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ABSTRACTBackgroundRecent studies shows lack of knowledge concerning health literacy relatively microorganism/disease and the correct use of antibiotics. These facts lead to the spreading of resistant strains bacteria.AimsThe overarching goals of this study were a) to promote health literacy predominantly in respect to microorganism/disease, diseases transmission, antibiotic target and adequate antibiotic use; b) to show the importance of the transmission of health information in different environments; c) to motivate students for science research.MethodsStudents’ knowledge was evaluated with a survey instrument. Responses were analyzed before and after the implementation of the activity. The activity consists of an interactive lecture, slide show presentation and some practical activities. The sample includes 25 Portuguese students, 13–17 years old who attended the activity in Palácio de Cristal (Porto) and 66 students from D. Maria II School, V.N. Famalicão.ResultsIn this study, significant increase in knowledge about all the topics evaluated were observed both in formal and informal environments between the pre and post-test; however the best results were detected in informal contexts.ConclusionThe findings showed the importance of the implementation of scientific activities to middle-school students. This experience was valuable and helped to improve student knowledge on heath topics.

Water reuse is an indispensable reality in the search for an equilibrium between water resources and water scarcity. The recovery and production of reclaimed water with a guarantee of safety of use requires advanced treatment technologies. This study proposes a conjugated system, composed of electrocoagulation followed by adsorption, for the post-treatment of UASB effluent for reuse purposes. For this purpose, initially the electrocoagulation process (EC) was optimized using response surface methodology. The optimum conditions were for a current density of 29.44 A/m2and pH 6.0, with 44.58% of COD removal and energy consumption of 31.1 kWh per kg of COD removed. The EC effluent was treated by adsorption on a fixed bed column of activated carbon. The conjugated system provided the complete removal of COD and BOD, and significant removals of turbidity (96.5%), phosphorus (97.5%) and total and thermotolerant coliforms. The quality of the final treated water reached parameters for reuse according to EPA.

Some time ago Jerne proposed a new theory to explain the basis of the behaviour of the immune system. He suggested the existence of a functional connected network, based on pattern recognition of the idiotypes carried by the lymphocytes, which is responsible for the self regulation of the immune system. Only 15–20% of the lymphocytes available in the immune repertoire will participate in this functional network, while the rest of the lymphocytes will be free to respond to any foreign antigen. Each individual immune repertoire will be different depending on the lymphocytes that participate in the connected network.

Using a simple mathematical model of the Jerne network, we investigate the conditions of antigen presentation that result in tolerance to pairs of antigens with complementary shapes, such as hormones and receptors. This study is motivated by the prevalence of auto-immune diseases involving hormones or neurotransmitters and their respective receptors as self-antigens. The model shows that, in order to ensure full tolerance to coupled antigens in those conditions that ensure tolerance to isolated antigens, both antigens have to be presented simultaneously in similar conditions. This result suggests a possibility for preventing some auto-immune diseases.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to isolate yeast (Candida) from the quarter milk of cow udders from 37 dairy farms in Brazil and to identify the different species involved in mastitis. The samples were collected between October 2002 and February 2003. Two-hundred-and-sixty milk samples from cows with clinical and subclinical mastitis were examined. Milk samples were plated onto Blood agar, Mac Conkey agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar. Forty-five (17.3%) samples were positive for the genus Candida. The Candida species isolated were C. krusei (44.5%), C. rugosa (24.5%), C. albicans (8.9%), C.guilliermondii (8.9%), and others (13.2%). We also isolated Escherichia coli (26.5%), coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (25.0%), Streptococcus spp. (8.1%), Enterobacter spp. (8.1%), and other fungi (8.1%), among others.