Universidade Estadual de Londrina

About: Universidade Estadual de Londrina is a education organization based out in Londrina, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Toxoplasma gondii. The organization has 13052 authors who have published 19291 publications receiving 212123 citations.

Consumer attitudes and preferences regarding pale, soft, and exudative broiler breast meat

Abstract: SUMMARY The objective of this work was to assess the perceptions of Brazilian consumers regarding the color and drip loss of fresh pale, soft, and exudative (PSE) broiler breast fillet meat at the point of sale and subsequently in cooked samples, and to assess its acceptance by panelists. The abnormal fillet samples (PSE meat) were characterized by pH 5.61 and a lightness (L*) value of 59.26, compared with control samples with pH 5.96 and an L* value of 49.24, respectively (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, the water-holding capacity of control samples was 14.50% higher, cooking loss was 30.92% lower, and shear force was 65.41% lower than those values in the PSE samples. The PSE samples were identified by consumers as paler, and consumers preferred the control samples. Among the attributes of cooked samples, such as tenderness, flavor, and juiciness, only flavor was significantly different (P ≤ 0.05), and control samples had higher consumer acceptance values (P ≤ 0.05).

Leite cru de quatro regiões leiteiras brasileiras: perspectivas de atendimento dos requisitos microbiológicos estabelecidos pela Instrução Normativa 51

Abstract: Evidencias que o leite produzido e consumido no Brasil nem sempre apresenta a qualidade desejada tem gerado a discussao e desenvolvimento de novas politicas de incentivo a producao leiteira, resultando no desenvolvimento do Programa Nacional de Melhoria da Qualidade do Leite. Em complementacao, em 2002 o Ministerio da Agricultura publicou a Instrucao Normativa 51 (IN51), com importantes inovacoes em relacao a conservacao e transporte do leite cru, alem de estabelecimento de um padrao de qualidade para esse tipo de leite (106 UFC/mL), a ser implantado em diferentes prazos nas diferentes regioes do pais, a partir de 2005. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar se o leite cru produzido em quatro areas de quatro estados produtores de leite no Brasil estaria, nesse momento, em condicoes de cumprir o estabelecido na IN 51, especialmente quanto ao atendimento dos padroes microbiologicos previstos. Amostras de leite cru, coletadas em 210 diferentes propriedades nas regioes de Vicosa, MG (47), Pelotas, RS (50), Londrina, PR (63) e Botucatu, SP (50), foram analisadas quanto aos niveis de contaminacao por aerobios mesofilos, utilizando o PetrifilmTM AC. Parcela significativa das amostras (48,6%) apresentaram contagens acima do determinado pela IN51, sendo 21,3% na regiao de Vicosa (MG), 56,0% na regiao de Pelotas (RS), 47,6% na regiao de Londrina (PR) e 68,0% na regiao de Botucatu (SP). Considerando as diferencas de cada regiao, foi possivel observar a importância da refrigeracao na conservacao e transporte da producao, bem como da implantacao de boas praticas e assistencia tecnica nas propriedades. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que a adequacao as normas estabelecidas pela IN51 pode ser mais dificil em algumas regioes do que em outras, sendo fundamental a adocao da refrigeracao na conservacao e no transporte da producao, e de programas regionais de assistencia a produtores leiteiros.

Avaliação muscular respiratória nas toracotomias e laparotomias superiores eletivas

Abstract: OBJETIVO: Verificar se existe associacao entre a funcao muscular respiratoria pre-operatoria abaixo dos valores previstos e a incidencia de complicacoes pos-operatorias e o obito, nas laparotomias superiores e toracotomias eletivas. METODOS: Estudo de coorte prospectivo, no qual 70 pacientes acima de dezoito anos foram acompanhados, em dois hospitais similares. A avaliacao durante a internacao pre-operatoria classificou-os em nao expostos (50) ou expostos (20), estes quando os valores das pressoes respiratorias maximas foram abaixo de 75% dos valores previstos. O acompanhamento foi feito ate a alta hospitalar, verificando-se a incidencia de pneumonia, insuficiencia respiratoria aguda, broncoespasmo, ventilacao mecânica prolongada, atelectasia, derrame pleural, pneumotorax e obito nos dois grupos. Realizou-se analise comparativa entre os grupos e calculo do risco relativo. RESULTADOS: A incidencia total de complicacoes pos-operatorias da amostra foi de 22,86% (16/70); no grupo exposto foi de 55% (11/20) e no grupo nao exposto de 10% (5/50). Os pacientes expostos apresentaram risco relativo de 5,5 (intervalo de confianca de 95% entre 2,19 e 13,82). CONCLUSAO: Os resultados indicaram que a funcao muscular respiratoria pre-operatoria abaixo do valor previsto esteve associada a um risco relativo maior de complicacoes pos-operatorias nas cirurgias pesquisadas.

Towards a new model and classification of mood disorders based on risk resilience, neuro-affective toxicity, staging, and phenome features using the nomothetic network psychiatry approach.

Abstract: Current diagnoses of mood disorders are not cross validated. The aim of the current paper is to explain how machine learning techniques can be used to a) construct a model which ensembles risk/resilience (R/R), adverse outcome pathways (AOPs), staging, and the phenome of mood disorders, and b) disclose new classes based on these feature sets. This study was conducted using data of 67 healthy controls and 105 mood disordered patients. The R/R ratio, assessed as a combination of the paraoxonase 1 (PON1) gene, PON1 enzymatic activity, and early life time trauma (ELT), predicted the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol - paraoxonase 1 complex (HDL-PON1), reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), nitro-oxidative stress toxicity (NOSTOX), staging (number of depression and hypomanic episodes and suicidal attempts), and phenome (the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety scores and the Clinical Global Impression; current suicidal ideation; quality of life and disability measurements) scores. Partial Least Squares pathway analysis showed that 44.2% of the variance in the phenome was explained by ELT, RONS/NOSTOX, and staging scores. Cluster analysis conducted on all those feature sets discovered two distinct patient clusters, namely 69.5% of the patients were allocated to a class with high R/R, RONS/NOSTOX, staging, and phenome scores, and 30.5% to a class with increased staging and phenome scores. This classification cut across the bipolar (BP1/BP2) and major depression disorder classification and was more distinctive than the latter classifications. We constructed a nomothetic network model which reunited all features of mood disorders into a mechanistically transdiagnostic model.

Effects of copper oxide nanoparticles on growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seedlings and possible implications of nitric oxide in their antioxidative defense

Abstract: Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) have been extensively explored for use in agriculture. Previous studies have indicated that application of CuO NPs might be promising for development and conservation of plants, pest control, and for the recovery of degraded soils. However, depending on the applied concentration copper can cause phytotoxic effects. In this work, biosynthesized CuO NPs (using green tea extract) were evaluated on their effects on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seedling growth, which were exposed at concentrations ranged between 0.2 and 300 μg mL−1. From the biosynthesized were obtained ultra-small CuO NPs (~ 6.6 nm), with high stability in aqueous suspension. Toxicity bioassays have shown that at low concentrations (up to 40 μg mL−1), CuO NPs did not affect or even enhanced the seed germination. At higher concentrations (higher than 40 μg mL−1), inhibition of seed germination and radicle growth ranging from 35 to 75% was observed. With the increase of CuO NPs concentrations, nitrite and S-nitrosothiols levels in radicles increased, whereas superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant activities decreased. The nitrite and S-nitrosothiols levels in lettuce radicles showed a direct dose response to CuO NP application, which may indicate nitric oxide-dependent signaling pathways in the plant responses. Therefore, the results demonstrated that at low concentrations (≤ 20 μg mL−1) of CuO NPs, beneficial effects are obtained from seedlings, enhancing plant growth, and the involvement of nitric oxide signaling in the phytotoxic effects induced by high concentration of this formulation.