Short communication: Length-weight relationship and condition factor of the nine fish species of bycatch from Northeast Brazilian Coast

The length-weight relationship (LWR) and relative condition factor (Kn) are essential biometric tools in fishery studies. They provide information about the fish's growth, condition, and suitability in its habitat. LWR values were estimated for nine fish (Chloroscombrus chrysurus, Larimus breviceps, Nebris microps, Odontognathus mucronatus, Paralonchurus brasiliensis, Pellona harroweri, Ointmentsys corvinaeformis, Selene setapinnis, Stellifer rastrifer) captured as bycatch in shrimp trawling from commercial trawls, were collected monthly, between March and November 2019. The coefficient b ranged from 2.7547 to 3.4100 and the Fulton and relative condition factor ranged from 0.39 to 1.38 and 1.00 to 1.02, respectively. The current study would provide baseline data about LWR and the relative condition factor for these species captured in northeast Brazilian coast. These data are valuable for establishing a monitoring and management system for this fish specie

Activation of PPARγ reduces N-acetyl-cysteine -induced hypercorticoidism by down-regulating MC2R expression into adrenal glands

We previously demonstrated that oral supplementation with antioxidants induced hyperactivity of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, attested by hypercorticoidism, through an up-regulation of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) receptors (MC2R) in adrenal. This study analyzed the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ on HPA axis hyperactivity induced by N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC). Male Swiss-Webster mice were orally treated with NAC for 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, or 18 consecutive days. The PPAR-γ agonist rosiglitazone and/or antagonist GW9662 were daily-injected i.p. for 5 consecutive days, starting concomitantly with NAC treatment. Rosiglitazone treatment inhibited NAC-induced adrenal hypertrophy and hypercorticoidism. Rosiglitazone also significantly reversed the NAC-induced increase in the MC2R expression in adrenal, but not steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). NAC treatment reduces the expression of PPARγ in the adrenals, but rosiglitazone did not restore the expression of this cytoprotective gene. In addition, GW9662 blocked the ability of rosiglitazone to decrease plasma corticosterone levels in NAC-treated mice. In conclusion, our findings showed that antioxidant supplementation induced a state of hypercorticoidism through down-regulation of PPARγ expression in the adrenals, in a mechanism probably related to a down-regulation of ACTH receptor expression.Fil: Ventura, Raíssa D.. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Chaves, Amanda S.. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Magalhães, Nathalia S.. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: González, Florencia Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Pacini, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Pérez Ransanz, Ana Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología Clinica y Experimental de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Silva, Patrícia M.R.. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Martins, Marco A.. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Carvalho, Vinicius F.. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; Brasi

Improvement in the synthesis of (Z)-organylthioenynes via hydrothiolation of buta-1,3-diynes: a comparative study using NaOH or TBAOH as base

AbstractHydrothiolation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical buta-1,3-diynes with sodium organylthiolate anions in reflux, generated in situ by reacting C4H9SH with NaOH, afforded (Z)-organylthioenynes in low to good yields (25–80%). By using tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAOH) as base instead of NaOH, the hydrothiolation of buta-1,3-diynes was more rapid and efficient, providing (Z)-organylthioenynes in good to excellent yields (70–95%)

O ENSINO DE GEOGRAFIA FÍSICA E A TEMÁTICA HÍDRICA NO PRODOCÊNCIA/UFS: POSSIBILIDADES PARA A PRÁTICA DA EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENT

A necessidade de reflexões sobre o pensar e o fazer geográfico associado ao entendimento danecessidade de adotar posturas investigativas voltadas para o ensino de geografia são prementes para aformação inicial docente. Para tal, através de um ensino reflexivo é possível associar conteúdo eprática em um processo educativo comprometido com a formação geográfica, sem dicotomizar o físicodo humano e que contribua para o desenvolvimento de posturas de uso racional dos bens naturais. Taisposturas encontram respaldadas na prática da Educação Ambiental compreendida como um conjuntode atitudes voltadas para a construção de valores socioambientais e para conservação do meioambiente. Neste sentido, este artigo tem como objetivo descrever as reflexões e ações desenvolvidaspelo subprojeto Geografia e Recursos Hídricos do PRODOCÊNCIA/UFS, analisando a importância domesmo na formação docente, no ensino de Geografia Física voltado para a Educação Ambiental e seusreflexos na comunidade escolar envolvida no referido subprojeto. Os encaminhamentos metodológicospara efetivar a proposta do subprojeto supracitado envolveram alunos de graduação em Geografia nasseguintes atividades: levantamento de fontes de pesquisa; leitura e debate de artigos científicos;seleção de escolas da educação básica para efetivar o projeto; estruturação e aplicação de oficinas deensino sobre a temática em questão. Dentre as diversas áreas que compõem a Geografia Física, foiselecionada a temática hídrica. Os resultados preliminares apontaram para o não aprofundamento datemática hídrica de forma efetiva nas escolas envolvidas no projeto. Ações associadas aoconhecimento da realidade local, tomadas de ações, discussões cotidianas voltadas para a prática daeducação ambiental são incipientes. A realização de oficina de ensino abordando aspectos do uso daságuas buscou aproximar o aluno da educação básica à sua realidade e a sensibilização para odesenvolvimento de posturas voltadas para a prática da educação ambiental cotidiana. Ao mesmotempo possibilitou ao graduando aproximar-se do seu universo futuro de trabalho

On the application of 3d metals for C-H activation toward bioactive compounds: The key step for the synthesis of silver bullets

Several valuable biologically active molecules can be obtained through C-H activation processes. However, the use of expensive and not readily accessible catalysts complicates the process of pharmacological application of these compounds. A plausible way to overcome this issue is developing and using cheaper, more accessible, and equally effective catalysts. First-row transition (3d) metals have shown to be important catalysts in this matter. This review summarizes the use of 3d metal catalysts in C-H activation processes to obtain potentially (or proved) biologically active compounds

Tropical peat as a versatile material for solid-phase extraction of pesticides from medicinal plant Cordia salicifolia

Natural peat was tested for solid-phase extraction of acephate, chlorpropham, pirimicarb, bifenthrin, tetradifon and phosalone from the medicinal plant Cordia salicifolia, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring (GC/MS, SIM). Considering that there are no Brazilian regulations concerning maximum permissible pesticide residue concentrations in medicinal herbs, recovery experiments were carried out (three replicates) at two arbitrary fortification levels (0.5 and 1.0 mg kg-1), resulting in recoveries ranging from 64% to 118% and relative standard deviations between 5.6% and 26.4% for peat sorbent. Detection and quantification limits for herb ranged from 0.10 to 0.15 mg kg-1 and from 0.15 to 0.25 mg kg-1, respectively, for the different pesticides studied. The developed method was linear over the range assayed, 0.1-5.0 μg g-1, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9975 to 0.9986 for all pesticides. Comparison between natural peat and conventional sorbent (neutral alumina) showed similar performance of peat for the six pesticides tested

A new sensitive molecular marker for Aspergillus’ Calmodulin gene detection in biological samples, used as a supplementary diagnosis for invasive Aspergillosis (IA)/ Um novo marcador molecular sensível para a detecção do gene Calmodulin em amostras biológicas do Aspergillus, utilizado como diagnóstico suplementar para a Aspergilose invasiva (IA)

Introduction: Aspergillosis is caused by the fungi of Aspergillus genus. After inhalation, Aspergillus’ conidia can invade the tracheal bronchus and lungs, resulting in airway colonization, inflammatory granuloma and invasive aspergillosis (IA), which is most likely to occur in neutropenic and immunosuppressed patients. Presently, IA has been associated with COVID-19 in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) for longer periods of time. Objective: The objective of this is to design a new molecular marker for detection of Aspergillus spp. in biological samples, in order to develop a new technique for IA diagnosis which is faster, more efficient and safer. Methodology: The primer was designed in silico using conserved sequences of the Calmodulin gene. After confirming the results in silico, in vitro evaluation was performed using the PCR technique. Results: The designed primer showed high specificity for the Aspergillus species. Conclusion: In this study the standardized PCR reaction with the designed marker proved to be safely utilized as a diagnostic method for IA.  The development of a test to aid in the diagnosis of IA is of great importance, since traditional methods are in turn time consuming and generally confused with other diseases. Early diagnosis contributes to faster treatment initiation and increasing the patient's chance of survival. We can conclude that the standardized PCR with the designed primer can be used safely in the development of a diagnostic test for IA, being of low cost, and accessible to patients treated by the public health system. A Patent application for this molecular marker has been submitted, with the number BR1020190281294

Low-Level Laser Application in the Early Myocardial Infarction Stage Has No Beneficial Role in Heart Failure

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been targeted as a promising approach that can mitigate post infarction cardiac remodeling. There is some interesting evidence showing that the beneficial role of the LLLT could persist long-term even after the end of the application, but it remains to be systematically evaluated. Therefore, the present study aimed to test the hypothesis that LLLT beneficial effects in the early post-infarction cardiac remodeling could remain in overt heart failure even with the disruption of irradiations. Female Wistar rats were subjected to the coronary occlusion to induce myocardial infarction or Sham operation. A single LLLT application was carried out after 60 s and 3 days post-coronary occlusion, respectively. Echocardiography was performed 3 days and at the end of the experiment (5 weeks) to evaluate cardiac function. After the last echocardiographic examination. LV hemodynamic evaluation was performed at baseline and on sudden afterload increases. Compared with the Sham group, infarcted rats showed increased systolic and diastolic internal diameter as well as a depressed shortening fraction of LV. The only benefit of the LLLT was a higher shortening fraction after 3 days of infarction. However, treated-LLLT rats show a lower shortening fraction in the 5th week of study when compared with Sham and non-irradiated rats. A worsening of cardiac function was confirmed in the hemodynamic analysis as evidenced by the higher LV end-diastolic pressure and lower +dP/dt and dP/dt with five weeks of study. Cardiac functional reserve was also impaired by infarction as evidenced by an attenuated response of stroke work index and cardiac output to a sudden afterload stress, without LLLT repercussions. No significant differences were found in the myocardial expression of Akti NEGF pathway. Collectively, these findings illustrate that LLLT improves LV systolic function in the early post-infarction cardiac remodeling. However, this beneficial effect may be dependent on the maintenance of phototherapy. Long-term studies with LLLT application are needed to establish whether these effects ultimately translate into improved cardiac remodeling.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnologicoFAPESPNove de Julho Univ, Lab Biophoton, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Lab Cardiac Physiol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilNove de Julho Univ, Program Med, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Judas Tadeu, Brazil Phys Educ & Aging Sci Program, Translat Physiol Lab, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Lab Cardiac Physiol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilCNPq: 4400851/2014-8FAPESP: 09-54225/8FAPESP: 15/11028-9Web of Scienc