Oxidação fotoquímica - UV/H2O2 - para degradação de poluentes em efluentes da indústria têxtil

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Ambiental

Dependence of TIMP-1 plasma levels on preanalytical specimen handling

Background: Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) in blood might be a helpful biomarker in various diseases. However, various authors report that TIMP-1 is dependent on preanalytical procedures. Our study was performed to determine how storage conditions and time to centrifugation influence TIMP-1. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six blood specimens were collected from each of 20 volunteers. Two specimens from each person were centrifuged/measured within 1 h after venipuncture and frozen at -80 degrees C. They were thawed once or twice within 72 h. Eight specimens were stored at 20 degrees C in daylight, 8 at 20 degrees C covered and 8 at 4 C in daylight. Four of each of these 8 specimens were mixed once a day until centrifugation. A mixed and an unmixed specimen of each group was centrifuged/measured after 3, 6, 24 and 72 h. Results: TIMP-1 increased after freeze/ thaw (p < 0.001). Mixing blood specimens more than once caused increased TIMP-1 (p < 0.001). TIMP-1 increased within 3 h of storage (p < 0.001). The increase was lower in specimens covered and refrigerated (p < 0.001). Conclusion: TIMP-1 is unstable and has to be evaluated carefully. Blood should be centrifuged directly after venipuncture. For routine application, specimen handling must be standardized and carefully followed. Research should be done on specimens handled identically. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

Retinalvessel analysis - new possibilities

Rennal Vessel Analysis is a new technique to assess behavior oflarge retinal vessels based on diameter measurements. The Retinal Vessel Analyzer (RVA) measures continuously on-line obtaining data in relation to time and local position. Possible analysis tools include (a) Time Course Analysis of physiological, pathological, or therapy induced changes; (b) Local Course Analysis to recognize local narrow or wide vessel segments along the vessel; (c) Vasomotoric Analysis to detennine vasotnotions and blood pressure related diameter changes; (d) Functional Analysis to examine dynamic behavior e.g. the ability to autoregulate and (e) Functional Imaging to visualize functional parameters of vessels in single vessel segments. RVA is thus able to recognize and study different autoregulation mechanisms

Prädiktoren für das Therapieansprechen bei stationär behandelten Patienten mit Depression

Ein bedeutsamer Anteil von depressiven Patienten erreicht trotz einer angemessenen Behandlung kein Therapieansprechen im Sinne von Response oder Remission (Spijker et al. 2002). Die Suche nach Prädiktoren für das Therapieansprechen dieser Patienten könnte dazu beitragen, die derzeitigen Therapiestrategien zu optimieren. Zu diesem Zweck wurden stationär behandelte Patienten im Rahmen einer retrospektiven Analyse klinischer Routinedaten auf Prädiktoren für Response und Remission untersucht. Von 351 zur stationären psychiatrischen Behandlung aufgenommenen Patienten mit einer unioder bipolaren Depression, wurden soziodemografische und klinische Variablen zum Aufnahmezeitpunkt erhoben. Der prädiktive Wert der Variablen hinsichtlich Response (≥ 50% Reduktion im Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) vom Ausgangswert) und Remission (< 10 Punkte im MADRS bei Entlassung) wurde mittels bivariater Analyse und logistischer Regression ausgewertet. Die Einnahme einer geringen Anzahl psychotroper Medikamente und eine größere Depressionsschwere (MADRS Gesamtwert) bei Aufnahme waren Prädiktoren für Response. Die Remissionsrate war niedriger für Patienten mit chronischer Depression, weniger Episoden in der Vorgeschichte und einer höheren Anzahl psychotroper Medikamente bei Aufnahme. Eine frühe Besserung („Early Improvement“, ≥ 20% Reduktion des MADRS Gesamtwerts nach 2 Wochen) hatte zusätzlichen prädiktiven Wert für Response und Remission. Die Schwere der Depression zum Aufnahmezeitpunkt könnte einen Indikator für einen weniger chronischen Verlauf darstellen und aus diesem Grunde mit einer höheren Responserate assoziiert sein. Eine geringe Anzahl vergangener Episoden und Polypharmazie, ihrerseits Indikatoren für Therapieresistenz und Chronizität, sagten eine geringere Remissionsrate voraus. Daher sollte die Prävention der Chronifizierung ein wichtiges Ziel der Depressionsbehandlung bilden.Despite adequate treatment, many depressed patients do not achieve response or remission (Spijker et al. 2002). Predictors of outcome can contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies for difficult-to-treat depression. Therefore, clinical predictors of response and remission were examined in a retrospective chart review of a naturalistic sample of inpatients. Three hundred and fifty-one inpatients admitted for treatment of uni- and bipolar depression to a specialized psychiatry unit were characterized by a set of sociodemographic and clinical variables Using bivariate analysis and logistic regression the predictive value of these variables for response (≥ 50% decrease from baseline Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score) and remission (MADRS score at discharge < 10) was explored. Greater symptom severity and fewer psychotropic medications at admission predicted response. Remission rates were higher for patients with non-chronic depression, higher number of previous depressive episodes, fewer psychotropic medications and less severe depression at admission. Early Improvement (≥ 20% decrease from baseline MADRS score after 2 weeks) showed additional predictive value for response and remission. Depression severity at admission might be an indicator for a less chronic course, explaining why it is associated with greater response rates. Treatment-resistance and chronicity could be indicated through polypharmacy and fewer episodes in the past, as these predictors contribute to lower remission rates. In conclusion, the aim of depression treatment should therefore be to prevent a chronic course of depression

Optimization of Fe and Mn Removal from Coal Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) with Waste Biomaterials: Statistical Modeling and Kinetic Study

The main characteristics of coal acid mine drainage (AMD) are a low pH and high concentrations of sulfate and diferent metallic ions. Response surface methodology using the central composite rotatable design (CCRD) model was used to optimize the parameters for AMD remediation with aquaculture farming waste [shrimp shell (SS) and mussel byssus (MB)]. SS was chosen due to its high chitin (a metal sorbent) and calcium carbonate (an acidity neutralizing agent) content, and MB because of its potential synergistic efect for the treatment. The coefcient of determination and standard error results from the analysis of variance have shown the model to be adequate. The predicted values were in good agreement with the experimental values. The best experimental conditions established from the statistical study were 136 rpm, 11.46 g L−1 SS and 71.6 g L−1 MB. CCRD can efciently be applied for modeling the AMD remediation with biomaterials and is an economical way of obtaining the maximum amount of information in a short period of time with the fewest number of experiments. Additionally, fve kinetic models, i.e., pseudo-frst-order, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle difusion, Bangham and Elovich equation, were tested to investigate the adsorption mechanisms. The kinetic studies revealed that a 200 min contact time is sufcient to transform AMD into water suitable for non-potable reuse. The pseudo-second-order model provided the best ftting of the experimental data, indicating a chemical adsorption mechanism. This research shows the suitability of the proposed treatment, and the information is valuable for designing a low-cost remediation process for AM

Game Manipulators -- the Strategic Implications of Binding Contracts

Commitment devices are powerful tools that can influence and incentivise certain behaviours by linking them to rewards or punishments. These devices are particularly useful in decision-making, as they can steer individuals towards specific choices. In the field of game theory, commitment devices can alter a player's payoff matrix, ultimately changing the game's Nash equilibria. Interestingly, agents, whom we term game manipulators and who can be external to the original game, can leverage such devices to extract fees from players by making them contingent offers that modify the payoffs of their actions. This can result in a different Nash equilibrium with potentially lower payoffs for the players compared to the original game. For this scheme to work, it is required that all commitments be binding, meaning that once an offer is made, it cannot be revoked. Consequently, we analyse binding contracts as the commitment mechanism that enables game manipulation scenarios. The main focus of this study is to formulate the logic of this setting, expand its scope to encompass more intricate schemes, and analyse the behaviour of regret-minimizing agents in scenarios involving game manipulation

UM OLHAR BRINCANTE SOBRE O FESTIVAL FOLCLÓRICO DE PARINTINS

ResumoO presente artigo propõe uma reflexão sobre as singularidades e potências do processo de criação artística e de organização coletiva do Festival Folclórico de Parintins, no Amazonas, com a inserção dos folguedos e da cultura diaspórica nordestina, assim como do imaginário dos povos que habitam a Amazônia e as inovações culturais que se ligam a um complexo processo de ressignificação histórica do brincar de boi. Esse festival, assim como outros festivais do Amazonas, é realizado todos os anos no mês de junho, na cidade de Parintins, e está ligado às festas hieráticas e juninas da cidade. Ao partir do entendimento desse espetáculo como irradiador de um novo sentido de apreender a realidade amazônida e de cumplicidade de público, os intelectuais da Amazônia brasileira João de Jesus Paes Loureiro e Ericky Nakanome, assim como os pesquisadores das manifestações populares nordestinas Hermilo Borba Filho e Oswald Barroso, serão fundamentais para esta discussão.AbstractThis article proposes a reflection on the singularities and powers of the process of artistic creation and collective organization of the Parintins Folklore Festival, in Amazonas, with the insertion of festivities and northeastern diasporic culture, as well as the imagination of the people who inhabit the Amazon and the cultural innovations that are linked to a complex process of historical resignification of playing with bull. This festival, like other festivals in Amazonas, is held every year in June, in the city of Parintins, and is linked to the city's Hieratic and June festivals. By understanding this spectacle as radiating a new sense of apprehending the Amazonian reality and public complicity, the intellectuals of the Brazilian Amazon João de Jesus Paes Loureiro and Ericky Nakanome, as well as the researchers of popular northeastern demonstrations Hermilo Borba Filho and Oswald Barroso, will be fundamental to this discussion

Macrophages and Galectin 3 Control Bacterial Burden in Acute and Subacute Murine Leptospirosis That Determines Chronic Kidney Fibrosis

Previous studies have suggested that macrophages may contribute to acute Leptospira dissemination, as well as having a major role in kidney fibrosis. Our aim was to characterize the role of macrophages and galectin 3 (Gal-3) on the survival, clinical course, bacterial burden, interstitial nephritis, and chronic kidney fibrosis in Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni (LIC)-induced experimental murine leptospirosis. C57BL/6J mice depleted of macrophages by liposome-encapsulated clodronate treatment and infected with LIC presented a higher bacterial burden, had reduced subacute nephritis and enhanced chronic kidney fibrosis relative to untreated, infected mice. Moreover, LIC infection in mice whose Gal-3 was disrupted (Lgals3-/-) had a higher bacterial burden and enhanced subacute nephritis and chronic kidney fibrosis when compared to C57BL/6J wild-type mice. Chronic fibrosis did not correlate with higher transcription levels of TGF-β1 or IL-13 in the kidneys. Kidney fibrosis was found in chronically infected rats as well as in wild infected rats. On the other hand, human fibroblast cultures exhibited enhanced differentiation to myofibroblasts after treatment with LIC. Our results demonstrate that macrophages and Gal-3 play a critical role in controlling the LIC burden but has a minor role in subsequent fibrosis. Instead, kidney fibrosis was better correlated with bacterial burden. Taken together, our results do not support a role for macrophages to disseminate leptospires during acute infection, nor in chronic kidney fibrosis.Fil: Ferrer, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Scharrig Fernandez, Maria Emilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Charó, Nancy Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Rípodas, Ana L.. Bio-lab; ArgentinaFil: Drut, Ricardo. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital de Niños "Sor María Ludovica" de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Carrera Silva, Eugenio Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Nagel, Ariel Gastón. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Nally, Jarlath E.. United States Department of Agriculture. Agriculture Research Service; Estados UnidosFil: Montes de Oca, Daniela Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Schattner, Mirta Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Ricardo Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentin