Impact of the lipid-based nutrient supplements on prevention and treatment of childhood moderate undernutrition

Purpose: This review aims at assessing the effectiveness of LNS interventions for prevention and/or treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), stunting and other anthropometric indicators for undernutrition in children younger than 5 years. Methodology: Eighteen clinical trials on LNS (soybased or milk-based) supplementation in children were compared with habitual diet/control or corn-soy blend (CSB). Mean changes in height for age (HAZ), weight for age (WAZ) and weight for height z-scores (WHZ) were assessed as primary outcomes. The secondary outcomes included: weight gain, height, mid upper arm circumference (MUAC), recovery from MAM, occurrence of fever, diarrhoea and cough. Findings: The pooled estimate revealed a statistically significant increase in WAZ (weighted mean difference [WMD] =0.09; 95%CI= 0.02, 0.15; p=0.01), WHZ (WMD=0.14; 95%CI= 0.01, 0.26; p=0.000) and improved recovery from MAM (Risk Ratio [RR] = 1.37; 95%CI= 1.14, 1.65; p=0.000) in children receiving LNS compared with control or CBS. No significant effect was observed in HAZ (WMD=0.00;95%CI=-0.02,0.03: p=0.578). Children fed with milk-based LNS (RR=1.68; 95%CI=1.17, 2.39; p=0.005) were more likely to recover significantly from MAM when compared with CSB. Conclusion: Although there is evidence that LNS yield better nutritional outcomes than CSB and control, it is impossible to conclude that the milk-based LNS are superior to soy-based LNS and whether age and duration of intervention significantly affect the effectiveness of LNS on childhood undernutrition. Further research is required before these products can be recommended at scale

Hamiltonian formulation of nonAbelian noncommutative gauge theories

We implement the Hamiltonian treatment of a nonAbelian noncommutative gauge theory, considering with some detail the algebraic structure of the noncommutative symmetry group. The first class constraints and Hamiltonian are obtained and their algebra derived, as well as the form of the gauge invariance they impose on the first order action.Comment: enlarged version, 7 pages, RevTe

Hamiltonian embedding of the massive noncommutative U(1) theory

We show that the massive noncommutative U(1) can be embedded in a gauge theory by using the BFFT Hamiltonian formalism. By virtue of the peculiar non-Abelian algebraic structure of the noncommutative massive U(1) theory, several specific identities involving Moyal commutators had to be used in order to make the embedding possible. This leads to an infinite number of steps in the iterative process of obtaining first-class constraints. We also shown that the involutive Hamiltonian can be constructed.Comment: 8 pages, Revtex (multicol

The Hamiltonian BRST quantization of a noncommutative nonabelian gauge theory and its Seiberg-Witten map

We consider the Hamiltonian BRST quantization of a noncommutative non abelian gauge theory. The Seiberg-Witten map of all phase-space variables, including multipliers, ghosts and their momenta, is given in first order in the noncommutative parameter $\theta$. We show that there exists a complete consistence between the gauge structures of the original and of the mapped theories, derived in a canonical way, once we appropriately choose the map solutions.Comment: 10 pages, Latex. Address adde

Integrated bioprocess approach for the production of xylooligosaccharides

The demand of prebiotic ingredients has been growing over the years as consumers pay more attention to their health. Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are considered emergent and competitively priced prebiotics, presenting high potential as food ingredients. As a result, the industry is focused on developing new approaches to improve their production efficiency to meet the increasing demand while reducing costs. Hence, the main purpose of this work was to develop an integrated bioprocess, based on one-step fermentation, for the production of prebiotic XOS, towards the simplification and cost reduction of the process. The one-step fermentation of 13 agro-residues was done using two Trichoderma species. The most promising results were found for T. reesei using brewers spent grain (BSG) as substrate. BSG is an inexpensive and abundant agroindustrial residue that was proven interesting for the production of arabino-xylooligosaccharides (AXOS). In order to reduce the production time obtained with T. reesei (3 d), the Bacillus subtilis 3610 wild type (wt) was successfully used to produce AXOS through direct fermentation of BSG, reducing the production time to 12 h. Genetic engineering was used to further optimize the microorganism performance, by cloning the T. reesei xylanase gene coupled with a secretion tag into the B. subtilis chromosome (B. subtilis 3610 clone 2). This strategy led to a yield increase of 33 % comparing to the wt, and 29 % comparing to the T. reesei. B. subtilis 3610 clone 2 was also selected for downscale production of XOS by direct fermentation of commercial beechwood xylan. The maximum production yield, 306 ± 4 mg/g (XOS/xylan), was achieved after 8 h of fermentation operating under one-time impulse fed-batch regimen. In vitro studies using human fecal inocula were performed to evaluate and compare the potential prebiotic effect of commercial lactulose and the XOS herein produced. The significant increase in the production of short chain fatty acids and CO2, added to the reduction of pH and ammonia concentration suggest that the XOS hold potential functional properties for human health. The results gathered provide important insights for the development of new integrated strategies for XOS production from agro-residues.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Positron plasma wakefield acceleration in a self-driven hollow channel

In this work we propose a novel positron driven plasma wakefield acceleration configuration in the non linear regime using tightly focused positron drive beams to create a hollow plasma channel with no background plasma ions, where positrons can accelerate to high energy. A simplified model for the background plasma ion motion in this scenario was analyzed. The proposed scheme was explored numerically resorting to multi-dimensional PIC simulations using the numerical code OSIRS.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Topological Line Defects around Graphene Nanopores for DNA Sequencing

Topological line defects in graphene represent an ideal way to produce highly controlled structures with reduced dimensionality that can be used in electronic devices. In this work we propose using extended line defects in graphene to improve nucleobase selectivity in nanopore-based DNA sequencing devices. We use a combination of QM/MM and non-equilibrium Green's functions methods to investigate the conductance modulation, fully accounting for solvent effects. By sampling over a large number of different orientations generated from molecular dynamics simulations, we theoretically demonstrate that distinguishing between the four nucleobases using line defects in a graphene-based electronic device appears possible. The changes in conductance are associated with transport across specific molecular states near the Fermi level and their coupling to the pore. Through the application of a specifically tuned gate voltage, such a device would be able to discriminate the four types of nucleobases more reliably than that of graphene sensors without topological line defects.Comment: 6 figures and 6 page

Extracellular matrix mimics using hyaluronan-based biomaterials

Hyaluronan (HA) is a critical element of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The regulated synthesis and degradation of HA modulates the ECM chemical and physical properties that, in turn, influence cellular behavior. HA triggers signaling pathways associated with the adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation of cells, mediated by its interaction with specific cellular receptors or by tuning the mechanical properties of the ECM. This review summarizes the recent advances on strategies used to mimic the HA present in the ECM to study healthy or pathological cellular behavior. This includes the development of HA-based 2D and 3D in vitro tissue models for the seeding and encapsulation of cells, respectively, and HA particles as carriers for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents.The authors acknowledge thefinancial support from the European Commission’s H2020 programme, under grantagreements H2020-WIDESPREAD-2014-668983-FORECAST, and H2020-MSCA-RISE-2019-872648-MEPHOS. S.A.acknowledges the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for her PhD grant (SFRH/BD/112075/2015)

Avaliação de duas cultivares de bananeira mediante diferentes lâminas de irrigação.

A bananeira é a frutífera tropical mais difundida no mundo, apresentando grandes áreas cultivadas e grandes volumes de comercialização, tendo em vista tratar-se de uma das frutas mais consumidas e exploradas nos países tropicais. O Brasil se destaca como um dos países com maior produção e consumo de bananas. A exploração em condições irrigadas tem sido uma solução para os locais em que as precipitações não são suficientes para suprir as necessidades hídricas da bananeira (FAO, 1994)

MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH SPINA BIFIDA

Introdução: A Espinha Bífida é o defeito mais comum do tubo neural. A abordagem multidisciplinar é a mais adequada para prestar cuidados a estes doentes. Objetivo: Caracterizar a população de crianças seguida na consulta multidisciplinar de Espinha Bífida de um Hospital Terciário. Avaliar a perceção da qualidade de vida das crianças, adolescentes e pais/cuidadores. Correlacionar a qualidade de vida com algumas variáveis estudadas. Métodos: Estudo retrospetivo que incluiu as crianças em seguimento na consulta multidisciplinar de Espinha Bífida. As variáveis analisadas foram: tipo de defeito do tubo neural, regime vesico-esfincteriano e nível funcional. A avaliação da qualidade de vida foi feita através da aplicação do questionário Child Health Questionnaire – Parental Form (CHQ – PF50). O tratamento estatístico foi realizado no programa SPSS, versão 17. Resultados: Foram incluídas no estudo 69 crianças. Os doentes apresentavam uma idade média de 13 anos, sendo 52,2% do sexo masculino. Oitenta e seis por cento tinham diagnóstico de mielomeningocelo, 56,5% efetuavam marcha de forma autónoma e 30,4% eram incontinentes necessitando do uso de fralda. O questionário de qualidade de vida foi respondido pelos pais de 31 doentes. Todos os scores apresentaram valores superiores a 50, sendo que os que revelaram valores menores foram o relativo à função física nas crianças e o referente ao impacto emocional nos pais. Foi encontrada uma correlação estatisticamente significativa entre a capacidade funcional e o componente da escala de qualidade de vida relativo ao funcionamento físico (r = 0,456; p =0,01). Conclusão: As várias manifestações clínicas e complicações associadas a esta condição podem interferir de forma significativa nos vários componentes da qualidade de vida dos doentes e seu núcleo familiar. Este trabalho sublinha a importância da avaliação e intervenção das necessidades das crianças com incapacidade de forma a promover o seu bem-estar físico, psicológico e social.Introduction: Spina Bifida is the most common neural tube defect. Multidisciplinary approach has long been advocated as the optimal way to provide care for these patients. Aim: To characterize the population of children followed in Spina Bifida clinic. To measure health-related quality of the life of children, adolescents and care givers. To correlate quality of life with some studied variables. Methods: Retrospective study that included children followed in Spina Bifida clinic. The variables analyzed were: regarding the type of neural tube defect, bladder-sphincter system and functional level. The quality of life was assessed through the application of the questionnaire Child Health Questionnaire - Parental Form (CHQ – PF50). The statistical analysis was made with SPSS, version 17. Results: The study included 69 children. Patients had a mean age of 13 years, 52.2% male, 86% had a diagnosis of myelomeningocele, 56.5% had independent gait and 30.4% were incontinent and used a diaper. The quality of life questionnaire was completed by 31 parents. All scores were greater than 50, the lowest value in patients was physical function and in parents was emotional impact. We found a statistically significant correlation between functional capacity and physical functioning score on quality of life scale (r = 0.456, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Clinical manifestations and complications of this condition can interfere significantly in the various components of patients’ and families’ quality of life. This study emphasizes the importance of assessment and measurement of needs in children with disabilities in order to promote their physical, psychological and social well-being