A model of sensory, emotional, and cognitive reserve

We read with interest Stern’s Cognitive Reserve (CR) model (Citation2012) and his works along the years. According to Stern, CR proxies refer to different individual cognitive and socio-behavioral factors with impact on the adaptation of cognitive processes to aging, brain pathology or injury (Stern, Citation2002, Citation2009; Stern et al., Citation2019). However, Stern’s model of CR is focused on cognition and the influence of sensory or emotional aspects was not considered. Thus, we propose a model of Sensory, Emotional, and Cognitive Reserve (SEC reserve model) in which CR, sensory reserve (SR), and emotional reserve (ER) interact with each other, reducing the impact of neuropathology caused by brain disease and injury. Therefore, higher levels of SEC reserve hold the potential to enhance rehabilitation outcomes and prevent or delay the impact of neurocognitive deficits on functionality in the instrumental cognitive activities of daily life.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Cascading Reservoir Continuum Concept (CRCC) and its application to the river Tietê-basin, São Paulo State, Brazil

Major changes in the water quality and basic features of phytoplankton assemblages in a series (cascade) of 7 reservoirs int he middle Tiete river, south-east Brazil were investigated in February 1998 (rainy season). The biologically non-affected variables change rapidly in the upstream reservoirs and then remain constant while biologically affected ones showed a prolonged response that can be explained only if considering the cascade as an entire system. The changes in the first reservoir in the system accord to the predictions of the serial discontinuity concept (SDC): the river continuum (RCC) is basically affected. However, changes on the downstream reservoirs become continuous again and show that the same processes remain operative throughout the entire river continuum. Therefore, a cascading reservoir continuum concept (CRCC) can be proposed for handling the ecological processes at a system level. A comparison of the present data with those recorded previously for some of the reservoirs show a fast growing eutrophication of the upper reservoirs in the cascade. On the basis of the CRCC and the present ecological status and water quality of the Tiete cascade a progressive downstream eutrophication can be forecasted thus calling attention for urgent need of restoration measures at the headwaters

Mycobiota and mycotoxins present in finished fish feeds from farms in the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

The aim of the present study was to determine species of the fungal genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium and fumonisin B1 (FB1), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination from feed intended for fish farms. A total of 60 samples were sampled from tilapia farms in the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The quantitative enumeration of fungi as colony-forming units per gram of feed (CFU/g) was performed using the surface spread method in different culture media. The results were expressed as fungal isolation frequency and relative density. Fungal total counts ranged from <1 × 102 to 4.7 × 104 CFU/g. Fusarium counts were not observed. Among toxigenic genera, Aspergillus (68%) was the most prevalent, followed by Penicillium species (60%). Aspergillus niger aggregate (36%), Aspergillus flavus (35%), and Penicillium citrinum (71%) were the most prevalent species. A high percentage of samples (98%) were contaminated with FB1 levels, while 55% and 3.3% were contaminated with AFB1 and OTA, respectively. The simultaneous occurrence of these mycotoxins emphasizes the need for further research in the area to better assess the risk to the health of fish farms and their implications for the health of consumers of this meat.Fil: Barbosa, Tatiana S.. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro ; BrasilFil: Pereyra, Carina Maricel. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Soleiro, Carla A.. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro ; Brasil. Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimiento Científico y Tecnológico; BrasilFil: Dias, Erica O.. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro ; BrasilFil: Oliveira, Aguida A.. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro ; Brasil. Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimiento Científico y Tecnológico; BrasilFil: Keller, Kelly M.. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro ; Brasil. Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimiento Científico y Tecnológico; BrasilFil: Silva, Pedro P. O.. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Cavaglieri, Lilia Reneé. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rosa, Carlos Alberto da Rocha. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro ; Brasil. Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimiento Científico y Tecnológico; Brasi

Fenofases de amora (Rubus brasiliensis Mart.).

Rubus brasiliensis Mart., popularmente chamada como amora branca ou amora-do-mato é utilizada para o tratamento de diversas patologias. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o período de floração e frutificação da amoreira, visando identificar o melhor período para a coleta de material vegetal. Durante o período de janeiro de 2010 a dezembro de 2012, a amoreira foi avaliada diariamente através de observações da época de floração e frutificação, todos os dados coletados foram anotados em fichas de campo e tabulados em planilhas do Excel. Após as avaliações foram construídos gráficos para as espécies em cada fenofase, demonstrando as médias de dias de floração e frutificação. O acompanhamento fenológico mostrou a presença de flores durante todo o ano, com exceção do mês de agosto. O maior número de dias de floração ocorreu nos meses de janeiro, fevereiro e novembro, respectivamente com 16 e 10 dias e o menor no mês de maio com 2 dias. Quanto a frutificação foi registrada apenas no mês de março com 3 dias, não ocorrendo nos demais meses do ano. O mês de agosto é melhor período para a coleta de folhas

The potent vasodilator ethyl nitrite is formed upon reaction of nitrite and ethanol under gastric conditions

By acting as a bioreactor, affording chemical and mechanical conditions for the reaction between dietary components, the stomach may be a source of new bioactive molecules. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry we here demonstrate that, under acidic gastric conditions, ethyl nitrite is formed in µM concentrations from the reaction of red wine or distilled alcoholic drinks with physiological amounts of nitrite. Rat femoral artery rings and gastric fundus strips dose-dependently relaxed upon exposure to nitrite:ethanol mixtures. In contrast, when administered separately in the same dose ranges, nitrite evoked only minor vasorelaxation while ethanol actually caused a slight vasoconstriction. Mechanistically, the relaxation effect was assigned to generation of nitric oxide (-NO) as supported by direct demonstration of -NO release from ethyl nitrite and the absence of relaxation in the presence of the soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, ODQ. In conclusion, these results suggest that ethanol in alcoholic drinks interacts with salivary-derived nitrite in the acidic stomach leading to the production of the potent smooth muscle relaxant ethyl nitrite. These findings reveal an alternative chemical reaction pathway for dietary nitrate and nitrite with possible impact on gastric physiology and pathophysiology.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T38-4SCDB0R-4/1/5f2ae4cd1ef8af7eca3f5d4ee8f353a

Impact of splenic artery ligation after major hepatectomy on liver function, regeneration and viability

It was reported that prevention of acute portal overpressure in small-for-size livers by inflow modulation results in a better postoperative outcome. The aim is to investigate the impact of portal blood flow reduction by splenic artery ligation after major hepatectomy in a murine model. Forty-eight rats were subjected to an 85% hepatectomy or 85% hepatectomy and splenic artery ligation. Both groups were evaluated at 24, 48, 72 and 120 post-operative hours: liver function, regeneration and viability. All methods and experiments were carried out in accordance with Coimbra University guidelines. Splenic artery ligation produces viability increase after 24 h, induces a relative decrease in oxidative stress during the first 48 hours, allows antioxidant capacity increment after 24 h, which is reflected in a decrease of half-time normalized liver curve at 48 h and at 72 h and in an increase of mitotic index between 48 h and 72 h. Splenic artery ligation combined with 85% hepatectomy in a murine model, allows portal inflow modulation, promoting an increase in hepatocellular viability and regeneration, without impairing the function, probably by inducing a less marked elevation of oxidative stress at first 48 hours

HISTÓRIA E FILOSOFIA DA BIOLOGIA E O ENSINO: PENSANDO UMA ABORDAGEM A PARTIR DA PEDAGOGIA HISTÓRICO-CRÍTICA

Este artigo é parte de um trabalho de iniciação científica intitulado “História e a Filosofia da Biologia na Educação Básica – os estatutos do conhecimento biológico nas publicações do periódico Filosofia e História da Biologia e suas potencialidades para o ensino”. A pesquisa tem fundamentação materialista histórico-dialética e parte de uma revisão sistemática para analisar as relações entre a História e Filosofia da Biologia (HFB) e o Ensino de Biologia (EB), estabelecidas nos artigos publicados pelo periódico da Associação Brasileira Filosofia e História da Biologia (ABFHiB), um dos mais relevantes do Brasil no que diz respeito à temática. Em nossa análise, percebemos que há dois grandes grupos de propostas de abordagens para articulação entre a HFB e o EB: a abordagem integradora e a abordagem contextualizadora. Também percebemos dois elementos que atravessam as produções: a centralidade no conhecimento e a ausência de teoria pedagógica, que acabam negando a especificidade do conhecimento escolar. Assim, reconhecemos que apesar dos avanços e dos benefícios pedagógicos que a HFB fornece ao EB, este campo de conhecimento ainda carece de articulações mais profundas com os conhecimentos de natureza pedagógica, visto que a HFB por si só não se constitui enquanto um referencial pedagógico autônomo. Por fim, visando avanços, superações e reelaborações, lançamo-nos ao desafio, ainda que embrionário, de pensar uma abordagem histórico-filosófica para o EB a partir da Pedagogia Histórico-Crítica