A Linear Model For Moving Measurements Estimation In Urban Climate Studies

Problem statement: Several methods can be adopted to study the variations in urban climate. The mobile measurement method is one of them, involving information provided by moving measurements of air temperature, that are taken in points defined along pre-established routes and also data from fixed-point temperature recording stations. Because moving measurements are made in different times along the measurement process, adjustments must be made in order to adequately analyze the air temperature measurements. Approach: Mobile measurements were taken in an urban area and contextualized in the domain of some fixed-point temperature recording stations. Therefore, a linear model proposed to investigate and represent the variables that influence moving measurements estimation in the urban context. Results: All proposed variables in the linear model were considered relevant, because all coefficients of the determined model were non null. Also, the identified model presents a good fit to the field data, as indicated by the resulting coefficient of determination (R2) that is 90.3%. Conclusion/Recommendations: The linear model described in this work is easy to apply, requiring few input variables. It is important to emphasize that the model was developed to estimate moving measurements as a function of fixed measurements and presents the potential to identify new input variables based on moving measurements, as shown by the fit among fixed and moving temperature measurements, in order to provide insight about other possible models of late time adjustment.© 2011 Science Publications.87685690Beeson, C., Blumberg, D., Brazel, A., Shashuabar, L., Combined Methods of Thermal Remote Sensing and Mobile Climate Transects In Beer Sheva, Israel (2005) Proceedings of the ISPRS joint conference, pp. 21-26. , http://www.isprs.org/proceedings/XXXVI/8-W27, Editors: M. Moeller and E. 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In Vitro Activity of Quaternary Ammonium Surfactants against Streptococcal, Chlamydial, and Gonococcal Infective Agents

Free PMC Article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4879390/Quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) are widely used, cheap, and chemically stable disinfectants and topical antiseptics with wide-spectrum antimicrobial activities. Within this group of compounds, we recently showed that there are significant differences between the pharmacodynamics of n-alkyl quaternary ammonium surfactants (QAS) with a short (C12) alkyl chain when in vitro toxicities toward bacterial and mammalian epithelial cells are compared. These differences result in an attractive therapeutic window that justifies studying short-chain QAS as prophylactics for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and perinatal vertically transmitted urogenital infections (UGI). We have evaluated the antimicrobial activities of short-chain (C12) n-alkyl QAS against several STI and UGI pathogens as well as against commensal Lactobacillus species. Inhibition of infection of HeLa cells by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis was studied at concentrations that were not toxic to the HeLa cells. We show that the pathogenic bacteria are much more susceptible to QAS toxic effects than the commensal vaginal flora and that QAS significantly attenuate the infectivity of N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis without affecting the viability of epithelial cells of the vaginal mucosa. N-Dodecylpyridinium bromide (C12PB) was found to be the most effective QAS. Our results strongly suggest that short-chain (C12) n-alkyl pyridinium bromides and structurally similar compounds are promising microbicide candidates for topical application in the prophylaxis of STI and perinatal vertical transmission of UGI.This work, including the efforts of Otilia V. Vieira, was funded by FCT (PTDC/BIA-BCM/112138/2009). This work, including the efforts of Otilia V. Vieira, was funded by FCT (HMSP-ICT/0024/2010). This work, including the efforts of Otilia V. Vieira, was funded by FCT (iNOVA4Health - UID/Multi/04462/2013).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Punica granatum L. protects mice against hexavalent chromium-induced genotoxicity

This study investigated the chemoprotective effects of Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae) fruits alcoholic extract (PGE) on mice exposed to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]. Animals were pretreated with PGE (25, 50 or 75 mg/kg/day) for 10 days and subsequently exposed to a sub-lethal dose of Cr(VI) (30 mg/kg). The frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the bone marrow was investigated and the Cr(VI) levels were measured in the kidneys, liver and plasm. For the survival analysis, mice were previously treated with PGE for 10 days and exposed to a single lethal dose of Cr(VI) (50 mg/kg). Exposure to a sub-lethal dose of Cr(VI) induced a significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated cells. However, the prophylactic treatment with PGE led to a reduction of 44.5% (25 mg/kg), 86.3% (50 mg/kg) and 64.2% (75 mg/kg) in the incidence of micronuclei. In addition, the 50 mg/kg dose of PGE produced a higher chemoprotective effect, since the survival rate was 90%, when compared to that of the non-treated group. In these animals, reduced amounts of chromium were detected in the biological materials, in comparison with the other groups. Taken together, the results demonstrated that PGE exerts a protective effect against Cr(VI)-induced genotoxicity

Comportamento vegetativo e produtivo da videira e composição da uva em São Joaquim, Santa Catarina

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento vegetativo e produtivo das variedades de videira Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot e Sauvignon Blanc, e a composição da uva em São Joaquim, Santa Catarina. Foram avaliadas plantas de um vinhedo comercial, cultivado em espaldeira, a 1.293 m de altitude, durante os ciclos fenológicos 2005/2006 e 2006/2007. As variáveis meteorológicas, a fenologia, o desenvolvimento do dossel e a composição da uva na colheita foram comparados entre os ciclos. As temperaturas mais amenas influenciaram o ciclo fenológico das variedades Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot e Sauvignon Blanc, que é mais longo e tardio que nas outras regiões vitícolas do Brasil. Houve influência significativa da precipitação pluvial sobre a maturação da uva, no ciclo 2006/2007. Os índices de desenvolvimento indicam a necessidade de ajuste no manejo do dossel para um maior equilíbrio entre o crescimento vegetativo e a produção. As variedades Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot e Sauvignon Blanc apresentam elevada qualidade da uva no momento da colheita, sendo adequadas ao cultivo em São Joaquim, SC