decay heat with very high reliability. New and updated accident scenario analyses, together with fire and explosion risk analyses, have shown that design provisions are sufficient to minimize the likelihood of accidents and reduce potential consequences to a very low level. Taken together, the improvements provided a stronger demonstration of the very good safety performance of the ITER design.     

Effects of Lysine and Methionine Fortification on Dough and Bread Characteristics

Wheat flour from the Hermosillo Hard Red Spring cultivar in Sonora, Mexico was fortified with various levels of lysine and methionine. The effects of added amino acids on the rheological properties were measured by the Brabender Farinograph and the Chopin Alveograph. Nutritional characteristics were measured by Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER). Dough development and stability times were not significantly different between control and fortified flours. Water absorption and Alveograph results indicated differences between samples. PERs were significantly improved by fortification. Overall bread acceptability was not significantly different from unfortified samples.     

The relationship between advisors and students

Considering the influence of graduation courses on the scientific productivity in Brazil, fifty productive Brazilian scientists working in life sciences were interviewed about their relationship with their advisors and their own experience with their students. Admired by freedom and intellectual qualities, by their love and dedication for science, advisors seem to have had a deep influence on their students. This bond is not free from either an idealized frame or from some complaints and conflicts. Interviewed scientists see in themselves lesser qualities and faults but the same respect for freedom. Some students are thought to be specially important to the interviewed's productivity. Eldest and most productive scientists seem to be intellectually more impressed by their advisors than the other groups. The emotional and sometimes strong and idealized bond between advisor and students lead us to believe that the stated frequencies of conflicts might be underestimated.