Optimal design of THEDES based on Perillyl Alcohol and Ibuprofen

Therapeutic deep eutectic systems (THEDES) have dramatically expanded their popularity in the pharmaceutical field due to their ability to increase active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) bioavailability. However, their biological performance has not yet been carefully scrutinized. Herein, THEDES based on the binary mixture of perillyl alcohol (POH) and ibuprofen (IBU) were prepared using different molar ratios. Our comprehensive strategy includes the characterization of their thermal and structural behavior to identify the molar ratios that successfully form deep eutectic systems. The in vitro solubility of the different systems prepared has demonstrated that, unlike other reported examples, the presence of the terpene did not affect the solubility of the anti-inflammatory agent in a physiological simulated media. The biological performance of the systems was studied in terms of their antimicrobial activity against a wide panel of microorganisms. The examined THEDES showed relevant antimicrobial activity against all tested microbial strains, with the exception of P. aeruginosa. A synergistic effect from the combination of POH and IBU as a eutectic system was verified. Furthermore, the cytotoxic profile of these eutectic systems towards colorectal cancer (CRC) in vitro cell models was also evaluated. The results provide the indication that the cell viability varies in a dose-dependent manner, with a selective THEDES action towards CRC cells. With tunable bioactivities in a ratio-dependent manner, THEDES enhanced the antimicrobial and anticancer properties, representing a possible alternative to conventional therapies. Therefore, this study provides foreseeable indications about the utility of THEDES based on POH and IBU as strong candidates for novel active pharmaceutical systems.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), through project PTDC/BBB-490 EBB/1676/2014–Des.Zyme, Light2Skin-PTDC/CTM-CTM/29813/2017 and ERC-2016-CoG 725034 (ERC Consolidator Grant Des.solve). E.S. would also like to acknowledge the financial support by the FCT through the doctoral grant with reference number SFHR/BD/143902/2019. J.M.S. would also like to acknowledge the financial support by the FCT through the post-doctoral grant with reference number SFRH/BPD/116779/201

Crescimento econômico combinado com maior poder de compra: os efeitos de uma política de valorização do salário mínimo sobre o produto

This article analyzes the short-term economic effects of a 3.02% minimum wage adjustment based on a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for Brazil. The simulation exercises consider effects of income redistribution between different strata resulting from minimum wage increases by estimating the income multiplier effect, which uses different propensities to consume for each stratum. The simulated valorization is equivalent to the sum of the GDP variations in 2018 and 2019, representing a real gain in the purchasing power of the minimum wage if the adjustment in 2020 and 2021 considered the rule in force between 2011 and 2019. The results indicate possible combinations of minimum wage adjustment and fiscal policy that generate a positive net effect on economic activity (e.g., solutions mainly affecting the top of the income distribution).Este artigo analisa os efeitos econômicos de curto prazo de um reajuste do salário mínimo de 3,02% a partir de uma Matriz de Contabilidade Social (MCS) para o Brasil. Os exercícios de simulação consideram efeitos de redistribuição de renda entre diferentes estratos resultantes de elevações de salário mínimo por meio da estimação do efeito multiplicador de renda, que utiliza diferentes propensões a consumir para cada estrato. A valorização simulada é equivalente à soma das variações do PIB em 2018 e 2019, representando o ganho real do poder de compra do salário mínimo caso o reajuste em 2020 e 2021 considerasse a regra vigente entre 2011 e 2019. Os resultados apontam combinações possíveis de reajuste de salário mínimo e política fiscal que geram efeito líquido positivo sobre a atividade econômica (e.g., soluções que afetem majoritariamente o topo da distribuição de renda)

Fratura do processo coronoide da ulna: um caso raro identificado no sítio pré-histórico do Abrigo da Buraca da Moira (Boa Vista, Leiria)

In 2015, several disarticulated human skeletal remains were identified in the top layers of the prehistoric site of Buraca da Moira Rock Shelter (Boa Vista, Leiria), during the archaeological excavation carried out under the scope of the EcoPLis — Human Occupations in the Pleistocene Ecotones of the River Lis project. The recovery of chert, and quartzite blanks, a schist plate, as well as adornments in bone and shell indicates a Late Neolithic-Chalcolithic chronology. The disarticulated human assemblage, composed of a total of 129 bone and tooth fragments, allowed the estimation of a minimum number of six individuals. Among the remains recovered, an upper portion of an adult right ulna lacking the coronoid process was identified. Replacing it, a semi-oval groove with smooth contours and exposing some trabecular bone was observed. The location, type of bone change, and the observed signs of bone healing are consistent with an uncommon trauma: a fracture of the coronoid process. In the differential diagnosis, both postmortem changes and developmental disturbances were considered but later excluded. The mechanisms that underlie the bone changes are discussed in light of the clinical and paleopathological literature.No ano de 2015, durante a intervenção arqueológica afeta ao projeto EcoPLis: Ocupação Humana Plistocénica nos Ecótonos do Rio Lis foram identificados vestígios osteológicos humanos desarticulados à superfície e nas camadas iniciais do complexo cársico do Abrigo da Buraca da Moira (Boa Vista, Leiria). A recuperação de artefactos em quartzo e sílex, de uma placa de xisto, e de adornos em osso e concha sugerem como cronologia o Neolítico Final/Calcolítico. A análise paleobiológica preliminar dos fragmentos ósseos e peças dentárias recuperados (n=129) permitiu inferir que pertencerão a, pelo menos, seis indivíduos. De entre os elementos analisados macroscopicamente, destacou-se um segmento proximal de uma ulna direita pertencente a um indivíduo adulto. Este fragmento caracterizava-se pela ausência do processo coronóide, e pela presença de uma depressão óssea ovalada com contornos suaves, associada a uma ligeira exposição de osso trabecular. A localização, tipo de alteração e a presença de sinais de remodelação óssea são consistentes com uma lesão traumática incomum: a fratura do processo coronóide. No diagnóstico diferencial foram consideradas, e posteriormente excluídas, alterações de cariz tafonómico e problemas de desenvolvimento. Neste trabalho serão discutidos os mecanismos conducentes à lesão à luz da literatura clínica e paleopatológica

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Russian Roulette: entre o teatro e a performance: detecção dos processos criativos num projecto de criação colectiva

O projecto Russian Roulette foi realizado em residência artística no Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle em Varsóvia, na Polónia (entre Abril e Maio de 2011). Consistiu num projecto de pesquisa de carácter artístico, em que o jogo da roleta russa foi o conceito no qual assentou toda a metodologia de criação, na procura pelo questionar da criação e encenação colectiva. Esse mecanismo teve aplicação social através da relação do performer/indivíduo com as comunidades de intervenção: compreendeu a criação e apresentação de seis performances, um espectáculo e uma instalação. A partir do estudo do projecto desenvolvido, pretendo descrever os métodos de criação colectiva utilizados no Russian Roulette. Apesar do estado do mundo em que vivemos, da sua urgência caótica e de certo modo individualista, acredito que é possível chegar a um tipo de criação e encenação colectiva que combine opostos, que combine uma simbiose entre o indivíduo e o colectivo, a partir da especificidade de cada grupo, de cada projecto e de cada conjuntura criativa. Neste ponto específico surge a relação com um público, culturalmente desconhecido, a participar nos vários dispositivos relacionais que criámos, partilhando assim uma experiência e tornando-se então co - autor do momento - obra.The Russian Roulette project was done in an artistic residence in the Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw, Poland (April and May 2011). It consisted in an artistic research project in which the russian roulette game was the conceptual basis for the creation methodology, questioning the nature of collective stage direction and creation. This mechanism had also a social application through the relationships established between the performer/individual and the intervention communities. This way it involved the creation and presentation of six performances, a show and an installation. From the development of this project, with this study I intend to reflect on the methods of collective creation in this body of work. Despite the state of the world we’re living in, it’s chaotic urgency and some how individualist, I believe it is possible to reach a kind of collective creation and staging that combines opposites, reaching a symbiosis between the individual and the collective, from the specificity of each group for each project and each creative juncture. In this specific point, emerges the relation with a public culturally unknown also by it’s participation in the various relational devices developed by us, sharing an experience becoming then co-author of the moment – piece