Análise econômica da produção e transformação em ARPP, dos frutos de Euterpe edulis Mart. em açai no município de Garuva Estado de Santa Catarina

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Agrárias. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agroecossistema

An integrated python-based open-source Digital Image Correlation software for in-plane measurements (Part 1)

The authors would like to acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal (FCT-MCTES) throughout the project PTDC/EMD-EMD/1230/2021 (AneurysmTool) and the support provided by the Brazilian Government funding agencies CAPES , FAPERJ and CNPq . Funding Information: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Joao Filho reports financial support was provided by Coordination of Higher Education Personnel Improvement. Jose Xavier reports financial support was provided by Foundation for Science and Technology. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s)The main purpose of this work is to present a new fully-customizable out-of-the-box open-source 2D Digital Image Correlation (2D-DIC) software, so-called iCorrVision-2D. It is implemented in Python, including image acquisition (grabber), numerical correlation and post-processing modules. The proposed software has an intuitive graphical user interface to support selecting all main correlation parameters, calibration and region of interest. The iCorrVision-2D software stands out over other open-source projects due to the great number of functionalities and the control of all important inputs, such as correlation domain, approach (spatial and incremental) and matching criterion, displacement filtering, interpolation techniques, strain window and reconstruction shape functions. Results demonstrate that the iCorrVision-2D software is robust and can be used to measure full-field displacements and strains with satisfactory accuracy and precision. For out-of-plane measurements, iCorrVision-3D will be presented in Part 2 (iCorrVision-3D, SoftwareX, 2022).publishersversionpublishe

Angiotensin II type-1 receptor (AT1R) regulates expansion, differentiation, and functional capacity of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells

Angiotensin II (Ang II) and its receptor AT1 (AT1R), an important effector axis of renin-angiotensin system (RAS), have been demonstrated to regulate T-cell responses. However, these studies characterized Ang II and AT1R effects using pharmacological tools, which do not target only Ang II/AT1R axis. The specific role of AT1R expressed by antigen-specific CD8+ T cells is unknown. Then we immunized transgenic mice expressing a T-cell receptor specific for SIINFEKL epitope (OT-I mice) with sporozoites of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei expressing the cytotoxic epitope SIINFEKL. Early priming events after immunization were not affected but the expansion and contraction of AT1R-deficient (AT1R−/−) OT-I cells was decreased. Moreover, they seemed more activated, express higher levels of CTLA-4, PD-1, LAG-3, and have decreased functional capacity during the effector phase. Memory AT1R−/− OT-I cells exhibited higher IL-7Rα expression, activation, and exhaustion phenotypes but less cytotoxic capacity. Importantly, AT1R−/− OT-I cells show better control of blood parasitemia burden and ameliorate mice survival during lethal disease induced by blood-stage malaria. Our study reveals that AT1R in antigen-specific CD8+ T cells regulates expansion, differentiation, and function during effector and memory phases of the response against Plasmodium, which could apply to different infectious agents

New concepts in malaria pathogenesis: the role of the renin-angiotensin system

Malaria is a worldwide health problem leading the death of millions of people. The disease is induced by different species of protozoa parasites from the genus Plasmodium. In humans, Plasmodium falciparum is the most dangerous species responsible for severe disease. Despite all efforts to establish the pathogenesis of malaria, it is far from being fully understood. In addition, resistance to existing drugs has developed in several strains and the development of new effective compounds to fight these parasites is a major issue. Recent discoveries indicate the potential role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in malaria infection. Angiotensin receptors have not been described in the parasite genome, however several reports in the literature suggest a direct effect of angiotensin-derived peptides on different aspects of the host-parasite interaction. The aim of this review is to highlight new findings on the involvement of the RAS in parasite development and in the regulation of the host immune response in an attempt to expand our knowledge of the pathogenesis of this disease

Randomized trial - oxybutynin for treatment of persistent plantar hyperhidrosis in women after sympathectomy

OBJECTIVE: Hyperhidrosis is a common disease, and thoracoscopic sympathectomy improves its symptoms in up to 95% of cases. Unfortunately, after surgery, plantar hyperhidrosis may remain in 50% of patients, and compensatory sweating may be observed in 70%. This clinical scenario remains a challenge. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of oxybutynin in the treatment of persistent plantar hyperhidrosis and compensatory sweating and its effects on quality of life in women after thoracoscopic sympathectomy. METHOD: We conducted a prospective, randomized study to compare the effects of oxybutynin at 10 mg daily and placebo in women with persistent plantar hyperhidrosis. The assessment was performed using a quality-of-life questionnaire for hyperhidrosis and sweating measurement with a device for quantifying transepidermal water loss. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01328015. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were included in each group (placebo and oxybutynin). There were no significant differences between the groups prior to treatment. After oxybutynin treatment, there was a decrease in symptoms and clinical improvement based on the quality-of-life questionnaire (before treatment, 40.4 vs. after treatment, 17.5; p = 0.001). The placebo group showed modest improvement (p = 0.09). The outcomes of the transepidermal water loss measurements in the placebo group showed no differences (p = 0.95), whereas the oxybutynin group revealed a significant decrease (p = 0.001). The most common side effect was dry mouth (100% in the oxybutynin group vs. 43.8% in the placebo group; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Oxybutynin was effective in the treatment of persistent plantar hyperhidrosis, resulting in a better quality of life in women who had undergone thoracoscopic sympathectomy.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM) Department of Thoracic SurgeryUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM) Department of Infectious DiseasesUNIFESP, EPM, Department of Thoracic SurgeryUNIFESP, EPM, Department of Infectious DiseasesSciEL

Electrochemical Investigation of Oligonucleotide-DNA Hybridization on Poly(4-Methoxyphenethylamine)

This work describes the immobilization of purine and pyrimidine bases and immobilization/hybridization of synthetic oligonucleotides on graphite electrodes modified with poly(4-methoxyphenethylamine) produced in acid medium. The immobilization of adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine on these modified electrodes was efficient, producing characteristic peaks. Another relevant observation is that, according to the literature, pyrimidine bases, cytosine and thymine are more difficult to detect. However, when immobilized onto the poly(4-methoxyphenethylamine), a significant increase in the magnitude of the current was obtained. The observation of the hybridization between the poly(GA) probe and its complementary, poly(CT) target, was possible by monitoring the guanosine and adenosine peaks or through methylene blue indicator, using differential pulse voltammetry. Hybridization results in a decrease of the peak current of guanosine and adenosine or the signal of methylene blue accumulated on the modified electrode surface. The hybridization with the complementary target was also investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed a significant modification in the Nyquist plot, after addition of the complementary target, with increase of the charge transference resistance

Biopolímeros, Carbono e Enxofre Totais Associados à Atividade Bacteriana dos Sedimentos Superficiais do Delta do Paraíba do Sul, RJ-Brasil

A bacia de drenagem do Rio Paraíba do Sul localiza-se ao longo do eixo Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo, de grande densidade demográfica e intensa industrialização. Este trabalho objetivou analisar quali-quantitativamente a matéria orgânica (biopolímeros, carbono orgânico total e enxofre) e o estado metabólico bacteriano nos sedimentos superficiais estuarino-deltaicos do Rio Paraíba do Sul, relacionando-os a distribuição granulométrica. Em média, 65,5% dos sedimentos foi classificado como arenoso e empobrecidos em carbono e enxofre, cujas concentrações médias foram 0,71% e 0,04%, respectivamente. A razão elementar C:S indica que o ambiente é predominantemente oxidante, coerente com a forte influência fluvial no estuário desse rio de médio porte. Os biopolímeros carboidratos (média de 2075,93 μg C/g), proteínas (média de 25,70 μg C/g) e lipídeos (média de 363,10 μg C/g) também apresentaram concentrações inferiores a outros ambientes. Em função dessas baixas concentrações, pôde-se classificar o ambiente como sendo meso-oligotrófico. A razão CARBOIDRATO:COT identificou o impacto de atividades antrópicas, mais especificamente o aporte de efluentes domésticos ao longo de todo o seu curso e da indústria açucareira fortemente presente no seu baixo curso. A comunidade bacteriana, responsável pela hidrólise da matéria orgânica, é predominantemente anaeróbia e anaeróbia facultativa, implicando em perda de nitrogênio para a atmosfera (desnitrificação) e produção de sulfetos (sulfato-redução) e os baixos valores da razão PROTEINA:CARBOIDRATO refletem essa perda de nitrogênio (presente nos compostos protéicos) considerando a ocorrência de bactérias desnitrificantes. Os valores encontrados de carbono bacteriano são elevados (3,29 μg C/g) que também, provavelmente, são devidos aos impactos descritos

Análise do processo de difusão da tecnologia do bloco estrutural em João Pessoa-PB

O processo de difusão tecnológica é assunto da maior relevância dentro da área de estudos em inovação. O processo de difusão tecnológica consiste na comunicação de uma inovação através de certos canais ao longo de determinado intervalo de tempo dentre membros de um sistema social e é condicionado por barreiras culturais, sociais e econômicas. Estudar o processo de difusão é importante porque a inovação é uma importante impulsionadora do desenvolvimento econômico de países e do bem-estar de suas populações e favorece uma melhor compreensão acerca do processo de inovação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar quais elementos influenciam o processo de difusão da tecnologia de blocos estruturais em João Pessoa. O bloco estrutural é um tijolo especial de construção apoiado no desenvolvimento técnico da alvenaria estrutural, que consiste na utilização das paredes como principal estrutura de suporte de edificações por onde as cargas horizontais e verticais são transferidas até as fundações, reduzindo o uso de estruturas de concreto armado. A pesquisa, caracterizada como estudo multicaso, apresenta abordagem qualitativa e exploratória. Os dados foram coletados através de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Os resultados demonstraram que os elementos influenciadores do processo de difusão, com base no modelo proposto por Hall, influenciam a adoção do tijolo estrutural. Embora não existam políticas públicas específicas de incentivo à difusão do bloco estrutural, a difusão deste sofreu influência do Programa Minha Casa, Minha Vida

Influence of rainfall variability on bean production (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in a municipality of Brazilian semiarid

Brazilian semiarid region is marked by the constant incidence of droughts periods, which are climatic events responsible for great disorders for agricultural production, an activity traditionally based on subsistence agriculture. The study aimed at analyzing the evolution of bean production in the municipality of Itaporanga, Paraíba State, Brazil, between 2005-2015, associating these results with local rainfall. It was performed the Principal Component Analysis. Six years of the 11-year series presented a value of annual precipitation lower than the historical mean of the municipality (838 mm). The crop area with beans in the municipality ranged from 5,560 hectares in 2006 to 150 hectares in 2013. There were large variations in the amount of bean production, with values ranging from 2 to 1,985 tons. The PCA recorded a value of 92.4% of explanation in the first two axes and demonstrated a strong correlation between the analyzed variables with the precipitation. Confirming that proper pluviometric indexes are determining factors on bean production in Itaporanga, Paraíba State, Brazil