Productive Structure and Income Distribution: the Brazilian Case.

This study deals with the impacts of structural changes on income distribution in Brazil in the period 1992-2002. A Pure Leontief Model and a Leontief-Miazawa Model were utilized to portray the structure of the economy in both years, and to perform counterfactual simulations on some important changes occurring during the period. The methodology allowed for the identification of the high and low inequality sectors in both years, and to their contribution to the increasing inequality during the period. It is interesting to notice that some sectors with low internal inequality ended-up provoking increased global inequality through their interaction pattern with other sectors in the economy,and through the consumption structure. The results also indicate that the change in sectoral shares in the period contributed to diminishing inequality. Therefore, the causes for increasing inequality remains within the distribution of wages within the sectors.

Evaluation of ionic degradation and slot corrosion of metallic brackets by the action of different dentifrices

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the in vitro ionic degradation and slot base corrosion of metallic brackets subjected to brushing with dentifrices, through analysis of chemical composition by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and qualitative analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). METHODS: Thirty eight brackets were selected and randomly divided into four experimental groups (n = 7). Two groups (n = 5) worked as positive and negative controls. Simulated orthodontic braces were assembled using 0.019 x 0.025-in stainless steel wires and elastomeric rings. The groups were divided according to surface treatment: G1 (Máxima Proteção Anticáries®); G2 (Total 12®); G3 (Sensitive®); G4 (Branqueador®); Positive control (artificial saliva) and Negative control (no treatment). Twenty eight brushing cycles were performed and evaluations were made before (T0) and after (T1) experiment. RESULTS: The Wilcoxon test showed no difference in ionic concentrations of titanium (Ti), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni) between groups. G2 presented significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the concentration of aluminium ion (Al). Groups G3 and G4 presented significant increase (p < 0.05) in the concentration of aluminium ion. The SEM analysis showed increased characteristics indicative of corrosion on groups G2, G3 and G4. CONCLUSION: The EDS analysis revealed that control groups and G1 did not suffer alterations on the chemical composition. G2 presented degradation in the amount of Al ion. G3 and G4 suffered increase in the concentration of Al. The immersion in artificial saliva and the dentifrice Máxima Proteção Anticáries® did not alter the surface polishing. The dentifrices Total 12®, Sensitive® and Branqueador® altered the surface polishing.OBJETIVO: avaliar in vitro a degradação iônica e corrosão do fundo do slot de braquetes metálicos submetidos à escovação com dentifrícios, realizando análises da composição química por Espectroscopia de Energia Dispersiva (EDS) e qualitativa por Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). MÉTODOS: foram selecionados 38 braquetes divididos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos experimentais (n = 7). Dois grupos (n = 5) funcionaram como controles positivo e negativo. Aparelhos ortodônticos simulados foram confeccionados com fios de aço inoxidável 0,019 x 0,025 e anéis elastoméricos. Os grupos foram divididos de acordo com o tratamento de superfície: G1 (Máxima Proteção Anticáries®); G2 (Total 12®); G3 (Sensitive®); G4 (Branqueador®); Controle Positivo (saliva artificial) e Controle Negativo (sem tratamento). Foram realizados 28 ciclos de escovação e avaliações antes (T0) e após (T1) o experimento. RESULTADOS: o teste de Wilcoxon indicou não existir diferença nas concentrações iônicas de titânio (Ti), cromo (Cr), ferro (Fe) e níquel (Ni) entre os grupos. O grupo G2 apresentou redução significativa (p < 0,05) na concentração do íon alumínio (Al) e os grupos G3 e G4 apresentaram aumento significativo (p < 0,05) nas concentrações do íon alumínio. A análise em MEV mostrou aumento nas características indicativas de corrosão dos grupos G2, G3 e G4. CONCLUSÃO: a análise por EDS revelou que os grupos controle e G1 não sofreram alterações na composição química. O grupo G2 apresentou degradação na quantidade de íons Al, e G3 e G4 sofreram aumento na concentração de Al. A imersão em saliva artificial e o dentifrício Máxima Proteção Anticáries® não alteraram o polimento de superfície. Os dentifrícios Total 12®, Sensitive® e Branqueador® alteraram o polimento de superfície.869

Evaluation of the oxidative profile of critical patients hospitalized in adult intensive care unit

The objective of this work was to evaluate and correlate the oxidative stress in patients with uncontrolled blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia) hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU). This was a cross-sectional study, performed with 26 patients in an ICU of a hospital in the Zona da Mata in Minas Gerais. Patients with uncontrolled blood glucose levels were evaluated in two moments: on the day of admission (T0) and one day after the uncontrolled glycaemia (DG1). The evaluation of the oxidative profile was determined by the dosage of serum total antioxidant capacity, based on the ability of ferric reduction, determination of enzymatic activity of Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase and Glutathione S-Transferase, lipid peroxidation products and carbonylated proteins. The levels of ferric reducing ability decreased significantly, whereas the activity of the Superoxide Dismutase enzyme increased significantly after uncontrolled glycaemia in relation to the initial time. Although the lipid peroxidation did not change between the times evaluated, the damage marker significantly reduced, shown by carbonylation of proteins after the uncontrolled glycaemia. The critical patients evaluated in this study present altered oxidative profile after the uncontrolled glycaemia, a common problem that imposes the worst prognoses

Relato de caso e estudo imuno-histoquímico de tumor maligno da bainha do nervo periférico em um cão

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor is rare and rarely reported in dogs. The term neurofibroma/sarcoma is classically used when the tumor is composed of Schawann and perineural cells. This work describes the clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical case of a subcutaneous malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, most likely a malignant neurofibroma located in the pelvic member of a Rottweiler dog. Histopathological features and immunohistochemical analysis corroborated the diagnosis, showing positivity for S-100 protein, vimentin, and CD57, and was useful to distinguish this type of neoplasm from other malignancies of similar morphologies.O tumor maligno da bainha do nervo periférico é raro e pouco descrito em cães. Classicamente, o termo “neurofibroma/sarcoma” é empregado quando o tumor é composto por células de Schwann e células perineurais. Neste relato são descritos os achados clínicos, histopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos de um caso de tumor maligno da bainha do nervo periférico, provavelmente neurofibrossarcoma, localizado no subcutâneo do membro pélvico de um cão da raça Rottweiler. Os achados histopatológicos associados às observações imuno-histoquímicas contribuíram para o diagnóstico, sendo observada positividade para proteína S-100, vimentina e CD57, permitindo a diferenciação da neoplasia em questão de outros tumores malignos com características morfológicas similares

Evaluation of inflammatory and oxidative profile in patients with recurrent wheezing

Wheezing is a clinical expression of numerous respiratory-related conditions. Although asthma is the leading cause of wheezing during childhood. The present study aims to evaluate the inflammatory and oxidative profile of pediatric patients with recurrent wheezing. Seventy-eight volunteers were divided into three groups according to their age (≤ 36, 36 to 72 and ≥ 73 months). Blood was collected for hematological evaluation, serum detections of total immunoglobulin E (IgE), and C-reactive protein (PCRus). The oxidative profile was evaluated by total antioxidant capacity (FRAP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and carbonylated protein markers. There was no significant difference in the IgE and PCRus levels among the three groups evaluated. However, a significant positive correlation was observed for PCRus with total leukocyte and with neutrophils for the group of patients ≥ 73 months of age. The intermediate age group presented significantly reduced FRAP values in the serum, while significant values of oxidative damage markers were observed in the group of patients ≥ 73 months of age. When determining the correlation between inflammatory and oxidative markers, only the ≥ 73 months group showed significant. The group ≥ 73 months stands out with significant alterations of the oxidative stress markers and their correlations with the inflammatory profile

Gene tags assessment by comparative genomics (GTACG) : a user-friendly framework for bacterial comparative genomics.

Genomics research has produced an exponential amount of data. However, the genetic knowledge pertaining to certain phenotypic characteristics is lacking. Also, a considerable part of these genomes have coding sequences (CDSs) with unknown functions, posing additional challenges to researchers. Phylogenetically close microorganisms share much of their CDSs, and certain phenotypes unique to a set of microorganisms may be the result of the genes found exclusively in those microorganisms. This study presents the GTACG framework, an easy-to-use tool for identifying in the subgroups of bacterial genomes whose microorganisms have common phenotypic characteristics, to find data that differentiates them from other associated genomes in a simple and fast way. The GTACG analysis is based on the formation of homologous CDS clusters from local alignments. The frontend is easy to use, and the installation packages have been developed to enable userslacking knowledge of programming languages or bioinformatics analyze high-throughput data using the tool. The validation of the GTACG framework has been carried out based on a case report involving a set of 161 genomes from the Xanthomonadaceae family, in which 19 families of orthologous proteins were found in 90% of the plant-associated genomes, allowing the identification of the proteins potentially associated with adaptation and virulence in plant tissue. The results show the potential use of GTACG in the search for new targets for molecular studies, and GTACG can be used as a research tool by biologists who lack advanced knowledge in the use of computational tools for bacterial comparative genomics

Identification and analysis of seven effector protein families with different adaptive and evolutionary histories in plant-associated members of the Xanthomonadaceae.

The Xanthomonadaceae family consists of species of non-pathogenic and pathogenic γ-proteobacteria that infect different hosts, including humans and plants. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis using 69 fully sequenced genomes belonging to this family, with a focus on identifying proteins enriched in phytopathogens that could explain the lifestyle and the ability to infect plants. Using a computational approach, we identified seven phytopathogen-enriched protein families putatively secreted by type II secretory system: PheA (CM-sec), LipA/LesA, VirK, and four families involved in N-glycan degradation, NixE, NixF, NixL, and FucA1. In silico and phylogenetic analyses of these protein families revealed they all have orthologs in other phytopathogenic or symbiotic bacteria, and are involved in the modulation and evasion of the immune system. As a proof of concept, we performed a biochemical characterization of LipA from Xac306 and verified that the mutant strain lost most of its lipase and esterase activities and displayed reduced virulence in citrus. Since this study includes closely related organisms with distinct lifestyles and highlights proteins directly related to adaptation inside plant tissues, novel approaches might use these proteins as biotechnological targets for disease control, and contribute to our understanding of the coevolution of plant-associated bacteria

Spurious infection by Calodium hepaticum (Bancroft, 1983) Moravec, 1982 and intestinal parasites in forest reserve dwellers in Western Brazilian Amazon

Subsistence hunting is the main source of protein for forest reserve dwellers, contributing to the development of spurious infections by Calodium hepaticum, frequently associated with the consumption of the liver from wild mammals. The prevalence of infections by soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and intestinal protozoa is considered an indicator of the social vulnerability of a country, besides providing information on habits, customs and quality of life of a given population. Intestinal parasites mostly affect poor rural communities with limited access to clean water and adequate sanitation. This study reports the results of a parasitological survey carried out in 2017 and 2019, in two municipalities (Xapuri and Sena Madureira) in Acre State. Stool samples were collected from 276 inhabitants. Upon receipt, each sample was divided into two aliquots. Fresh samples without preservative were processed and examined by the Kato-Katz technique. Samples fixed in 10% formalin were processed by the spontaneous sedimentation and the centrifugal sedimentation techniques. Calodium hepaticum eggs were found in three stool samples. The overall STH prevalence was 44.9%. The hookworm prevalence (19.2%) was higher than that of Ascaris lumbricoides (2.5%) and Trichuris trichiura (0.7%), an unexpected finding for municipalities belonging to the Western Brazilian Amazon. When considering parasites transmitted via the fecal-oral route, Endolimax nana and Entamoeba coli showed the highest positivity rates, of 13% and 10.9%, respectively. This study is the first report of spurious infection by C. hepaticum among forest reserve dwellers that consume undercooked liver of lowland pacas. Additionally, this is the first report of Blastocystis sp. in Acre State