On the geometry of wave solutions of a delayed reaction-diffusion equation

The aim of this paper is to study the existence and the geometry of positive bounded wave solutions to a non-local delayed reaction-diffusion equation of the monostable type.Comment: 25 pages, several important modifications are made. Some references added to the previous versio

Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome following inhalation of hydrogen chloride vapor

Hydrogen chloride is available commercially as an anhydrous gas or an aqueous solution, hydrochloric acid. Exposure to this gas has been associated with the development of reactive airways dysfunction syndrome. However, there are few published reports. A 37-year-old woman developed progressive bronchospasm and acute respiratory failure after cleaning an enclosed space with an unknown concentration of hydrochloric acid gas from a cleaning substance. She had no prior history of asthma or atopy. Severe bronchospasm developed, leading to hypoxemia and diffuse interstitial infiltrates, necessitating orotracheal intubation and admission to the intensive care unit. Asthma-like symptoms such as cough, wheezing, and dyspnea; requiring bronchodilators, and repeated hospitalizations are persistent a year after the accident. Pulmonary function testing showed mild airflow obstruction

Nova abordagem para o estudo das paleofloras utilizando sistemas de informação geográfica aplicada a Flora Glossopteris

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOThis paper introduces a methodology which makes possible the visualization of the spatial distribution of plant fossils and applies it to the occurrences of the Gondwana Floristic Province present on the eastern border of the Brazilian portion of the Paraná Basin during the Neopaleozoic. This province was chosen due to the existence of a large number of publications referring to their occurrence, so that a meta-analysis of their distribution could be based on ample information. The first step was the construction of a composite database including geographical location, geology, and the botanical systematics of each relevant fossil. The geographical locations were then georeferenced for translation into various maps showing various aspects of the distribution of the fossils. The spatial distribution of the fossil-housing outcrops shows that these are distributed along the area of deposition studied. Although some genera persisted for long periods of time, others lasted for only short intervals. As time passed, the fossil composition underwent a gradual change from the Late Carboniferous (Itararé Group) to the Late Permian (Rio do Rasto Formation), with the number of genera represented decreasing from 45 in the Itararé Group to 11 in the Rio do Rasto Formation.This paper introduces a methodology which makes possible the visualization of the spatial distribution of plant fossils and applies it to the occurrences of the Gondwana Floristic Province present on the eastern border of the Brazilian portion of the Paraná Basin during the Neopaleozoic. This province was chosen due to the existence of a large number of publications referring to their occurrence, so that a meta-analysis of their distribution could be based on ample information. The first step was the construction of a composite database including geographical location, geology, and the botanical systematics of each relevant fossil. The geographical locations were then georeferenced for translation into various maps showing various aspects of the distribution of the fossils. The spatial distribution of the fossil-housing outcrops shows that these are distributed along the area of deposition studied. Although some genera persisted for long periods of time, others lasted for only short intervals. As time passed, the fossil composition underwent a gradual change from the Late Carboniferous (Itararé Group) to the Late Permian (Rio do Rasto Formation), with the number of genera represented decreasing from 45 in the Itararé Group to 11 in the Rio do Rasto Formation444681689FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO2009/04418-4; 2009/10547-1sem informaçãoAzcuy, C.B.A., Beri, A., Bernardes De Oliveira, M.E.C., Carrizo, H.A., Di Pasquo, M., Saraiva, P.D., Gonzales, C., Iannuzzi, R., Lemos, V.B., Melo, J.H.G., Pagani, A., Vergel, M.M., Bioestratigrafia del Paleozoico Superior de América del Sur: Primera etapa de trabajo hacia una nueva propuesta cronoestratigráfica (2007) Publicaciónes Especiales De La Asociación Paleontológica Argentina, 11, pp. 9-65Burrough, P.A., (1986) Principles Of Geographical Information Systems For Land Resources Assessment., p. 54. , Oxford, Oxford University PressCarneiro, C.C., Interpretação de dados de sensores remotos e aerogeofísicos como ferramenta na análise estrutural da área centro-oeste do Sistema Transcorrente Carajás (PA) (2005) MS Dissertation, Instituto De Geociências, Universidade Estadual De Campinas, Campinas, p. 100(2004) Carta Geológica Do Brasil Ao Milionésimo: Sistema De Informações Geográficas-SIG, Escala 1:1.000.000, , Compania de Pesquisas de Recursos Minerais (CPRM) Brasília, Ministério de Minas e EnergiaDerby, O.A., Illustrations of the Stem structure of Tietea singularis (1915) American Journal of Science, 39, pp. 251-260Florin, R., Die Koniferen des Oberkarbons und des unteren Perms (1940) Palaeontographica Abteilung B, 85, pp. 243-363Frey, A., (2009) Syllabus of Plants Families. Bryophytes and Seedless Vascular Plants, p. 419. , 13 ed., Berlin, Gebrüder BerntraegenIannuzzi, R., Souza, P.A., Floral succession in the Lower Permian deposits of the Brazilian Paraná Basin: An up-to-date overview (2005) New Mexico Museum Of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 30, pp. 144-149Lundqvist, G., Fossile Pflanzen der Glossopteris Flora aus Brasilien (1919) Kungl Svenska Vetenskaps-akademiens Handlingar, 60, pp. 1-36Milani, E.J., Melo, J.H.G., Souza, P.A., Fernandes, L.A., França, A.B., Bacia do Paraná (2007) Boletim De Geociências Da Petrobras, 15 (2), pp. 265-287Milani, E.J., (1997) Evolução Tectono-Estratigráfica Da Bacia Do Paraná E De Seu Relacionamento Com a Geodinâmica Fanerozóica Do Gondwana Sul-Ocidenta, p. 255. , PhD Thesis, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto AlegreMilani, E., Comentários sobre a origem e a evolução tectônica da Bacia do Paraná. In: Mantesso-Neto V., Bartorelli, a., Carneiro C.D.R., Brito-Neves B.B. (org). Geologia do Continente Sul-Americano: Evolução da Obra de Fernando Flavio Marques de Almeida (2004) São Paulo, pp. 265-279. , Ed. BecaRabus, B., Eineder, M., Roth, A., Bamler, R., The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission - A New Class of Elevation Models Acquired by Spaceborne Radar (2003) Journal Of Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing, 57, pp. 241-262Rao, H.S., On the anatomy of Lycopodiopsis derbyi renault with remarks on the Southern Palæozoic Lycopods (1940) Proceedings of The Indian Academy of Sciences - Section B, 11 (5), pp. 197-217Rees, P.M., Ziegler, A.M., Gibbs, M.T., Kutzbach, J.E., Behling, P., Rowley, D.B., Permian phytogeographic patterns and climate data/ model comparisons (2002) Journal of Geology, 110, pp. 1-31Ricardi-Branco, F., Branco, F.C., Garcia, R.F., Faria, R.S., Pereira, S.Y., Portugal, R., Pessenda, L.C., Pereira, P.R.B., Features of plant accumulations along the Itanhaém River, on the southern coast of the Brazilian state of São Paulo (2009) PALAIOS, 24 (7), pp. 416-424Rohn, R., Rösler, O., Middle to Upper Permian phytostratigraphy of the Eastern Paraná Basin (2000) Revista Da Universidade De Guarulhos, 5, pp. 69-73Rösler, O., The Brazilian eogondwanic floral succession (1978) Boletim IG - USP, 9, pp. 85-90Scotese, C.R., (2001) Atlas of Earth History, 1, p. 52. , Texas, ArlingtonSpicer, R.A., The importance of depositional sorting to the biostratigraphy of plant megafossils (1980) Biostratigraphy of Fossil Plants: Successional and Paleoecological Analyses., pp. 171-183. , Dilcher, D.L., Taylor, T.N. Pennsylvania, Hutchinson & RossTaylor, T.N., Taylor, E.L., Krigs, M., (2008) Paleobotany: The Biology and Evolution of Fossil Plants., p. 1252. , Amsterdam, Elsevier IncVeevers, J.J., Gondwanaland from 600-570 Ma assembly through 320 Ma merger in Pangea to 185-100 Ma breakup: Supercontinental tectonics via stratigraphy and radiometric dating (2004) Earth-science Reviews, 68 (1-2), pp. 1-132O presente artigo introduz a uma metodologia na qual será possível a visualização da distribuição espacial de fitofósseis. Tal metodologia será cada a ocorrências da Província Florística do Gondwana presente na borda leste da porção brasileira da Bacia do Paraná durante o Neopaleozóico. Essa província foi escolhida tendo em vista que nela há grande número de publicações referentes às suas ocorrências. Isso torna possível a meta-análise de sua distribuição, uma vez que há ampla gama de informações. O primeiro passo foi a construção de uma base de dados composta, incluindo localização geográfica, geologia e sistemática botânica de cada fóssil de interesse. As informações foram então georreferenciadas para posterior transferência em diversos mapas mostrando vários aspectos da distribuição fossilífera. Através de sua distribuição espacial, se pode contatar que os fitofósseis se encontram amplamente distribuídos em toda a área de estudo. No entanto, alguns gêneros persistem por longos períodos de tempo, já outros somente por curtos intervalos. Ao longo do tempo, a composição fossilífera se transformou gradualmente, desde suas primeiras ocorrências no Grupo Itararé (Neocarbonífero), até a Formação Rio do Rastro (Neopermiano), com o número de gêneros decrescendo de 45 no Grupo Itararé para 11 na Formação Rio do Rast

Envelhecimento populacional: realidade atual e desafios

The aim was to reflect on active aging and the influence of internal and external factors that contribute and even influence the aging process and how Brazil is preparing to face the new reality in relation to significant age group changes and, therefore, change in the general scope. This is a reflective study, with a search in electronic databases that point to population aging. It was evident that there is a great concern in what is discerned about the aging process, without making the necessary decisions so that the health of the individual in the aging process is taken care of as a whole and not partially.Objetivou-se refletir sobre o envelhecimento ativo e a influência de fatores internos e externos que contribuem e até influenciam no processo de envelhecimento e como o Brasil, está se preparando para enfrentar a nova realidade em relação a mudanças significativas de faixa etária e sendo assim, mudança no âmbito geral. Trata-se de estudo de reflexão, com busca nas bases de dados eletrônicas que apontam para o envelhecimento populacional. Evidenciou-se que há uma grande preocupação no que discerne sobre o processo de envelhecer, sem a tomada de decisões necessárias para que a saúde do indivíduo em processo de envelhecimento seja cuidado como um todo e não parcialmente

Envelhecimento populacional: realidade atual e desafios

The aim was to reflect on active aging and the influence of internal and external factors that contribute and even influence the aging process and how Brazil is preparing to face the new reality in relation to significant age group changes and, therefore, change in the general scope. This is a reflective study, with a search in electronic databases that point to population aging. It was evident that there is a great concern in what is discerned about the aging process, without making the necessary decisions so that the health of the individual in the aging process is taken care of as a whole and not partially.Objetivou-se refletir sobre o envelhecimento ativo e a influência de fatores internos e externos que contribuem e até influenciam no processo de envelhecimento e como o Brasil, está se preparando para enfrentar a nova realidade em relação a mudanças significativas de faixa etária e sendo assim, mudança no âmbito geral. Trata-se de estudo de reflexão, com busca nas bases de dados eletrônicas que apontam para o envelhecimento populacional. Evidenciou-se que há uma grande preocupação no que discerne sobre o processo de envelhecer, sem a tomada de decisões necessárias para que a saúde do indivíduo em processo de envelhecimento seja cuidado como um todo e não parcialmente

Development of Quantitative Rapid Isothermal Amplification Assay for Leishmania donovani

Quantification of pathogen load, although challenging, is of paramount importance for accurate diagnosis and clinical management of a range of infectious diseases in a point-of-need testing (PONT) scenario such as in resource-limited settings. We formulated a quantification approach to test the standard-curve based absolute quantification ability of isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay. As a test of principle, a 10-fold dilution series of Leishmania donovani (LD) genomic DNA prepared in nuclease-free-water (NFW), and from culture-spiked-blood (CSB) were tested, and a 15 min assay was performed. A modified algorithm was formulated to derive the detection outcome. The threshold-record times (Tr) in seconds thus obtained were plotted against the initial load of parasite genomes for log-linear regression analysis. The quantitative RPA (Q-RPA) assay was further evaluated against a LD quantitative (q)-PCR assay with DNA extracted from visceral and post-Kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis case specimens and stratified into different ranges of threshold cycle (Ct). The best-fitted regression models were found linear with mean r2/root mean square error (RMSE) values of residual points (in seconds) estimated as 0.996/8.063 and 0.992/7.46 for replicated series of NFW and CSB, respectively. In both series, the lower limit of detection reached less than 0.1 parasite genome equivalent DNA. Absolute agreement between Q-RPA and LD-qPCR was found for test positivity, and strong positive correlations were observed between the Tr and Ct values (r = 0.89; p < 0.0001) as well as between the absolute parasite loads (r = 0.87; p < 0.0001) quantified by respective assays. The findings in this very first Q-RPA assay for leishmaniasis are suggestive of its potential in monitoring LD load in clinical specimens, and the development of rapid Q-RPA assays for other infectious diseases

A química verde e os plásticos ambientalmente degradáveis

O estudo de impacto ambiental é um dos mais importantes instrumentos de defesa do meio ambiente, e se fundamenta na obrigatoriedade de se respeitar o meio ambiente e no direito dos cidadãos à participação e à informação. Com o enfoque mundial na preocupação ambiental foram desenvolvidos os bioplásticos, que são plásticos biodegradáveis, que não utilizam o petróleo como matéria–prima e por isso sua síntese é uma atividade sustentável com diminuição da emissão de gases de efeito estufa. Em outra categoria estão os plásticos verdes, que são uma nova geração de plásticos, cujos componentes são também derivados de matérias–primas renováveis, e que contribuem para a preservação das fontes fósseis não renováveis tais como, petróleo e gás natural. Este trabalho teve como objetivo, realizar um estudo mercadológico simplificado dos principais biopolímeros, como também avaliar as tendências tecnológicas deste segmento, com base em informações extraídas de documentos de patentes, de modo a mapear os principais setores, evolução ao longo dos anos, tipos de depositantes, empresas e áreas de aplicação. No estudo mercadológico foi possível analisar os biopolímeros que possuem maior chance de sucesso de desenvolvimento de tecnologia local, tendo se destacado em ordem decrescente, o polihidroxialcanoato, com propriedades semelhantes a xantana; os polímeros de amido e o polilactato. Os biopolímeros com maior potencial de receitas foram em ordem decrescente, o polilactato e, praticamente no mesmo nível, o polihidroxialcanoato, xantana e os polímeros de amido. Para o estudo de prospecção tecnológica foram utilizados os bancos de patentes da United Patents and Trademark Office (USPTO) e do Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Intelectual (INPI), onde foram compiladas cerca de 1431 patentes, tomando como base o período de 1970 a 2007. Em ambos os bancos, a supremacia Norte- Americana em registro de patentes ficou evidente. O Brasil é o segundo do ranking em depósitos no banco do INPI, não havendo registro de depósitos brasileiros no banco da USPTO no período estudado. Em relação aos tipos de depositantes compilados, tanto no banco norte-americano como no nacional, os maiores depositantes são as empresas. Este fato está relacionado com a constante busca por inovações tecnológicas e maior competitividade por parte dessas empresas. No Brasil, se percebe uma maior ligação entre P&D e a academia, caracterizada pelo segundo lugar das Universidades como depositantes de patentes

Knowledge of Brazilian Dentists about Dentoalveolar Trauma Care and their Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: To assess dentists\u27 knowledge from Minas Gerais, Brazil, about dentoalveolar trauma (DT) and their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: An online questionnaire with 34 questions was applied to collect personal data, professional training, self-assessment of experience/knowledge about DT, experience in care provided during the social distancing, and knowledge/conduct. The specific responses were evaluated based on the guidelines of the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT). Descriptive analysis and Pearson\u27s chi-square test were performed. The level of significance was set at p≤0.05. Results: Most professionals (97.7%) had received information on DT, and only 4.6% of the participants considered their knowledge poor or very poor. However, 92.7% felt the need for more information on the subject. Regarding experiences during the pandemic, 55.7% provided trauma care during that period. Forty percent of the consultations were performed in person, and 33.3% of the professionals noted an increase in cases during the pandemic; 56.6% reported that the frequency did not change. The overall mean number of correct answers about DT was 5.29±2.11, indicating an acceptable level of knowledge. The mean percentage of hits for the specific questions was 44.1%. Conclusion: Although the level of knowledge of the dentists evaluated was acceptable, some aspects were deficient, with the need for more information about the IADT guidelines

Searching for Digenic Inheritance in Deaf Brazilian Individuals Using the Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification Technique

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Mutations in the genes coding for connexin 26 (Cx26), connexin 30 (Cx30), and connexin 31 (Cx31) are the main cause of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss (AR-NSNHL). The 35delG mutation is the most frequent in the majority of Caucasian populations and may account for up to 70% of all GJB2 mutations. As a large number of affected individuals (10%-40%) with GJB2 mutations carry only one mutant allele, it has been postulated that the presence of additional mutations in the GJB6 gene (Cx30) explains the deafness condition found in these patients. In the present study, we screened the c. 35delG mutation in similar to 600 unrelated Brazilian patients, with moderate to profound AR-NSNHL. Other point mutations in the coding region of the GJB2 gene were screened by sequencing analysis as well as the IVS 1 + 1 G> A splice site mutation in the same gene. Digenic mutations including large deletions and duplications were investigated in the Cx26, 30, and 31 genes in monoallelic individuals for mutations in the GJB2 gene. Large deletions and duplications were assessed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. We found 46 patients with mutations in only one GJB2 allele. Different pathogenic mutations associated with c. 35delG were found in 13 patients. Two patients were identified with digenic heterozygous mutations. Our findings contributed to more accurate diagnosis and more appropriate genetic counseling in 28% of patients studied (13/46).1512849853Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Evaluation of Rapid Extraction Methods Coupled with a Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay for Point-of-Need Diagnosis of Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis

To detect Post-kala-azar leishmaniasis (PKDL) cases, several molecular methods with promising diagnostic efficacy have been developed that involve complicated and expensive DNA extraction methods, thus limiting their application in resource-poor settings. As an alternative, we evaluated two rapid DNA extraction methods and determined their impact on the detection of the parasite DNA using our newly developed recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay. Skin samples were collected from suspected PKDL cases following their diagnosis through national guidelines. The extracted DNA from three skin biopsy samples using three different extraction methods was subjected to RPA and qPCR. The qPCR and RPA assays exhibited highest sensitivities when reference DNA extraction method using Qiagen (Q) kit was followed. In contrast, the sensitivity of the RPA assay dropped to 76.7% and 63.3%, respectively, when the boil & spin (B&S) and SpeedXtract (SE) rapid extraction methods were performed. Despite this compromised sensitivity, the B&S-RPA technique yielded an excellent agreement with both Q-qPCR (k = 0.828) and Q-RPA (k = 0.831) techniques. As expected, the reference DNA extraction method was found to be superior in terms of diagnostic efficacy. Finally, to apply the rapid DNA extraction methods in resource-constrained settings, further methodological refinement is warranted to improve DNA yield and purity through rigorous experiments