Abstract Antioxidants present in many fruit residues can play an essential role in the prevention of diseases. The aim of this study was to determine nutritional and mineral composition, fatty acids profile, anti-nutrients, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity and technological properties of flour from residues generated by umbu fruit processing. Nutritional composition showed high levels of dietary fiber, especially insoluble fiber (56.67%). The flour can be classified as a good source of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, and an excellent source of iron, zinc and copper. Palmitic and stearic saturated fatty acids and oleic and linoleic unsaturated fatty acids were identified. No potentially toxic substances were detected. Significant values of ascorbic acid (44.78 mg/100g), carotenoids (463.73 µg/100g) and flavonoids (37.85 mg QE/100g) were found, as well as very high levels of phenolic compounds (20357.26 mg GAE/100g). Strong antioxidant activity was detected in the flour by three methods (ABTS, DPPH and FRAP) demonstrating a linear positive correlation between phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The flour showed high absorption of water, oil, emulsifying capacity and emulsion stability presenting a great potential for use in foods, especially meat, bakery and dairy products. These results indicate promising prospects to full use of umbu as a functional ingredient.

Abstract Providencia stuartii is one of the Enterobacteriaceae species of medical importance commonly associated with urinary infections, which can also cause other ones, including uncommon ones, such as liver abscess and septic vasculitis. This bacterium stands out in the expression of intrinsic and acquired resistance to antimicrobials. Besides, it uses mechanisms such as biofilm for its persistence in biotic and abiotic environments. This study investigated the cellular hydrophobicity profile of clinical isolates of P. stuartii. It also analyzed genes related to the fimbrial adhesin in this species comparing with other reports described for other bacteria from Enterobacteriaceae family. The investigated isolates to form biofilm and had a practically hydrophilic cell surface profile. However, fimH and mrkD genes were not found in P. stuartii, unlike observed in other species of Enterobacteriaceae. These results show that P. stuartii has specificities regarding its potential for biofilm formation, which makes it difficult to destabilize the infectious process and increases the permanence of this pathogen in hospital units.

RESUMO Os escorpiões de interesse médico no Brasil pertencem ao gênero Tityus. Dentre eles, Tityus stigmurus é o principal responsável por picadas de escorpião na região Nordeste. Após uma picada, a peçonha de escorpião se distribui rapidamente para os órgãos, atingindo os rins depressa. Entretanto, há poucos trabalhos sobre fisiopatologia renal do envenenamento por escorpiões. Neste trabalho, avaliamos os efeitos da peçonha de T. stigmurus (TsV) sobre parâmetros renais em rins de ratos isolados. Ratos Wistar (n = 6), pesando 250-300 g, foram perfundidos com solução de Krebs-Henseleit contendo 6 g/100 mL de albumina de soro bovino. TsV nas concentrações de 0,3 e 1,0 μg/mL foi testado e os efeitos sobre a pressão de perfusão (PP), resistência vascular renal (RVR), fluxo urinário (FU), taxa de filtração glomerular (TFG) e excreção de eletrólitos foram analisados. Apenas na concentração de 1,0 μg/mL de TsV foram observados efeitos que aumentaram PP (controlePP40' = 92,7 ± 1,95; TsVPP40' = 182,0 ± 4,70 mmHg*, *p < 0,05), RVR (controleRVR40' = 3,28 ± 0,23 mmHg; TstRVR40' = 6,76 ± 0,45 mmHg*, *p < 0,05), FU (controleFU50' = 0,16 ± 0,04; TstFU50' = 0,60 ± 0,10 mL/g/min*, *p < 0,05), a TFG e excreção de eletrólitos, com alterações histológicas que indicam de lesão renal tubular. Em conclusão, peçonha de T. stigmurus induz um aumento transiente da PP com lesão tubular, ambos os quais conduzem a uma excreção elevada de eletrólitos.

ABSTRACT Scorpions belonging to the Tityus genus are of medical interest in Brazil. Among them, Tityus stigmurus is the main scorpion responsible for stings in the Northeast region. After a sting, the scorpion venom distributes rapidly to the organs, reaching the kidneys quickly. However, there are few studies concerning the renal pathophysiology of scorpion poisoning. In this study, we evaluated the effects of T. stigmurus venom (TsV) on renal parameters in isolated rat kidneys. Wistar rats (n = 6), weighing 250-300 g, were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution containing 6 g/100 mL bovine serum albumin. TsV at 0.3 and 1.0 μg/mL was tested, and the effects on perfusion pressure (PP), renal vascular resistance (RVR), urinary flow (UF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and electrolyte excretion were analyzed. Effects were observed only at TsV concentration of 1.0 μg/mL, which increased PP (controlPP40' = 92.7 ± 1.95; TsVPP40' = 182.0 ± 4.70* mmHg, *p < 0.05), RVR (controlRVR40' = 3.28 ± 0.23 mmHg; TstRVR40' = 6.76 ± 0.45* mmHg, *p < 0.05), UF (controlUF50' = 0.16 ± 0.04; TstUF50' = 0.60 ± 0.10* mL/g/min,*p < 0.05), GFR and electrolyte excretion, with histological changes that indicate renal tubular injury. In conclusion, T. stigmurus venom induces a transient increase in PP with tubular injury, both of which lead to an augmented electrolyte excretion.

Avaliou-se o efeito de óleos essenciais e extratos vegetais no controle da podridão mole em alface, bem como, a influência desses produtos nas características físico-químicas desta hortaliça. Nos testes in vitro, discos de papel de filtro foram embebidos em 11 óleos essenciais e 20 extratos vegetais nas concentrações 0,0; 0,25; 0,50; 0,75 e 1% e 0,0; 10, 40, 70 e 100%, respectivamente, e depositados sobre meio de cultura contendo Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc A1). Os halos de inibição foram mensurados após 24 e 48 h de incubação. Em casa de vegetação, plantas de alface cv. Veneranda foram tratadas com 11 óleos nas concentrações de 0,5 e 1%, 20 extratos na concentração de 10% e Mycoshield® (3 g L-1), sendo inoculadas com o isolado Pcc A1 após 72 h. A severidade da doença foi avaliada a intervalos de seis até 48 h, calculando-se a área abaixo da curva de progresso da doença (AACPD). Em experimento similar, plantas tratadas com óleo de Corymbia citriodora, sete extratos e Mycoshield® foram analisadas quanto aos teores de sólidos solúveis, vitamina C, acidez titulável e pH. Pcc A1 não foi inibido in vitro. Dois óleos (C. citriodora e Citrus sinensis) e sete extratos (Parkinsonia aculeata, Chamaecrista cytisoides, Sida galherensis, Polygala violaceae, Chamaecrista desvauxii e Pityrocarpa moniliformis) reduziram significativamente a severidade da doença em relação à testemunha, não diferindo do controle Mycoshield®. Já a AACPD foi reduzida por oito óleos e dez extratos. Destacaram-se com eficiência similar ao Mycoshield® e diferindo da testemunha (7,5 e 132,3) nas duas variáveis analisadas, o óleo de C. citriodora a 0,5% e o extrato de S. galherensis a 10% com severidades de 3,6 e 3,5 e AACPD de 83,35 e 88,25, respectivamente. Os teores de vitamina C, acidez titulável e pH não foram alterados em folhas de alface tratadas com óleo de C. citriodora e extratos de P. aculeata e C. cytisoides.

The effect of oils and plant extracts was evaluated for controlling soft rot in lettuce and assessed the influence of these products in physico-chemical characteristics of this vegetable. In the in vitro tests, filter paper discs were soaked in eleven essential oils (0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1%) and twenty plant extracts (10, 40, 70 and 100%) being deposited on a culture medium containing Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (strain Pcc A1). The zones of inhibition were measured after 24 and 48 h of incubation. In the greenhouse, plants of cv. Veneranda were treated with eleven oils (0.5 and 1%), twenty extracts (10%) and Mycoshield® (3 g L-1) and after 72 h were inoculated with Pcc A1. We evaluated the disease severity with an interval of six hours until 48 h, and the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was calculated. In a similar experiment plants treated with Corymbia citriodora oil, seven plant extracts and Mycoshield® were analyzed for soluble solids, vitamin C, acidity and pH. Strain Pcc A1 was not inhibited in vitro. Two oils (C. citriodora and C. sinensis) and seven extracts (Parkinsonia aculeata, Chamaecrista cytisoides, Sida galherensis, Polygala violaceae, C. desvauxii and Pityrocarpa moniliformis) significantly reduced disease severity in comparison to control, without differing from Mycoshield®. On the other hand AACPD was reduced by eight oils and ten extracts. It is worth to notice that severity and AUDPC were reduced by eucalyptus oil at 0.5% (3.6, 83.35) and by the extract of S. galherensis (3.5, 88.25) with the same efficiency as Mycoshield® when compared to control (7.5, 132.3). The levels of vitamin C, acidity and pH were not altered in leaves of lettuce treated with eucalyptus oil and extracts of P. aculeata and C. cytisoides.

Uma nova linha de borracha nitrílica pré-plastificada em óleo vegetal (Nitrigreen) com médio-alto teor de acrilonitrila (33%) foi especialmente desenvolvida pela empresa Nitriflex S/A Ind. Com., para suprir as necessidades do mercado de borracha. A Nitrigreen é um produto que está de acordo com a diretiva européia 2005/84/EC, pois utiliza um plastificante de fonte renovável. Esta borracha tem efeito superior na redução da viscosidade Mooney do composto formulado quando comprado com as borrachas pré-plastificadas com dioctil ftalato (DOP). Além da facilidade de processamento, a Nitrigreen tem compatibilidade com os aditivos de vulcanização, podendo ser utilizada em formulações de artefatos de baixa dureza, como brinquedos, cilindros gráficos e artigos técnicos. A nova borracha nitrílica pré-plastificada com 50 partes de plastificante vegetal reduz sensivelmente o tempo de vulcanização dos compostos, tem excelente processabilidade, baixo consumo de energia, facilidade na incorporação de aditivos, principalmente cargas reforçadoras como o negro de fumo, além de manter as propriedades mecânicas semelhantes à da borracha pré-plastificada com DOP.

New vegetable oil pre-plasticized rubbers (Nitrigreen) with 33% of acrilonitrile were especially developed by Nitriflex to supply the rubber market necessities. Nitrigreen complies with European regulation 2005/84/EC as it uses a plasticizer from renewable source. This rubber has superior effect in the Mooney viscosity reduction compared with usual plasticizer such as phthalates. In addition to the ease of processing, Nitigreen is compatible with vulcanization additives and may be used in low hardness products, including toys, cylinders and technical parts. This new pre-plasticized nitrile rubber with 50 phr of plasticizer has excellent processability, low consumption of energy, and facilitates incorporation of additives, especially reinforcing loadings such as carbon black. The mechanical properties of this rubber are slightly superior to those of a rubber containing DOP.