281 research outputs found

    Comparação Da Qualidade Nutricional Das Refeições Antes E Depois Do Plano Nacional De Assistência Estudantil No Rj, Brasil

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    The Brazilian National Plan for Student Assistance (NPSA) aims at improving overall academic performance of undergraduate student. It is important to identify whether the investment in food assistance had a positive impact on the nutritional quality of meals. Aims: To compare the nutritional quality of meals in a university restaurant (UR) before and after the restructure by NPSA. Methods: The portioning of meals at lunch as served to students was registered in 2011 (Phase I) and 2013 (Phase II) for determination of percent carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, as well as the total energy value (TEV), cholesterol, sodium, and fruits and vegetables (FV). The meal quality index (MQI) was estimated from those observations at both phases. Portioning of meals and MQI were compared between phases, and according to current recommendations. Results: Significant lower values of TEV, lipid, cholesterol and sodium were observed at Phase II (p<0.001 all comparisons). Conversely, significant higher values of proteins and FV were observed at Phase II (p<0.001 both comparisons). The number of meals within the recommended MQI was significantly higher (p<0.001) at Phase II (73.1%) than Phase I (47.7%), whereas the proportion of meals with proteins, FV, cholesterol and sodium was significantly higher (p<0.001). Conclusions: Nutritional quality of meals at an UR improved after the implementation of the NPSA. Nonetheless, serving standard meals is strongly recommended, mainly regarding salt intake. Finally, these data highlight the need for educational actions with undergraduate students aiming to reduce salt intake and proper portioning of the meal. © Copyright 2012. Fundación Alimentación Saludable.362748

    Leishmania infection in bats from a non-endemic region of Leishmaniasis in Brazil

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    Leishmaniasis is a complex of zoonotic diseases caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania, which can develop in domestic as well as wild animals and humans throughout the world. Currently, this disease is spreading in rural and urban areas of non-endemic regions in Brazil. Recently, bats have gained epidemiological significance in leishmaniasis due to its close relationship with human settlements. In this study, we investigated the presence of Leishmania spp. DNA in blood samples from 448 bats belonging to four families representing 20 species that were captured in the Triangulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaiba areas of Minas Gerais State (non-endemic areas for leishmaniasis), Brazil. Leishmania spp. DNA was detected in 8.0% of the blood samples, 41.6% of which were Leishmania infantum, 38.9% Leishmania amazonensis and 19.4% Leishmania braziliensis. No positive correlation was found between Leishmania spp. and bat food source. The species with more infection rates were the insectivorous bats Eumops perotis; 22.2% (4/18) of which tested positive for Leishmania DNA. The presence of Leishmania in the bat blood samples, as observed in this study, represents epidemiological importance due to the absence of Leishmaniasis cases in the region. © Cambridge University Press 2017

    The Tsallis statistical distribution applied to geomagnetically induced currents

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    Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) have been long recognized as a ground effect arising from a chain of space weather events. GICs have been measured and modeled in many countries, resulting in a considerable amount of data. Previous statistical analyses have proposed various types of distribution functions to fit long-term GICs data sets. However, these extensive statistical approaches have been only partially successful in fitting the data sets. Here we use modeled GICs data sets calculated in four countries (Brazil, South Africa, United Kingdom, and Finland) using data from solar cycle 23 to show a plausible function based on a nonextensive statistical model of the q-exponential Tsallis function. The fitted q-exponential parameter is approximately the same for all locations, and the Lilliefors test shows good agreement with the q-exponential fits. From this fit, we compute that the likely numbers of extreme GICs events over the next ten solar cycles are 1–2 for both Finland and United Kingdom, at least one for Brazil and less than one event for South Africa. Our results indicate that the nonextensive statistics are a general characteristic of GICs, suggesting that the ground current intensity has a strong temporal correlation and long-range interaction

    Analytical method validation for in vitro permeation of Calendula officinalis L. gel

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    The objective of this study was to evaluate preliminary stability, as well as to validate an analytical method for in vitro skin permeation study of a gel containing tincture of Calendula officinalis L., aiming at the implementation and consolidation of methodologies to be used as prototype for future development of herbal medicine in the Brazilian Amazon region. The gel showed a satisfactory result during the assessment of its preliminary stability considering that the formulation remained stable throughout cycles at temperatures of 45 °C and 25 °C. Parameters obtained in the validation of the analytical method presented satisfactory results for specificity, linearity (r > 0.99), precision (intra-day and inter-day) with relative standard deviation values (R.S.D. %) below the required maximum of 5 %. Accuracy and robustness were consistent with both the objectives of the work and recommendations of the existing laws, providing the reliability of the data obtained during the skin permeation study, evidenced by the gel tendency to promote the permeation of flavonoids, expressed in rutin, through models of synthetic and biological membrane. However, it was observed that the gel had a higher permeability ratio through synthetic membrane, due to greater cumulative mass of rutin quantified after permeation.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

    Physicochemical and phytochemical control of Arrabidaea chica (H. & B.) Verlot leaf powder and standardized tincture

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    The quality control of herbal drugs and their intermediates is essential, especially when they are used as feedstock for medicine development. This study aimed at applying the methodologies established by Brazilian legislation for the development of parameters concerning the characterization and quality control of leaf powder and tincture of Arrabidaea chica (H & B) Verlot. Known as cipó-pau (vinestick), carajeru, pariri, among others, it presents antifungal activity and is used in several diseases such as mycosis and ringworm. The physico-chemical characteristics of the plant drug. The phytochemical screening of the t inc tur e indi cat ed the pr e s enc e of r educ ing sugar s , anthocyanidins , anthocyanins , anthraquinones, steroids, triterpenoids, phenols, flavanonols, flavanols, flavanones, saponins and tannins catechists. HPLC chromatograms showed peaks at 275 nm and 290 nm, with Rt of 8.91 and 13.57 min, whose corresponding spectra showed absorption maxima which is characteristic of flavones and biflavonols -283 nm and 334 nm. Some metabolites found in the phytochemical screening and detected by HPLC may justify the popular use of A. chica as antimicrobial and antifungal medicine.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

    The southern photometric local universe survey (S-PLUS): Improved SEDs, morphologies, and redshifts with 12 optical filters

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    The Southern Photometric Local Universe Survey (S-PLUS) is imaging ~9300 deg2 of the celestial sphere in 12 optical bands using a dedicated 0.8mrobotic telescope, the T80-South, at the Cerro Tololo Inter-american Observatory, Chile. The telescope is equipped with a 9.2k × 9.2k e2v detector with 10 μm pixels, resulting in a field of view of 2 deg2 with a plate scale of 0.55 arcsec pixel-1. The survey consists of four main subfields, which include two non-contiguous fields at high Galactic latitudes (|b| > 30° , 8000 deg2) and two areas of the Galactic Disc and Bulge (for an additional 1300 deg2). S-PLUS uses the Javalambre 12-band magnitude system, which includes the 5 ugriz broad-band filters and 7 narrow-band filters centred on prominent stellar spectral features: the Balmer jump/[OII], Ca H + K, Hd, G band, Mg b triplet, Hα, and the Ca triplet. S-PLUS delivers accurate photometric redshifts (δz/(1 + z) = 0.02 or better) for galaxies with r < 19.7 AB mag and z < 0.4, thus producing a 3D map of the local Universe over a volume of more than 1 (Gpc/h)3. The final S-PLUS catalogue will also enable the study of star formation and stellar populations in and around the Milky Way and nearby galaxies, as well as searches for quasars, variable sources, and low-metallicity stars. In this paper we introduce the main characteristics of the survey, illustrated with science verification data highlighting the unique capabilities of S-PLUS. We also present the first public data release of ~336 deg2 of the Stripe 82 area, in 12 bands, to a limiting magnitude of r = 21, available at datalab.noao.edu/splus.Fil: De Oliveira, C. Mendes. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Ribeiro, T.. Universidade Federal de Sergipe; Brasil. National Optical Astronomy Observatory; Estados UnidosFil: Schoenell, W.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Kanaan, A.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Overzier, R.A.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; Brasil. Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação e Comunicações. Observatório Nacional; BrasilFil: Molino, A.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Sampedro, L.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Coelho, P.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Barbosa, C.E.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Cortesi, A.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Costa Duarte, M.V.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Herpich, F.R.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; Brasil. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Hernandez Jimenez, J.A.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Placco, V.M.. University of Notre Dame; Estados Unidos. JINA Center for the Evolution of the Elements ; Estados UnidosFil: Xavier, H.S.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Abramo, L.R.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Saito, R.K.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Chies Santos, A.L.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Ederoclite, A.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; Brasil. Centro de Estudios de Física del Cosmo de Aragon; EspañaFil: De Oliveira, R. Lopes. Universidade Federal de Sergipe; Brasil. Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação e Comunicações. Observatório Nacional; Brasil. University of Maryland; Estados UnidosFil: Goncalves, D.R.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Akras, S.. Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação e Comunicações. Observatório Nacional; Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Almeida, L.A.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; BrasilFil: Almeida Fernandes, F.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Beers, T.C.. University of Notre Dame; Estados Unidos. JINA Center for the Evolution of the Elements ; Estados UnidosFil: Bonatto, C.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Bonoli, S.. Centro de Estudios de Física del Cosmo de Aragon; EspañaFil: Cypriano, E.S.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Vinicius Lima, E.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas; BrasilFil: Smith Castelli, Analia Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata; Argentin
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