Tomorrow's healthy society - Research priorities for foods and diets

Health promotion and disease prevention through provision and consumption of healthy diets are increasingly recognised as crucial, both socially and economically, in the face of strained healthcare systems, an ageing population, and the high individual and economic costs of diseases.The Foresight study ‘Tomorrow's healthy society – research priorities for foods and diets’ was initiated to inform the selection of research challenges to receive funding under the Horizon 2020 programme. The exploratory scenario-building approach focused on the European consumer with the year 2050 as a long-term time horizon. Four different future scenarios were developed using the extremes of two main drivers – agricultural commodity prices (low or high) and societal values (community spirit or individualistic society). The scenarios provided the basis for the identification and prioritisation of research needs to address the challenges and opportunities arising from the different scenarios. The resulting ten research priorities fall into four thematic areas: Towards healthier eating: integrated policy-making; Food, nutrients and health: cross-interactions and emerging risks; Making individualised diets a reality; and Shaping and coping with the 2050 food system.JRC.DDG.02-Foresight and Behavioural Insight

Noise in laser speckle correlation and imaging techniques

We study the noise of the intensity variance and of the intensity correlation and structure functions measured in light scattering from a random medium in the case when these quantities are obtained by averaging over a finite number N of pixels of a digital camera. We show that the noise scales as 1/N in all cases and that it is sensitive to correlations of signals corresponding to adjacent pixels as well as to the effective time averaging (due to the finite sampling time) and spatial averaging (due to the finite pixel size). Our results provide a guide to estimation of noise level in such applications as the multi-speckle dynamic light scattering, time-resolved correlation spectroscopy, speckle visibility spectroscopy, laser speckle imaging etc.Comment: submitted 14 May 201

Molecular Tools in Buffalo's Characterization: Practical Applications. A Review

The utility of the techniques of analysis concerning DNA is clear and a review of the main applications of themolecular tools in the genetic characterization of buffalo populations is done

Mathematically modelling the dynamics of cholesterol metabolism and ageing

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the UK. This conditionbecomes increasingly prevalent during ageing; 34.1% and 29.8% of males and females respectively, over 75years of age have an underlying cardiovascular problem. The dysregulation of cholesterol metabolism isinextricably correlated with cardiovascular health and for this reason low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are routinely used as biomarkers of CVD risk. Theaim of this work was to use mathematical modelling to explore how cholesterol metabolism is affectedby the ageing process. To do this we updated a previously published whole-body mathematical model ofcholesterol metabolism to include an additional 96 mechanisms that are fundamental to this biologicalsystem. Additional mechanisms were added to cholesterol absorption, cholesterol synthesis, reversecholesterol transport (RCT), bile acid synthesis, and their enterohepatic circulation. The sensitivity of themodel was explored by the use of both local and global parameter scans. In addition, acute cholesterolfeeding was used to explore the effectiveness of the regulatory mechanisms which are responsible formaintaining whole-body cholesterol balance. It was found that our model behaves as a hypo-responderto cholesterol feeding, while both the hepatic and intestinal pools of cholesterol increased significantly.The model was also used to explore the effects of ageing in tandem with three different cholesterolester transfer protein (CETP) genotypes. Ageing in the presence of an atheroprotective CETP genotype,conferring low CETP activity, resulted in a 0.6% increase in LDL-C. In comparison, ageing with a genotypereflective of high CETP activity, resulted in a 1.6% increase in LDL-C. Thus, the model has illustrated theimportance of CETP genotypes such as I405V, and their potential role in healthy ageing

DIVULGAÇÃO EM NOTA EXPLICATIVA SOBRE PARTES RELACIONADAS: UMA ANÁLISE DAS COMPANHIAS DE CAPITAL ABERTO DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL

Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar o nível de aderência à Deliberação Nº 642/10 quanto à divulgação sobre Partes Relacionadas em Notas Explicativas, pelas maiores empresas de capital aberto do Rio Grande do Sul. Para sua fundamentação teórica, realizou-se uma revisão bibliográfica relacionada aos temas divulgação das informações contábeis em Notas Explicativas, Partes relacionadas e a Deliberação da CVM Nº 642/10. Para atingir os objetivos propostos, utilizou-se como procedimento metodológico a pesquisa descritiva e bibliográfica com abordagem qualitativa e quantitativa. A análise de conteúdo foi realizada nas demonstrações contábeis das dez maiores empresas gaúchas de capital aberto. A partir da análise dos dados coletados, constatou-se que a companhia JOSAPAR – Joaquim Oliveira S.A. Participações apresentou o maior nível de aderência, evidenciando seis dos oito critérios analisados. A Corsan evidenciou três dos oito critérios analisados de forma completa, indicando o menor nível de aderência à deliberação da CVM. As demais empresas apresentaram grau médio de aderência à deliberação da CVM, apresentando três e quatro dos oito critérios analisados

Genetic Footprints of Iberian Cattle in America 500 Years after the Arrival of Columbus

Background: American Creole cattle presumably descend from animals imported from the Iberian Peninsula during the period of colonization and settlement, through different migration routes, andmay have also suffered the influence of cattle directly imported from Africa. The introduction of European cattle, which began in the 18th century, and later of Zebu from India, has threatened the survival of Creole populations, some of which have nearly disappeared or were admixed with exotic breeds. Assessment of the genetic status of Creole cattle is essential for the establishment of conservation programs of these historical resources. Methodology/Principal Findings: We sampled 27 Creole populations, 39 Iberian, 9 European and 6 Zebu breeds. We used microsatellite markers to assess the origins of Creole cattle, and to investigate the influence of different breeds on their genetic make-up. The major ancestral contributions are from breeds of southern Spain and Portugal, in agreement with the historical ports of departure of ships sailing towards the Western Hemisphere. This Iberian contribution to Creoles may also include some African influence, given the influential role that African cattle have had in the development of Iberian breeds, but the possibility of a direct influence on Creoles of African cattle imported to America can not be discarded. In addition to the Iberian influence, the admixture with other European breeds was minor. The Creoles from tropical areas, especially those from the Caribbean, show clear signs of admixture with Zebu. Conclusions/Significance: Nearly five centuries since cattle were first brought to the Americas, Creoles still show a strong and predominant signature of their Iberian ancestors. Creole breeds differ widely from each other, both in genetic structure and influences from other breeds. Efforts are needed to avoid their extinction or further genetic erosion, which would compromise centuries of selective adaptation to a wide range of environmental condition

Base molecular dos fatores de virulência de Streptococcus equi

Streptococcus equi subespécie equi (S. equi) é responsável pela adenite equina, doença infecto-contagiosa que ocorre com elevadas prevalências em todo o mundo. Desde a primeira descrição desta enfermidade não tem sido possível realizar o controle da mesma, o que pode ser explicado pela variabilidade nos genes de virulência. Ao longo dos anos alguns estudos foram realizados para identificar os fatores de virulência envolvidos na patogenia da enfermidade, no entanto, ainda existem algumas lacunas sobre a ocorrência e mecanismos desses genes na patogenia da doença. Desta forma, objetiva-se com esta revisão discorrer sobre os principais fatores de virulência de S. equi subespécie equi, os genes que participam na expressão dos mesmos e avanços no desenvolvimento de vacinas

Fatores de virulência de Staphylococcus aureus

Nas últimas décadas, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) adquiriu considerável importância relacionada à saúde animal e humana pela elevada patogenicidade e aumento na prevalência de cepas multirresistentes aos antibióticos. Sua elevada patogenicidade está relacionada com mecanismos multifatoriais e complexos determinados pela capacidade da bactéria de expressar uma variedade de fatores de virulência que facilitam a ocorrência de doenças. Objetivou-se com esta revisão compilar informações referentes aos fatores de virulência associados à superfície ou secretados por S. aureus que promovem adesão aos componentes da matriz extracelular do hospedeiro, danificam células hospedeiras e interferem no sistema imunológico. A implementação de estratégias para a prevenção e terapia em infecções associadas a S. aureus exige o aprofundamento dos estudos nos diferentes mecanismos de ação dos fatores de virulência

Efecto de polimorfismos genéticos en la producción de leche del ganado Siboney de Cuba

El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar los componentes de varianza, los parámetros genéticos y el efecto individual de ocho polimorfismos de nucleótidos simples (SNPs) en los genes correspondientes [αS1-caseína (CASA1), β-caseína (BCAS), αS2-caseína (CASA2), κ-caseína (KCAS), α-lactoalbúmina (LAA), β-lactoglobulina (LAG), hormona de crecimiento (GH) y prolactina (PRL)], sobre la producción de leche a los 305 días de lactancia en la raza Siboney de Cuba. Se analizaron 1904 registros de lactancias de 913 vacas procedentes de 17 vaquerías, bajo un modelo de repetibilidad. A través de la técnica de minisecuenciación se determinó el polimorfismo en los genes. Los ocho loci estudiados tuvieron un comportamiento polimórfico. Los coeficientes de heredabilidad y repetibilidad estimados para la producción de leche a los 305 días fueron de 0,12 y 0,33. Los loci LAG (p≤0,05) y PRL (p≤0,10) tuvieron un efecto significativo en la producción de leche. Los valores de heredabilidad y la repetibilidad para la producción de leche a los 305 días fueron moderados, lo que indica que es posible obtener una respuesta positiva a la selección en esta población. La selección para los genotipos LAGAA y PRLBB resultará en vacas que tengan una mayor producción de leche