Peptidomimetic and Organometallic Derivatives of Primaquine Active against Leishmania infantum

The current treatment of visceral leishmaniasis is made difficult by the low efficacy, elevated costs, low bioavailability, and high toxicity of many of the available drugs. Primaquine, an antimalarial 8-aminoquinoline, displays activity against Leishmania spp., and several of its derivatives have been developed as potential antileishmanial drugs. However, primaquine exhibits low oral bioavailability due to oxidative deamination of its aliphatic chain. We previously developed peptidomimetic and organometallic derivatives of primaquine, with higher resistance to proteolytic degradation and oxidative deamination, which presented significant activity against primaquine-sensitive pathogens such as Plasmodium or Pneumocystis. In light of these relevant findings, we decided to evaluate these compounds against both the promastigote and intramacrophagic amastigote forms of Leishmania infantum, the agent of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis. We found that several of these compounds had significant activity against L. infantum. One of the peptidomimetic (3c) and one of the organometallic (7a) derivatives of primaquine were active against the clinically relevant intramacrophagic amastigote form of the parasite, causing >96% reductions in the number of amastigotes per 100 macrophages at 60 and 40 mu M, respectively, while being less cytotoxic for host cells than the reference drugs sitamaquine and miltefosine. Hence, compounds 3c and 7a represent new entries toward the development of new antileishmanial leads

Phenolic quantification and botanical origin of Portuguese propolis

The production of propolis by honeybees results from a selective collection of exudates from leaf buds and plants present in the hive neighborhood leading to a resin with many potentialities in the pharmaceutical industry. This study aims to quantify the phenolic content in propolis from different Portuguese regions and in the potential floral sources, Populus x Canadensis Moench buds and Cistus ladanifer L., in order to establish links with geographical and botanical origin. The Portuguese propolis revealed a phenolic profile with marked differences in concentrations: the richness in flavonoids is common in all regions, but more evident in propolis from central interior, south and Madeira. The composition of poplar type propolis common in temperate zones was observed in the north, central coast and Azores, while the central interior and south samples, with a composition rich in kaempferol derivatives, resemble the C. ladanifer exudates, a spontaneous bush widespread in the Mediterranean. The compound kaempferol-3,7-dimethyl-ether, absent in the poplar type propolis, can be regard as a possible marker for the discrimination of these two types of propolis

Assessment of the impact of the European CO2 emissions trading scheme on the Portuguese chemical industry

This paper describes an assessment of the impact of the enforcement of the European carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions trading scheme on the Portuguese chemical industry, based on cost structure, CO2 emissions, electricity consumption and allocated allowances data from a survey to four Portuguese representative units of the chemical industry sector, and considering scenarios that allow the estimation of increases on both direct and indirect production costs. These estimated cost increases were also compared with similar data from other European Industries, found in the references and with conclusions from simulation studies. Thus, it was possible to ascertain the impact of buying extra CO2 emission permits, which could be considered as limited. It was also found that this impact is somewhat lower than the impacts for other industrial sectors

Consulting project for Câmara Municipal de Cascais street vending in Portugal- creation and development of a new sales channel

Field lab: Consulting la

DIFUSION OF ADMINISTRATIVE INNOVATION AND STRUCTURAL LOCATION IN INTERPRISE NETWORK

O objetivo da pesquisa foi descrever a relação entre a adoção de uma inovação administrativa, denominada Sistema de Avaliação da Conformidade de Empresas de Serviços de Obras da Construção Civil (SiAC), por parte de empresas que atuam no setor de obras públicas no Distrito Federal e a localização estrutural dessas empresas na rede de relacionamentos estabelecida entre elas. O estudo é importante por examinar fatores estruturais no comportamento estratégico de organizações imersas em redes de relacionamentos. O quadro teórico de referência teve como base a teoria institucional e a análise de redes sociais. Dados primários, coletados por meio de questionários e entrevistas, indicaram os relacionamentos estabelecidos entre as empresas do setor e a percepção de dirigentes dessas empresas sobre a inovação. Dados secundários, obtidos na Secretaria de Obras do Governo do Distrito Federal, identificaram os registros históricos sobre a adesão ao novo modelo gerencial no setor. Os resultados apontam para duas conclusões principais: (1) as empresas mais centrais na rede foram as primeiras a adotarem a inovação e (2) os dirigentes das empresas pioneiras na adoção consideram a inovação mais legítima e eficiente.The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between the adoption of an administrative innovation, called System to Conformity Assessment of Business Services and Works of Construction (SiAC), by enterprises operating in the sector of public works in the Federal District and structural location of these companies in the network of relationships between them. The study is important for examining structural factors in the strategic behavior of organizations embedded in networks. The theoretical framework was based on the institutional theory and analysis of social networks. Primary data, collected through questionnaires and interviews, indicated relationships established among the companies researched and the perception of leaders of these companies upon the innovation. Secondary data, obtained from the Secretary of Works of the Government of the Federal District, allowed identifying the historical records on the accession to the new management model on the sector. The results indicate two main conclusions: (1) more central enterprises in the network were the first ones to adopt the innovation and (2) the leaders of the pioneering companies in the adoption of the innovation perceive it more legitimate and efficient

Patients with multiple sclerosis do not necessarily consume more alcohol or tobacco than the general population

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Selectivity and feeding behavior of Saanen goats subjected to three nutritional levels

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of selective feeding habits on the quality of the ingested diet and the effect of feed restriction on the selectivity and behavior of goats in feedlots. Differences were found only in the amount of feed given to the animals, with a difference in the amount of feed rejected as a function of the nutritional level. Higher levels of orts were measured for those animals that received the ad libitum diet. For the composition of orts, differences were measured only in the ether extract fraction. Animals fed the ad libitum diet increased their intake of ether extract and energy, crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber. Thus, they had a preference for consuming the fibrous and energetic portions of the diet to the detriment of the mineral matter. The granulometry influenced the leftovers for the male and female treatments only in the diet that contained the 2.00- and 0.063-mm sized particles, with larger leftovers for the females. There were statistical differences as a function of feeding level for time spent in rumination, with stereotypical behavior, and in time spent standing up or lying down. As a function of sex, the differences were the same variables, including the time spent with agonistic behavior. Animals that received the ad libitum diet had a greater gain and final weight, whereas the animals that received the 60% restricted diet had the lowest performance, as did the females. Feed restriction changed the natural feeding behavior of goats, with smaller feed particles preferred. The feed restriction and sex also influenced the time spent on nonproductive activities, and the animals became more restless, with females having a higher social behavior than males

Conflictos y ambigüedades entre los papeles de jueces: las percepciónes de jueces de Portugal

Reformas em judiciários de diversos países criaram um novo papel para os juízes, um papel gerencial, em que juízes assumem novas responsabilidades relacionadas às atividades administrativas. Esse novo papel é diferente do papel tradicional, focado em tarefas judiciais e tem gerado conflitos no trabalho de juízes. Com base nesse contexto, o presente estudo tem como objetivo identificar e discutir conflitos e ambiguidades envolvendo os papéis judicial e gerencial, desempenhados por juízes de Portugal. A pesquisa foi realizada em Portugal, entre 2013 e 2014, e os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas em profundidade com 12 juízes. Os principais conflitos são: incompatibilidade entre a realização de atividades judiciais e administrativas; carga de trabalho elevada e equipe administrativa insuficiente e desmotivada; produtividade versus qualidade do trabalho judicial; e alta responsabilidade do cargo e baixo salário. As principais ambiguidades identificadas nas entrevistas referem-se a: relação formal entre juízes e pessoal administrativo; função do juiz no processo de planejamento dos tribunais; o critério para distribuição de processos judiciais entre juízes; e o critério de avaliação do desempenho de juízes. Os resultados são discutidos e sugeridas pesquisas adicionais.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio