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Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by a genetic variant of L. donovani is being reported from Sri Lanka since year 2001. Patients presented from different geographical locations (600 patients from North or South and a minority of cases from other foci, 2001-2013) were studied. Analysis revealed two different sociodemographic and clinical profiles of leishmaniasis in Northern and Southern Sri Lanka. Also, the same different profiles were present in these foci since the onset of the recent outbreak and had independently propagated within each focus over the time. A profile of 14 parameters identified in the Northern focus was further examined with regard to other locations. Northwestern (10/14) and Central parts (9/14) of the island were more similar to Northern focus (14/14). Infection would have originated in one focus and spread to other 2 in Northern Sri Lanka. Southern focus was different from and appeared older than all others (2/14). Western focus that accommodates a large transient population had a mixed picture of North and South features (4/14). Lesions in North showed a slow progression and a nonulcerative nature (128/185, 69.2%), while those in South showed a rapid progression and less nonulcerative lesions (193/415, 46.5%). Clinical analysis favoured a parasite aetiology (considerable strain differences) rather than a host aetiology (age, gender, or genetics). Both foci demonstrated a biannual seasonal variation since the onset of the epidemic. Two peaks were observed during the early and latter parts of the year. Furthermore, long-term existence and recent spatiotemporal expansion and detection of leishmaniasis in this country rather than a recent introduction and establishment were indicated by these findings. Vigorous antimalarial activities that existed in Sri Lanka until few decades ago, lack of professional awareness, and more recent military activities that brought human population in close contact with a sylvatic cycle would have played a role in silent propagation of Leishmania parasites and subsequent increment in human cases, respectively, in this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of ceramics production, the purpose of drying is to remove water from a ceramic body after forming. Drying should be performed at an appropriate rate, at an acceptable cost, and in such a way as not to damage the ceramic body. Although the determination of the best drying conditions is critical to ceramics production, the experimental determination of drying parameters, particularly of the critical moisture content, use to be very subjective. In this work, we propose an empirical mathematical expression, based on the generalized logistic model, which is capable of describing the complete drying curve. The critical moisture is thus unambiguously obtained as the intersection point of two straight lines derived from the mathematical modeling of the full drying curve. The heuristic proposed in this work may find particular application in automated procedures, data acquisition, and analysis of drying curves of ceramic masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to identify the social imaginary transmitted by the media about women athletes considered athletic heroines and to identify the discourses on the gender differences transmitted by the media in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Methods: this is a descriptive research of documentary analysis, whose methodological strategy consisted in the search of stories about Rio 2016 heroines in the Google site. The reports were analyzed using the Discourse Order Analysis of Michel Foucault. Results: the principles of inversion, discontinuity, specificity and exteriority, as established by Foucault, were present in the discourses analyzed. In the reports, women considered to be sport heroines were highlighted when they won the first Olympic medal in the country of origin, when they performed great plays in decisive games and when they overcame sexual abuse. Conclusion: however, even though they were considered sport heroines, the image of these women was associated with the male figure. This highlights the need for advances in the area of equal rights between men and women in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

11a- N -tosyl-5-carbapterocarpans ( 5a–c and 6a–c ), 9- N -tosyl-4,4a,9,9a-tetrahydro-3H-carbazole ( 7 ), 11a- N -tosyl-5-carbapterocarpen ( 8 ) analogues of LQB-223 ( 4a ), were synthesized through palladium catalyzed azaarylation of substituted dihydronaphtalenes ( 14a–c ) and cyclohexadiene ( 15 ), respectively, with N -tosyl- o -iodoaniline ( 11 ). In order to understand the role of the N -tosyl moiety for the pharmacological activity, the azacarbapterocarpen ( 9 ) was also synthesized by Fischer indol reaction. The structural requirements at the A and D-rings for the antineoplastic activity toward human leukemias and breast cancer cells were evaluated as well. Substitutions on the A-ring of 4a and analogues alter the effect on different breast cancer subtypes. On the other hand, A-ring is not essential for antileukemic activity since compound 7 , which does not contain the A-ring, showed efficacy with high selectivity indices for drug-resistant leukemias. On the other hand, substitutions on the D-ring of 4a for fluorine or iodine did not improve the antileukemic activity. In silico studies concerning Lipinskís rule of five, ADMET properties and drug scores of those compounds were performed, indicating good physicochemical properties for all compounds, in special for compound 7 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aimed to investigate the meanings attributed to work by people with acquired disabilities. Originality/value: The study unveils a new understanding of the meaning of work for people with acquired disabilities. Design/methodology/approach: There were conducted in-depth interviews with ten people with acquired disabilities and inserted in the labor market. Findings: The results of this analysis suggest that, for the interviewed group, the work shares its importance with other spheres of life, like the affective one and the family circle. Among the meanings discussed in the scholarly literature, such as pleasure in working and the work as a form of social interaction, there were also new specific meanings attributed by the group, related to the identity of the person with disability, like barriers overcoming, the combat against the stigma of incapacity and the positive impact generation. On the other hand, remuneration and career progression appear as a consequence of work, rather than a factor that brought meaning to their work activities. The findings of this study contributed to a better understanding of the different meanings attributed to work by people with an acquired disability. Among that, the results pointed to the existence of other meanings than the usually addressed in the scholarly literature of the theme, what reinforces the contribution of this article to the study of the meaning of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a consequence of intense industrialization in the last few decades, the amount of agro-industrial wastes has increasing, where new forms of valorization are crucial. In this work, five residual biomasses from Maranhão (Brazil) were investigated as supports for immobilization of lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (TLL). The new biocatalysts BM-TLL (babaçu mesocarp) and RH-TLL (rice husk) showed immobilization efficiencies >98% and hydrolytic activities of 5.331 U g−1 and 4.608 U g−1, respectively, against 142 U g−1 by Lipozyme® TL IM. High esterification activities were also found, with 141.4 U g−1 and 396.4 U g−1 from BM-TLL and RH-TLL, respectively, against 113.5 U g−1 by TL IM. Results of porosimetry, SEM, and BET demonstrated BM and RH supports are mesoporous materials with large hydrophobic area, allowing a mixture of hydrophobic adsorption and confinement, resulting in hyperactivation of TLL. These biocatalysts were applied in the production of hexyl laurate, where RH-TLL was able to generate 94% conversion in 4 h. Desorption with Triton X-100 and NaCl confirmed that new biocatalysts were more efficient with 5 times less protein than commercial TL IM. All results demonstrated that residual biomass was able to produce robust and stable biocatalysts containing immobilized TLL with better results than commercial preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Acacia mearnsii extract was added as a source of condensed tannins (CT) in the lamb diet. • Condensed tannins (CT) inclusion at levels 60 and 80 g/kg increases urinary N excretion. • Acacia mearnsii extract inclusion in lambs diet reduce nutrients digestibility. • Acacia mearnsii extract up to the level of 40 g/kg improves feed intake and growth. • Acacia mearnsii extracts at levels greater than 40 g/kg DM reduced the growth. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal amount of condensed tannins (CT) from Acacia mearnsii extract for inclusion in lamb diets. Forty noncastrated lambs with a mean age of four months and a mean body weight (BW) of 21.5 ± 1.9 kg were randomized into five treatment groups: 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 g CT/kg dry matter (DM). Eight lambs were included in each treatment group to evaluate their intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen (N) balance, serum metabolites and growth performance. Intake of DM, crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDFap), nonfibrous carbohydrates (NFC) and N, N retention, final BW, average daily gain (ADG), and ADG to DMI ratio quadratically (P < 0.05) increased with increasing CT inclusion in the lamb diets. In contrast, the total digestible nutrients (TDN) intake and digestibility of DM, CP, NDFap, TDN, urinary and fecal N excretion (g/day), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations linearly (P < 0.05) decreased with CT addition. The NFC digestibility linearly (P = 0.043) increased, and serum cholesterol tended (P = 0.06) to increase in response to the inclusion of CT in the lamb diets. The CT inclusion promoted a quadratic (P < 0.01) decrease in urinary N excretion (g/100 g N intake) from the lambs. However, the inclusion of CT from Acacia mearnsii extract did not affect EE digestibility, serum concentrations of triglycerides, glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase enzymes, alanine aminotransferase enzymes, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase enzymes. Inclusion of Acacia mearnsii extract up to level of 40 g/kg dietary DM improves the DM, CP, and NDF ap intake (g/day and g/BW0.75) and leads to greater ADG, thus maintaining nutritional efficiency in lambs. Inclusion of Acacia mearnsii extract as a source of CT above 40 g/kg dietary DM should be avoided because they have deleterious effects on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and N balance, thereby reducing the growth performance of the lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the use of linear estimation methods to determine the electrical parameters of a three phase induction machine. Derivation of linear regression models from the dynamical machine framework; Estimation of a set of four basic parameters; Measurable machine quantities.

Analyzes the ways in which judicial decisions are written in France and in the United States. Construction of a literary methodology to analyze judicial discourse; Production of judicial decisions; Nature of adjudication.

Supernatants of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) incubated for 24 hr in the presence of extracts of freeze-thawed blood stage parasites of Plasmodium vivax or P. falciparum mediate inactivation of gametocytes of either species when incubated in vitro with whole human blood cells. Cultured P. falciparum gametocytes incubated with these malaria extract-stimulated PBMC supernatants in the presence of human blood from which white blood cells (WBC) had been removed were not inactivated. Thus the effects of the PBMC supernatants on gametocyte infectivity were dependent upon the presence of WBC. The suppressive effects mediated in the presence of WBC could be partially reversed in the presence of concentrations of 1 mM or higher of the L-arginine analogue NGL-monomethyl arginine acetate (L-NMMA). Our results indicate that the effects of WBC in inactivating gametocytes are due, at least in part, to a mechanism involving an L-arginine-dependent pathway. Previous studies have shown that the mediators of gametocyte inactivation in the stimulated PBMC supernatants comprised tumour necrosis factor (TNF) acting in conjunction with unidentified, but essential, 'complementary factors'. In the present study we show that these mediators, TNF and complementary factors, affect gametocytes indirectly through their interaction with WBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Organizational environments have undergone major changes in the face of technological innovation advances in the industrial sectors. Looking at this context, technology startups have used increasingly technological and digital resources to delivery services and products with low or zero impact to the environment. Objective: The paper aims to present a propositional model that encompasses the theoretical lenses of Organizational Agility (OA) by boosting Diffusion of Technological Innovation (DTI) in companies and clean technology to obtain Competitive Advantage (CV). Methodology: A multiple case study with a qualitative approach was carried out with Cleantech organizations, supported by 22 semi-structured interviews from 17 clean technology companies in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency and commercialization in addition to water treatment. The results were supported by the content analysis technique. Results: The AO can potentialize the DTI to achieve competitive advantage. Behind this, new categories were founded in this research: Agile Culture Values as a background for Digital Transformation to create a Smart Regulation to promote technological innovation in products and services at companies with sustainable solutions. Contribution: This article contributes with a new model matching by the perspective of OA modify the positioning of managers and founders, to amplify the diffuser scenario of innovation and technology in the organization, reverberating in new market positions. The scientific contribution lists a research program based on the emerging categories of work, flowing into advances in the research field of Cleantech Organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restraint and threat of predation are possibly the most stressful events in wild animals' lives. Management techniques should, therefore, be improved to avoid or minimize suffering in such situations. Body mass and variation in behavior influence the techniques used during containment. Automatic traps are mostly used for small primates living in the lower canopy, while remotely delivered chemical immobilization is the recommended technique for larger primates, which live in the upper canopy. For both methods, careful physical restraint after the capture of the animal is essential. The use of equipment and materials that ensure biosecurity is imperative, as is choosing the most appropriate location for the collection of biological samples. Storage and transport must also be carried out in an adequate manner so as not to impair the samples. Here, therefore, we seek to describe capture, containment, and biological sample collection techniques with the intention of minimizing risks and increase success in the capture of Neotropical primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Obesity is characterized as a disease that directly affects the whole-body metabolism and is associated with excess fat mass and several related comorbidities. Dynamics of adipocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia play an important role in health and disease, especially in obesity. Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASC) represent an important source for understanding the entire adipogenic differentiation process. However, little is known about the triggering step of adipogenesis in hASC. Here, we performed a proteogenomic approach for understanding the protein abundance alterations during the initiation of the adipogenic differentiation process. Methods. hASC were isolated from adipose tissue of three donors and were then characterized and expanded. Cells were cultured for 24 hours in adipogenic differentiation medium followed by protein extraction. We used shotgun proteomics to compare the proteomic profile of 24 h-adipogenic, differentiated, and undifferentiated hASC. We also used our previous next-generation sequencing data (RNA-seq) of the total and polysomal mRNA fractions of hASC to study posttranscriptional regulation during the initial steps of adipogenesis. Results. We identified 3420 proteins out of 48,336 peptides, of which 92 proteins were exclusively identified in undifferentiated hASC and 53 proteins were exclusively found in 24 h-differentiated cells. Using a stringent criterion, we identified 33 differentially abundant proteins when comparing 24 h-differentiated and undifferentiated hASC (14 upregulated and 19 downregulated, respectively). Among the upregulated proteins, we shortlisted several adipogenesis-related proteins. A combined analysis of the proteome and the transcriptome allowed the identification of positive correlation coefficients between proteins and mRNAs. Conclusions. These results demonstrate a specific proteome profile related to adipogenesis at the beginning (24 hours) of the differentiation process in hASC, which advances the understanding of human adipogenesis and obesity. Adipogenic differentiation is finely regulated at the transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and posttranslational levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miller-Dieker syndrome is a genetic deletion syndrome characterized by neuronal migration disorder lissencephaly where the exterior of the brain is abnormally smooth with fewer folds and grooves and characteristic facial dysmorphism. A one year old boy born presented to our emergency with severe respiratory distress and recurrent convulsions. A diagnosis of Miller Diecker syndrome was made consistent with typical clinical features and investigations. The child was managed symptomatically, however the seizures remained refractory and the child succumbed on day three of admission. Diagnosis of rare diseases like this is necessary not only for management but also for predicting recurrence in the family and genetic counselling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SARS-CoV-2 is considered a global emergency, resulting in an exacerbated crisis in the health public in the world. Although there are advances in vaccine development, it is still limited for many countries. On the other hand, an immunological response that mediates protective immunity or indicates that predict disease outcome in SARS-CoV-2 infection remains undefined. This work aimed to assess the antibody levels, avidity, and subclasses of IgG to RBD protein, in symptomatic patients with severe and mild forms of COVID-19 in Brazil using an adapted in-house RBD-IgG ELISA. The RBD IgG-ELISA showed 100% of specificity and 94.3% of sensibility on detecting antibodies in the sera of hospitalized patients. Patients who presented severe COVID-19 had higher anti-RBD IgG levels compared to patients with mild disease. Additionally, most patients analyzed displayed low antibody avidity, with 64.4% of the samples of patients who recovered from the disease and 84.6% of those who died in this avidity range. Our data also reveals an increase of IgG1 and IgG3 levels since the 8th day after symptoms onset, while IgG4 levels maintained less detectable during the study period. Surprisingly, patients who died during 8–14 and 15–21 days also showed higher anti-RBD IgG4 levels in comparison with the recovered (P < 0.05), suggesting that some life-threatening patients can elicit IgG4 to RBD antibody response in the first weeks of symptoms onset. Our findings constitute the effort to clarify IgG antibodies' kinetics, avidity, and subclasses against SARS-CoV-2 RBD in symptomatic patients with COVID-19 in Brazil, highlighting the importance of IgG antibody avidity in association with IgG4 detection as tool laboratory in the follow-up of hospitalized patients with more significant potential for life-threatening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report new occurrence records of Euterpe edulis Mart. and compare them to a database of known occurrences data available in online repositories. The new records are from an Atlantic Forest fragment in São José do Capinzal village, municipality of Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brazil. We found 1,393 occurrence records in the online database, of which 491 are unique records primarily from within the Atlantic Forest remnants. We also present photographs, distribution maps, and ecological characterizations that may be useful for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soybean technology MON 87701 × MON 89788, expressing Cry1Ac and conferring tolerance to glyphosate, has been widely adopted in Brazil since 2013. However, pest shifts or resistance evolution could reduce the benefits of this technology. To assess Cry1Ac soybean performance and understand the composition of lepidopteran pest species attacking soybeans, we implemented large-scale sampling of larvae on commercial soybean fields during the 2019 and 2020 crop seasons to compare with data collected prior to the introduction of Cry1Ac soybeans. Chrysodeixis includens was the main lepidopteran pest in non-Bt fields. More than 98% of larvae found in Cry1Ac soybean were Spodoptera spp., although the numbers of Spodoptera were similar between Cry1Ac soybean and non-Bt fields. Cry1Ac soybean provided a high level of protection against Anticarsia gemmatalis, C. includens, Chloridea virescens and Helicoverpa spp. Significant reductions in insecticide sprays for lepidopteran control in soybean were observed from 2012 to 2019. Our study showed that C. includens and A. gemmatalis continue to be primary lepidopteran pests of soybean in Brazil and that Cry1Ac soybean continues to effectively manage the target lepidopteran pests. However, there was an increase in the relative abundance of non-target Spodoptera spp. larvae in both non-Bt and Cry1Ac soybeans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The authors hypothesized that low tidal volume (VT) would minimize ventilator-induced lung injury regardless of the degree of mechanical power. The authors investigated the impact of power, obtained by different combinations of VT and respiratory rate (RR), on ventilator-induced lung injury in experimental mild acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods: Forty Wistar rats received Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide intratracheally. After 24 h, 32 rats were randomly assigned to be mechanically ventilated (2 h) with a combination of different VT (6 ml/kg and 11 ml/kg) and RR that resulted in low and high power. Power was calculated as energy (ΔP,L/E,L) × RR (ΔP,L = transpulmonary driving pressure; E,L = lung elastance), and was threefold higher in high than in low power groups. Eight rats were not mechanically ventilated and used for molecular biology analysis.Results: Diffuse alveolar damage score, which represents the severity of edema, atelectasis, and overdistension, was increased in high VT compared to low VT, in both low (low VT: 11 [9 to 14], high VT: 18 [15 to 20]) and high (low VT: 19 [16 to 25], high VT: 29 [27 to 30]) power groups. At high VT, interleukin-6 and amphiregulin expressions were higher in high-power than in low-power groups. At high power, amphiregulin and club cell protein 16 expressions were higher in high VT than in low VT. Mechanical energy and power correlated well with diffuse alveolar damage score and interleukin-6, amphiregulin, and club cell protein 16 expression.Conclusions: In experimental mild ARDS, even at low VT, high mechanical power promoted ventilator-induced lung injury. To minimize ventilator-induced lung injury, low VT should be combined with low power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson’s disease affects millions of people around the world and consequently various approaches have emerged to help diagnose this disease, among which we can highlight handwriting exams. Extracting features from handwriting exams is an important contribution of the computational field for the diagnosis of this disease. In this paper, we propose an approach that measures the similarity between the exam template and the handwritten trace of the patient following the exam template. This similarity was measured using the Structural Cooccurrence Matrix to calculate how close the handwritten trace of the patient is to the exam template. The proposed approach was evaluated using various exam templates and the handwritten traces of the patient. Each of these variations was used together with the Naïve Bayes, OPF, and SVM classifiers. In conclusion the proposed approach was proven to be better than the existing methods found in the literature and is therefore a promising tool for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, we investigate the diversity and modulation of leukocyte populations represented in the gates defined by size and granularity at different time points of thioglycollate-induced peritonitis in mouse. Results: The inflammatory cells were distributed into four regions (R1-R4) of a data plot graph defined by cell size and granularity. R1 and R2 contained agranular cells that were small in size and predominately included T (CD3+) lymphocytes along with B (B220+) lymphocytes. Macrophages (F4/80+) were the predominant cells found in the R3 region. However, these cells were present in all regions, albeit at a lower frequency in R1 and R2. Granulocytes (Gr1+) were mainly distributed in R3 and R4. The wide distribution of F4/80+ and Gr1+ cells may reflect the recruitment and activation state of the different macrophage and granulocyte populations. Based on these observations, size and granularity may contribute to an initial step in the analysis and sorting of thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal exudate cells. However, the developmental stage and cell activation state may interfere with cell segregation using size and granularity as parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil pH and calcium levels are determining factors in the success or failure of managing clubroot during the cultivation of Brassica spp. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of soil attributes in tropical regions on the development of roots and clubroot and the accumulation of biomass and nutrients in cauliflower. One hundred and fifty-one samples of soil and plants were collected from 16 family farms that have a history of more than 50 years of regular cauliflower cultivation in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Chemical and physical analyses were performed on the soil samples, and the severity of clubroot and the accumulation of biomass and macronutrients in individual plants and plant tissues. Clustering and main principal component analyses were performed on the data. The disease occurred on all farms, but with different intensities. A direct relationship was observed for the soil attributes (acidity and exchangeable aluminum content in particular) with the percentage of roots with clubroot and with the accumulation of biomass and macronutrients in the different plant organs. To reduce losses from clubroot in weathered soils, practices should aim to reduce the pathogen’s inoculum potential and improve the physical and chemical conditions of the soil, which would favor root development of the plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To alert pediatricians about the importance of a careful investigation on recurrent apparent life-threatening events. Reports of the association of these events with congenital myasthenic syndromes were not found. Case description: A seven-month-old infant with recurrent apparent life-threatening events was admitted for investigation. During hospital stay, she presented cyanosis and respiratory failure, requiring mechanical ventilation for three days. After clinical improvement, hypotheses of gastroesophageal reflux and pulmonary aspiration were ruled out. The presence of eyelid ptosis, general hypotonia and weak crying led to the suspicion of congenital myasthenia, which was confirmed. Treatment with oral piridostigmine led to neurological and nutritional normalization, without any other apparent life-threatening event during the next three years. Comments: The careful etiological investigation of apparent life-threatening events may lead to rare diagnosis that requires specific treatments, such as congenital myasthenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors give insights on the ethical debates surrounding synthetic biology. They discuss the impact of synthetic biology on the society and determine how the new capabilities in biological engineering empower the research community and make them realize applications that people find most difficult. Both authors also stress the importance of paying more attention to the risks and safety issues raised by any technology.

The orb-weaving spider genus Novakiella Court & Forster, 1993 (family Araneidae Clerck, 1757) is reviewed to include two species, N. trituberculosa (Roewer, 1942) (type species, Australia and New Zealand) and N. boletus sp. nov. (Australia). Novakiella belongs to the informal, largely Australian 'backobourkiine' clade and shares with the other genera of the clade a single macroseta on the male pedipalp patella and a median apophysis of the male pedipalp that forms an arch over the radix. The proposed genus synapomorphies are the presence of a large basal conductor lobe expanding apically over the radix and the shape of the median apophysis, which extends into a basally directed, pointy projection. Males have an apico-prolateral spur on the tibia of the second leg that carries a distinct spine. Females have an epigyne with triangular base plate bearing transverse ridges and an elongate triangular scape, which is almost always broken off. The humeral humps of the abdomen are distinct. Novakiella trituberculosa build characteristic domeshaped webs; however, the foraging behaviour and web-shape of N. boletus sp. nov., currently only known from museum specimens, are not known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainability of animal production on pasture is based on improving the management of forage species used, which ensures increase in animal productivity, pasture perenniality and cost reduction. The objective was to characterize productive, structural, physiological and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) responses of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf 'Basilisk' over the flexibilization of the grazing management adopted. Four defoliation combinations were evaluated, which consisted of the arrangement of two (85% and 95%) light interceptions (LI) and two (1.3 and 1.8) residual leaf area indexes (RLAI), as parameters of entry and exit of the animals from the pasture, respectively. Higher total forage biomass was observed (TFB, kg DM ha-1) 18.82%, when the canopy was managed at the lowest defoliation frequencies (95% LI), but with a higher morphological composition of the stem component and dead material. The 95% LI produced an extra layer of leaves than the canopy managed at 85% LI. The physiological variables were affected by the higher frequency of defoliation (85% LI), with lower photosynthetic rates. NDVI was higher in the canopy managed in the pre-grazing condition at 95% LI (0.88) and residual condition at 1.8 RLAI (0.49), when compared to 85% LI (0.86) and 1.3 RLAI (0.44). For greater production per animal, managing at 85% LI x 1.8 RLAI with pre-grazing and residual NDVI of 0.85 and 0.49, respectively, is the most suitable while for greater animal production per area, managing at 95% LI x 1.3 RLAI with pre-grazing and residual NDVI of 0.88 and 0.44, respectively, becomes more efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the estimation of the electric and magnetic fields level inside a 400 MVA electrical substation. Located in the northeast region of Brazil, the power plant operates with 230 and 69 kV at 60 Hz frequency. The on‐site measurements were performed at previously selected locations covering the whole courtyard and followed the international and national regulatory standards. The electrical and magnetic fields 2‐D contour maps over the entire courtyard are presented, which allow better visualisation and analysis of the exposure levels around all equipment. By using the GoldenSurfer V.13 tool, eight interpolation methods were applied to predict unsampled locations. The plots were made using the method that best fit the sampled dataset after the cross‐validation technique is used. The measurements were taken during six days during a period of 16 h on 741 locations. For this electrical substation, the maps validate the high electric field level close to breakers and switches at 230 kV and high magnetic field close to equipment operating at 69 kV. The comparison between the exposure levels and those established in current guidelines indicate that the electromagnetic environment on this substation is safe for the occupational population as well as for the general public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural precursor cells differentiate into several cell types that display distinct functions. However, little is known about how cell surface mechanics vary during the differentiation process. Here, by precisely measuring membrane tension and bending modulus, we map their variations and correlate them with changes in neural precursor cell morphology along their distinct differentiation fates. Both cells maintained in culture as neural precursors as well as those plated in neurobasal medium reveal a decrease in membrane tension over the first hours of culture followed by stabilization, with no change in bending modulus. During astrocyte differentiation, membrane tension initially decreases and then increases after 72 h, accompanied by consolidation of glial fibrillary acidic protein expression and striking actin reorganization, while bending modulus increases following observed alterations. For oligodendrocytes, the changes in membrane tension are less abrupt over the first hours, but their values subsequently decrease, correlating with a shift from oligodendrocyte marker O4 to myelin basic protein expressions and a remarkable actin reorganization, while bending modulus remains constant. Oligodendrocytes at later differentiation stages show membrane vesicles with similar membrane tension but higher bending modulus as compared to the cell surface. Altogether, our results display an entire spectrum of how membrane elastic properties are varying, thus contributing to a better understanding of neural differentiation from a mechanobiological perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apoptosis signaling pathways, drug resistance, and metastasis are important targets to develop new cancer treatments. We developed cholesterol-coated Poly(d,l-Lactide-co-Glycolic Acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles for effective encapsulation and delivery of retinoic acid and oxaliplatin to analyze their antitumor activity in colorectal cancer. The cell viability and proliferation of tumoral cells lines (CT-26 and SW-480) decreased when compared to control in vitro after treatment with the nanoparticles. In addition, apoptosis of CT-26 cells increased. Importantly, cytoprotection of nontumor cells was detected. Expression of pro-apoptotic proteins was upregulated, while anti-apoptotic proteins were downregulated either in vitro or in vivo. In addition, drug resistance and metastasis factors were downregulated in vivo. Human colorectal tumors that highly expressed BCL-2 and Ki-67 had a greater tendency towards death within 60 months. Our results show that loading oxaliplatin combined with retinoic acid and cholesterol in a nanoparticle formulation enables determination of optimal antitumor activity and subsequent treatment efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MiniBooNE collaboration recently released a report claiming have observed an excess of electron and anti-electron neutrino with significance of 4.8 σ C.L. corroborating, in this way, the long-standing LSND anomaly. Combined LSND and MiniBooNE analysis reach a significance of 6.0 σ C.L. Such a result, if confirmed by future experiments, will cause considerable impact on particle physics since that such anomalies, when interpreted in terms of neutrino oscillation, require the existence of at least one light sterile neutrino. It happens that, on according to standard scenarios, such light sterile neutrino is incompatible with current cosmological data. In this way, understand these anomalies requires an extension of the standard model capable of generating tiny masses for both active and sterile neutrinos and re-conciliates such a result with cosmology. An interesting proposal in this direction involves the existence of a secret sector interacting exclusively with sterile neutrinos. In this work we implement the canonical seesaw mechanism into the standard model in such a way that generates tiny masses to the active and sterile neutrinos and embody a secret sector capable of re-conciliating eV sterile neutrinos with cosmology. As other gains, the scalar content required by the implementation of the mechanism provides contribution to rare lepton decays, may accommodate the g − 2 of the muon and poses a scalar singlet that may drive inflation through Higgs inflation mechanism without problem with loss of unitarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Conflicting data have reported beneficial effects of crystalloids, hyper-oncotic albumin (20%ALB), and iso-oncotic albumin (5%ALB) in critically ill patients. Although hyper-oncotic albumin may minimize lung injury, recent studies have shown that human albumin may lead to kidney damage proportional to albumin concentration. In this context, we compared the effects of Ringer's lactate (RL), 20%ALB, and 5%ALB, all titrated according to similar hemodynamic goals, on pulmonary function, lung and kidney histology, and molecular biology in experimental acute lung injury (ALI).Methods: Male Wistar rats received Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide intratracheally (n = 24) to induce ALI. After 24 h, animals were anesthetized and randomly assigned to receive RL, 20%ALB, or 5%ALB (n = 6/group) to maintain hemodynamic stability (distensibility index of inferior vena cava < 25%, mean arterial pressure > 65 mmHg). Rats were then mechanically ventilated for 6 h. Six animals, which received neither ventilation nor fluids (NV), were used for molecular biology analyses.Results: The total fluid volume infused was higher in RL compared to 5%ALB and 20%ALB (median [interquartile range], 10.8[8.2-33.2] vs. 4.8[3.6-7.7] and 4.3[3.9-6.6] mL, respectively; p = 0.02 and p = 0.003). B-line counts on lung ultrasound (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0002) and serum lactate levels (p = 0.01 and p = 0.01) were higher in RL than 5%ALB and 20%ALB. Diffuse alveolar damage score was lower in 5%ALB (10.5[8.5-12]) and 20%ALB (10.5[8.5-14]) than RL (16.5[12.5-20.5]) (p < 0.05 and p = 0.03, respectively), while acute kidney injury score was lower in 5%ALB (9.5[6.5-10]) than 20%ALB (18[15-28.5], p = 0.0006) and RL (16 [15-19], p = 0.04). In lung tissue, mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-6 was higher in RL (59.1[10.4-129.3]) than in 5%ALB (27.0[7.8-49.7], p = 0.04) or 20%ALB (3.7[7.8-49.7], p = 0.03), and IL-6 protein levels were higher in RL than 5%ALB and 20%ALB (p = 0.026 and p = 0.021, respectively). In kidney tissue, mRNA expression and protein levels of kidney injury molecule (KIM)-1 were lower in 5%ALB than RL and 20%ALB, while nephronectin expression increased (p = 0.01 and p = 0.01), respectively.Conclusions: In a rat model of ALI, both iso-oncotic and hyper-oncotic albumin solutions were associated with less lung injury compared to Ringer's lactate. However, hyper-oncotic albumin resulted in greater kidney damage than iso-oncotic albumin. This experimental study is a step towards future clinical designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Studies suggest that telemedicine (TM) increases antibiotic prescription rate. • We analyzed 6050 TM visits performed under rigorous antibiotic stewardship. • Most acute low-risk infectious conditions were adequately managed by TM. • TM under stewardship was associated with low and adequate antibiotic prescription. To analyze the antibiotic prescription rate in low-risk patients evaluated at a telemedicine program that adopts antibiotic stewardship protocols. Adult patients who accessed a single direct-to-consumer telemedicine center (Jan/2019–Feb/2020) were retrospectively enrolled. Diseases amenable to antimicrobial treatment were classified under five diagnostic groups: upper respiratory tract infection (URI), acute pharyngotonsillitis (PT), acute sinusitis (AS), urinary tract infection (UTI), and acute diarrhea (AD). Physicians were trained on and advised to strictly follow the current guideline recommendations supported by institutional antibiotic stewardship protocols, readily available online during consultations. We analyzed the antibiotic prescription rate among patients, referral rate, and antibiotic class through descriptive statistics. A total of 2328 patients were included in the study. A total of 2085 (89·6%) patients were discharged with usual recommendations, medication (if needed), and instructions about red flags, while 243 (10·4%) were referred to a face-to-face consultation. Among the discharged patients, the antibiotic prescription rates by the diagnostic group were URI — 2·5%, PT — 35·0%, AS — 51·8%, UTI — 91.6%, and AD — 1·6%. In most cases, prescribed antibiotics were in line with institutional stewardship protocols. Low prescription rate of antibiotics can be achieved using antibiotic stewardship protocols at direct-to-consumer telemedicine consultations, showing high adherence to international guidelines. These results reinforce telemedicine as a cost-effective and safe strategy for the initial assessment of acute non-urgent symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the physical and chemical changes, pectinases activity, and cell wall pectin in melon varieties Acidulus (access 16), Momordica (access 2), Inodorus (cv. 'Iracema') and Cantalupensis (cv. 'Olympic'), in the relation of ripening degree at harvest. Melon fruits were planted and evaluated with different ripening degree at harvest, from 15 to 35 days after anthesis (DAA). The fruits, arranged in a completely randomized design, had been evaluated on the harvest days to physical and chemical characteristics. We evaluate pectin methylesterase, polygalacturonase, beta-galactosidase, and pectin contents (water-soluble, chelate soluble, and sodium carbonate soluble). The ideal harvest for each melon was, 35 days after anthesis for cv 'Iracema', 30 days after anthesis for cv. 'Olympic', 30 days after anthesis for access 16, and 20 days after anthesis for access 2. High pulp firmness of access 16 is associated with the high levels of sodium carbonate soluble pectin and low levels of polygalacturonase and beta-galactosidase activity. Momordica melon fruit cracking is related to the high levels of pectinases activity, as well as pectin degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is an onco-hematologic disease with distinct levels of peripheral blood cytopenias, dysplasias in cell differentiation and various forms of chromosomal and cytogenomic alterations. In this study, the Chromosomal Microarray Analysis (CMA) was performed in patients with primary MDS without numerical and/or structural chromosomal alterations in karyotypes. A total of 17 patients was evaluated by GTG banding and eight patients showed no numerical and/or structural alterations. Then, the CMA was carried out and identified gains and losses CNVs and long continuous stretches of homozygosity (LCSHs). They were mapped on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, X, and Y. Ninety-one genes that have already been implicated in molecular pathways important for cell viability were selected and in-silico expression analyses demonstrated 28 genes differentially expressed in mesenchymal stromal cells of patients. Alterations in these genes may be related to the inactivation of suppressor genes or the activation of oncogenes contributing to the evolution and malignization of MDS. CMA provided additional information in patients without visible changes in the karyotype and our findings could contribute with additional information to improve the prognostic and personalized stratification for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to evaluate elemental changes in pepper exposed to Cd stress through different chemometric tools. For this purpose, pepper plants were grown under five different treatments with different Cd concentrations in the nutrient solution. Considering the hypothesis that pepper plants exposed to Cd stress during growth undergo changes in the macro- and microelemental distribution in leaves, stems, and roots, principal component analysis (PCA) and parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis were applied to compare bidirectional and multivariate chemometric strategies to assess elemental changes in pepper plants. Since the number of variables and the data generated were large and complex, the application of chemometric tools was justified to facilitate the visualization and interpretation of results. The mineral composition, namely the Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, and P contents, was assessed in 180 samples of leaves, stems, and roots of the cultivated peppers. Then, PCA and PARAFAC analysis were applied to compare bidirectional and multivariate chemometric strategies to assess elemental changes throughout pepper plants. The visualization of the trend on each sample and their intrinsic relationship with the variables were possible with the application of PCA. The use of PARAFAC analysis permitted the simultaneous study of all samples in a straightforward representation of the information that facilitated a quick and comprehensive understanding of the spatial distribution of elements in plants. Thus, macroelements (Ca, K, Mg, N, and P) that were found in higher concentrations in leaves did not present significant differences in the distribution along the plants under different treatment conditions. In contrast, a significant impact on the microelement (Cu, Fe, and Mn) distribution was produced between uncontaminated and contaminated samples. This analysis revealed a significant accumulation of Cd in roots and adverse effects on normal plant growth, demonstrating their level of phytotoxicity to pepper. [Display omitted] • Elementomic study was performed to assess pepper plants exposed to Cd stress. • Macro- and microelements distribution in leaves, stems, and roots was evaluated. • Chemometric strategies (PCA and PARAFAC) were applied to describe elementomic changes. • Pepper plants exposed to Cd stress produced changes in the distribution of the elements in leaves, stems, and roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first record of Furipterus horrens (Cuvier, 1828) in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. A male specimen was captured using a harp trap in the entrance of a cave in the Parque Municipal Gruta do Bacaetava. The morphometric data and morphological characters of the specimen are within the known range documented for this species. This new record fills a gap in the known distribution of F. horrens and provides potentially valuable information that can be used to plan conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is to know the new management logic of the people in the organizations in search of the knowledge and the new roles that the workers assume in that context. It was assumed that the new management models require new roles of workers and people management in organizations. The administrative theories analyzed are mainly from Nonaka and Takeuchi (1997), Brito (2005), Reinhardt et al. (2011), Fukunaga et al. (2015), Freire et al. (2016) and Castro e Brito (2016). This is a theoretical essay whose provisional considerations indicate that the role of workers is to know how to allocate knowledge for productive use, to combine skills in the creative process to generate innovation, to develop education by making know-how feasible through experiences and proficiency practices to build new knowledge, develop cooperative attitude to know how to work in complementary and multidisciplinary teams, seek the development and constant updating of the skills required by the organization through education and training for work. In the meantime, the role of organizations is to support and stimulate activities that create individuals' knowledge, that is, to provide conditions that are conducive to the development of workers and to resignify people management. Therefore, education for work is configured as the backbone of managing work with people becoming a strategic issue for organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequate agronomic management is crucial to reach high guava yields that demand a well-defined fertilizer management, including organic fertilizer such as biofertilizers, which have emerged as an important component of the integrated nutrient supply system aiming environmentally better nutrient supply using fertigation systems in Brazil. This way, an experiment was carried out to evaluate the fruit production and quality of guava as a function of biofertilizers and N fertilizing in brazilian semiarid. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with treatments distributed in a factorial arrangement (5 x 2) referring to biofertilizer concentrations [0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10%] and mineral fertilizing with N (fertilization with 50% and 100% of recommended N), with four replications of five plants each. Fruit quality and production of guava depend on bovine biofertilizer and N fertigation. Biofertilizer promotes significant enhancements on fruit firmness, vitamin C and pH, beyond titratable acidity reduction of guava. It is possible to recommend fertigation with biofertilizer at 5.66%, independently of N fertilizing with 50% or 100% of recommended N. Bovine biofertilizer is an important key to the production [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms are constantly challenged by stressful conditions, such as sugar-rich environments. Such environments can cause an imbalance of biochemical activities and compromise cell multiplication. Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PAl 5 is among the most sugar-tolerant bacteria, capable of growing in the presence of up to 876 mM sucrose. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in its response to high sucrose remain unknown. The present work aimed to identify sucrose-induced stress resistance genes in G. diazotrophicus PAl 5. Screening of a Tn5 transposon insertion library identified a mutant that was severely compromised in its resistance to high sucrose concentrations. Molecular characterization revealed that the mutation affected the kupA gene, which encodes a K+ uptake transporter (KupA). Functional complementation of the mutant with the wild type kupA gene recovered the sucrose-induced stress resistance phenotype. High sucrose resistance assay, under different potassium concentrations, revealed that KupA acts as a high-affinity K+ transporter, which is essential for resistance to sucrose-induced stress, when extracellular potassium levels are low. This study is the first to show the essential role of the KupA protein for resistance to sucrose-induced stress in bacteria by acting as a high-affinity potassium transporter in G. diazotrophicus PAl 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the phytochemistry, cytotoxicity and acute toxicity of leaf extracts from Annona vepretorum. Methods: The crude extracts were obtained by maceration with hexane and methanol. The crude methanol extract was suspended in a 3:7 (v/v) mixture of methanol (MeOH) and water (H2O) and partitioned with hexane, chloroform (CHCl3) and ethyl acetate (AcOEt) in ascending order of polarity to obtain the respective extracts. In the investigation of phytochemical profile, the extracts were evaluated on thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates of silica gel. Cytotoxicity was tested using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) (MTS) assays against tumor cell lines, viz, HCT-116 (colon), SF-295 (brain), HL-60 (leukemic) and Sarcoma-180. Acute toxicity study was performed by administration of a single oral dose of 2 g/kg body weight of the extracts to mice and the animals were observed for 14 days. Results: Phytochemical screening results showed that A. vepretorum extracts contain alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenes. Methanol and chloroform extracts exhibited high cytotoxic activity against HCT-116, HL-60 and Sarcoma-180. Moreover, the extracts displayed low toxicity in mice, as no deaths and pronounced toxic effects were observed. Conclusion: A. vepretorum contains a variety of secondary metabolites which may confer on this species high cytotoxic activity. In addition, the oral administration of the extracts produced low toxicity in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a study of teacher training in dance in the city of Fortaleza from the contribution of Hugo Bianchy dancer and teacher in the 1950s and 1960s. It is a historical research on which we used as a methodological basis the concepts of the New Cultural History (NHC). We also use oral history procedures. Thus, for the collection of information for the understanding of this research, we used oral sources, iconographic and publications on the newspaper The People. The study shows that the dance training in Fortaleza is marked by the 1960s, when Hugo Bianchy deploys her dance academy. We also noticed that there was a concern with the formation of a dance teacher, and yes, with the formation of the artist dancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work nanofibrous 3D scaffolds of bioactive glasses (58S, 60%SiO 2 –36%CaO–4%P 2 O 5 in mol and 63S, 65%SiO 2 –31%CaO–4%P 2 O 5 in mol) were produced by a one-step solution blow spinning (SBS) process. A green synthesis route was used with water as solvent and PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), 8 wt%, as a spinning agent. The physical properties of the scaffolds were studied, and their bioactivity assessed using simulated body fluid (SBF) and cell viability evaluated with MC3T3-E1 cells. After immersion in SBF, hydroxyapatite formed on the surface of the fibers within 12 h in both compositions. Pre-osteoblastic cells MC3T3-E1 were seeded on nanofiber surfaces and the bioactive glass scaffolds displayed enhanced cell number, protein synthesis and differentiation levels of alkaline phosphatase activity consistent with cytocompatibility. Such novel biomaterials have high potential to be used as scaffolds in tissue engineering for bone regeneration. • A novel route to produce 3D scaffolds by one step spinning process. • Bioactive glasses scaffolds with nanofibrous structure. • Nanofibrous scaffolds with high potential for use in bone regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the association between body image disorders and the lifestyle and body composition of female adolescents.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: The Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and Silhouette Scale and Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 were used to evaluate the participants' body image. Body composition was evaluated by a Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry equipment, and lifestyles were identified by latent class analysis (LCA) using the poLCA package for R.Participants: Female adolescents aged 14-19 years old, in the city of Viçosa-MG, Brazil.Results: In total, 405 girls participated in the study. Almost half of the participants were dissatisfied with their current physical appearance (51·4 %), presented body perception distortions (52·9 %). 47·3 % of the adolescents were dissatisfied with their body according to the BSQ, and another 8 % severely so. Subjects with an 'Inactive and Sedentary' latent lifestyle were 1·71 times as likely to feel dissatisfied as those with active and sedentary or inactive and non-sedentary lifestyles (95 % CI 1·08, 2·90, P = 0·047). Body image disorders showed an association with decreased amounts of moderate and vigorous physical activity, high screen time, increased alcohol consumption and excess body fat.Conclusions: Particular patterns of lifestyle and body composition seem to be associated in female adolescents with dissatisfaction with, distortion of and excessive concern about appearance. Specifically, physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour, alcohol consumption and high body fat percentage may be strongly linked to body image disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most open markets, the hygienic conditions for marketing food products are unsatisfactory, constituting a form of food-borne contamination. Therefore, knowing the forms of manipulation in open markets is of great importance for guaranteeing the quality of products, as well as reducing the possibility of generating food waste. Faced with this problem, the work aimed to assess the hygienic quality of stalls in the open market in the cities of Cachoeira and Muritiba, BA. A questionnaire and a checklist were applied to the fairground vendors in the cities of Cachoeira and Muritiba - Bahia. During the research it was found unsatisfactory hygienic conditions for the commercialization of products and vendors, with the need for physical adaptation of the place of sale and training of handlers regarding hygiene measures. There was a high waste of products sold, mainly tomatoes and peppers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is important for our survival and indispensable for the production of food and other activities for economic purposes. The necessary characteristic of the water distributed for human consumption is potability, that is, it must be clean and free from any contamination of microbiological, chemical, physical or radioactive origin, and under no circumstances should it offer risks to human health. The objective was to evaluate the microbiological quality of water in the city of Muritiba, Bahia. Twelve water samples were collected at different points: a Cachoeirinha river and where in Muritiba. Microbiological analyzes were performed according to the methodological procedures described in the Practical Water Analysis Manual. Through the analyzes carried out it was possible to assess whether there was the presence or absence of bacteria in the coliform group; of the twelve points evaluated, the eleven collected in the city of Muritiba, resulted in the absence of microorganisms, while that of the Cachoeirinha River, had presence of both microorganisms, being unfit for consumption. Thus, water and / or reservoir care is necessary to make quality water available to the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Protein–peptide interactions play a fundamental role in a wide variety of biological processes, such as cell signaling, regulatory networks, immune responses, and enzyme inhibition. Peptides are characterized by low toxicity and small interface areas; therefore, they are good targets for therapeutic strategies, rational drug planning and protein inhibition. Approximately 10% of the ethical pharmaceutical market is protein/peptide-based. Furthermore, it is estimated that 40% of protein interactions are mediated by peptides. Despite the fast increase in the volume of biological data, particularly on sequences and structures, there remains a lack of broad and comprehensive protein–peptide databases and tools that allow the retrieval, characterization and understanding of protein–peptide recognition and consequently support peptide design. Results: We introduce Propedia, a comprehensive and up-to-date database with a web interface that permits clustering, searching and visualizing of protein–peptide complexes according to varied criteria. Propedia comprises over 19,000 high-resolution structures from the Protein Data Bank including structural and sequence information from protein–peptide complexes. The main advantage of Propedia over other peptide databases is that it allows a more comprehensive analysis of similarity and redundancy. It was constructed based on a hybrid clustering algorithm that compares and groups peptides by sequences, interface structures and binding sites. Propedia is available through a graphical, user-friendly and functional interface where users can retrieve, and analyze complexes and download each search data set. We performed case studies and verified that the utility of Propedia scores to rank promissing interacting peptides. In a study involving predicting peptides to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 main protease, we showed that Propedia scores related to similarity between different peptide complexes with SARS-CoV-2 main protease are in agreement with molecular dynamics free energy calculation. Conclusions: Propedia is a database and tool to support structure-based rational design of peptides for special purposes. Protein–peptide interactions can be useful to predict, classifying and scoring complexes or for designing new molecules as well. Propedia is up-to-date as a ready-to-use webserver with a friendly and resourceful interface and is available at: https://bioinfo.dcc.ufmg.br/propedia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cheeses are able to serve as suitable matrices for supplying probiotics to consumers, enabling appropriate conditions for bacteria to survive gastric transit and reach the gut, where they are assumed to promote beneficial processes. The present study aimed to evaluate the microbiological, immunological, and histological changes in the gut of Salmonella Enteritidis-challenged rats fed goat cheese supplemented with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus EM1107. Thirty male albino Wistar rats were randomly distributed into 5 experimental groups with 6 animals each: negative (NC) and positive (PtC) control groups, control goat cheese (CCh), goat cheese added with L. rhamnosus EM1107 (LrCh), and L. rhamnosus EM1107 only (EM1107). All animals, except NC group were challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis (109 cfu in 1 mL of saline through oral gavage). Microbial composition was assessed with high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing by means of Illumina MiSeq (Illumina, San Diego, CA). Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) from the animal cecum tissue was determined by real-time PCR and interleukins (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, and IFN-γ) by means of ELISA. Myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde levels were determined biochemically. The administration of the L. rhamnosus EM1107 probiotic strain, either as a pure culture or added to a cheese matrix, was able to reduce Salmonella colonization in the intestinal lumen and lessen tissue damage compared with rats from PtC group. In addition, the use of cheese for the probiotic strain delivery (LrCh) was associated with a marked shift in the gut microbiota composition toward the increase of beneficial organisms such as Blautia and Lactobacillus and a reduction in NF-κB expression. These findings support our hypothesis that cheeses might be explored as functional matrices for the efficacious delivery of probiotic strains to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an easy to construct imaging system that can resolve particles separated by ≥ 0.68 μ m with minimum aberrations. Its first photon collecting lens is placed at a distance of 31.6 mm giving wide optical access. The microscope has a Numerical Aperture (NA) of 0.33, which is able to collect signal over 0.36 sr. The diffraction limited objective and magnifier recollects 77% photons into the central disc of the image with a transverse spherical aberration of 0.05 mm and magnification upto 238. The system has a depth of field of 142 μ m and a field of view of 56 μ m which images a large ensemble of atoms. The imaging system gives a diffraction limited performance over visible to near-infrared wavelengths on optimization of the working distance and the distance between the objective and magnifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main weaknesses of the municipalities in relation to environmental issues is the absence of an adequate institutional structure or even the already inefficient management employed. Analyzing these variables contributes to regional development, being able to promote the improvement of the population's quality of life and make public management more efficient. Thus, the study aimed to carry out a critical analysis about the efficiency of the application of public policies in the environmental management of the municipality of Castanhal-PA., Evaluating it, observing if the existing policies are being fulfilled, also analyzing how civil society behaves in the face of possible environmental problems generated. The methodological procedures are constituted of factors that present a qualitative design, based on field research, bibliography and data collection. The results showed that there is still a long way to go within the Municipality, which has a very strong theoretical basis in relation to achieving this good management, however, they do not apply in practice, taking into account that the Master Plan does not actually meet the needs of the municipality. Finally, environmental public policies have undergone some advances in the studied municipality, but these are still enough to meet their needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]