Ionizing radiation for preparation and functionalization of membranes and their biomedical and environmental applications

UID/Multi/04349/2019. IST-ID/077/2018. IST-ID/076/2018. POCI-01-0145-FEDER -007265.The use of ionizing radiation processing technologies has proven to be one of the most versatile ways to prepare a wide range of membranes with specific tailored functionalities, thus enabling them to be used in a variety of industrial, environmental, and biological applications. The general principle of this clean and environmental friendly technique is the use of various types of commercially available high-energy radiation sources, like60Co, X-ray, and electron beam to initiate energy-controlled processes of free-radical polymerization or copolymerization, leading to the production of functionalized, flexible, structured membranes or to the incorporation of functional groups within a matrix composed by a low-cost polymer film. The present manuscript describes the state of the art of using ionizing radiation for the preparation and functionalization of polymer-based membranes for biomedical and environmental applications.publishersversionpublishe

Preservação digital e Agenda 2030 da IFLA

Discute as atuais visões acerca da preservação digital, à luz das diretrizes da agenda 2030 da IFLA. Objetivou-se delinear o estado da arte sobre a preservação digital, seus conceitos e técnicas. Utilizou-se como metodologia pesquisas de cunho bibliográfico, onde foram utilizados textos nacionais e internacionais, de livros e periódicos em meio digital. Apresenta ainda um quadro elaborado a partir da pesquisa, onde são abordadas as principais técnicas e estratégias de preservação no fluxo dos objetos digitais. Concluiu-se que muitas são as ações para a preservação do conhecimento científico, pois a mesma é o alicerce para o desenvolvimento de sociedades democráticas e a continuidade de novos e incansáveis estudos.Universidade Federal Fluminens

Preservação digital e Agenda 2030 da IFLA

Discute as atuais visões acerca da preservação digital, à luz das diretrizes da agenda 2030 da IFLA. Objetivou-se delinear o estado da arte sobre a preservação digital, seus conceitos e técnicas. Utilizou-se como metodologia pesquisas de cunho bibliográfico, onde foram utilizados textos nacionais e internacionais, de livros e periódicos em meio digital. Apresenta ainda um quadro elaborado a partir da pesquisa, onde são abordadas as principais técnicas e estratégias de preservação no fluxo dos objetos digitais. Concluiu-se que muitas são as ações para a preservação do conhecimento científico, pois a mesma é o alicerce para o desenvolvimento de sociedades democráticas e a continuidade de novos e incansáveis estudos.Universidade Federal Fluminens

Preservação digital e Agenda 2030 da IFLA

Discute as atuais visões acerca da preservação digital, à luz das diretrizes da agenda 2030 da IFLA. Objetivou-se delinear o estado da arte sobre a preservação digital, seus conceitos e técnicas. Utilizou-se como metodologia pesquisas de cunho bibliográfico, onde foram utilizados textos nacionais e internacionais, de livros e periódicos em meio digital. Apresenta ainda um quadro elaborado a partir da pesquisa, onde são abordadas as principais técnicas e estratégias de preservação no fluxo dos objetos digitais. Concluiu-se que muitas são as ações para a preservação do conhecimento científico, pois a mesma é o alicerce para o desenvolvimento de sociedades democráticas e a continuidade de novos e incansáveis estudos.Universidade Federal Fluminens

Detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in blood samples of horses (Equus caballus) and donkeys (Equus asinus) by PCR

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease caused by the Leishmania infantum parasite. The protozoan is able to infect several domestic and wild mammals. Since the first report on Leishmania spp. infection in horses in South America, leishmaniasis in equids has been highlighted in Brazil. A molecular epidemiological survey was carried out to verify the occurrence of Leishmania spp. DNA in horses and donkeys, in leishmaniases endemic areas in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. To this end, blood samples were obtained from 107 horses and 36 donkeys and subjected to DNA extraction followed by PCR targeting the ITS-1 region. Among the horses and donkeys, 1.87% (2/107) and 8.33% (3/36) were positive by PCR, respectively. The DNA sequencing of the ITS-1 amplification products confirmed L. infantum DNA in these animals. Our results suggest that horses and donkeys from non-VL and VL endemic areas of São Paulo State may be infected by the parasite

Metformin, but not glimepiride, improves carotid artery diameter and blood flow in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of glimepiride and metformin on vascular reactivity, hemostatic factors and glucose and lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in 16 uncontrolled patients with diabetes previously treated with dietary intervention. The participants were randomized into metformin or glimepiride therapy groups. After four months, the patients were crossed over with no washout period to the alternative treatment for an additional four-month period on similar dosage schedules. The following variables were assessed before and after four months of each treatment: 1) fasting glycemia, insulin, catecholamines, lipid profiles and HbA1 levels; 2) t-PA and PAI-1 (antigen and activity), platelet aggregation and fibrinogen and plasminogen levels; and 3) the flow indices of the carotid and brachial arteries. In addition, at the end of each period, a 12-hour metabolic profile was obtained after fasting and every 2 hours thereafter. RESULTS: Both therapies resulted in similar decreases in fasting glucose, triglyceride and norepinephrine levels, and they increased the fibrinolytic factor plasminogen but decreased t-PA activity. Metformin caused lower insulin and pro-insulin levels and higher glucagon levels and increased systolic carotid diameter and blood flow. Neither metformin nor glimepiride affected endothelial-dependent or endothelial-independent vasodilation of the brachial artery. CONCLUSIONS: Glimepiride and metformin were effective in improving glucose and lipid profiles and norepinephrine levels. Metformin afforded more protection against macrovascular diabetes complications, increased systolic carotid artery diameter and total and systolic blood flow, and decreased insulin levels. As both therapies increased plasminogen levels but reduced t-PA activity, a coagulation process was likely still ongoing

Metformin, but not glimepiride, improves carotid artery diameter and blood flow in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of glimepiride and metformin on vascular reactivity, hemostatic factors and glucose and lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in 16 uncontrolled patients with diabetes previously treated with dietary intervention. The participants were randomized into metformin or glimepiride therapy groups. After four months, the patients were crossed over with no washout period to the alternative treatment for an additional four-month period on similar dosage schedules. The following variables were assessed before and after four months of each treatment: 1) fasting glycemia, insulin, catecholamines, lipid profiles and HbA(1) levels; 2) t-PA and PAI-1 (antigen and activity), platelet aggregation and fibrinogen and plasminogen levels; and 3) the flow indices of the carotid and brachial arteries. In addition, at the end of each period, a 12-hour metabolic profile was obtained after fasting and every 2 hours thereafter. RESULTS: Both therapies resulted in similar decreases in fasting glucose, triglyceride and norepinephrine levels, and they increased the fibrinolytic factor plasminogen but decreased t-PA activity. Metformin caused lower insulin and pro-insulin levels and higher glucagon levels and increased systolic carotid diameter and blood flow. Neither metformin nor glimepiride affected endothelial-dependent or endothelial-independent vasodilation of the brachial artery. CONCLUSIONS: Glimepiride and metformin were effective in improving glucose and lipid profiles and norepinephrine levels. Metformin afforded more protection against macrovascular diabetes complications, increased systolic carotid artery diameter and total and systolic blood flow, and decreased insulin levels. As both therapies increased plasminogen levels but reduced t-PA activity, a coagulation process was likely still ongoing.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo-FAPESPFundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP

Respirometry and Ruminant Nutrition

The gaseous exchange between an organism and the environment is measured by respirometry or indirect calorimetry. Once the oxygen consumption (O2) and the production of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are known, the energy losses by gas and heat can be calculated. Energy metabolism and methane production have been studied in the Calorimetry and Metabolism Laboratory of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, located in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Animals used are mainly Zebu cattle and their crossbreeds that represent most beef and dairy cattle breed grazed on tropical pastures. System calibration and routine work are addressed in this text. The results obtained on respirometric chambers are expressed in net energy (NE), which can be net energy for maintenance (NEm), lactation (NEL), weight gain (NEg), and pregnancy (NEp). NE is, in fact, what is used by the animal for maintenance and each productive function. The values of k (conversion efficiency of ME into NE) for maintenance (km), milk (kL), weight gain or growth (kg), and pregnancy (kp) are determined. Thanks to the peculiarity of the respirometric technique, the same animal can be evaluated several times, in different physiological states and planes of nutrition

Intake, apparent digestibility, and methane emission in bulls receiving a feed supplement of monensin, virginiamycin, or a combination

Abstract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the feed supplements monensin, virginiamycin, or a combination of the two, on intake, digestibility, and methane emission in the male cattle breed F 1 Holstein · Gir. We used a complete randomised design with four treatments consisting of the control, monensin, virginiamycin, and a combination of the two. The basal diets were composed of sorghum silage with Tanzania grass and the concentrate in the 1 : 1 ratio. Nutrient intake (P > 0.05) and the apparent digestibility coefficients (P > 0.05) were not affected by the supplementation with monensin, virginiamycin, or both. The combination of the supplements did affect methane emission (P < 0.05) when expressed in L/day, L/(kg DM), and L/(kg DM digestible). The lowest methane production was obtained with the combination of the supplements