Comparative Analysis of three Growth Medium for Arthrospira platensis Cultivation based on Lab-Scale Results

Arthrospira platensis is a rich source of essential amino acids, vitamins and it is used as a feedstock for energy sources. The high cost of the growth medium used in its cultivation is a problem for increasing the production viability. The present study aimed to compare the technical viability and the cost elementsin different growth medium for A. platensis cultivation. For that purpose, it was proposed the use of three different growth medium, named as M1, M2 and M3 in a lab scale. The growth of the treatments presented a microbial process with characteristic phases. M1, M2 and M3 maximum concentration (Xmax), productivity (Px) and the maximum specific growth rate (μmax) showed no significant difference among treatments. However, M3 presented the lowest cost element, about 45.75% less than the M1 and 38.92% lower than M2. Therefore, the comparison enabled the result that M3 presented the best performance to be used, thus increasing profitability of this production in a lab-scale analysis

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Global variations in diabetes mellitus based on fasting glucose and haemogloblin A1c

Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are both used to diagnose diabetes, but may identify different people as having diabetes. We used data from 117 population-based studies and quantified, in different world regions, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, and whether those who were previously undiagnosed and detected as having diabetes in survey screening had elevated FPG, HbA1c, or both. We developed prediction equations for estimating the probability that a person without previously diagnosed diabetes, and at a specific level of FPG, had elevated HbA1c, and vice versa. The age-standardised proportion of diabetes that was previously undiagnosed, and detected in survey screening, ranged from 30% in the high-income western region to 66% in south Asia. Among those with screen-detected diabetes with either test, the agestandardised proportion who had elevated levels of both FPG and HbA1c was 29-39% across regions; the remainder had discordant elevation of FPG or HbA1c. In most low- and middle-income regions, isolated elevated HbA1c more common than isolated elevated FPG. In these regions, the use of FPG alone may delay diabetes diagnosis and underestimate diabetes prevalence. Our prediction equations help allocate finite resources for measuring HbA1c to reduce the global gap in diabetes diagnosis and surveillance.peer-reviewe

Desempenho econômico do cultivo do feijão em condições de irrigação adequada e deficiente

Na maioria dos projetos de irrigação a oferta de água é limitada, sendo" essencial a sua otimização. A irrigação com área adequadamente irrigada menor que 100% toma possível aumentar a eficiência de aplicação, diminuindo o volume de água aplicado. Visando estudar o efeito da área adequadamente irrigada por sulco no desempenho econômico do cultivo do feijão, 0 presente trabalho foi desenvolvido considerando uma função de produção para a cultura do feijão, determinada nas condições tipicas do projeto de irrigação ' do Gorutuba, que estima a produtividade do feijão em função de lâmina de água aplicada. O sistema de irrigação foi dimensionado para as condições em que a lâmina requerida pela cultura foi aplicada a 100, 90, 80 e 70% do comprimento do sulco, respectivamente, utilizando a metodologia do balanço volumétrico. Para analisar o desempenho econômico da cultura, foi considerado o preço do feijão praticado na região, bem como o valor da tarifa de água adotada nos projetos de irrigação do Jaíba e Gorutuba, ambos localizados em Minas Gerais. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que houve redução no valor do produto, em relação àquele correspondente a um Lp igual a 100%, de R$66,33/ha, R$33,16/ha e R$9,33/há, quando se trabalhou com área adequadamente irrigada de 70, 80 e 90$9,27/ha, R$6,49/ha e R$3,40/ha e de R$13,63/ha, R$9,54/ha e R$4,99/ha para os projetos do Gorutuba e Jaíba, respectivamente. Embora do ponto de vista econômico o uso da irrigação por sulco com déficit não tenha apresentado resultados satisfatórios para as condições estudadas, essa prática pode tornar-se viável nos projetos de irrigação que apresentam escassez de água.A Yellow-Red Latosol was analysed to determine the effect of adequately irrigated area on the economic performance of the bean culture. This study was carried'out for length firrrow (L) of 100 m; Slºpe (So) of 0.03 mm/m; percentages of adequately irrigated area (Lp) of 70, 80, 90 and 100%; and required water depth (Zp) of 0.025 m. Values of application efficiency and water requeriment efficiency were determined for all possible combinations, as well as depth values applied on 80, 90 and 100% of length furrow when Zr was applied on 70, 80, 90 and 100% of length furrow. The results showed that reduction on the water volume and on bean production were 32.9% and 12.2%, respectively, when Lp decreased from 100 to 70%

Variabilidade genética de cajuzinho-do-cerrado (Anacardium humile St. Hill.) por meio de marcadores rapd

Nativo do Cerrado brasileiro e com alta variabilidade morfológica, o cajuzinho-do-cerrado (Anacardium humile St. Hill.) apresenta frutos de grande aceitação pelas populações locais, os quais atraem por suas características peculiares, como tamanho, sabor único e potencial para uso sustentável por produtores e pela indústria. A produção de sementes limitada, acarretada pela baixa polinização e pela alta predação por animais e insetos, dificulta a propagação da espécie. O conhecimento da variabilidade genética do cajuzinho-do-cerrado é importante para maximizar o uso de seus recursos genéticos para futuros programas de melhoramento e de conservação da espécie. No presente trabalho, a variabilidade genética de 122 acessos de A. humile procedentes de 11 municípios (procedências) do Cerrado de Goiás e Mato Grosso, foi estimada por meio de marcadores RAPD. As similaridades genéticas foram estimadas a partir da matriz binária, tendo sido processadas análises de agrupamento e de dispersão gráfica a partir da matriz de distâncias. Os iniciadores com maior expressão foram OPA11 e 08. Os dez iniciadores utilizados geraram 157 bandas, sendo 156 polimórficas (99 %), com média de 15,6 bandas/ iniciadores. Grande variabilidade dentro de municípios foi detectada, sendo o polimorfismo superior a 90 %, exceto da procedência de Jataí-GO. A distância entre acessos variou de 0,138 a 0,561, com média de 0,370, sendo os menores valores registrados entre os acessos de Mineiros-GO, e Serranópolis-GO. Os acessos de Caiapônia-GO, e Santo Antônio do Descoberto-GO, foram os mais distantes geneticamente. A dissimilaridade total entre acessos variou de 0,103 a 0,796, com médias de 0,390. Os acessos 87 e 114 de Serranópolis-GO, e Santo Antônio do Descoberto-GO, respectivamente, foram os mais distantes geneticamente, demonstrando a importância dessas procedências no enriquecendo do banco de germoplasma da espécie

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.13Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt