A bioaccessibility test with raw and cooked lamb meat samples was performed. The evaluated cooking devices were grill, microwave oven, air fryer, pressure cooker, and electric oven. Physicochemical parameters and the total mass fraction of Cu, Fe, K, Mg, P, and Zn were determined in raw and cooked samples by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). The trueness was evaluated using certified reference materials, with recoveries from 87 to 101%. The pressure cooking presented the major changes, including the highest values of internal temperature, loss of inorganic elements after cooking, and the lowest values of moisture and analyte mass fractions. An in vitro gastrointestinal simulation was performed, and the method was validated by an addition and recovery test, in which the trueness varied from 87 to 115%. The bioaccessibility ranged between 28-56, 4-19, 68-76, 41-54, 48-57, and 1-21% for Cu, Fe, K, Mg, P, and Zn, respectively. The cooking methods promoted changes in the meat samples, thus affecting the bioaccessibility of the nutrients. Based on the recommended dietary intake (RDI) calculation, lamb meat can be considered a good Fe, P, and Zn source.

ABSTRACT Paracoccidioides species cause paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a systemic mycosis highly prevalent in Brazil. Therapy of PCM has some issues that make studies for new therapeutic and vaccine targets relevant, such as the P. brasiliensis 60-kDa-heat-shock protein (PbHsp60), an immunogenic antigen that induces protection in experimental mice infection. Here, we investigated the relative expression of mRNA for PbHsp60 in P. brasiliensis in the different morphotypes of P. brasiliensis and in morphological transition phases. In addition, antibodies to rPbHsp60 were produced and used to analyze the location of PbHsp60 in yeast and hyphae by electron microscopy. The analyses showed a substantial increase in the relative amounts of HSP60 mRNA in yeast when compared to mycelium and an intermediate expression in transitional forms. Regarding the cell location, immunoelectron microscopy analysis revealed that PbHsp60 is within the cell wall. These observations suggest that this protein may be involved in the maintenance of the cell wall integrity and the interaction with the host for colonization, infection and pathogenesis.

RESUMO O bagaço de cana-de-açúcar pode ser utilizado como suporte sólido para cultivo de microrganismos, e apesar de fundamental, o monitoramento da umidade em tempo real nesses processos ainda é pouco pesquisado. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo propor e validar a TDR para estimar a umidade em bagaço de cana-de-açúcar, visando a seu uso como suporte para cultivo em estado sólido, considerando a produção de ácido cítrico. A sonda de TDR proposta foi analisada fisicamente, e, posteriormente, para a validação dos resultados, realizou-se uma calibração com leituras da constante dielétrica do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar até à saturação do material, os quais foram comparados com o método-padrão e equação universal de Topp. Também, foram conduzidas em colunas de leito fixo preenchidas com bagaço a 80% de umidade, com monitoramento da umidade através de sonda de TDR para validar a técnica. Pôde-se verificar que existe viabilidade no uso da técnica da TDR para estimar a umidade volumétrica, e com o auxílio de ferramentas gráficas e regressão linear, foi proposta a equação de calibração: (θ= 0,0253*Ka - 0,0025). Com isso, pode-se controlar e monitorar in situ a umidade do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar, através da técnica da TDR.

ABSTRACT Bagasse sugarcane can be used as a solid substrate for microorganism cultivation. Despite fundamental, moisture real-time monitoring of these processes is still poorly investigated. Thus, this study aimed at developing and validating a TDR probe to estimate moisture in sugarcane bagasse, which is used as cultivation mean of microorganisms considering citric acid production. The proposed probe was physically evaluated and then used to validate the results. Calibration readings of the bagasse dielectric constant were taken up to its saturation, and subsequently compared to standard method and Topp's universal equation. In addition, we carried out studies in fixed-bed columns filled with bagasse at 80% moisture, monitoring its moisture through TDR probe, so we could validate the technique. We concluded such technique feasibility to estimate water content. Furthermore, we proposed a calibration equation using graphical tools and linear regression (θ = 0.0253 * Ka - 0.0025). As a result, we could then control and monitor bagasse sugarcane moisture in situ by the TDR technique.

Em meios para crescimento de plantas deficientes em cargas negativas, o potássio (K) é facilmente lixiviado com conseqü ências adversas quanto a sua disponibilidade para as plantas e para o meio ambiente, uma vez que todos os fertilizantes a base de K são completamente solúveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi preparar filmes a partir da carboximetilcelulose de sódio (CMC), alginato de sódio (AS) e da mistura 1:1 (v/v) CMC:AS para incorporação de K e investigar a sua posterior liberação. As propriedades do filmes foram avaliadas considerando a miscibilidade, a temperatura de transição vítrea, morfologia e permeação de potássio. A ausência de interações fortes, a pequena variação na temperatura de transição vítrea e a rugosidade detectada nas micrografias da secção transversal em filmes da mistura CMC:AS (1:1), indicaram miscibilidade parcial entre os componentes. Como conseqü ência das características acima mencionadas, a liberação de potássio foi maior em filmes da mistura CMC:AS (1:1) e menor para a AS. O mecanismo de liberação de K da mistura CMC:AS (1:1) foi controlada por um processo de difusão, no entanto, efeitos associados ao intumescimento e erosão da matriz, foram observados para os sistemas CMC e AS puros. Filmes de CMC, AS e a mistura (1:1) foram capazes de reduzir a velocidade de liberação de K, podendo trazer benefícios consideráveis em termos do crescimento das plantas quando são utilizados meios deficientes em cargas negativas.

In plant growth media of low negative charge, potassium (K) is leached out easily with adverse consequences on its availability to plants and on the environment, since all K fertilizers are completely soluble. The objective of this study was to prepare films based on sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), sodium alginate (SA) and a 1:1 (v/v) CMC:SA mixture to incorporate K and investigate its subsequent release. The film properties were evaluated considering miscibility, glass transition temperature, morphology and permeation of potassium. The absence of strong interactions, the small variation in the glass transition temperature and the roughness detected in the cross-section micrographs of the 1:1 CMC:SA mixtures, indicated a partial miscibility among the components. As a consequence of the above-mentioned characteristics, film release of potassium was highest for the 1:1 CMC:SA mixture and lowest for SA. The release mechanism of K from the 1:1 CMC:SA mixture was controlled by a diffusion process, however, associated effects due to swelling and erosion of the matrix films, were observed for the pure CMC and SA systems. Films of CMC, SA and their 1:1 mixture were able to delay the K release, which can bring considerable benefits in terms of plant growth when media with low negative charges are used.

Films of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate and their mixture were evaluated in terms of interactions between the polymers, morphology, water absorption and application as seed coatings. FTIR analysis suggested that only hydrophobic interactions occurred between the polymers. The coating of bean seeds was confirmed by microscopy, indicating the formation of dense and homogeneous films with 7 μm thickness. The obtained films did not affect the germination capacity of the seeds. In summary, the characteristics and properties of the films formed and the water absorption capacity, indicate that these systems are viable for use in seed coating processes.