Development of microsprinkler prototypes through rapid prototyping and mechanical lathing

Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, construir protótipos de microaspersores, com boa uniformidade de distribuição para irrigações com sobreposição em hortas agrícolas, utilizando-se os processos de prototipagem rápida e torneamento mecânico. O estudo foi conduzido na ESALQ/USP e no Centro de Tecnologia da Informação Renato Archer (CTI). Utilizou-se o coeficiente de uniformidade de Christiansen na avaliação do desempenho dos emissores. O PVC e o tecnyl foram os materiais que apresentaram mais facilidade na construção dos protótipos no processo de torneamento mecânico, porém o PVC foi o escolhido devido ao melhor acabamento. Os protótipos construídos com torneamento mecânico apresentaram resultados satisfatórios ressaltando tratar-se de um processo bastante artesanal e laborioso; já com a prototipagem rápida se construíram protótipos com melhores acabamentos e mais rapidez. A utilização da prototipagem rápida no desenvolvimento de equipamentos de irrigação é algo totalmente inovador e de caráter pioneiro, além de uma ferramenta de grande utilidade na área de inovação de produtos no setor de Engenharia Agrícola.The present study had the objective of developing prototypes of microsprinkler with good distribution uniformity to irrigate with overlap in vegetable crops, by rapid prototyping and mechanic tournament. The work was carried out in the Hydraulic Laboratory of the Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and in the Centro de Tecnologia da Informação Renato Archer (CTI). Two processes were tested in the development of the microsprinkler prototypes rapid prototype and mechanical lathing. Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient was used as indicator to evaluate the distribution uniformity. Among the tested materials, the PVC and the technyl showed more facility in the prototype development in the mechanical lathing process, however, the PVC was chosen due to better finishing. The prototypes built by mechanical lathing showed satisfactory results, but were hard work and handmade. On the other hand, with the rapid prototyping, prototypes were built with better finishing and were quicker. The utilization of rapid prototyping in the development of irrigation devices is something completely innovative and pioneering, besides being a tool of great utility in the product innovation in the Agricultural Engineering sector.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), pelo apoio financeiro a esta pesquisa, através do Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Engenharia da Irrigação (INCTEI

Quasi-stationary simulations of the directed percolation universality class in d = 3 dimensions

We present quasi-stationary simulations of three-dimensional models with a single absorbing configuration, namely the contact process (CP), the susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) model and the contact replication process (CRP). The moment ratios of the order parameters for the DP class in three dimensions were set up using the well established SIS and CP models. We also show that the mean-field exponent for d = 3 reported previously for the CRP (Ferreira 2005 Phys. Rev. E 71 017104) is a transient observed in the spreading analysis

The E3 ubiquitin ligase SCF(Fbxo7) mediates proteasomal degradation of UXT isoform 2 (UXT-V2) to inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Ubiquitously eXpressed Transcript isoform 2 (UXTV2) is a prefoldin-like protein involved in NF-κB signaling, apoptosis, and the androgen and estrogen response. UXT-V2 is a cofactor in the NF-κB transcriptional enhanceosome, and its knockdown inhibits TNF-α -induced NF-κB activation. Fbxo7 is an F-box protein that interacts with SKP1, Cullin1 and RBX1 proteins to form an SCF(Fbxo7) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. Fbxo7 negatively regulates NF-κB signaling through TRAF2 and cIAP1 ubiquitination. METHODS: We combine co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination in vitro and in vivo, cycloheximide chase assay, ubiquitin chain restriction analysis and microscopy to investigate interaction between Fbxo7 and overexpressed UXT-V2-HA. RESULTS: The Ubl domain of Fbxo7 contributes to interaction with UXTV2. This substrate is polyubiquitinated by SCF(Fbxo7) with K48 and K63 ubiquitin chain linkages in vitro and in vivo. This post-translational modification decreases UXT-V2 stability and promotes its proteasomal degradation. We further show that UXTV1, an alternatively spliced isoform of UXT, containing 12 additional amino acids at the N-terminus as compared to UXTV2, also interacts with and is ubiquitinated by Fbxo7. Moreover, FBXO7 knockdown promotes UXT-V2 accumulation, and the overexpression of Fbxo7-ΔF-box protects UXT-V2 from proteasomal degradation and enhances the responsiveness of NF-κB reporter. We find that UXT-V2 colocalizes with Fbxo7 in the cell nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: Together, our study reveals that SCF(Fbxo7) mediates the proteasomal degradation of UXT-V2 causing the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Discovering new substrates of E3 ubiquitin-ligase SCF(Fbxo7) contributes to understand its function in different diseases such as cancer and Parkinson.Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council [BB/J007846/1]

Development of an urban molecular xenomonitoring system for lymphatic filariasis in the Recife Metropolitan Region, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Molecular xenomonitoring (MX)-pathogen detection in the mosquito rather than human-is a promising tool for lymphatic filariasis (LF) surveillance. In the Recife Metropolitan Region (RMR), the last LF focus in Brazil, Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes have been implicated in transmitting Wuchereria bancrofti parasites. This paper presents findings on the ideal mosquito collection method, mosquito dispersion, W. bancrofti infection in mosquitoes and W. bancrofti antigen in humans to aid MX development. METHODS: Experiments occurred within two densely populated urban areas of Olinda, RMR, in July and August 2015. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps were compared to battery-powered aspirators as collection methods, and mosquito dispersion was measured by mosquito mark release recapture (MMRR). Female Cx. quinquefasciatus were tested by PCR for W. bancrofti infection, and study area residents were screened by rapid tests for W. bancrofti antigen. RESULTS: Aspirators caught 2.6 times more total Cx. quinquefasciatus, including 38 times more blood-fed and 5 times more gravid stages, than CDC light traps. They also collected 123 times more Aedes aegypti. Of the 9,644 marked mosquitoes released, only ten (0.01%) were recaptured, nine of which were < 50m (34.8m median, 85.4m maximum) from the release point. Of 9,169 unmarked mosquitoes captured in the MMR, 38.3% were unfed, 48.8% blood-fed, 5.5% semi-gravid, and 7.3% gravid. PCR on 182 pools (1,556 mosquitoes) found no evidence of W. bancrofti infection in Cx. quinquefasciatus. Rapid tests on 110 of 111 eligible residents were all negative for W. bancrofti antigen. CONCLUSIONS: Aspirators were more effective than CDC light traps at capturing Ae. aegypti and all but unfed stages of Cx. quinquefasciatus. Female Cx. quinquefasciatus traveled short (< 86m) distances in this urban area. Lack of evidence for W. bancrofti infection in mosquitoes and antigen in humans in these fine-scale studies does not indicate that LF transmission has ceased in the RMR. A MX surveillance system should consider vector-specific collection methods, mosquito dispersion, and spatial scale but also local context, environmental factors such as sanitation, and host factors such as infection prevalence and treatment history

The validity and reliability of the CAMDEX-DS for assessing dementia in adults with Down syndrome in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer's disease occurs at a higher prevalence and an earlier age in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) than typically developing individuals. However, diagnosing dementia in individuals with intellectual disability remains a challenge due to pre-existing cognitive deficits. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of Older People with Down's syndrome and Others with Intellectual Disabilities (CAMDEX-DS) for individuals with DS. METHODS: Two psychiatrists, working independently, evaluated 92 adults with DS ≥ 30 years of age. The concurrent validity of the CAMDEX-DS was analyzed in relation to the gold standard of established international criteria. In a subgroup of 20 subjects, the concurrent validity of the CAMDEX-DS was analyzed in relation to an independent objective assessment of cognitive decline over three years. We analyzed the inter-rater reliability of cognitive assessment. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of the CAMDEX-DS compared to the gold standard was 96.7%. CAMDEX-DS-based diagnosis was considered consistent with cognitive decline. The probability of a participant with dementia having cognitive decline was 83%. Inter-rater reliability for the participant assessment was good, with a kappa of > 0.8 for 93% of the CAMDEX-DS items. CONCLUSION: The CAMDEX-DS can be considered the first valid and reliable instrument for evaluating dementia in adults with DS in Brazil. Its use in such individuals could improve clinical practice and research

Investigation on the Anticonvulsant Potential of Luteolin and Micronized Luteolin in Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Epilepsy affects around 50 million people worldwide, and an important number of patients (30%) fail to respond to any available antiepileptic drug. Previous studies have shown that luteolin presents a promising potential as an anticonvulsant. On the other hand, different studies showed that luteolin does not promote anticonvulsant effects. Therefore, there is a lack of consensus about the use of luteolin for seizure control. Luteolin low bioavailability could be a limiting factor to obtain better results. Attractively, micronization technology has been applied to improve flavonoids bioavailability. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of luteolin on its raw form and micronized luteolin in a PTZ-induced seizure model in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Our results demonstrate that luteolin and micronized luteolin did not block PTZ-induced seizures in adult zebrafish. Also, luteolin and micronized luteolin did not provoke behavioral changes. Finally, our results show that 24 h after seizure occurrence, no changes were detected for p70S6Kb, interleukin 1β, and caspase-3 transcript levels. Altogether, we failed to observe an anticonvulsant potential of luteolin in adult zebrafish, even in its micronized form. However, we recommend new studies to investigate luteolin benefits in epilepsy.Fil: Garbinato, Cristiane. No especifíca;Fil: Alves Lima Rezende, Cássia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Schneider, Sabrina Ester. No especifíca;Fil: Pedroso, Jefferson. No especifíca;Fil: dos Santos, Aline E.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Petry, Fernanda. No especifíca;Fil: Aguiar, Gean Pablo S.. No especifíca;Fil: Girardi Müller, Liz. No especifíca;Fil: Lanza, Marcelo. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Piato, Angelo. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Vladimir Oliveira, J.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Siebel, Anna Maria. No especifíca

Repensando o Ensino de Química por meio da Pedagogia de Projetos – a Sorvetada de Química

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Inclusive charged hadron elliptic flow in Au + Au collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 7.7 - 39 GeV

A systematic study is presented for centrality, transverse momentum ($p_T$) and pseudorapidity ($\eta$) dependence of the inclusive charged hadron elliptic flow ($v_2$) at midrapidity($|\eta| < 1.0$) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27 and 39 GeV. The results obtained with different methods, including correlations with the event plane reconstructed in a region separated by a large pseudorapidity gap and 4-particle cumulants ($v_2{4}$), are presented in order to investigate non-flow correlations and $v_2$ fluctuations. We observe that the difference between $v_2{2}$ and $v_2{4}$ is smaller at the lower collision energies. Values of $v_2$, scaled by the initial coordinate space eccentricity, $v_{2}/\varepsilon$, as a function of $p_T$ are larger in more central collisions, suggesting stronger collective flow develops in more central collisions, similar to the results at higher collision energies. These results are compared to measurements at higher energies at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider ($\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 62.4 and 200 GeV) and at the Large Hadron Collider (Pb + Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV). The $v_2(p_T)$ values for fixed $p_T$ rise with increasing collision energy within the $p_T$ range studied ($< 2 {\rm GeV}/c$). A comparison to viscous hydrodynamic simulations is made to potentially help understand the energy dependence of $v_{2}(p_{T})$. We also compare the $v_2$ results to UrQMD and AMPT transport model calculations, and physics implications on the dominance of partonic versus hadronic phases in the system created at Beam Energy Scan (BES) energies are discussed.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures. Version accepted by PR