Intraplate seismicity in Pedra Preta (RN) in the period from 2013 to 2014

A atividade sísmica em Pedra Preta (RN), localizada no Nordeste do Brasil, região de maior sismicidade intraplaca do país, teve início em dezembro de 2010. Antes disso, não havia registro de sismos na área. Durante o ano de 2013 e início de 2014, a rede sismográfica de Pedra Preta registou 273 sismos locais em 3 ou mais estações. Desses eventos foram selecionados os 50 com melhor leitura dos tempos de chegada das ondas P e S, sendo determinado o modelo de velocidades (Vp/Vs = 1,72 e Vp = 5,90 km/s) e calculados os hipocentros, com o programa HYPO71. Para a determinação do mecanismo focal composto foi realizada uma nova seleção de sismos obedecendo critérios mais restritos para os hipocentros (epicentros localizados dentro da rede com resíduo médio de tempo de chegada ≤ 0,01 s, número de observações ≥ 10, erro médio na horizontal < 0,1 km, erro médio na vertical < 0,1 km), tendo sido selecionados por esses critérios 24 eventos. Os hipocentros desses sismos mostram que a falha sismogênica tem aproximadamente 3 km de extensão, com sismos de 2,3 a 5,8 km de profundidade. Os parâmetros da falha sismogênica foram obtidos pela combinação do método dos mínimos quadrados e do programa FPFIT (strike = 254º, dip = 67º e rake = -66º), caracterizando uma falha normal. Os epicentros e o mecanismo focal foram utilizados para verificar se havia ou não possível correlação com feições geológicas mapeadas na área. A conclusão é que não existem feições geológicas mapeadas que possam estar relacionadas diretamente com a atividade sísmica estudada. The seismic activity in Pedra Preta (RN), Northeast of Brazil, region of main intraplate seismicity of the country, began in December 2010. Before that year, there was no record of earthquakes in this area. During 2013 and early 2014, the seismographic network deployed in Pedra Preta registered 273 local earthquakes in 3 or more stations. Of these, 50 events with the best readings of the arrival times of the P and S waves were selected to determine velocity model (Vp/Vs = 1.72 and Vp = 5.90 km/s) and their hypocenters were calculated, with HYPO71 software. For the determination of the composed focal mechanism, it was realized a new selection with earthquakes obeying more stringent criteria for the hypocenters (epicenters located within the network with mean arrival-time residue ≤ 0.01 s, number of observations ≥ 10, mean horizontal error < 0.1 km, mean vertical error < 0.1 km), having been selected 24 events by these criteria. The hypocenters of earthquakes show that the seismogenic fault is about 3 km long, with earthquakes between 2.3 and 5.8 km deep. The parameters of seismogenic fault were obtained by combining the method of least squares and FPFIT software (strike = 254º, dip = 67º and the rake = -66º), indicating a normal fault. The hypocenters and focal mechanism were used to verify if there was possible correlation with geological features mapped in the area and the conclusion is that there are no mapped geological features that may be directly related to the seismic activity studied

Anti-viral effects of medicinal plants in the management of dengue: a systematic review

Background: Dengue is considered as an important arboviral disease. Safe, low-cost, and effective drugs that possess inhibitory activity against dengue virus (DENV) are mostly needed to try to combat the dengue infection worldwide. Medicinal plants have been considered as an important alternative to manage several diseases, such as dengue. As authors have demonstrated the antiviral effect of medicinal plants against DENV, the aim of this study was to review systematically the published research concerning the use of medicinal plants in the management of dengue using the PubMed database.Materials and Methods: Search and selection of publications were made using the PubMed database following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA statement).Results: Six publications met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final selection after thorough analysis.Conclusion: It is suggested that medicinal plants’ products could be used as potential anti-DENV agents.Keywords: Dengue, arbovirus, medicinal plants, PubMe

EFFECT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATION GENERATED IN OSCILLATING/VIBRATORY PLATFORM ON THE CONCENTRATION OF PLASMA BIOMARKERS AND ON THE WEIGHT IN RATS.

Background: Whole body vibration (WBV) exercise has been used in health sciences. Authors have reported that changes on the concentration of plasma biomarkers could be associated with the WBV effects. The aim of this investigation is to assess the consequences of exposition of 25 Hz mechanical vibration generated in oscillating/vibratory platform (OVP) on the concentration of some plasma biomarkers and on the weight of rats. Materials and Methods: Wistar rats were divided into two groups. The animals of the Experimental Group (EG) were submitted to vibration (25 Hz) generated in an OVP with four bouts of 30 seconds with rest time of 60 seconds between the bouts. This procedure was performed daily for 12 days. The animals of the control group (CG) were not exposed to vibration. Results: Our findings show that the WBV exercise at 25 Hz was not capable to alter significantly (

Erratum to: The study of cardiovascular risk in adolescents – ERICA: rationale, design and sample characteristics of a national survey examining cardiovascular risk factor profile in Brazilian adolescents

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