A new method for testing antimicrobial activity of filamentous fungi

Tbls work was supporled by a FCT projecl (PTDC/AGR-AAM/099556/2008)

Graphene Based Sensors for Air Quality Monitoring - Preliminary Development Evaluation

Indoor air pollution can induce adverse health effects on building occupants and pose a significant role in health worldwide. To avoid such effects, it is extremely important to monitor and control common indoor pollutants such as CO2, VOCs and relative humidity. Therefore, this work focuses on recent advances in the field of graphene-based gas sensors, emphasizing the use of modified graphene that broadly expands the range of nanomaterials sensors. Graphene films were grown on copper by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and transferred to arbitrary substrates. After synthesis, the samples were functionalized with Al2O3 by ALD and characterized by a large set of experimental techniques such as XPS, Raman and SEM. The results demonstrated that graphene was successfully synthesized and transferred to SiO2, glass and polymer. As a proof-of-concept, ALD of Al2O3 was performed on the graphene surface to produce a graphene/metal oxide nanostructure towards the development of nanocomposites for gas sensing. From this perspective, a laboratory prototype device based in measuring the electrical properties of the graphene sample as a function of the gas absorption is under development

Influence of hypholoma fasciculare in portuguese chestnut groves sustainability

The chestnut tree (Castanea sativa) has an enormous economic importance at national level, mainly due to the value of the fruit (chestnut) and the high quality of the wood. The presence of the fungus Hypholoma fasciculare has been observed in chestnut orchard soils of Trás-os-Montes (Portugal). Although it is described as being a saprophyte, preliminary studies have demonstrated that H. fasciculare could cause serious damage to the chestnut trees. On the other hand, it has an expressive antagonist action against other soil-borne fungi present in chestnut groves. In order to assess the consequences arising from the presence of this fungus on soil microbial diversity, the effect of the presence of H. fasciculare was evaluated. In this way, the fungal community of soils from three chestnut groves presenting different levels of H. fasciculare was compared. After DNA extraction from 10 soil cores from each soil, the ITS regions were amplified using the adequate primers for fungal sequences and 454 pyrosequencing was used for the assessment of soil metagenomes. Results will be presented taking into account the diversity of fungal trophic groups that could be important for chestnut sustainability, mainly the ectomycorrhizal fungi. These results will contribute to the identification of soil microbial species most affected by the presence of H. fasciculare, making it possible to assess the action of this fungus on beneficial mycorrhizal fungi to the chestnut tree.This work is supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) I&D grant PTDC/ AGR-AAM/099556/200

Psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Addendum for PTSD (PSQI-A)

Objective: Sleep disturbances play a fundamental role in the pathophysiology posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and are not only a secondary feature. The aim of this study was to validate and assess the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Addendum for PTSD (PSQI-A-BR), a self-report instrument designed to assess the frequency of seven disruptive nocturnal behaviors, in a sample of participants with and without PTSD. Methods: PSQI-A was translated into Brazilian Portuguese and applied to a convenience sample of 190 volunteers, with and without PTSD, who had sought treatment for the consequences of a traumatic event. Results: The PSQI-A-BR displayed satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's coefficient of 0.83 between all items) and convergent validity with the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), even when excluding sleep-related items (r = 0.52). Test-retest yielded high agreement in the global PSQI-A-BR, with good stability over time (r = 0.88). A global PSQI-A-BR cutoff score of 7 yielded a sensitivity of 79%, specificity of 64%, and a global score of 7 yielded a positive predictive value of 93% for discriminating participants with PTSD from those without PTSD. Conclusion: The PSQI-A-BR is a valid instrument for PTSD assessment, applicable to both clinical and research settings.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of PsychiatryUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of PsychobiologyUNIFESP, Department of PsychiatryUNIFESP, Department of PsychobiologySciEL

Eritema necrolítico migratório associado à síndrome glucagonoma: descrição de um caso

Necrolytic migratory erythema is a rare skin condition that consists of migrating areas of erythema with blisters that heal with hyperpigmentation. It usually occurs in patients with an alpha islet cell tumor of the pancreas-or glucagonoma-and when associated with glucose intolerance, anemia, hyperglucagonemia, and weight loss defines the glucagonoma syndrome. We describe a 52-year-old female patient with necrolytic migratory erythema associated with glucagonoma syndrome who had metastatic disease at presentation and passed away one week after her admission. The autopsy showed a tumor in the body of the pancreas, which was diagnosed as a neuroendocrine tumor and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The diagnosis of necrolytic migratory erythema is a matter of great importance, since it might be an auxiliary tool for the early detection of glucagonoma.O eritema necrolítico migratório é uma rara condição cutânea que se apresenta como lesões eritematosas, migratórias, com vesículas e bolhas na superfície, evoluindo para cura com hiperpigmentação. É freqüentemente observado em doentes com tumor de células alfa do pâncreas, ou glucagonoma, e quando associado com intolerância a glicose, anemia, hiperglucagonemia, e perda de peso definem a síndrome do glucagonoma. É descrito o caso de uma paciente do sexo feminino, 52 anos, branca, com eritema necrolítico migratório associado à síndrome do glucagonoma com doença metastática na apresentação, vindo a falecer uma semana após sua admissão. A autópsia mostrou um tumor no corpo do pâncreas diagnosticado como tumor neuroendócrino e confirmado pela imuno-histoquímica. O reconhecimento do eritema necrolítico migratório é de grande importância para a possibilidade de diagnóstico precoce do glucagonoma

Desenvolvimento populacional de Meloidogyne spp., em mudas de goiabeira estaqueadas e enxertadas tratadas com nematicidas.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento dos dois tipos de mudas, com e sem utilização de nematicida.Edição dos Resumos do 23 Congresso Brasileito de Nematologia, Marilia, mar. 2001

Popularização de artrópodos como instrumento de ampliação da percepção ambiental na ecologia da paisagem em agroecossistemas.

A presente obra descreve uma metodologia que pretende promover o controle biológico conservativo pela perspectiva ecossistêmica, apresentando aos participantes diversos agentes de controle biológico locais e suas relações ecológicas básicas. Considerada aqui parte essencial dessa metodologia, a leguminosa multifuncional C. argentea é apresentada como planta bioindicadora de qualidade ambiental por abrigar, nutrir e permitir a multiplicação desses organismos benéficos, além de muitas espécies de abelhas.bitstream/item/222910/1/CIT-271.pd