EXTENSÃO DE VERTENTES: CONTRIBUIÇÃO À MODELAGEM EROSIVA

A Equação Universal de Perda de Solo (EUPS) aborda parcialmente a questão da extensão das vertentes e da geometria das vertentes. Assim, busca-se a superação do paradigma atual, pois, o modelo torna-se generalista. Deste modo, compreende-se que a dinâmica erosiva deve considerar de distintamente os setores da alta, baixa e média vertente. Para tanto, foram desenvolvidas atividades em campo, laboratório e gabinete. Como resultado, o Fator L influenciou substancialmente na carta do Fator LS

Evapotranspiration and crop coefficients for a super intensive olive orchard. An application of SIMDualKc and METRIC models using ground and satellite observations

The estimation of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) from the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and a standard crop coefficient (Kc) in olive orchards requires that the latter be adjusted to planting density and height. The use of the dual Kc approach may be the best solution because the basal crop coefficient Kcb represents plant transpiration and the evaporation coefficient reproduces the soil coverage conditions and the frequency of wettings. To support related computations for a super intensive olive orchard, the model SIMDualKc was adopted because it uses the dual Kc approach. Alternatively, to consider the physical characteristics of the vegetation, the satellite-based surface energy balance model METRIC™ – Mapping EvapoTranspiration at high Resolution using Internalized Calibration – was used to estimate ETc and to derive crop coefficients. Both approaches were compared in this study. SIMDualKc model was calibrated and validated using sap-flow measurements of the transpiration for 2011 and 2012. In addition, eddy covariance estimation of ETc was also used. In the current study, METRIC™ was applied to Landsat images from 2011 to 2012. Adaptations for incomplete cover woody crops were required to parameterize METRIC. It was observed that ETc obtained from both approaches was similar and that crop coefficients derived from both models showed similar patterns throughout the year. Although the two models use distinct approaches, their results are comparable and they are complementary in spatial and temporal scalesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Silver(I) and Copper(II) 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione Complexes as Promising Antivirulence Strategy against Leishmania: Focus on Gp63 (Leishmanolysin)

Leishmaniasis, caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, encompasses a group of neglected diseases with diverse clinical and epidemiological manifestations that can be fatal if not adequately and promptly managed/treated. The current chemotherapy options for this disease are expensive, require invasive administration and often lead to severe side effects. In this regard, our research group has previously reported the potent anti-Leishmania activity of two coordination compounds (complexes) derived from 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (phendione): [Cu(phendione)3 ].(ClO4 )2 .4H2O and [Ag(phendione)2 ].ClO4 . The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of these complexes on leishmanolysin (gp63), a virulence factor produced by all Leishmania species that plays multiple functions and is recognized as a potential target for antiparasitic drugs. The results showed that both Ag-phendione (−74.82 kcal/mol) and Cu-phendione (−68.16 kcal/mol) were capable of interacting with the amino acids comprising the active site of the gp63 protein, exhibiting more favorable interaction energies compared to phendione alone (−39.75 kcal/mol) or 1,10-phenanthroline (−45.83 kcal/mol; a classical gp63 inhibitor) as judged by molecular docking assay. The analysis of kinetic parameters using the fluorogenic substrate Z-Phe-Arg-AMC indicated Vmax and apparent Km values of 0.064 µM/s and 14.18 µM, respectively, for the released gp63. The effects of both complexes on gp63 proteolytic activity were consistent with the in silico assay, where Ag-phendione exhibited the highest gp63 inhibition capacity against gp63, with an IC50 value of 2.16 µM and the lowest inhibitory constant value (Ki = 5.13 µM), followed by Cu-phendione (IC50 = 163 µM and Ki = 27.05 µM). Notably, pretreatment of live L. amazonensis promastigotes with the complexes resulted in a significant reduction in the expression of gp63 protein, including the isoforms located on the parasite cell surface. Both complexes markedly decreased the in vitro association indexes between L. amazonensis promastigotes and THP-1 human macrophages; however, this effect was reversed by the addition of soluble gp63 molecules to the interaction medium. Collectively, our findings highlight the potential use of these potent complexes in antivirulence therapy against Leishmania, offering new insights for the development of effective treatments for leishmaniasis

Biochemical parameters of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) after transport with eugenol or essential oil of Lippia alba added to the water

The transport of live fish is a routine practice in aquaculture and constitutes a considerable source of stress to the animals. The addition of anesthetic to the water used for fish transport can prevent or mitigate the deleterious effects of transport stress. This study investigated the effects of the addition of eugenol (EUG) (1.5 or 3.0 mu L L-1) and essential oil of Lippia alba (EOL) (10 or 20 mu L L-1) on metabolic parameters (glycogen, lactate and total protein levels) in liver and muscle, acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) in muscle and brain, and the levels of protein carbonyl (PC), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and nonprotein thiol groups (NPSH) and activity of glutathione-S-transferase in the liver of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen; Quoy and Gaimard, 1824) transported for four hours in plastic bags (loading density of 169.2 g L-1). The addition of various concentrations of EUG (1.5 or 3.0 mu L L-1) and EOL (10 or 20 mu L L-1) to the transport water is advisable for the transportation of silver catfish, since both concentrations of these substances increased the levels of NPSH antioxidant and decreased the TBARS levels in the liver. In addition, the lower liver levels of glycogen and lactate in these groups and lower AChE activity in the brain (EOL 10 or 20 mu L L-1) compared to the control group indicate that the energetic metabolism and neurotransmission were lower after administration of anesthetics, contributing to the maintenance of homeostasis and sedation status.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS/PRONEX) [10/0016-8]; Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Cientifico (CNPq) [470964/2009-0]; Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES); CNPqinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evolutionary algorithms and other metaheuristics in water resources: Current status, research challenges and future directions

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier. NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Environmental Modelling and Software. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Environmental Modelling and Software Vol. 62 (2014), DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2014.09.013The development and application of evolutionary algorithms (EAs) and other metaheuristics for the optimisation of water resources systems has been an active research field for over two decades. Research to date has emphasized algorithmic improvements and individual applications in specific areas (e.g. model calibration, water distribution systems, groundwater management, river-basin planning and management, etc.). However, there has been limited synthesis between shared problem traits, common EA challenges, and needed advances across major applications. This paper clarifies the current status and future research directions for better solving key water resources problems using EAs. Advances in understanding fitness landscape properties and their effects on algorithm performance are critical. Future EA-based applications to real-world problems require a fundamental shift of focus towards improving problem formulations, understanding general theoretic frameworks for problem decompositions, major advances in EA computational efficiency, and most importantly aiding real decision-making in complex, uncertain application contexts

Disarming Pseudomonas aeruginosa Virulence by the Inhibitory Action of 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-Dione- Based Compounds: Elastase B (LasB) as a Chemotherapeutic Target

negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and this enzyme orchestrates several physiopathological events during bacteria-host interplays. LasB is considered to be a potential target for the development of an innovative chemotherapeutic approach, especially against multidrug-resistant strains. Recently, our group showed that 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (phendione), [Ag(phendione)2]ClO4 (Ag-phendione) and [Cu(phendione)3](ClO4)2.4H2O (Cu-phendione) had anti-P. aeruginosa action against both planktonic- and biofilm-growing cells. In the present work, we have evaluated the effects of these compounds on the (i) interaction with the lasB active site using in silico approaches, (ii) lasB proteolytic activity by using a specific fluorogenic peptide substrate, (iii) lasB gene expression by real time-polymerase chain reaction, (iv) lasB protein secretion by immunoblotting, (v) ability to block the damages induced by lasB on a monolayer of lung epithelial cells, and (vi) survivability of Galleria mellonella larvae after being challenged with purified lasB and lasB-rich bacterial secretions. Molecular docking analyses revealed that phendione and its Ag+ and Cu2+ complexes were able to interact with the amino acids forming the active site of lasB, particularly Cu-phendione which exhibited the most favorable interaction energy parameters. Additionally, the test compounds were effective inhibitors of lasB activity, blocking the in vitro cleavage of the peptide substrate, aminobenzyl-Ala-Gly-Leu-Ala-p-nitrobenzylamide, with Cu- phendione having the best inhibitory action (Ki = 90 nM). Treating living bacteria with a sub-inhibitory concentration (1/2 × MIC value) of the test compounds caused a significant reduction in the expression of the lasB gene as well as its mature protein production/secretion. Further, Ag-phendione and Cu-phendione offered protective rg 1 August 2019 | Volume 10 | Article 1701 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-Dione-Based Compounds: As Anti-Virulence Drugs action for lung epithelial cells, reducing the A549 monolayer damage by approximately 32 and 42%, respectively. Interestingly, Cu-phendione mitigated the toxic effect of both purified lasB molecules and lasB-containing bacterial secretions in the in vivo model, increasing the survival time of G. mellonella larvae. Collectively, these data reinforce the concept of lasB being a veritable therapeutic target and phendione-based compounds (mainly Cu-phendione) being prospective anti-virulence drugs against P. aeruginosa

Polymorphism In Lep And Lepr May Modify Leptin Levels And Represent Risk Factors For Thyroid Cancer

Purpose. To understand the role of polymorphisms in the LEP (rs7799039 and rs2167270) and LEPR (rs1137101 and rs1137100) genes in DTC susceptibility and their effect on leptin levels. Methods. We studied 153 patients with DTC and 234 controls through TaqMan SNP Genotyping and ELISA, comparing these data to the clinicopathological data of patients with DTC. Results. Patients with AA genotype of rs7799039 had higher levels of serum leptin (9.22 ± 0.98 ng/mL) than those with AG genotype (10.07 ± 0.60 ng/mL; P = 0.005). 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A510Pimentel Duarte, S.F., Francischetti, E.A., Genelhu-Abreu, V., P. Q223R leptin receptor polymorphism associated with obesity in Brazilianmultiethnic subjects (2006) The American Journal of Human Biology, 18 (4), pp. 448-453Wauters, M., Mertens, I., Chagnon, M., Polymorphisms in the leptin receptor gene, body composition and fat distribution in overweight and obese women (2001) International Journal of Obesity, 25 (5), pp. 714-720Ogawa, T., Hirose, H., Yamamoto, Y., Relationships between serum soluble leptin receptor level and serum leptin and adiponectin levels, insulin resistance index, lipid profile, and leptin receptor gene polymorphisms in the Japanese population (2004) Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental, 53 (7), pp. 879-885Fairbrother, U.L., Tankó, L.B., Walley, A.J., Christiansen, C., Froguel, P., Blakemore, A.I.F., Leptin receptor genotype at Gln223Arg is associated with body composition, BMD, and vertebral fracture in postmenopausal Danish women (2007) Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 22 (4), pp. 544-550Salopuro, T., Pulkkinen, L., Lindström, J., Genetic variation in leptin receptor gene is associated with type 2 diabetes and body weight: The Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (2005) International Journal of Obesity, 29 (10), pp. 1245-1251Wauters, M., Mertens, I., Rankinen, T., Chagnon, M., Bouchardt, C., Van Gaal, L., Leptin receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with insulin in obese women with impaired glucose tolerance (2001) Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 86 (7), pp. 3227-3232Park, K.S., Shin, H.D., Park, B.L., Polymorphisms in the leptin receptor (LEPR)-putative association with obesity and T2DM (2006) Journal of Human Genetics, 51 (2), pp. 85-91Han, C.-Z., Du, L.-L., Jing, J.-X., Associations among lipids, leptin, and leptin receptor geneGin223Arg polymorphisms and breast cancer in China (2008) Biological Trace Element Research, 126 (1-3), pp. 38-48Okobia, M.N., Bunker, C.H., Garte, S.J., Leptin receptor Gln223Arg polymorphism and breast cancer risk in Nigerian women: A case control study (2008) BMC Cancer, 8He, B.-S., Pan, Y.-Q., Zhang, Y., Xu, Y.-Q., Wang, S.-K., Effect of LEPR Gln223Arg polymorphism on breast cancer risk in different ethnic populations: A meta-analysis (2012) Molecular Biology Reports, 39 (3), pp. 3117-3122Lin, D.W., Fitz Gerald, L.M., Fu, R., Genetic variants in the LEPR, CRY1, RNASEL, IL4, and ARVCF genes are prognostic markers of prostate cancer-specific mortality (2011) Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 20 (9), pp. 1928-1936Li, Y.L., Geng, J.L., Wang, Y., The role of leptin receptor gene polymorphisms in determining the susceptibility and prognosis of NSCLC in Chinese patients (2012) Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 138 (2), pp. 311-316Wazir, U., Al Sarakbi, W., Jiang, W.G., Mokbel, K., Evidence of an autocrine role for leptin and leptin receptor in human breast cancer (2012) CancerGenomics and Proteomics, 9 (6), pp. 383-388Li, L., Lee, K.J., Choi, B.C., Baek, K.H., Relationshipbetween leptin receptor and polycystic ovary syndrome (2013) Gene, 527 (1), pp. 71-74Friedlander, Y., Li, G., Fornage, M., Candidate molecular pathway genes related to appetite regulatory neural network, adipocyte homeostasis and obesity: Results from the CARDIA Study (2010) Annals of Human Genetics, 74 (5), pp. 387-39