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According to World Health Organization, the number of people with blindness due to infectious diseases has reduced in the last 20 years whereas 80% of all visual impairment can be prevented or cured. Despite of that, 285 million people are estimated to be visually impaired worldwide as about 90% are from low-income society. Considering this scenario, it is still necessary to think about this public and know how to teach them disciplines such as Mathematics that are important to their lives as citizens. The Mathematics concepts are always in need for living in our society as we have to pay bills and considering that Mathematics knowledge is demanded all time from health to payment. In this article, we briefly discuss the blindness and the Mathematics universe, pointing this educational area as one that should be more educational developed. The article also intends to stimulate and contribute for the production of new strategies and didactical materials for teaching Mathematics to this public with special needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feedstock conversion and yield products are studied through a 3D model simulating the main reactor of the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) is used with Eulerian-Eulerian approach to predict the fluid catalytic cracking behavior. The model considers 12 lumps with catalyst deactivation by coke and poisoning by alkaline nitrides and polycyclic aromatic adsorption to estimate the kinetic behavior which, starting from a given feedstock, produces several cracking products. Different feedstock compositions are considered. The model is compared with sampling data at industrial operation conditions. The simulation model is able to represent accurately the products behavior for the different operating conditions considered. All the conditions considered were solved using a solver ANSYS CFX 14.0. The different operation process variables and hydrodynamic effects of the industrial riser of a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) are evaluated. Predictions from the model are shown and comparison with experimental conversion and yields products are presented; recommendations are drawn to establish the conditions to obtain higher product yields in the industrial process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a 3D model simulating in the riser of the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) was studied feedstock conversion and yield products. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and Eulerian-Eulerian approach with a 12-lump model was used to predict the hydrodynamic and kinetic behavior, respectively. All the equations and conditions were solved using a solver Ansys CFX 14.0. The different operation variables and hydrodynamic effects of the riser are evaluated. Predictions from the model are shown and comparison with experimental data is presented; recommendations are drawn to establish the conditions to obtain higher product yields in the industrial process. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background. The expression of B7 as a costimulatory molecule on the surface of antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages and on dendritic cells characterizes the efficiency of the cell-mediated immune response. Aims. Our purpose was to evaluate B7-1 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) immediately after cell isolation (‘spontaneous’ B7 expression), and in inflammatory cells from cutaneous lesions of patients with multibacillary leprosy (MB-L) without and during the reactional states of erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) or reversal reaction (RR). Methods. Peripheral blood samples and skin biopsies of eight patients without (MB-L) and with reactional episodes (ENL and RR) were studied using antibodies against B7-1, CD1b, DR and CD14 in flow-cytometry and immunohistochemistry experiments. Results. The flow-cytometry studies (mean ± SD% of fluorescent cells) revealed significant B7-1 expression on PBMCs isolated from patients with ENL (8.0 ± 0.6%) and RR (15.0 ± 1.4%) compared with that observed for patients with MB-L (0.4 ± 0.2%). Similar results were observed for cutaneous lesions of these patients by immunohistochemical assays. One patient studied before and during ENL revealed weak B7 expression before the reactional episode (0.3% of cells) compared with the marked level of B7-expressing cells detected during ENL (8.5% fluorescent cells). Interestingly, an even higher B7 expression (15% of cells) was observed in patients with RR. Conclusions. Our results strongly suggest that B7 expression precedes reactional episodes in MB-L, which could be related to the acquisition of effective immunity to Mycobacterium leprae during reactional episodes in leprosy. We propose B7 expression as a marker of CMI response in reactional episodes in leprosy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The snake venom thrombin-like enzymes (SVTLEs) comprise a number of serine proteases functionally and structurally related to thrombin. Until recently, only nine complete sequences of this subgroup of the serine protease family were known. Over the past 5 years, the primary structure of several SVTLEs has been characterized, and now this family includes several members. Of particular interest is their possible use in pathologies such as thrombosis. The aim of the present review is to summarize the state of the art concerning the evolutionary, structural and biological features of the SVTLEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue is the leading cause of viral death worldwide. The vector Aedes aegypti mosquito is also responsible for Zika and Chincungunha transmission, another very compromising viral diseases. As the understanding of the vector life cycle and its habitat is important for preventing and fighting against these diseases, we propose to use a mathematic concept, graphos, and a problem-based situation (the removal of potential breeding sites for mosquitoes in the player city) to design a computational game that may help on spreading information and to stimulate a players proactive virtual and real behavior. Thus this paper describes the design and construction of an educational computer game called "Graphos against mosquitos," based on graphos, a mathematics theoretical concept. We designed the Graphos game using as the main elements: a child, twelve neighborhood blocks, mosquitoes, streets and containers where mosquitoes lay eggs (tires, cans, bottles, plants with water deposits). In the game, the player (Avatar) is the main element that should "walk in" the streets (edges) of the city, removing the potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes in each block (vertices). As this game is based on the mathematics theoretical concept graphos using two dimensions, the city has two distinct vertices that are the beginning and end of it, which discriminate the beginning and end of the game. The player should remove all containers of each street, avoiding mosquitoes growth and passing only one time for each of them. As containers are removed, the player gains points and is prevented to return to the previous street. In this game the removal of all containers that pose risk of becoming mosquito breeding sites, without coming back to the previous street but only forward, is translatable into " graphos language". When finishing the game properly, it opens a final screen where the player is awarded with a medal. On this screen, the player can write his/her name, being invited to act as a "health worker" no longer in virtual form, but in the real life. Through teaching by using computational material ruled by mathematical concepts such as graphos, we hope to stimulate and contribute for fighting and controlling the vector of these serious viral diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Argentine grazing systems, additional supply of energy and protein is needed to balance the diet during periods of pasture shortage in winter. Three protein meal sources were evaluated, in terms of milk yield and composition, for grazing dairy cows receiving a supplementary PMR. Thirty three multiparous cows, averaging 75 ± 15 DIM, and over 7000 L/cow in previous lactations, were randomly assigned to 3 treatments: SM= soybean meal, L-SuM= sunflower meal-low-protein and CM= canola meal, in a continuous split-plot design with covariance analysis. The diets were isoenergetic (1.82 Mcal NEL) and isonitrogenous (17% CP), and were formulated (DM basis) with 17 % pasture and 83% of a PMR containing corn silage, alfalfa hay, corn grain, minerals and vitamins premix and the corresponding protein meal. The CP concentrations were 28, 35 and 41% for L-SuM, CM and SM, and represented 25, 20 and 15% total diet DM, respectively. Table 1 shows milk yield and composition for all treatments. The L-SM had the lowest response in terms of milk yield, but the highest in milk fat percentage, thus suggesting concentration effects. On the other hand, CM produced the lowest protein concentrations, probably because of differences in dietary amino acid supply to the mammary gland. Milk urea concentration was lowest for CM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of monensin on milk production was evaluated in 58 lactating Holstein cows (48 multiparous; 10 primiparous) grazing a mixed-alfalfa pasture and supplemented with a partial mixed ration in a completely randomized design with repeated measurements. Cows were paired by calving date, lactation number, previous lactation milk production, body weight, and body condition score and were assigned to one of 2 treatments: control or monensin. Cows on the monensin treatment received 2 monensin controlled-release capsules (335 mg/d for 90 d), one 30 d before the expecting calving date and the other 60 d after calving. Short-term (0 to 150 d in milk) and long-term (305-d adjusted lactation) effects ofmonensin were evaluated. Pasture (measured by difference between pre- and postgrazing pasture mass), supplements, and total dry matter intake did not differ between treatments and averaged 8.7, 14.1, and 22.9 kg/d, respectively. In the short-term, monensin increased milk production (27.7 vs. 26.6 kg/d) and milk protein yield (0.890 vs. 0.860 kg/d); milk fat yield was not affected (0.959 kg/d). Monensin decreased milk fat content (3.51 vs. 3.60%) with no changes in milk protein content (3.25%). In the long term, milk production and milk protein yield were also increased by monensin: 214 and 7 kg, respectively. Monensin reduced the loss of body condition score and increased percentage of pregnancy at first service (44.8 vs. 20.7%). Monensin improves production and reproduction performance of dairy cows grazing a mixed-alfalfa pasture and supplemented with a partial mixed ration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]