Differential Effects of Indole and Aliphatic Glucosinolates on Lepidopteran Herbivores

Glucosinolates are a diverse group of defensive secondary metabolites that is characteristic of the Brassicales. Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. (Brassicaceae) lines with mutations that greatly reduce abundance of indole glucosinolates (cyp79B2 cyp79B3), aliphatic glucosinolates (myb28 myb29), or both (cyp79B2 cyp79B3 myb28 myb29) make it possible to test the in vivo defensive function of these two major glucosinolate classes. In experiments with Lepidoptera that are not crucifer-feeding specialists, aliphatic and indole glucosinolates had an additive effect on Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larval growth, whereas Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Manduca sexta (L.) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) were affected only by the absence of aliphatic glucosinolates. In the case of two crucifer-feeding specialists, Pieris rapae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) and Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), there were no major changes in larval performance due to decreased aliphatic and/or indole glucosinolate content. Nevertheless, choice tests show that aliphatic and indole glucosinolates act in an additive manner to promote larval feeding of both species and P. rapae oviposition. Together, these results support the hypothesis that a diversity of glucosinolates is required to limit the growth of multiple insect herbivores.     

Factors determining the breastfeeding in children attending public and not-for-profit daycare centers in São Paulo, Brazil

Cross-sectional study with 270 children and their mothers in eight public and philanthropic daycare centers in the city of S?o Paulo, Brazil. The objective is to identify the determinants of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and breastfeeding (BF). The Mann-Whitney/ Wilcoxon test and survival analysis; Kaplan Meier curves and Cox multiple regression models were used for statistical analyses. The median of exclusive breastfeeding duration was 79.1 +/- 55.6 days and breastfeeding was 185.3 +/- 174.2 days. In multivariate analysis, the following risk factors of early weaning for exclusive breastfeeding were identified: pacifier use (HR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.24 to 2.2); previous hospital admission (HR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.80); mother working outside home (HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.76). For breastfeeding were identified: pacifier use (HR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.87 to 3.45) and mother who works outside the home (HR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.14-1.99). The results show that it is necessary to continue to promote and support breastfeeding, mainly the exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age. The daycare centers should incorporate this idea, once they may have direct control over some of the early weaning determinants, and are also good places to deliver messages and guidance on nutrition education to mothers and caregivers in contact with children under three years old.     

Synthesis, cytotoxicity, and COMPARE analysis of ferrocene and [3]ferrocenophane tetrasubstituted olefin derivatives against human cancer cells

Herein we report the antiproliferative effects of a series of 28 compounds against the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line, including the synthesis of seven new [3]ferrocenophanyl and four new ferrocenyl compounds. For each p-R-phenyl substitution pattern investigated, the [3]ferrocenophanyl derivatives were more cytotoxic than the corresponding ferrocenyl derivative, with the highest activity found for compounds with protic substituents. Theoretical calculations of the HOMO-LUMO gap for the molecules in the Fe3(+) oxidation state suggest a higher reactivity for the [3]ferrocenophanyl derivatives. A lead compound from each series, a [3]ferrocenophanyl and a ferrocenyl compound, possessing two phenol groups, were screened against the NCI/DTP 60-cell-line panel. The mean activity over all cell lines was better than cisplatin for both compounds, and both compounds showed subpanel selectivity for leukemia, CNS cancer, and renal cancer. Low systemic toxicity and lack of interaction with DNA (when in the reduced form), suggest that the compounds may act as prodrugs.     

Determination of Deep Frying Soybean Oil Disposal Point by a Sensory Method

Measurements of degradation in frying oils are mainly based on physico-chemical properties. Total polar compounds (TPC) and free fatty acids (FFA) content in frying oils are used as a guide for discarding used oils. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a sensory method in detecting degradation in soybean oils used in potato chips deep frying. The sensory evaluation of oil samples was determined by a trained panel; after rigorous selection and training steps. Free fatty acid, TPC and Rancimat induction period (IP) were quantified in the same samples. The proposed sensory method was sensitive to small differences in rancidity. The selected and trained sensory panel discarded oil samples with 0.175% FFA as oleic acid, 18.92% TPC, and 0.20 h IP. According to the results achieved in this research sensorial trained panel response is sensitive and accurate in refusing deteriorated frying oils. Besides this, soybean oil can be used for deep frying procedures and safely discarded according to the panel response, although presenting up to 7% linolenic acid.     

Nutritional Value of Seven Freshwater Fish Species From the Brazilian Pantanal

This study determined the proximate composition and fatty acid profile of the lipid fraction in muscle tissue (fillet) of seven fish species from the Miranda River, Brazil. Total lipid content had the largest coefficient of variation among species (73%), while protein content had the smallest (4.5%), allowing Pimelodus argenteus (mandi-prateado) to be categorized as lean fish; Pimelodus maculatus (mandi-amarelo), Hemisorubim platyrhynchos (jurupoca), and Pinirampus pirinampu (barbado) as species with medium fat content, and Paulicea luetkeni (jaú) and Surubim lima (jurupensém) as fatty fish. In all the species investigated, palmitic acid (23.76–25.99%) was the predominant saturated fatty acid. Oleic acid (16.09–32.90%) was the most abundant monounsaturated fatty acid. Total omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (5.99–15.56%) were the predominant polyunsaturated fatty acids, except in Ageneiosus brevifilis (palmito), in which total omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids predominated (10.30%). All the species had favorable indices of nutritional quality for total lipids, with respect to human consumption.     

Entrainer selection for the synthesis of fatty acid esters by Entrainer-based Reactive Distillation

In this research it is demonstrated that, due to the similarities between Entrainer-based Reactive Distillation and azeotropic distillation, the same selection rules can be applied to select a suitable entrainer. From a list of suitable entrainers for the azeotropic distillation of isopropanol and water, cyclohexane and isopropyl acetate are chosen. Residue curve maps, simulations of the distillation section of the column, and simulations of the total Entrainer-based Reactive Distillation concept show that both can be used as an entrainer in Entrainer-based Reactive Distillation. Whether the Entrainer-based Reactive Distillation concept will be feasible, depends strongly on the kinetics of the reaction.     

Transient gas–liquid mass transfer model for thin liquid films on structured solid packings

This paper describes a model for gas–liquid mass transfer through thin liquid films present on structured packings for gas–liquid operations under dispersed gas flow regime. The model has been derived for two cases: the absorption (or desorption) of a gaseous component into the liquid film and the transfer of the gaseous component through the liquid film to the packing surface where an infinitely fast reaction takes place. These cases have been solved for three bubble geometries: rectangular, cylindrical, and spherical. For Fourier numbers below 0.3, the model corresponds to Higbie’s penetration theory for both cases. The Sherwood numbers for cylindrical and spherical bubbles are 20% and 35% higher, respectively, than for rectangular bubbles. In case of absorption and Fourier numbers exceeding 3, the effect of bubble geometry becomes more pronounced. The Sherwood numbers for cylindrical and spherical bubbles now are 55% and 100% higher, respectively, than for rectangular bubbles. In case of an infinitely fast reaction at the packing surface, the Sherwood number corresponds to Whitman’s film theory (Sh=1$Sh=1$) for all bubble geometries. In this paper also practical approximations to the derived Sherwood numbers are presented. The approximations for both cases and all bubble geometries describe all the model data within an error of 4%. The application of the model has been demonstrated for three examples: (1) gas–liquid mass transfer for a structured packing; (2) gas–liquid mass transfer in a microchannel operated with annular flow; (3) gas–liquid mass transfer in a microchannel with Taylor flow.     

Analysis of Grain Boundary Character in a Fine-Grained Nickel-Based Superalloy 718

In the current work, sheets of superalloy 718 were processed via thermomechanical route by hot and cold rolling, followed by annealing below the δ phase solvus temperature and precipitation hardening to optimum strength. Grain boundary character distribution throughout the processing was mapped via EBSD and its evolution discussed. The results show that it is possible to process the alloy to a fine grain size obtaining concomitantly a considerably high proportion of special boundaries Σ3, Σ9, and Σ27. The precipitation of δ phase presented a strong grain refining role, without significantly impairing the twinning mechanism and, consequently, the Σ3, Σ9, and Σ27 boundary formations.     

Contributing to Understand the Crosstalk between Brain and Periphery in Methylmercury Intoxication: Neurotoxicity and Extracellular Vesicles

Human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) is currently high in regions such as the Amazon. Understanding the molecular changes associated with MeHg-induced neurotoxicity and the crosstalk with the periphery is essential to support early diagnoses. This work aimed to evaluate cellular and molecular changes associated with behavioral alterations in MeHg acute exposure and the possible changes in extracellular vesicles (EVs) number and S100β content. Adults male Wistar rats were orally treated with 5 mg/kg for four days. Behavioral performance, molecular and histological changes in the cerebellum, and plasma EVs were assessed. MeHg-intoxicated animals performed significantly worse in behavioral tests. MeHg increased the number of GFAP+ cells and GFAP and S100β mRNA expression in the cerebellum but no change in NeuN+ or IBA-1+ cells number was detected. The number of exosomes isolated from plasma were decreased by the metal. S100B mRNA was detected in circulating plasma EVs cargo in MeHg exposure. Though preliminary, our results suggest astrocytic reactivity is displaying a protective role once there was no neuronal death. Interestingly, the reduction in exosomes number could be a new mechanism associated with MeHg-induced neurotoxicity and plasma EVs could represent a source of future biomarkers in MeHg intoxication.     

Comparative Antiseizure Analysis of Diverse Natural Coumarin Derivatives in Zebrafish

Coumarins are a well-known group of plant secondary metabolites with various pharmacological activities, including antiseizure activity. In the search for new antiseizure drugs (ASDs) to treat epilepsy, it is yet unclear which types of coumarins are particularly interesting as a systematic analysis has not been reported. The current study performed behavioral antiseizure activity screening of 18 different coumarin derivatives in the larval zebrafish pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model using locomotor measurements. Activity was confirmed for seven compounds, which lowered seizure-like behavior as follows: oxypeucedanin 38%, oxypeucedanin hydrate 74%, notopterol 54%, nodakenetin 29%, hyuganin C 35%, daphnoretin 65%, and pimpinellin 60%. These coumarins, together with nodakenin, underwent further antiepileptiform analysis by local field potential recordings from the zebrafish opticum tectum (midbrain). All of them, except for nodakenetin, showed pronounced antiepileptiform activity, decreasing PTZ-induced elevation in power spectral density (PSD) by 83–89% for oxypeucedanin, oxypeucedanin hydrate, and notopterol, 77% for nodakenin, 26% for nodakenetin, 65% for hyuganin C, 88% for daphnoretin, and 81% for pimpinellin. These data demonstrate the potential of diverse coumarin scaffolds for ASD discovery. Finally, the structural differences between active and inactive coumarins were investigated in silico for oxypeucedanin hydrate and byacangelicin for their interaction with GABA-transaminase, a hypothetical target.