3,7-Bis(dialkylamino)phenothiazin-5-ium derivatives: biomedical applications and biological activity

The light-induced reactions of 3,7-bis(dialkylamino)phenothiazin-5-ium compounds with biological substrates are briefly discussed. Their biomedical applications, in particular those related with biological staining, interaction with proteins and antiviral, antibacterial and antitumour activity are reviewed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Multi-q Pattern Classification of Polarization Curves

Several experimental measurements are expressed in the form of one-dimensional profiles, for which there is a scarcity of methodologies able to classify the pertinence of a given result to a specific group. The polarization curves that evaluate the corrosion kinetics of electrodes in corrosive media are an application where the behavior is chiefly analyzed from profiles. Polarization curves are indeed a classic method to determine the global kinetics of metallic electrodes, but the strong nonlinearity from different metals and alloys can overlap and the discrimination becomes a challenging problem. Moreover, even finding a typical curve from replicated tests requires subjective judgement. In this paper we used the so-called multi-q approach based on the Tsallis statistics in a classification engine to separate multiple polarization curve profiles of two stainless steels. We collected 48 experimental polarization curves in aqueous chloride medium of two stainless steel types, with different resistance against localized corrosion. Multi-q pattern analysis was then carried out on a wide potential range, from cathodic up to anodic regions. An excellent classification rate was obtained, at a success rate of 90%, 80%, and 83% for low (cathodic), high (anodic), and both potential ranges, respectively, using only 2% of the original profile data. These results show the potential of the proposed approach towards efficient, robust, systematic and automatic classification of highly non-linear profile curves.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

The influence of metabolic profile of obese men on the severity of erectile dysfunction: Are metabolically healthy obese individuals protected?

Objective: To determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in metabolically healthy obese (MHO) individuals, and to compare ED severity and hypogonadism prevalence in MHO, metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) and metabolically healthy non-obese individuals.Material and methods: ED patients (n=460) were evaluated by standardized protocol, that included clinical evaluation, abridged 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire survey, and Penile Duplex Doppler Ultrasound (PDDU) exam. Patients were classified as obese [body mass index (BMI) =30.0 kg/m2] and non-obese (BMI <30.0 kg/m2), and metabolic health status was defined by National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATPIII) criteria. Statistical analysis was performed and statistical significance was considered at p-level <0.05.Results: The mean age of the subjects was 56.2±10.5 years. MHO was present in 40% of obese individuals (n=37). MUO had lower mean peak systolic velocity (mPSV) compared to MHO (28.1 cm/s vs. 36.9 cm/s; p=0.005), and IIEF-5 scores were also lower in MUO compared to MHO patients (10.2 vs. 13.1; p=0.018). No statistical differences in IIEF-5 score, mPSV and hypogonadism prevalence between MHO and metabolically healthy non-obese (MHNO) patients were observed.Conclusion: Our results lead us to conclude that healthy metabolic profile protects obese individuals from severity of ED. The strong association between obesity and ED may be otherwise attributed to metabolic abnormalities present in the obese

Efficient Likelihood Evaluation of State-Space Representations

We develop a numerical procedure that facilitates efficient likelihood evaluation in applications involving non-linear and non-Gaussian state-space models. The procedure employs continuous approximations of filtering densities, and delivers unconditionally optimal global approximations of targeted integrands to achieve likelihood approximation. Optimized approximations of targeted integrands are constructed via efficient importance sampling. Resulting likelihood approximations are continuous functions of model parameters, greatly enhancing parameter estimation. We illustrate our procedure in applications to dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models.Adaption, dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model, efficient importance sampling, kernel density approximation, particle filter.

On Dirac-like Monopoles in a Lorentz- and CPT-violating Electrodynamics

We study magnetic monopoles in a Lorentz- and CPT-odd electrodynamical framework in (3+1) dimensions. This is the standard Maxwell model extended by means of a Chern-Simons-like term, $b_\mu\tilde{F}^{\mu\nu}A_\nu$ ($b_\mu$ constant), which respects gauge invariance but violates both Lorentz and CPT symmetries (as a consequence, duality is also lost). Our main interest concerns the analysis of the model in the presence of Dirac monopoles, so that the Bianchi identity no longer holds, which naively yields the non-conservation of electric charge. Since gauge symmetry is respected, the issue of charge conservation is more involved. Actually, the inconsistency may be circumvented, if we assume that the appearance of a monopole induces an extra electric current. The reduction of the model to (2+1) dimensions in the presence of both the magnetic sources and Lorentz-violating terms is presented. There, a quantization condition involving the scalar remnant of $b_\mu$, say, the mass parameter, is obtained. We also point out that the breaking of duality may be associated with an asymmetry between electric and magnetic sources in this background, so that the electromagnetic force experienced by a magnetic pole is supplemented by an extra term proportional to $b_\mu$, whenever compared to the one acting on an electric charge.Comment: 10 pages, no figures, typed in te

Sustainable forest management of miombo woodlands in Niassa National Reserve, northern Mozambique: a multidisciplinary approach of fire resistance analysis.

Poster presented at XIII World Forestry Congress. Buenos Aires (Argentina). 18 - 23 Oct 2009

Mucuna tapantiana (Fabaceae: Faboideae: Phaseoleae), a new species from Costa Rica

A new species of Mucuna (Fabaceae: Faboideae: Phaseoleae), endemic to Costa Rica, is described and illustrated. Mucuna tapantiana is distinguished by its small, essentially glabrous leaflets, conspicuous filiform peduncle and pedicels, inflorescences with few green or yellowish-green flowers; fruits with softly villous, yellowish or brownish pubescence on the outer surface (when fresh), but without urticating trichomes, turning dark brown or blackish when dry, 1 - 2-seeded; seeds oblong and laterally compressed691COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESMissouri Botanical Garden; Universidad Estadual at Campina