Short-Term scheduling of a polymer compounding plant

This paper addresses the optimal short-term scheduling of a three parallel production line plymer compounding plant, whose equipments require cleaning between product changeovers. A very effective user-friendly software tool was developed, which consists of a general scheduling model coupled with capabilities of Microsoft Excel for data handling and analysis. The scheduling model is based on a Resource Task Network discrete time formulation and leads to Mixed Integer Linear Programming problems. As outputs the user can access the optimal schedules for a number of different objectives

Selective albumin-binding surfaces modified with a thrombin-inhibiting peptide

Blood-contacting medical devices have been associated with severe clinical complications, such as thrombus formation, triggered by the activation of the coagulation cascade due to the adsorption of certain plasma proteins on the surface of biomaterials. Hence, the coating of such surfaces with antithrombotic agents has been used to increase biomaterial haemocompatibility. Biomaterial-induced clotting may also be decreased by albumin adsorption from blood plasma in a selective and reversible way, since this protein is not involved in the coagulation cascade. In this context, this paper reports that the immobilization of the thrombin inhibitor D-Phe-Pro-D-Arg-D-Thr-CONH2 (fPrt) onto nanostructured surfaces induces selective and reversible adsorption of albumin, delaying the clotting time when compared to peptide-free surfaces. fPrt, synthesized with two glycine residues attached to the N-terminus (GGfPrt), was covalently immobilized onto self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) having different ratios of carboxylate-hexa(ethylene glycol)- and tri(ethylene glycol)-terminated thiols (EG6-COOH/EG3) that were specifically designed to control GGfPrt orientation, exposure and density at the molecular level. In solution, GGfPrt was able to inactivate the enzymatic activity of thrombin and to delay plasma clotting time in a concentration-dependent way. After surface immobilization, and independently of its concentration, GGfPrt lost its selectivity to thrombin and its capacity to inhibit thrombin enzymatic activity against the chromogenic substrate n-p-tosyl-Gly-Pro-Arg-p-nitroanilide. Nevertheless, surfaces with low concentrations of GGfPrt could delay the capacity of adsorbed thrombin to cleave fibrinogen. In contrast, GGfPrt immobilized in high concentrations was found to induce the procoagulant activity of the adsorbed thrombin. However, all surfaces containing GGfPrt have a plasma clotting time similar to the negative control (empty polystyrene wells), showing resistance to coagulation, which is explained by its capacity to adsorb albumin in a selective and reversible way. This work opens new perspectives to the improvement of the haemocompatibility of blood-contacting medical devices

Ocorrência e Perfil de Suscetibilidade de Candida sp em hemoculturas de um hospital universitário

The genus Candida is responsible for hospital infections associated with fungemia, especially in critical sectors. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of Candida species from blood cultures of Clinical Laboratory, the HCSL Pouso Alegre, MG and evaluated the susceptibility test for anphotericin B, itraconazole, fluconazole e voriconazole. Methods: We conducted a study from July 2009 to July 2010, which evaluated all blood cultures of HCSL this period. The fungi isolated from blood cultures were identified by classical methods and for automated identification. The susceptibility test was evaluated by microdilution broth CLSI M27-A3. Results: A total of 1388 samples with 108 positive samples, and fungal 10. The fungal incidence was: Adults UTI (4), Neo UTI (5) and Male Ward (1). Were identified as Candida albicans (5) and Candida parapsilosis (4), and Candida sp (1). All samples show sensibility for antifungal tested. Conclusion: The candidemia observed in this study (1.38%) is similar to comparative studies as we have seen in the incidence in intensive care units.O gênero Candida é responsável por infecções associadas à fungemias hospitalares, principalmente em setores críticos. Objetivos: avaliar a ocorrência de Candida sp de hemoculturas do Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, do HCSL de Pouso Alegre, M G e avaliar o perfil de suscetibilidade frente a anfotericina B, itraconazol, fluconazol e voriconazol. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo descritivo de julho de 2009 á julho de 2010, onde foram avaliadas todas as hemoculturas do HCSL deste período. Os fungos isolados das hemoculturas foram identificados por metodologia clássica e automatizada. O teste de suscetibilidade foi realizado pela técnica de microdiluição em caldo segundo o documento CLSI M27-A3. Resultados: Foram avaliadas 1388 amostras sendo 108 amostras positivas, e destas, 10 fúngicas.A ocorrência fúngica foi: UTI adulto (4), UTI Neonatal (5) e Enfermaria Masculina (1). Foram identificadas Candida albicans (5) e Candida parapsilosis (4), e Candida sp (1). Todos os micro-organismos apresentaram sensibilidade frente aos antifúngicos testados. Conclusão: O percentual de positividade para candidemia observada neste estudo (1,38%) é similar aos estudos comparativos como pudemos observar na incidência em unidades de terapia intensiva. Vale destacar que a ocorrência é superior à observada em trabalhos internacionais

THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF RECENT ISOLATES OF Schistosoma mansoni TO PRAZIQUANTEL

Introduction: Schistosomiasis is a chronic disease caused by trematode flatworms of the genus Schistosoma and its control is dependent on a single drug, praziquantel (PZQ), but concerns over PZQ resistance have renewed interest in evaluating the in vitro susceptibility of recent isolates of Schistosoma mansoni to PZQ in comparison with well-established strains in the laboratory. Material and methods: The in vitro activity of PZQ (6.5-0.003 µg/mL) was evaluated in terms of mortality, reduced motor activity and ultrastructural alterations against S. mansoni. Results: After 3 h of incubation, PZQ, at 6.5 µg/mL, caused 100% mortality of all adult worms in the three types of recent isolates, while PZQ was inactive at concentrations of 0.08-0.003 µg/mL after 3 h of incubation. The results show that the SLM and Sotave isolates basically presented the same pattern of susceptibility, differing only in the concentration of 6.5 µg/mL, where deaths occurred from the range of 1.5 h in Sotave and just in the 3 h range of SLM. Additionally, this article presents ultrastructural evidence of rapid severe PZQ-induced surface membrane damage in S. mansoni after treatment with the drug, such as disintegration, sloughing, and erosion of the surface. Conclusion: According to these results, PZQ is very effective to induce tegument destruction of recent isolates of S. mansoni

Toxoplasmose disseminada sepse símile em dois pacientes com AIDS

O presente relato descreve dois pacientes que apresentaram toxoplasmose aguda, disseminada e grave como primeira manifestação oportunista da síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida. Os achados clínicos e laboratoriais foram similares aos de sepse ou choque séptico e, em ambos os casos houve evolução rápida para óbito. À necropsia, foi observada reação inflamatória e presença de taquizoítos e cistos de Toxoplasma gondii na maioria dos órgãos examinados.This report describes two patients who presented acute disseminated and severe toxoplasmosis as the first opportunistic disease related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. At admission, clinical and laboratory findings were similar to sepsis or septic shock and a fast evolutive course to death occurred in both cases. At necropsy, an inflammatory reaction and presence of a great number of Toxoplasma gondii cysts and tachyzoites were observed in most organs examined

The boomerang returns? Accounting for the impact of uncertainties on the dynamics of remanufacturing systems

Recent years have witnessed companies abandon traditional open-loop supply chain structures in favour of closed-loop variants, in a bid to mitigate environmental impacts and exploit economic opportunities. Central to the closed-loop paradigm is remanufacturing: the restoration of used products to useful life. While this operational model has huge potential to extend product life-cycles, the collection and recovery processes diminish the effectiveness of existing control mechanisms for open-loop systems. We systematically review the literature in the field of closed-loop supply chain dynamics, which explores the time-varying interactions of material and information flows in the different elements of remanufacturing supply chains. We supplement this with further reviews of what we call the three ‘pillars’ of such systems, i.e. forecasting, collection, and inventory and production control. This provides us with an interdisciplinary lens to investigate how a ‘boomerang’ effect (i.e. sale, consumption, and return processes) impacts on the behaviour of the closed-loop system and to understand how it can be controlled. To facilitate this, we contrast closed-loop supply chain dynamics research to the well-developed research in each pillar; explore how different disciplines have accommodated the supply, process, demand, and control uncertainties; and provide insights for future research on the dynamics of remanufacturing systems

Maternal Melatonin Programs the Daily Pattern of Energy Metabolism in Adult Offspring

Background: Shift work was recently described as a factor that increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, rats born to mothers subjected to a phase shift throughout pregnancy are glucose intolerant. However, the mechanism by which a phase shift transmits metabolic information to the offspring has not been determined. Among several endocrine secretions, phase shifts in the light/dark cycle were described as altering the circadian profile of melatonin production by the pineal gland. The present study addresses the importance of maternal melatonin for the metabolic programming of the offspring. Methodology/Principal Findings: Female Wistar rats were submitted to SHAM surgery or pinealectomy (PINX). The PINX rats were divided into two groups and received either melatonin (PM) or vehicle. The SHAM, the PINX vehicle and the PM females were housed with male Wistar rats. Rats were allowed to mate and after weaning, the male and female offspring were subjected to a glucose tolerance test (GTT), a pyruvate tolerance test (PTT) and an insulin tolerance test (ITT). Pancreatic islets were isolated for insulin secretion, and insulin signaling was assessed in the liver and in the skeletal muscle by western blots. We found that male and female rats born to PINX mothers display glucose intolerance at the end of the light phase of the light/dark cycle, but not at the beginning. We further demonstrate that impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and hepatic insulin resistance are mechanisms that may contribute to glucose intolerance in the offspring of PINX mothers. The metabolic programming described here occurs due to an absence of maternal melatonin because the offspring born to PINX mothers treated with melatonin were not glucose intolerant. Conclusions/Significance: The present results support the novel concept that maternal melatonin is responsible for the programming of the daily pattern of energy metabolism in their offspring.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Aperfeicoameno Cientifico)CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Aperfeicoameno Cientifico

Pulegone and Eugenol Oral Supplementation in Laboratory Animals: Results from Acute and Chronic Studies

Essential oils are natural compounds used by humans for scientific purposes due to their wide range of properties. Eugenol is mostly present in clove oil, while pulegone is the main constituent of pennyroyal oil. To guarantee the safe use of eugenol and pulegone for both humans and animals, this study addressed, for the first time, the effects of these compounds, at low doses (chronic toxicity) and high doses (acute toxicity), in laboratory animals. Thirty-five FVB/n female mice were randomly assigned to seven groups (n = 5): group I (control, non-additive diet); group II (2.6 mg of eugenol + 2.6 mg of pulegone); group III (5.2 mg of eugenol + 5.2 mg of pulegone); group IV (7.8 mg of eugenol + 7.8 mg of pulegone); group V (7.8 mg of eugenol); group VI (7.8 mg of pulegone); and group VII (1000 mg of eugenol + 1000 mg of pulegone). The compounds were administered in the food. Groups I to VI were integrated into the chronic toxicity study, lasting 28 days, and group VII was used in the acute toxicity study, lasting 7 days. Animals were monitored to assess their general welfare. Water and food intake, as well as body weight, were recorded. On the 29th day, all animals were euthanized by an overdose of ketamine and xylazine, and a complete necropsy was performed. Blood samples were collected directly from the heart for microhematocrit and serum analysis, as well as for comet assay. Organs were collected, weighed, and fixed in formaldehyde for further histological analysis and enzymatic assay. Eugenol and pulegone induced behavioral changes in the animals, namely in the posture, hair appearance and grooming, and in mental status. These compounds also caused a decrease in the animals' body weight, as well as in the food and water consumption. A mortality rate of 20% was registered in the acute toxicity group. Both compounds modulated the serum levels of triglycerides and alanine aminotransferase. Eugenol and pulegone induced genetic damage in all animals. Eugenol increased the activity of the CAT enzyme. Both compounds increased the GR enzyme at the highest dose. Moreover, pulegone administered as a single compound increased the activity of the GST enzyme. Histopathological analysis revealed inflammatory infiltrates in the lungs of groups II, III, and IV. The results suggest that eugenol and pulegone may exert beneficial or harmful effects, depending on the dose, and if applied alone or in combination

Production and properties of quercetin-loaded liposomes and their influence on the properties of galactomannan-based films

The objective of this work was to prepare different concentrations of liposomes based on lecithin containing quercetin, and evaluate their effect on the properties of galactomannan films obtained from Cassia grandis seeds. Quercetin-loaded lecithin liposomes (QT-LL) were obtained by the ethanol injection method by incorporating quercetin in different concentrations in a previously prepared suspension of lecithin liposomes in water. Following characterization of QT-LLs by zeta potential and dynamic light scattering, QT-LL with 75 µg quercetin/mL suspension was incorporated at different concentrations in galactomannan films. The films obtained were characterized for color, solubility, moisture content (MC), water vapor permeability (WVP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The size of lecithin liposomes with no quercetin was statistically than those containing quercetin above 50 µg/mL. All the QT-LLs presented a low polydispersity index, even considering their significant differences and similar values for zeta potential. The films displayed a rough surface and the galactomannan structure was confirmed by FTIR. Additionally, the amorphous nature of the polysaccharide was observed by XRD. The films were luminous, with a predominant yellow tendency and low opacity. The incorporation of QT-LL in galactomannan films did not lead to statistical differences for solubility and MC, while significant differences were observed for WVP. Galactomannan films were shown to be a promising structure for the incorporation of lecithin liposomes loaded with quercetin, pointing at promising applications for different applications

Transcriptome and gene expression analysis of three developmental stages of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei

Coffee production is a global industry valued at approximately 173 billion US dollars. One of the main challenges facing coffee production is the management of the coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei, which is considered the primary arthropod pest of coffee worldwide. Current control strategies are inefficient for CBB management. Although biotechnological alternatives, including RNA interference (RNAi), have been proposed in recent years to control insect pests, characterizing the genetics of the target pest is essential for the successful application of these emerging technologies. In this study, we employed RNA-seq to obtain the transcriptome of three developmental stages of the CBB (larva, female and male) to increase our understanding of the CBB life cycle in relation to molecular features. The CBB transcriptome was sequenced using Illumina Hiseq and assembled de novo. Differential gene expression analysis was performed across the developmental stages. The final assembly produced 29,434 unigenes, of which 4,664 transcripts were differentially expressed. Genes linked to crucial physiological functions, such as digestion and detoxification, were determined to be tightly regulated between the reproductive and nonreproductive stages of CBB. The data obtained in this study help to elucidate the critical roles that several genes play as regulatory elements in CBB development