Thermo-photo degradation of 2-propanol using a composite ceria-titania catalyst: Physico-chemical interpretation from a kinetic model

This work describes a study carried out to construct and determine a kinetic formalism for the gas-phase degradation of 2-propanol using a combined thermo-photo based process. Outstanding catalytic performance was observed for a composite ceria-titania system with respect its parent ceria and titania reference systems. Thermo-photo as well as parallel photo- and thermal-alone experiments were carried out to interpret catalytic behavior. The kinetic experiments were conducted using a continuous flow reactor free of internal and external mass-heat transfer and designed using a Box-Behnken formalism. The kinetic expression developed for the thermo-photo degradation process explicitly includes the effect of the photon absorption in the reaction rate and leads to a mathematical formula with two components having different physico-chemical nature. This fact is used to settle down a fitting procedure using two steps (two separated experimental sets of data concerning temperature, light intensity, oxygen, water and/or 2-propanol concentrations) with, respectively, four and three parameters. The kinetic formalism was validated by fitting the experimental data from these two independent experiments, rendering a good agreement with the model predictions. The parameters coming from the kinetic modelling allow an interpretation of the catalytic properties of the ceria-titania catalyst, quantifying separately its enhanced performance (with respect to its parent systems) in the photonic and thermal components for the process. The procedure is applicable to a wide variety of thermo-photo processes in order to contribute to the understanding of their physical roots

Development of a Bioactive Food Additive for Controlling of Fungal Growth

Fresh foods have a great importance in human nutrition. However, they are marketed with greatly reduced shelf life mainly due to fungal spoilage. In this work, cell wall degrading enzymes produced by Trichoderma asperellum T00 (TCWDE) were immobilized onto cashew gum polysaccharide (CGP) in order to evaluate the potential use of this material as food additive aiming to increase the shelf life by inhibiting fungal growth. Results from factorial design (32) evidenced that the best conditions for TCWDE immobilization was achieved with 20 min of reaction using 1 mmol L-1 of NaIO4. On these conditions it was observed 91% of retention yield for NAGase (30.1 ± 0.38 U mL-1), 41% for chitinase (0.67 ± 0.05 U mL-1), and 24% for β-1,3-glucanase (0.017± 0.001 U mL-1). CGP/TCWDE was effective for growth inhibition of Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium sp. and the inhibition mechanism seems to involve changes in the cell wall of those microorganisms. Finally, the CGP/TCWDE presented high stability after drying, maintaining enzymatic and biological activity after 200 days of storage at room temperature (25 ºC)

Experimental Chemotherapy for Chagas Disease: A Morphological, Biochemical, and Proteomic Overview of Potential Trypanosoma cruzi Targets of Amidines Derivatives and Naphthoquinones

Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affects approximately eight million individuals in Latin America and is emerging in nonendemic areas due to the globalisation of immigration and nonvectorial transmission routes. Although CD represents an important public health problem, resulting in high morbidity and considerable mortality rates, few investments have been allocated towards developing novel anti-T. cruzi agents. The available therapy for CD is based on two nitro derivatives (benznidazole (Bz) and nifurtimox (Nf)) developed more than four decades ago. Both are far from ideal due to substantial secondary side effects, limited efficacy against different parasite isolates, long-term therapy, and their well-known poor activity in the late chronic phase. These drawbacks justify the urgent need to identify better drugs to treat chagasic patients. Although several classes of natural and synthetic compounds have been reported to act in vitro and in vivo on T. cruzi, since the introduction of Bz and Nf, only a few drugs, such as allopurinol and a few sterol inhibitors, have moved to clinical trials. This reflects, at least in part, the absence of well-established universal protocols to screen and compare drug activity. In addition, a large number of in vitro studies have been conducted using only epimastigotes and trypomastigotes instead of evaluating compounds' activities against intracellular amastigotes, which are the reproductive forms in the vertebrate host and are thus an important determinant in the selection and identification of effective compounds for further in vivo analysis. In addition, due to pharmacokinetics and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion characteristics, several compounds that were promising in vitro have not been as effective as Nf or Bz in animal models of T. cruzi infection. In the last two decades, our team has collaborated with different medicinal chemistry groups to develop preclinical studies for CD and investigate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy, toxicity, selectivity, and parasite targets of different classes of natural and synthetic compounds. Some of these results will be briefly presented, focusing primarily on diamidines and related compounds and naphthoquinone derivatives that showed the most promising efficacy against T. cruzi

Reconstitution of respiratory complex I on a biomimetic membrane supported on gold electrodes

For the first time, respiratory complex I has been reconstituted on an electrode preserving its structure and activity. Respiratory complex I is a membrane-bound enzyme that has an essential function in cellular energy production. It couples NADH:quinone oxidoreduction to translocation of ions across the cellular (in prokaryotes) or mitochondrial membranes. Therefore, complex I contributes to the establishment and maintenance of the transmembrane difference of electrochemical potential required for adenosine triphosphate synthesis, transport, and motility. Our new strategy has been applied for reconstituting the bacterial complex I from Rhodothermus marinus onto a biomimetic membrane supported on gold electrodes modified with a thiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM). Atomic force microscopy and faradaic impedance measurements give evidence of the biomimetic construction, whereas electrochemical measurements show its functionality. Both electron transfer and proton translocation by respiratory complex I were monitored, simulating in vivo conditions. © 2014 American Chemical Society.This work was funded by the Spanish MINECO (project CTQ2012-32448) and by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (PTDC/BBB-BQB/2294/2012 to M.M.P.). The work was also supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through grant # PEst-OE/EQB/LA0004/2011. M.P. and O.G.-S. acknowledge the Ramon y Cajal and the FPI programs respectively from the Spanish MINECO. A.P.B. is recipient of a grant from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (SFRH/BPD/80741/2011).Peer Reviewe

Criação em larga escala de Biomphalaria tenagophila

An efficient method for breeding Biomphalaria tenagophila (Taim lineage/RS) was developed over a 5-year-period (2005-2010). Special facilities were provided which consisted of four cement tanks (9.4 x 0.6 x 0.22 m), with their bottom covered with a layer of sterilized red earth and calcium carbonate. Standard measures were adopted, as follows: each tank should contain an average of 3000 specimens, and would be provided with a daily ration of 35,000 mg complemented with lettuce. A green-house effect heating system was developed which constituted of movable dark canvas covers, which allowed the temperature to be controlled between 20 - 24 ºC. This system was essential, especially during the coldest months of the year. Approximately 27,000 specimens with a diameter of 12 mm or more were produced during a 14-month-period. The mortality rates of the newly-hatched and adult snails were 77% and 37%, respectively. The follow-up of the development system related to 310 specimens of B. tenagophila demonstrated that 70-day-old snails reached an average of 17.0 ± 0.9 mm diameter. The mortality rates and the development performance of B. tenagophila snails can be considered as highly satisfactory, when compared with other results in literature related to works carried out with different species of the genus Biomphalaria, under controlled laboratory conditions.Foi desenvolvido um método eficiente de criação em larga escala de Biomphalaria tenagophila (linhagem Taim/RS) durante o período de 2005-2010. Foi concebida uma instalação que consiste de quatro tanques de alvenaria (9,4 x 0,6 x 0,22) com fundos recobertos por uma mistura constituída de terra vermelha esterilizada e carbonato de cálcio. Foi padronizado que cada tanque de criação conteria em média 3.000 exemplares e receberia diariamente 35.000 mg de ração e alface como complemento. O desenvolvimento de um sistema de aquecimento por efeito estufa constituído de lonas escuras móveis permitiu controlar a temperatura entre 20 a 24 ºC, sistema essencial principalmente nos meses mais frios. Durante o período de 14 meses foram produzidos aproximadamente 27.000 exemplares com diâmetros superiores a 12 mm. As taxas de mortalidade dos caramujos recém-eclodidos e adultos foram de 77% e 37%, respectivamente. O acompanhamento do ritmo de crescimento de 310 B. tenagophila demonstrou que caramujos com 70 dias de idade alcançaram em média 17,0 ± 0,9 mm de diâmetro. As taxas de mortalidade e o desempenho de crescimento de caramujos do gênero B. tenagophila podem ser considerados altamente satisfatórios, comparando-se com os resultados da literatura realizados com espécies do gênero Biomphalaria em condições controladas de laboratório

Analysis of motor capacities in the maturational stages of female adolescents

Introduction: Maturation is a biological phenomenon inherent to the human being that acts alongside environmental factors in its relationship with the development of children and adolescents.Objective: To analyse the motor skills during maturational stages of female adolescents.Methods: This study included 133 female adolescents aged between 10 and 17 years from federal schools in the city of Rio Branco, State of Acre, Brazil. Sexual maturation was evaluated using Tanner’s self-assessment. Motor skills were assessed using the following tests: strength (Jump Test); coordination (Burpee Test); balance (Flamingo Test); flexibility (Sit and Reach Test); agility (Shuttle Run Test). The data were analysed using R software through analysis of variance. The significance level was fixed at 5%.Result: No significant statistical results were found for strength, agility, balance and flexibility, evidencing that maturational advances did not influence these skills. In the coordination variable, significant results were obtained.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that maturational advancement in adolescents does not influence strength, agility, balance or flexibility. However, it does influence coordination, presenting better performance at stage P2.Introduction: Maturation is a biological phenomenon inherent to the human being that acts alongside environmental factors in its relationship with the development of children and adolescents.Objective: To analyse the motor skills during maturational stages of female adolescents.Methods: This study included 133 female adolescents aged between 10 and 17 years from federal schools in the city of Rio Branco, State of Acre, Brazil. Sexual maturation was evaluated using Tanner’s self-assessment. Motor skills were assessed using the following tests: strength (Jump Test); coordination (Burpee Test); balance (Flamingo Test); flexibility (Sit and Reach Test); agility (Shuttle Run Test). The data were analysed using R software through analysis of variance. The significance level was fixed at 5%.Result: No significant statistical results were found for strength, agility, balance and flexibility, evidencing that maturational advances did not influence these skills. In the coordination variable, significant results were obtained.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that maturational advancement in adolescents does not influence strength, agility, balance or flexibility. However, it does influence coordination, presenting better performance at stage P2

Arylimidamides have potential for chemoprophylaxis against blood-transmitted Chagas disease

Chagas disease (CD) affects over 6 million people worldwide and can be transmitted iatrogenically. Crystal violet (CV) was previously used for pathogen reduction but has harmful side-effects. In the present study, three arylimidamides (AIAs) and CV were used to sterilize mice blood samples experimentally contaminated with bloodstream trypomastigotes (BT) of Trypanosoma cruzi, at non hemolytic doses. All AIAs were not toxic to mouse blood cells until the highest tested concentration (96 µM). The previous treatment of BT with the AIAs impaired the infection establishment of cardiac cell cultures. In vivo assays showed that pre-incubation of mouse blood samples with the AIAs and CV (96 µM) significantly suppressed the parasitemia peak, but only the AIA DB1831 gave ≥90% animal survival, while vehicle treated samples reached 0%. Our findings support further studies regarding the potential use of AIAs for blood bank purposes

Identification and preliminary structure-activity relationship studies of novel pyridyl sulfonamides as potential Chagas disease therapeutic agents

Chagas disease is a neglected pathology responsible for about 12,000 deaths every year across Latin America. Although six million people are infected by the Trypanosoma cruzi, current therapeutic options are limited, highlighting the need for new drugs. Here we report the preliminary structure activity relationships of a small library of 17 novel pyridyl sulfonamide derivatives. Analogues 4 and 15 displayed significant potency against intracellular amastigotes with EC50 of 5.4 µM and 8.6 µM. In cytotoxicity assays using mice fibroblast L929 cell lines, both compounds indicated low toxicity with decent selectivity indices (SI) >36 and >23 respectively. Hence these compounds represent good starting points for further lead optimization

Quantum gravity phenomenology at the dawn of the multi-messenger era-A review.

The exploration of the universe has recently entered a new era thanks to the multi-messenger paradigm, characterized by a continuous increase in the quantity and quality of experimental data that is obtained by the detection of the various cosmic messengers (photons, neutrinos, cosmic rays and gravitational waves) from numerous origins. They give us information about their sources in the universe and the properties of the intergalactic medium. Moreover, multi-messenger astronomy opens up the possibility to search for phenomenological signatures of quantum gravity. On the one hand, the most energetic events allow us to test our physical theories at energy regimes which are not directly accessible in accelerators; on the other hand, tiny effects in the propagation of very high energy particles could be amplified by cosmological distances. After decades of merely theoretical investigations, the possibility of obtaining phenomenological indications of Planck-scale effects is a revolutionary step in the quest for a quantum theory of gravity, but it requires cooperation between different communities of physicists (both theoretical and experimental). This review, prepared within the COST Action CA18108 "Quantum gravity phenomenology in the multi-messenger approach", is aimed at promoting this cooperation by giving a state-of-the art account of the interdisciplinary expertise that is needed in the effective search of quantum gravity footprints in the production, propagation and detection of cosmic messengers. (C) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V

PRODH Polymorphisms, Cortical Volumes and Thickness in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder with high heritability. Several lines of evidence indicate that the PRODH gene may be related to the disorder. Therefore, our study investigates the effects of 12 polymorphisms of PRODH on schizophrenia and its phenotypes. To further evaluate the roles of the associated variants in the disorder, we have conducted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to assess cortical volumes and thicknesses. A total of 192 patients were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Calgary Depression Scale, Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) instruments. the study included 179 controls paired by age and gender. the samples were genotyped using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-PCR and Sanger sequencing methods. A sample of 138 patients and 34 healthy controls underwent MRI scans. One polymorphism was associated with schizophrenia (rs2904552), with the G-allele more frequent in patients than in controls. This polymorphism is likely functional, as predicted by PolyPhen and SIFT, but it was not associated with brain morphology in our study. in summary, we report a functional PRODH variant associated with schizophrenia that may have a neurochemical impact, altering brain function, but is not responsible for the cortical reductions found in the disorder.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Disciplina Genet, Dept Morfol & Genet, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, LiNC, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psiquiatria, São Paulo, BrazilFac Med ABC FMABC, Dept Ginecol & Obstet, Disciplina Genet & Reprod Humana, São Paulo, BrazilFed Univ Para, Lab Genet Humana & Med, BR-66059 Belem, Para, BrazilUniv Fed ABC, Ctr Math Computat & Cognit, Santo Andre, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Disciplina Genet, Dept Morfol & Genet, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, LiNC, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psiquiatria, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2011/50740-5FAPESP: 2007/58736-1Web of Scienc