Analysis of drying kinetic of brewer ́s spent grains: effect of the temperature on the physical properties and the content of bioactive compounds / Análisis de la cinética de secado del bagazo residual de malta: efecto de la temperatura sobre las propiedades físicas y el contenido de compuestos bioactivos

Background: Brewer ́s spent grain (BSG) is a biomass by-product generated in large volumes during industrial beer production. BSG has become a growing environmental problem, as most breweries discard it inappropriately, negatively impacting the environment. Alternatives for the exploitation of this by-product have consisted of elaborating food supplements for farm animals, obtaining biofuels, developing adsorbents, and obtaining substances for the food industry. However, the high moisture content in BSG (approximately 70%), poses a significant challenge in exploring various reuse alternatives. Therefore, the implementation of a pre-drying process becomes essential. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the BSG drying kinetics at different temperatures and the effect of the drying temperature on the physical properties and the content of bioactive compounds. Methods: BSG samples were dried at different temperatures (50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 105°C) and analyzed for their moisture ratio, water activity, total polyphenol content (TPC), and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil) radical scavenging activity. Also, four kinetics models were fitted to the drying data. Results:It was determined that the effective diffusivity was between 5.23x10

Antecedentes: El Bagazo residual de malta (BSG por sus siglas en inglés) es un subproducto biomásico generado en grandes volúmenes durante la producción industrial de cerveza. El BSG se ha convertido en un creciente problema para el medio ambiente, debido a que la mayoría de las cervecerías descartan inapropiadamente este residuo generando un impacto negativo al ambiente. Las alternativas para el aprovechamiento de este subproducto han consistido especialmente en la elaboración de suplementos alimenticios para animales de granja, obtención de biocombustibles, desarrollo de adsorbentes y obtención de productos para la industria alimentaria. Sin embargo, el alto contenido de humedad (~70%) del BSG representa un reto para el desarrollo de diferentes alternativas de reutilización, por lo que se hace necesario un proceso de secado previo. Objetivos: En este estudio se analizó la cinética de secado del BSG a diferentes temperaturas y el efecto de la temperatura de secado sobre sus propiedades físicas y contenido de compuestos bioactivos. Métodos: Las muestras de BSG fueron secadas a diferentes temperaturas (50, 60, 70, 80, 90 y 105°C) y analizadas en términos de razón de humedad, actividad acuosa, contenido de polifenoles totales (TPC) y actividad secuestradora del radical DPPH. Además, se ajustaron 4 modelos cinéticos a los datos de secado. Resultados: Se determinó que la difusividad efectiva del BSG varió entre 5.23x10

Bioactive Compounds from Mangosteen Fruit Peels (Garcinia mangostana L.) and Assessment of their Antioxidant Potential

The aim of this study was to quantify the bioactive compounds in mangosteen fruit peels and assess their antioxidant activity. Peels from washed mature fruits of Garcinia mangostana (L.) were dried, crushed, and sieved, and the bioactive compounds were extracted using distilled water and ethanol 70%, and quantified. The antioxidant potential of the different extracts was assessed through their DPPH scavenging activity, iron reducing power, and total antioxidant capacity. Results showed that ethanol at 70% extracted more bioactive compounds compared to water. Total polyphenols content of 57.19 mg GAE/g DM, flavonoids of 35.06 mg QE/g DM, alkaloids of 4.49 mg QuiE/g DM, and vitamin C of 1.42 mg/100g DM were obtained from hydroethanolic (ethanol 70%) extract. As expected, the highest percentage of scavenging DPPH radical (85.98%) was recorded with hydroethanolic extract compared to the aqueous one (44.66%). Similar behaviors were noticed with the hydroethanolic extract regarding the iron-reducing capacity and the total antioxidant capacity. Thus, justifying the positive correlations obtained between bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities although significant (p<0.05) between alkaloids and DPPH scavenging activity. Mangosteen peels is a good source of bioactive compounds that might be potentially used for food preservation and the management/prevention of cardio-metabolic diseases.

Reutilization of waste fungal biomass for concomitant production of proteochitinolytic enzymes and their catalytic products by Alcaligenes faecalis SK10

Fungal biomass, being organic waste, could be an excellent source of protein, carbohydrate and minerals. However, it has not been exploited fully until now. Efficient management of this waste can not only address the environmental impact on its disposal but also yield value-added metabolites. In the present study, in order to explore its potential, we subjected dead fungal biomass of Aspergillus niger SKN1 as substrate for both fermentative and enzymatic biodegradation, respectively by potent proteo-chitinolytic bacteria Alcaligenes faecalis SK10 and its enzyme cocktail. The results revealed that reasonable amount of protease and chitinase could be biosynthesized by the fermentative mode of utilization, while a mixture of amino acid, peptides and low-molecular weight amino-sugar (mono and oligomeric form of N-acetylglucosamine) could be generated through enzymatic hydrolysis. The physicochemical condition of both the bioprocess was subsequently optimized through statistical approach. The projected utilization of waste zero-valued fungal biomass offer a sustainable and environmentally sound method for production of microbial metabolites and large scale execution of the same could be proficient and in tune with the principle of circular economy.

Microbial ex situ preservation supporting science and bioeconomy in Brazil / Preservação de microrganismos ex situ como suporte para a ciência e a bioeconomia no Brasil

Abstract One of the texts in the "Biodiversity in the State of São Paulo" series, within the FAPESP-Biota Program, was dedicated to the Infrastructure for Biodiversity Conservation, with a focus on Biological Collections and Conservation Units. From the early 1960s, when FAPESP was established, to the present day, financial resources have been invested in the preservation of the biodiversity of the national genetic heritage, besides other fields. History of years of advances in scientific knowledge was built, which can be portrayed through the projects that resulted in high-quality data of national and international impact. Microbiological collections are centers that generate technology and specialized human resources, and act (among other things) as living repositories preserving reference material and as witnesses to the history of microbial biodiversity because they preserve what may no longer exist. They have enormous potential to promote the global bioeconomy and address problems that have resulted from the misuse of natural resources. This reading brings everyone the history, advances, and future perspectives of culture collections, within the efforts of 60-year scientific activities in Brazil.

Resumo Um dos textos da série "Biodiversidade do Estado de São Paulo", dentro do Programa FAPESP-Biota, foi dedicado à Infraestrutura para Conservação da Biodiversidade, com foco nas coleções biológicas e nas unidades de conservação. Do início dos anos 60, quando a FAPESP foi criada, até os dias atuais muito foi investido em pesquisa nas mais diversas áreas, incluindo a preservação da biodiversidade do patrimônio genético nacional. Uma história de longos anos de avanços no conhecimento científico foi construída, a qual pode ser retratada através dos projetos que resultaram em dados de alta qualidade com impacto nacional e internacional. As coleções microbiológicas são centros geradores de tecnologia e recursos humanos especializados, que atuam (dentre outros) como repositórios vivos, preservando material de referência, e como testemunho da história da biodiversidade microbiana, preservando o que pode não mais existir. Possuem enorme potencial para alavancar a bioeconomia global e tratar de problemas que resultaram do mau uso dos recursos naturais. Essa leitura traz a todos o histórico, os avanços e as perspectivas futuras das coleções de microrganismos, dentro dos esforços de 60 anos de atividades científicas no Brasil.

Retos para las spin-off académicas en México como resultado de la valorización económica de I+D+i de las universidades / Challenges for the academic spin-offs in Mexico as a result of the economic valorization of RD & I from the universities

Resumen El modelo de valorización económica, de los resultados de investigación, desarrollo e innovación (I+D+i) de las universidades, mediante la creación de empresas spin-off, ha demostrado tener un alto índice de éxito e impacto social en diferentes países. En las universidades de Latinoamérica se está fomentando la cultura emprendedora para su creación, por los beneficios económicos que se generan para la universidad y los investigadores participantes. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar el contexto nacional e internacional de las spin-off académicas, para identificar algunos de los factores que favorecen u obstaculizan su creación y éxito, como estrategia para acelerar su implementación en México. Al ser un modelo recientemente introducido al país, las spin-off académicas requieren la creación de un nuevo marco legal dentro de las universidades para establecer con claridad beneficios y compromisos de la institución y participantes, así como, favorecer su gestión, implementación y crecimiento. Además, de encaminar los resultados de I+D+i para que puedan ser comercializables, capacitar a los investigadores en emprendimiento y propiedad intelectual, aumentar la inversión en investigación privada, y generar políticas y condiciones para incrementar el número de investigadores en México.

Abstract The economic valorization model from the Research Development and Innovation (RD & I) for higher education research results through the creation of spin-offs, has demonstrated to attain a high success index and a positive social impact in several countries. Accordingly, Latin American Universities are encouraging an entrepreneurship culture for the creation of spin-offs since it leads to economic profits for both, the University and the participating researchers. The objective of this paper was to analyze the national and international context of academic spin-offs in order to identify some factors that promote or prevent their creation and success as strategy to accelerate their implementation in Mexico. Since this model has recently been introduced to the country, academic spin-offs require the creation of a new legal framework inside the universities in order to achieve two main goals: one is to establish clearly the rights and responsibilities of the institution and the participants, and the second one entails fostering their management, implementation and development. In addition, there is similarly a need to channel the RD & I results in order to transform them into marketable goods; to train researchers in entrepreneurship and intellectual property; increase private research investment, and generate policies and conditions to increase the number of researchers in Mexico.

Influence of the Nutritive Composition on the Organoleptic Characters of Cakes Enriched with Fruits Almond of Terminalia catappa

Aims: The study focuses the organoleptic trend according to the nutritive composition of cakes processed from wheat flour enriched with the almond flour of T. catappa, a plant growing in some regions of Côte d’Ivoire. Study Design: Nine formulations of cakes processed from addition of almond flour of Terminalia catappa to wheat flour and then submitted to nutrients and descriptive sensory analyses. Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Food Sciences, Biochemistry department of Biosciences Unit, Felix Houphouet-Boigny University, running 2015. Methodology: The contents in nutriments, namely macronutrients, minerals (macroelements and oligoelements), vitamins, and polyphenol antioxidants of the enriched cakes were determined using standard methods and their sensory description achieved. Then, the influence between both types of characteristics was assessed through the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) at ± 0.5 significance using statistical software SPSS. Results: The cakes investigated recorded invarious content in total carbohydrates (the major nutritive compound of the flours) whereas the other nutrients increased accordingly to the ratio of the almond flour incorporated for. Oppositely, the full sensory descriptors were responded with statistically similar scores over the cakes formulated. The correlation analysis mainly showed reduction of the cakes aroma during the nutrients increase, with r coefficients of –0.65 to –0.54. Thus, the study shows no rather nutritional influence of the nutritive enrichment of cakes on the sensory profile. Conclusion: The valorization of the cakes enriched with almonds of T. catappa could be sustained on the basis of their acceptance by consumers.

Utilization of a waste glycerol fraction using and reusing immobilized Gluconobacter oxydans ATCC 621 cell extract

Background: Depletion of petroleum resources has enforced the search for alternative sources of renewable energy. Introduction of biofuels into the market was expected to become a solution to this disadvantageous situation. Attempts to cover fuel demand have, however, caused another severe problem­the waste glycerol generated during biodiesel production at a concentration of approximately 10% w/w. This, in turn, prompted a global search for effective methods of valorization of the waste fraction of glycerol. Results: Utilization of the waste fraction at 48 h with an initial glycerol concentration of 30 g·L-1 and proceeding with 62% efficiency enabled the production of 9 g·L-1 dihydroxyacetone at 50% substrate consumption. The re-use of the immobilized biocatalyst resulted in a similar concentration of dihydroxyacetone (8.7 g·L-1) in two-fold shorter time, with an efficiency of 85% and lower substrate consumption (35%). Conclusions: The method proposed in this work is based on the conversion of waste glycerol to dihydroxyacetone in a reaction catalyzed by immobilized Gluconobacter oxydans cell extract with glycerol dehydrogenase activity, and it could be an effective way to convert waste glycerol into a valuable product.

Percursos educativos, formativos e profissionais na Síndrome de Down / Educational, formative and professional trajectories in Down Syndrome

O emprego e a sua manutenção são aspectos fundamentais para todas as pessoas sobretudo para os portadores de deficiência, não só em termos da respectiva autonomia, mas também ao nível da conservação de uma saudável autoestima e bem-estar. Mas, para que estas pessoas se sintam verdadeiramente integradas e felizes com a sua condição de trabalhadores não basta possuírem um emprego. É necessário que se sintam capacitadas para o respectivo posto de trabalho e que nele se sintam felizes. Face a estes considerandos entendemos desenvolver para este estudo o seguinte objetivo principal: conhecer o grau de satisfação dos trabalhadores com Síndrome de Down relativamente à sua integração profissional (satisfação laboral, satisfação com o processo de integração na vida ativa). A amostra desta investigação é constituída por 14 sujeitos com Síndrome de Down, de ambos os sexos com idades compreendidas entre 20 e os 36 anos, todos residentes na zona que abrange Lisboa e Vale do Tejo.

Being employed and staying employed are essential aspects in the lives of most people, above all, for those who have a disability, not only in terms of enabling autonomy, but also for maintaining a healthy level of self esteem and wellbeing. However, in order for these persons to feel that they are actually integrated and happy in their work environments, it is not enough merely to have a job. It is necessary that they feel prepared for their respective work placement and that they feel comfortable in their work environments. In light of these considerations, we deemed it important to conduct this study, the main objective of which was to uncover the level of satisfaction of workers with Down syndrome related to their professional integration (work satisfaction, satisfaction with their process of integration in active life). The sample in this investigation was made up of fourteen subjects with Down syndrome, both male and female, with ages ranging from 20 to 36 years, all living in an area extending from Lisbon to the Tejo Valley in Portugal.