SAMBA: Stochastic Analytical Model with a Bayesian Approach

We develop and estimate a DSGE model for the Brazilian economy, to be used as part of the macroeconomic modeling framework at the Central Bank of Brazil. The model combines the building blocks of standard DSGE models (e.g., price and wage rigidities and adjustment costs) with the following features that better describe the Brazilian economy: (i) a fiscal authority pursuing an explicit target for the primary surplus; (ii) administered or regulated prices as part of consumer prices; (iii) external finance for imports, amplifying the effects of changes in external financial conditions on the economy; and (iv) imported goods used in the production function of differentiated goods. It also includes the presence of financially constrained households. We estimate the model with Bayesian techniques, using data starting in 1999, when inflation targeting was implemented. Model evaluation, based on impulse response functions, moment conditions, variance error decomposition and initial forecasting exercises, suggests that the model can be a useful tool for policy analysis and forecasting.

Purification and Preliminary Crystallographic Analysis of a New Lys49-PLA2 from B. Jararacussu

BjVIII is a new myotoxic Lys49-PLA2 isolated from Bothrops jararacussu venom that exhibits atypical effects on human platelet aggregation. To better understand the mode of action of BjVIII, crystallographic studies were initiated. Two crystal forms were obtained, both containing two molecules in the asymmetric unit (ASU). Synchrotron radiation diffraction data were collected to 2.0 Å resolution and 1.9 Å resolution for crystals belonging to the space group P212121 (a = 48.4 Å, b = 65.3 Å, c = 84.3 Å) and space group P3121 (a = b = 55.7 Å, c = 127.9 Å), respectively. Refinement is currently in progress and the refined structures are expected to shed light on the unusual platelet aggregation activity observed for BjVIII

Mulheres vítimas de violência de gênero: Perfil sócio-demográfico (Eunápolis-BA) / Women victims of gender violence: Socio-demographic profile (Eunápolis-BA)

A violência que atinge as mulheres, especificamente motivada por sua condição de gênero, é um fenômeno que abrange indiscriminadamente pessoas de todas as classes sociais, cor, identidade étnico-racial e idade, fruto de relações sociais e de poder historicamente desiguais entre homens e mulheres, mas também entre as mulheres. No entanto, a despeito dessa violência atravessar a experiência das pessoas do sexo feminino indiscriminadamente, sabemos que condicionantes sócio-demográficos contribuem para entendermos os sentidos sócio-históricos dessa violência. Assim, este artigo tem por objetivo investigar o perfil das mulheres vítimas de violência na cidade de Eunápolis-BA que prestaram queixa-crime ou estiveram envolvidas em situações flagrantes (denúncias), no ano de 2013. Foi realizado um levantamento estatístico, com base nas informações constantes dos Boletins de Ocorrências, de variáveis que permitiram evidenciar o perfil das mulheres vitimadas e, portanto, vítimas em potencial, considerando os aspectos sócio-demográficos.

Structural and Functional Studies of a Bothropic Myotoxin Complexed to Rosmarinic Acid: New Insights into Lys49-PLA2 Inhibition

Snakebite envenoming is an important public health problem in many tropical and subtropical countries, and is considered a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Most severe cases are inflicted by species of the families Elapidae and Viperidae, and lead to a number of systemic and local effects in the victim. One of the main problems regarding viperidic accidents is prominent local tissue damage whose pathogenesis is complex and involves the combined actions of a variety of venom components. Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) are the most abundant muscle-damaging components of these venoms. Herein, we report functional and structural studies of PrTX-I, a Lys49-PLA2 from Bothops pirajai snake venom, and the influence of rosmarinic acid (RA) upon this toxin's activities. RA is a known active component of some plant extracts and has been reported as presenting anti-myotoxic properties related to bothopic envenomation. The myotoxic activity of Lys49-PLA2s is well established in the literature and although no in vivo neurotoxicity has been observed among these toxins, in vitro neuromuscular blockade has been reported for some of these proteins. Our in vitro studies show that RA drastically reduces both the muscle damage and the neuromuscular blockade exerted by PrTX-I on mice neuromuscular preparations (by ∼80% and ∼90%, respectively). These results support the hypothesis that the two effects are closely related and lead us to suggest that they are consequences of the muscle membrane-destabilizing activity of the Lys49-PLA2. Although the C-terminal region of these proteins has been reported to comprise the myotoxic site, we demonstrate by X-ray crystallographic studies that RA interacts with PrTX-I in a different region. Consequently, a new mode of Lys49-PLA2 inhibition is proposed. Comparison of our results with others in the literature suggests possible new ways to inhibit bothropic snake venom myotoxins and improve serum therapy

Impacts of climate change on the potential distribution of epiphytic cacti in the Caatinga biome, Brazil

Abstract The Caatinga biome is the largest dry tropical forest region in South America as well as one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to the climate changes forecast for this century. Climate forecasts for the biome include increased air temperature, reduced rainfall and aridization. This biome does not have a homogeneous landscape; instead it has several rainforest enclaves. This article describes a study to model the potential distribution of four epiphytic cactus species (Epiphyllum phyllanthus (L.) Haw., Rhipsalis floccosa Salm-Dyck ex Pfeiff., Rhipsalis lindbergiana K. Schum and Rhipsalis russellii Britton & Rose.) in the biome under future climate scenarios and traces out a prognosis for the enclaves and the biome. For that purpose, we used the MaxEnt modeling method, considering two future time intervals (2041-2060 and 2061-2080) and the interval 1961-1990 for the current situation, with the RCP4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. The projections for future potential distribution showed a spatial contractions greater than 88% found in the areas of high potential presence for the target species throughout the biome and in all the scenarios. The results strengthen the expectation of aridization in the Caatinga biome, with the loss or shrinkage of rainforest enclaves as time progresses

Periostin as a modulator of chronic cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE: After acute myocardial infarction, during the cardiac repair phase, periostin is released into the infarct and activates signaling pathways that are essential for the reparative process. However, the role of periostin in chronic cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between tissue periostin and cardiac variables in the chronic cardiac remodeling induced by myocardial infarction. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were assigned to 2 groups: a simulated surgery group (SHAM; n = 8) and a myocardial infarction group (myocardial infarction; n = 13). After 3 months, morphological, functional and biochemical analyses were performed. The data are expressed as means±SD or medians (including the lower and upper quartiles). RESULTS: Myocardial infarctions induced increased left ventricular diastolic and systolic areas associated with a decreased fractional area change and a posterior wall shortening velocity. With regard to the extracellular matrix variables, the myocardial infarction group presented with higher values of periostin and types I and III collagen and higher interstitial collagen volume fractions and myocardial hydroxyproline concentrations. In addition, periostin was positively correlated with type III collagen levels (r = 0.673, p = 0.029) and diastolic (r = 0.678, p = 0.036) and systolic (r = 0.795, p = 0.006) left ventricular areas. Considering the relationship between periostin and the cardiac function variables, periostin was inversely correlated with both the fractional area change (r = -0.783, p = 0.008) and the posterior wall shortening velocity (r = -0.767, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Periostin might be a modulator of deleterious cardiac remodeling in the chronic phase after myocardial infarction in rats

Absence of the caspases 1/11 modulates liver global lipid profile and gut microbiota in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice

Obesity is a chronic disease with rising worldwide prevalence and largely associated with several other comorbidities, such as cancer, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and metabolic syndrome. Hepatic steatosis, a hallmark of NAFLD, is strongly correlated with obesity and has been correlated with changes in the gut microbiota, which can promote its development through the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that regulate insulin resistance, bile acid, choline metabolism, and inflammation. Recent studies have suggested a controversial role for the inflammasome/caspase-1 in the development of obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Here, we evaluated the role of inflammasome NLRP3 and caspases 1/11 in the establishment of obesity and hepatic steatosis in diet-induced obese mice, correlating them with the global lipid profile of the liver and gut microbiota diversity. After feeding wild-type, caspases 1/11, and NLRP3 knockout mice with a standard fat diet (SFD) or a high-fat diet (HFD), we found that the caspases 1/11 knockout mice, but not NLRP3 knockout mice, were more susceptible to HFD-induced obesity, and developed enhanced hepatic steatosis even under SFD conditions. Lipidomics analysis of the liver, assessed by MALDI-MS analysis, revealed that the HFD triggered a significant change in global lipid profile in the liver of WT mice compared to those fed an SFD, and this profile was modified by the lack of caspases 1/11 and NLRP3. The absence of caspases 1/11 was also correlated with an increased presence of triacylglycerol in the liver. Gut microbial diversity analysis, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, showed that there was also an increase of Proteobacteria and a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in the gut of caspases 1/11 knockout mice fed an HFD. Overall, mice without caspases 1/11 harbored gut bacterial phyla involved with weight gain, obesity, and hepatic steatosis. Taken together, our data suggest an important role for caspases 1/11 in the lipid composition of the liver and in the modulation of the gut microbial community composition. Our results further suggest that HFD-induced obesity and the absence of caspases 1/11 may regulate both lipid metabolism and gut microbial diversity, and therefore may be associated with NAFLD and obesity10CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP312359/2016-02016/22577-6This research was funded by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq -#312359/2016-0). CM was funded by the Canada Research Chair Program, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, McGill University, and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (PJT-149098). ME was funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (2016/22577-6)