Evolutionary procedure based model to predict ground–level ozone concentrations

AbstractThis study aims to predict the next day hourly average ozone (O3) concentrations using threshold autoregressive (TAR) models in which the threshold value and the threshold variable are defined by genetic algorithms. The procedure is also able to generate models with statistically significant regression parameters. The performance of TAR models was then compared to the one obtained with autoregressive (AR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models. Different TAR models were generated, corresponding to different threshold variables and values. For the training period, ANN model presented better results than TAR and AR models. However, in the test period, AR and one of the TAR models achieved better predictions of O3 concentrations than the ANN model. The distinction between the applied models became greater when they were evaluated in the prediction of the extreme values, for which the TAR model presented the best performance. The performance with respect to extreme values is a useful implication for the protection of public health as this model can provide more reliable early warnings about high O3 concentration episodes

Ergosterol contents in mycorrhizal wild edible mushrooms: comparison by hierarchical cluster analysis

Sterols are important molecules of the unsaponifiable fraction in several matrices. In mushrooms, ergosterol, which is an important vitamin D2 precursor, is clearly the main sterol. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) is an unsupervised learning method to standardized data, checking for similarities between sample groups. This method calculates the distances (or correlation) between all samples using a defined metric such as squared Euclidean distance or Chebychev distance. Hierarchical clustering is the most common approach in which clusters are formed sequentially. The most similar objects are first grouped, and these initial groups are merged according to their similarities. Eventually as the similarity decreases all subgroups are fused into a single cluster. Herein, ergosterol was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography, coupled with an ultraviolet detector, in some of the most appreciated mycorrhizal edible mushrooms (Amanita caesarea, Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius, Lactarius deliciosus and Morchella esculenta). Considering fat content (percentage) and ergosterol contents in mg/g fat and mg/100 g of dry weight, two main groups were formed in the HCA: one aggregating A. caesarea and B. edulis and another constituted by C. cibarius, L. deliciosus and M. esculenta. These two groups derived from the higher contents presented by B. edulis and A. caesarea. The detected values indicate that mushrooms might act as a potential source of this vitamin D2 precursor, with special relevance for diets deprived of food products of animal origin.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and COMPETE/QREN/EU for the financial support of this work (research project PTDC/AGR-ALI/110062/2009) and to CIMO (strategic project PEst- OE/AGR/UI0690/2011). J.C.M. Barreira also thanks to FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE for his grant SFRH/BPD/72802/2010

Epidemiological And Microbiological Aspects Of Residential Outbreaks Of Foodborne Illness In The Parana State, Brazil

Foodborne illness results in high costs to public health and the food chain production worldwide. The majority of the population is unaware of food safety requirements and consequently, domestic kitchens are sources of contamination and spread of disease. Eating habits and the profile of food handlers in these sites guide the planning of surveillance and public education. This study describes the epidemiological and microbiological aspects of household outbreaks of foodborne illness in the State of Parana, using the Notifiable Diseases Information System database. There were 357 outbreaks between 2008 and 2012 in the State of Parana, and households were the main place of occurrence (43.70%), followed by restaurants and bakeries (21.00%), and kindergartens and schools (11.20 %). Household outbreak records derived from the municipalities for regional health coverage, based in Curitiba, Cascavel, Pato Branco, Foz do Iguaçu and Londrina. These indicated an increased number of reported cases between 2011 and 2012. The increase in reporting reflects a greater awareness among professionals because of training. The results highlight the consumption of contaminated food (36.15%), by strains of coagulase positive Staphylococcus (36.23%). They also reflect an intensification and wholeness of public policies on the education of the population regarding hygiene principles in the acquisition, handling, preparation, storage, and consumption of food in the household.3764051406

Sedimentos Relíquias na Plataforma Continental Brasileira

O estudo de sedimentos relíquias, ocorrentes em plataforma continental, tem contribuído para a compreensão de sua evolução paleogeográfica Quaternária e para o desenvolvimento de trabalhos de caráter econômico e aplicado. Na plataforma continental Brasileira, os estudos realizados, permitiram sua identificação, mapeamento e conhecimento de suas propriedades mecânicas e mineralógicas, bem como a identificação da morfologia de fundo associada. Indícios de sua evolução, especialmente ligados a posições de níveis de mar pretéritos, bem como a indicação de recursos econômicos associado aos sedimentos superficiais, têm sido revelados

How to catch a Smurf? - Ageing and beyond... In vivo assessment of intestinal permeability in multiple model organisms

The Smurf Assay (SA) was initially developed in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster where a dramatic increase of intestinal permeability has been shown to occur during ageing. We have since validated the protocol in multiple other model organisms and have utilised the assay to further our understanding of ageing. The SA has now also been used by other labs to assess intestinal barrier permeability. The SA in itself is simple, however numerous small details can have considerable impact on its experimental validity and subsequent interpretation. Here, we provide detailed update on the SA technique and explain how to catch a Smurf while avoiding the most common experimental fallacie

Inactivation of capsaicin-sensitive nerves reduces pulmonary remodeling in guinea pigs with chronic allergic pulmonary inflammation

Pulmonary remodeling is an important feature of asthma physiopathology that can contribute to irreversible changes in lung function. Although neurokinins influence lung inflammation, their exact role in the extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling remains to be determined. Our objective was to investigate whether inactivation of capsaicin-sensitive nerves modulates pulmonary ECM remodeling in animals with chronic lung inflammation. After 14 days of capsaicin (50 mg/kg, sc) or vehicle administration, male Hartley guinea pigs weighing 250-300 g were submitted to seven inhalations of increasing doses of ovalbumin (1, 2.5, and 5 mg/mL) or saline for 4 weeks. Seventy-two hours after the seventh inhalation, animals were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated and the lung mechanics and collagen and elastic fiber content in the airways, vessels and lung parenchyma were evaluated. Ovalbumin-exposed animals presented increasing collagen and elastic fiber content, respectively, in the airways (9.2 ± 0.9; 13.8 ± 1.2), vessels (19.8 ± 0.8; 13.4 ± 0.5) and lung parenchyma (9.2 ± 0.9; 13.8 ± 1.2) compared to control (P < 0.05). Capsaicin treatment reduced collagen and elastic fibers, respectively, in airways (1.7 ± 1.1; 7.9 ± 1.5), vessels (2.8 ± 1.1; 4.4 ± 1.1) and lung tissue (2.8 ± 1.1; 4.4 ± 1.1) of ovalbumin-exposed animals (P < 0.05). These findings were positively correlated with lung mechanical responses to antigenic challenge (P < 0.05). In conclusion, inactivation of capsaicin-sensitive nerve fibers reduces pulmonary remodeling, particularly collagen and elastic fibers, which contributes to the attenuation of pulmonary functional parameters

(Un)targeted analysis to unravel critical interactions between sugars and phenolics in Strecker aldehydes formation in beverages

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Edible mycorrhizal mushrooms as sources of bioactive phenolic compounds.

Mushrooms are emerging as one of the most appreciated foods on a global basis. Besides their nutritional properties and unique organoleptic characteristics, mushrooms might act as functional foods in view of the medicinal properties of their bioactive compounds [1,2]. Those medicinal properties are often due the antioxidant activity of specific molecules such as phenolic compounds [3]. In the present work, five edible mycorrhizal mushoom species (Amanita caesarea, Cortinarius anomalus, Cortinarius violaceus, Lactarius volemus and Suillus luteus) from Northeast Portugal were studied for their phenolic compounds profile and composition. The analyses were performed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Diode Array detection (HPLC-DAD). Phenolic acids (protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic and p-coumaric acids) were the major phenolic compounds. Cortinarius anomalus presented the highest content in phenolic acids (8.70.4 mg/100 g dw), while Lactarius volemus revealed the minimal values (0.50.1 mg/100 g dw). Nevertheless, the profiles in phenolic acids were somehow similar, since p-hydroxybenzoic acid was the main compound in all the assayed species, except Suillus luteus, in which protocatechuic acid predominated. The obtained results suggest mycorrhizal mushrooms as suitable sources of natural healthy products to be included in our diet. This study is integrated in a research project intending to valorise the traditional native mycological flora of Northeast Portugal, of great interest for the economical development of this region

Antioxidants in Pinus Pinaster roots and mycorrhizal fungi during the early steps of symbiosis

Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis between fungi mycelia and the roots of some plants could have important effects in the levels of antioxidants of both partners. In the present work, the effects of co-culture period in the antioxidant properties and antioxidants (phenolics, tocopherols and sugars) production during early steps of in vitro mycorrhization (Pinus pinaster-Pisolithus arhizus and Pinus pinaster-Paxillus involutus) were evaluated. The studied parameters were determined in each culture element (root, mycelium and medium) in order to understand the response of each partner to the symbiotic association. P. arhizus proved to be more compatible with P. pinaster than P. involutus, since the antioxidant activity in the latter species increased from 48 to 72 h, while P. arhizus antioxidant properties decreased at the same period (indicative of less oxidative stress). Despite P. involutus proved to be less suitable to be included in forestation programs using mycorrhization processes, it revealed a higher potential for bioactive compounds production in the early steps of symbiosis. A maximal value of phenolics content was obtained after the first 6 h

Automatic structures for semigroup constructions

We survey results concerning automatic structures for semigroup constructions, providing references and describing the corresponding automatic structures. The constructions we consider are: free products, direct products, Rees matrix semigroups, Bruck-Reilly extensions and wreath products.Comment: 22 page