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Motivation: Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of risk factors predisposing to coronary heart disease (CHD) and is classified as a "disease of modern civilization". Characteristics of the metabolic syndrome include abdominal obesity, increased triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations, increased small dense low-density lipoprotein(LDL) particles, decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hypertension, insulin resistance, inflammation, glucose intolerance and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subjects with metabolic syndrome may be susceptible to oxidative stress due to their prolonged exposure to elevated glucose levels. A variety of natural antioxidants exists (e.g. glutathione, l3-carotene, vitamin C, polyphenols) that may prevent oxidative damage to biological structures. Nuts are rich sources of unsaturated fatty acids, protein, fibre, .micronutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidants. Duet o their high antioxidant content, it can, therefore, be speculated that nuts may play a role in the prevention of oxidative stress in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. Objective: - To investigate the effect of a high walnut and a high unsalted cashew nut diet on the antioxidant status of subjects with metabolic syndrome. Methods: Sixty eight subjects with diagnosed metabolic syndrome (according to the ATP III criteria) were recruited to take part in this parallel, randomized, controlled feeding trial. Subjects were mainly recruited from the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus and surrounding areas. After a run-in period of three weeks during which the participants followed a prudent diet, subjects were randomly divided into three groups receiving either walnuts or cashew nuts (63- 108g/day)as part of a prudent diet, or continued with the prudent control diet. The intervention was followed for eight weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at the beginning(after the three week run-in period) and at the end of the intervention. Antioxidant variables including oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG), diacron reactive oxygen metabolites (dRom) were measured at the beginning and the end of the intervention. C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and plasminogen activator-inhibitor activity (PAI-1a) were also measured as markers of inflammation. The antioxidant capacity and the polyphenol content of the diets and the walnuts and cashew nuts were determined at the end of the intervention. Results: A significant decrease in dRom and significant increases in GSSG, the redox status of glutathione (GSH/GSSG) and ORAC were observed in all three groups from baseline to end. GSH remained unchanged from baseline to end in all three groups. No significant differences in changes in dRom (p = 0.92), GSSG (p = 0.99), GSH/GSSG (p = 0.86), antioxidant capacity (p = 0.10) and GSH (p = 0.34) were observed from baseline to end between groups. The total polyphenol content of the walnut and control diets were similar and significantly higher than the cashew nut diet. The antioxidant capacity of the walnut and cashew nut diets showed a tendency to be higher than the control diet (p = 0.07 and p = 0.06 respectively). CRP, fibrinogen and PAI-1a concentrations did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusion No significant differences between the groups receiving walnuts, cashew nuts or no nuts were observed in GSH, GSSG, GSH/GSSG, dRom or ORAC. Therefore, there seems to be no beneficial effect of the inclusion of walnuts and cashew nuts in the diet on the antioxidant status of the participants. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Dietetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

The micronutrient selenium is essential to human physiology. As the amino acid selenocysteine, it is inserted into selenoproteins with a wide range of functions including antioxidant capacity, thyroid hormone metabolism, improvement of immune system, brain function, fertility and reproduction. Low selenium status has been associated with increased risk for chronic diseases, such as cancer, type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In this context, several studies have been conducted in order to investigate if selenium supplementation could reduce the risk of such diseases. However, genetic variations may interfere in the response of individuals to a dietary intervention and must be considered as a important source of inter-individual variation. Therefore, this study was conducted was conducted to investigate the influence of genetic variations in selenoproteins genes on the response to an intervention with Brazil nuts, the richest source of selenium known in nature. The study included 130 healthy volunteers with both genders, aged 20 to 60 years old selected in University of São Paulo. They received nuts for 8 weeks, eating one nut a day, and did a washout period for more 8 weeks. All volunteers had a blood sampling collection every 4 weeks during 4 months, in a total of 5. The following analysis were done: anthropometric measurements, lipid profile, plasma malondialdehyde, plasma and erythrocyte Se, selenoprotein P, plasma and erythrocyte GPx activity, gene expression of GPX1, SEPP1, SELS and SEP15. The volunteers were also genotyped for SNPs rs1050450, rs3811699, rs1800699, rs713041, rs3877899, rs7579, rs34713741 and rs5845. Each unit of Brazil nut provided an average of 300 µg of selenium. All 130 volunteers completed the protocol. The concentrations of total cholesterol and glucose decreased after 8 weeks of supplementation. Moreover, HDL concentrations were higher for carriers of the variant T allele for GPX4_rs713041. The frequencies of the variant genotypes were 5,4% for rs1050450, rs3811699 e rs1088668, 10% for rs3877899, 19,2% for rs713041 e rs7579, 11,5% for rs5845 and 8,5% for rs34713741. The levels of the five biomarkers increased significantly after supplementation. In addition, erythrocyte GPx activity was influenced by rs1050450, rs713041 and rs5845; erythrocyte selenium was influenced by rs5845 and plasma selenium by rs3877899. Gene expression of GPX1, SEPP1 and SEP15 were higher after supplementation. The SNP rs1050450 influenced GPX1 mRNA expression and rs7579 influenced SEPP1 mRNA expression. Therefore, it can be concluded that the supplementation with one of Brazil nut for 8 weeks was efficient to reduce total cholesterol and glucose levels and to increase the concentrations of the main biomarkers of selenium status in healthy adults. Furthermore, our results suggest that GPX4_rs713041 might interfere on HDL concentrations and GPx1 activity, GPX1_rs1050450 might interfere on GPx1 activity, SEP15_rs5845 might interfere on GPx1 activity and erythrocyte selenium and SEPP1_3877899 might interfere on plasma Se levels. Therefore, the effect of genetic variations should be considered in future nutritional interventions evaluating the response to Brazil nut supplementation. / O micronutriente selênio é essencial para a fisiologia humana, inserido nas selenoproteínas na forma do aminoácido selenocisteína. As selenoproteínas são importantes para a função antioxidante, controle do metabolismo dos hormônios tireoidianos, melhora do sistema imune, função cerebral, fertilidade e reprodução. O estado nutricional de selênio deficiente ou marginal está associado com aumento do risco de doenças crônicas, como câncer, diabetes e doença cardiovascular. Sendo assim, diversos estudos procuraram investigar se a suplementação com selênio poderia reduzir o risco dessas doenças. Entretanto, as variações genéticas podem afetar a resposta dos indivíduos a uma intervenção dietética. Portanto, esse estudo foi conduzido para investigar a influência de variações genéticas em genes de selenoproteínas na resposta à suplementação com castanha-do-brasil, melhor fonte de selênio da natureza. Participaram do estudo 130 adultos de ambos os gêneros, com idade de 20 a 60 anos, selecionados na Universidade de São Paulo. Os indivíduos receberam castanhas suficientes para 8 semanas, ingerindo uma unidade por dia e, após o período de suplementação realizaram um período de washout também por 8 semanas. Todos realizaram cinco coletas de material biológico a cada quatro semanas. Foram realizadas medidas antropométricas, perfil lipídico, malondialdeído (MDA), concentração de selênio e selenoproteína P no plasma, eritrócitos, atividade da GPx eritrocitária e plasmática, expressão gênica da GPX1, SEPP1, SELS e SEP15. Além disso, os participantes foram genotipados para os SNPs rs1050450, rs3811699, rs1800699, rs713041, rs3877899, rs7579, rs34713741 e rs5845. Cada unidade de castanha forneceu em média 350µg de selênio. Todos os 130 voluntários concluíram o estudo. As concentrações de glicose e colesterol total diminuíram após 8 semanas de suplementação. Além disso, as concentrações de HDL-c foram influenciadas pelo SNP rs713041 no gene da GPX4, sendo os valores mais altos encontrados para os indivíduos com o alelo variante T (CT+TT). As frequências dos genótipos variantes foram 5,4% para rs1050450, rs3811699 e rs1088668, 10% para rs3877899, 19,2% para rs713041 e rs7579, 11,5% para rs5845 e 8,5% para rs34713741. Os níveis dos cinco biomarcadores aumentaram significativamente após a suplementação. Além disso, a atividade da GPx eritrocitária foi influenciada pelos rs1050450, rs713041 e rs5845, o selênio eritrocitário foi influenciado pelo rs5845 e o selênio plasmático pelo rs3877899. A expressão dos genes GPX1 e SEPP foram maiores após a suplementação. Tendo em vista esses resultados, conclui-se que a suplementação com uma unidade de castanha-do-brasil durante 8 semanas foi suficiente para reduzir as concentrações de colesterol e de glicose, e elevar as concentrações dos principais biomarcadores do estado nutricional de selênio. Além disso, observou-se que o polimorfismo rs713041 parece influenciar as concentrações de HDL-c e atividade da GPx1, o polimorfismo rs1050450 parece influenciar a atividade da GPx1, o polimorfismo rs5845 parece influenciar a atividade da GPx1 e o selênio eritrocitário e o polimorfismo rs3877899 parece influenciar a o selênio plasmático. Portanto, sugere-se considerar o perfil genético dos indivíduos em futuros estudos avaliando a resposta à suplementação com castanha-do-brasil no estado nutricional de selênio da população.

A castanheira (Bertholletia excelsa Humb. & Bonpl.) é uma árvore nativa da região Amazônica muito valorizada por suas sementes, as castanhas-do-Brasil, que apresentam alto valor nutritivo e são uma rica fonte de selênio, um agente antioxidante. O Brasil está entre os países que mais produzem e exportam estas castanhas. As condições climáticas da região Amazônica, assim como as demais etapas da cadeia produtiva, podem favorecer a infecção fúngica neste substrato, principalmente por Aspergillus nomius, espécie extremamente relacionadas à produção de aflatoxinas. Esta micotoxina está associada ao desenvolvimento de tumores, imunossupressão e alterações hepáticas tornando-a um risco para a saúde pública. Sendo assim, a realização de estudos que forneçam informações adequadas sobre o comportamento de A. nomius é de extrema relevância, pois contribuem no conhecimento das condições propícias para a produção de aflatoxinas. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a resposta ecofisiológica de cepas de A. nomius isoladas de castanhas-do-Brasil (crescimento micelial, expressão gênica e produção de aflatoxinas) em diferentes temperaturas (25, 30 e 35 °C). O crescimento micelial foi mensurado diariamente a partir da inoculação de 8 cepas em ágar coco, mantidas no escuro até 7 dias. A partir destas colônias foi feita análise da expressão dos genes aflR, aflD e aflQ, envolvidos na biossíntese das aflatoxinas, com utilização de PCR em Tempo Real. Com as mesmas colônias também foi feita análise do potencial aflatoxigênico (B1, B2, G1 e G2) qualitativo (Cromatografia em Camada Delgada) e quantitativo (Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência). A temperatura ideal para crescimento micelial das cepas de A. nomius foi 30 °C. Esta condição foi a melhor para a expressão dos genes aflR, aflD e aflQ. Contudo, o gene aflQ também apresentou alta expressão a 25 °C e foi o gene mais expresso em todas as temperaturas avaliadas. Em relação ao potencial toxigênico das cepas, a maior produção ocorreu a 25 °C. Em todas as temperaturas avaliadas houve maior produção de aflatoxinas do grupo B do que do grupo G. Pôde-se observar que a temperatura que propiciou a maior produção destas toxinas coincide com as da região Amazônica, território nativo das castanheiras. Com base nos resultados reportados, este estudo poderá servir como ferramenta na elaboração de eficientes estratégias para o controle de A. nomius e aflatoxinas em castanhas-doBrasil. / The Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa Humb. & Bonpl.) is an Amazonian native species that produce seeds with high nutritional value and rich source of selenium, an antioxidant agent. Brazil is one of the major producers and exporters of these nuts. The Amazon weather conditions in the production area and also on the productive chain play a critical role in the fungal infection, specially by Aspergillus nomius, important species associated to the aflatoxin contamination. This mycotoxin is related to the development of tumors, immunosuppression and liver alterations that becomes a risk to public health. Therefore, studies that provides adequate informations about the behavior of A. nomius are extremely relevant, contributing to better understand the favorable conditions to the aflatoxins production. The main goal of the present study was to evaluate the ecophysiological response of A. nomius strains isolated from Brazil nuts (mycelial growth, gene expression and aflatoxin production) at different temperatures (25 °C, 30 °C, and 35 °C). The mycelial growth of 8 strains was measured daily for 7 days in coconut agar. From these colonies, the expression of aflR, aflD, and aflQ genes, that are involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis was analyzed by using Real Time PCR. From the same colonies, the aflatoxigenic potential (B1, B2 , G1 and G2 ) were analyzed qualitative and quantitative by Thin Layer Chromatography and High Performance Liquid Chromatography, respectively. Mycelial growth assessment revealed that the optimal temperature for the radial growth rate and the average of final growth was at 30 °C. This was also the best condition for the expression of aflR, aflD, and aflQ genes. However, the aflQ also showed high expression at 25 °C and was the most expressed gene at all evaluated temperatures. The highest aflatoxin production occurred at 25 °C, with higher toxins production on group B than group G. It was possible to notice that the optimum temperature to aflatoxin production coincides with those in Amazon region, the most important producing area. These results also may contribute to enhance the management strategies of aflatroxin control in Brazil nuts.

Společný regionální operační program nahrazuje ve zkráceném programovacím období Regionální operační programy regionů soudržnosti. SROP je jedním z 5 operačních programů, kterým se v ČR realizuje politika hospodářské a sociální soudržnosti Evropských společenství. Z tohoto programu jsou podporovány regiony, jejichž HDP nedosahuje 75 % průměru společenství. Financování programu je na straně EU zajišťováno prostřednictvím Evropského fondu regionálního rozvoje a Evropského sociálního fondu, ze kterých bylo na realizace SROP vyčleněno více něž 454 mil ?. Řídícím orgánem je Ministerstvo pro místní rozvoj a na implementaci se podílí množství zprostředkujících subjektů. Oblastmi podpory jsou podnikání, rozvoj infrastruktury, rozvoj lidských zdrojů a rozvoj cestovního ruchu. Region soudržnosti (NUTS II) Jihovýchod je jedním ze 7 podporovaných regionů ČR.

Abstract Taiwan has won the good name of ¡§the Kingdom of Fasteners¡¨ for years. With the dedication by the whole industry the exporting volume of fasteners products kept significantly growing every year in Taiwan and the production scale has become the leading position worldwide as well. However, due to the unlimited investment along with large expansion of production capacity made in the past decade, the market situation tends to be oversupplied. Price war emerges whenever business gets slow, as a result, the exporting price keeps dropping year by year and Taiwan is likely to be the target of foreign anti-dumping suits. As a matter of fact, Taiwan fastener industry has encountered several anti-dumping suits before. Among all the cases, the European anti-dumping suit on import of stainless steel fasteners has resulted in a considerable impact to the industry that the exporting volume of fasteners products has significantly decreased since 1988 and many companies were forced to seek for other markets, downscale their operation or even move the factories to overseas. The Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 exercises multilateral agreement to sanction the dumping activities based on non-discrimination principle and adopts necessary measure to restrict the dumping activities. As a result, to avoid any negative impact caused by the free trade and protect the benefit of local industries, every country is allowed to bring the anti-dumping law into their trading policy. However, we noted from the evolution of the trading policy that the mechanism of protection measure has been shift from tariff barrier to be non-tariff barrier, and from non-tariff barrier to the abuse or misuse of WTO regulation, the discretion of the administration has even become one of the mechanisms. This paper is intended to emphasize the impact to the free trade by anti-dumping measure and the impropriety of the European anti-dumping system. This paper includes six chapters: Chapter 1 - General introduction; Chapter 2 ¡V The development of Taiwan fasteners industry; Chapter 3 ¡V The illustration of the European anti-dumping system and suit case; Chapter 4 ¡V The initial and definitive determinations of suit case; Chapter 5 ¡V The disputes of legal procedure and substance; Chapter 6 ¡V Conclusion and suggestion.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 287-292). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 287-292). Also available on the Internet.

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