Rare events for Cantor target sets

We study the existence of limiting laws of rare events corresponding to the entrance of the orbits on certain target sets in the phase space. The limiting laws are obtained when the target sets shrink to a Cantor set of zero Lebesgue measure. We consider both the presence and absence of clustering, which is detected by the Extremal Index, which turns out to be very useful to identify the compatibility between the dynamics and the fractal structure of the limiting Cantor set. The computation of the Extremal Index is connected to the box dimension of the intersection between the Cantor set and its iterates

Fast venomic analysis of Crotalus durissus terrificus from northeastern Argentina

The complete knowledge of the toxins that make up venoms is the base for the treatment of snake accidents victims and the selection of specimens for the preparation of venom pools for antivenom production. In this work, we used a fast and direct venomics approach to identify the toxin families in the C.d. terrificus venom, a Southern American Neotropical rattlesnake. The RP-HPLC separation profile of pooled venom from adult specimens followed by mass spectrometry analysis revealed that C.d. terrificus’ venom proteome is composed of 12 protein families, which are unevenly distributed in the venom, e.g., there are few major proteins in the venom's composition phospholipase A2, serine proteinase, crotamine and L-amino acid oxidase. At the same time, the proteome analysis revealed a small set of proteins with low quantity (less than 1.5%), both enzymes (metaloprotease, phospholipase B and 5′-nucleotidase) and proteins (Bradykinin potentiating and C-type natriuretic peptides, C-type lectin convulxin and nerve growth factor). To sum up, this research is the first venomic report of C.d.terrificus venom from Argentina. This proved to be crotamine positive venom that has a lower metalloprotease content than C.d. terrificus venoms from other regions. This information could be used in the discovery of future pharmacological agents or targets in antivenom therapy.Fil: Fusco, Luciano Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Neto, Emidio B.. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Francisco, Aleff F.. Instituto de Biociencias; BrasilFil: Alfonso, Jorge. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Soares, Andreimar. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Pimenta, Daniel C.. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Leiva, Laura Cristina Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; Argentin

Multi-step subcritical water extracts of fucus vesiculosus l. And codium tomentosum stackhouse: Composition, health-benefits and safety

PO-CI-01-0145FEDER-030240Mental health and active aging are two of the main concerns in the 21st century. To search for new neuroprotective compounds, extracts of Codium tomentosum Stackhouse and Fucus vesiculosus L. were obtained through multi-step (four step) subcritical water extraction using a temperature gradient. The safety assessment of the extracts was performed by screening pharmaceutical compounds and pesticides by UHPLC-MS/MS, and iodine and arsenic levels by ICP-MS. Although the extracts were free of pharmaceutical compounds and pesticides, the presence of arsenic and high iodine contents were found in the first two extraction steps. Thus, the health-benefits were only evaluated for the fractions obtained in steps 3 and 4 from the extraction process. These fractions were tested against five brain enzymes implicated in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and major depression etiology as well as against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, having been observed a strong enzyme inhibition and radical scavenging activities for the step 4 fractions from both seaweed species. Regarding the variation of the chemical composition during the extraction, step 1 fractions were the richest in phenolic compounds. With the increase in temperature, Maillard reaction, caramelization and thermo-oxidation occurred, and the resulting products positively affected the antioxidant capacity and the neuroprotective effects.publishersversionpublishe

Química em jogo: reformulando o ensino-aprendizagem

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Bartonella Clarridgeiae Bacteremia Detected In An Asymptomatic Blood Donor.

Human exposure to Bartonella clarridgeiae has been reported only on the basis of antibody detection. We report for the first time an asymptomatic human blood donor infected with B. clarridgeiae, as documented by enrichment blood culture, PCR, and DNA sequencing.53352-

Valorização e potenciais aplicações de uma amostra de própolis português da Beira Alta

O própolis é um produto elaborado pelas abelhas a partir de exsudados de plantas, usado na proteção da colmeia[1]. Tem sido muito estudado e valorizado mundialmente pelas suas propriedades biológicas, como a antioxidante e antimicrobiana, atribuídas principalmente a uma composição química rica em compostos fenólicos. A existência de vários tipos de própolis – determinados por diferentes tipos de flora e clima - salienta a necessidade da sua caracterização química e biológica[1]. A padronização do própolis é também requerida pela sua potencial utilização nas indústrias farmacêutica, cosmética ou alimentar[2] . Neste trabalho estudou-se uma amostra de própolis português para verificar o potencial benefício da sua incorporação em produtos cosméticos. Partiu-se de uma amostra recolhida num apiário da Beira Alta (Pereiro), em 2015, e procedeu-se à sua extração e reconstituição em diferentes solventes (etanol 100 % e 70 % e propilenoglicol). Os extratos (P15.EE100, P15.EE70 e P15.PGE) foram analisados quanto ao seu conteúdo de compostos fenólicos e flavonóides totais por métodos espetrofotométricos. Adicionalmente, os constituintes fenólicos individuais de P15.EE100 foram elucidados por análise de cromatografia liquida por fase reversa, associada a detetor de arrastamento de díodos e a espetrómetro de massa com ionização por eletrospray (UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn). Na avaliação do potencial antioxidante recorreu-se à medição da atividade scavenging dos radicais 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazilo e do anião superóxido. A atividade antimicrobiana foi avaliada pelo método de diluição em agar. P15.EE100 revelou maior teor de polifenóis e flavonóides totais e também melhor capacidade antioxidante. P15.EE100 exibiu melhor atividade antibacteriana, particularmente contra bactérias Gram-positivas; P15.EE100 e P15.EE70 revelaram idêntica atividade antifúngica, com um MIC de 500 μg.mL-1 . Paralelamente à análise laboratorial estudou-se a indústria e o mercado da cosmética (em particular o segmento natural e orgânico) e o mercado do própolis. Os dados revelam que, nos últimos 20 anos, a indústria cosmética apresentou uma taxa de crescimento de aproximadamente 4,5 % por ano. O mercado global do segmento natural e orgânico tem aumentado significativamente, prevendo-se um crescimento anual de 10 %[3] . Relativamente ao mercado do própolis, prevê-se uma taxa de crescimento de 2,2 % até 2021[4]. Conjugando a análise da indústria cosmética com os resultados laboratoriais obtidos, em particular as propriedades antimicrobianas e antioxidantes reveladas pelo própolis estudado, perspetiva-se a possibilidade da sua aplicação em cosméticos

Seroprevalence of Chikungunya Virus after Its Emergence in Brazil.

Chikungunya has had a substantial impact on public health because of the magnitude of its epidemics and its highly debilitating symptoms. We estimated the seroprevalence, proportion of symptomatic cases, and proportion of chronic form of disease after introduction of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in 2 cities in Brazil. We conducted the population-based study through household interviews and serologic surveys during October-December 2015. In Feira de Santana, we conducted a serologic survey of 385 persons; 57.1% were CHIKV-positive. Among them, 32.7% reported symptoms, and 68.1% contracted chronic chikungunya disease. A similar survey in Riachão do Jacuípe included 446 persons; 45.7% were CHIKV-positive, 41.2% reported symptoms, and 75.0% contracted the chronic form. Our data confirm intense CHIKV transmission during the continuing epidemic. Chronic pain developed in a high proportion of patients. We recommend training health professionals in management of chronic pain, which will improve the quality of life of chikungunya-affected persons

A study protocol to evaluate the relationship between outdoor air pollution and pregnancy outcomes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The present study protocol is designed to assess the relationship between outdoor air pollution and low birth weight and preterm births outcomes performing a semi-ecological analysis. Semi-ecological design studies are widely used to assess effects of air pollution in humans. In this type of analysis, health outcomes and covariates are measured in individuals and exposure assignments are usually based on air quality monitor stations. Therefore, estimating individual exposures are one of the major challenges when investigating these relationships with a semi-ecologic design.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>Semi-ecologic study consisting of a retrospective cohort study with ecologic assignment of exposure is applied. Health outcomes and covariates are collected at Primary Health Care Center. Data from pregnant registry, clinical record and specific questionnaire administered orally to the mothers of children born in period 2007-2010 in Portuguese Alentejo Litoral region, are collected by the research team. Outdoor air pollution data are collected with a lichen diversity biomonitoring program, and individual pregnancy exposures are assessed with spatial geostatistical simulation, which provides the basis for uncertainty analysis of individual exposures. Awareness of outdoor air pollution uncertainty will improve validity of individual exposures assignments for further statistical analysis with multivariate regression models.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Exposure misclassification is an issue of concern in semi-ecological design. In this study, personal exposures are assigned to each pregnant using geocoded addresses data. A stochastic simulation method is applied to lichen diversity values index measured at biomonitoring survey locations, in order to assess spatial uncertainty of lichen diversity value index at each geocoded address. These methods assume a model for spatial autocorrelation of exposure and provide a distribution of exposures in each study location. We believe that variability of simulated exposure values at geocoded addresses will improve knowledge on variability of exposures, improving therefore validity of individual exposures to input in posterior statistical analysis.</p