Effect of the pharmaceuticals metformin, escitalopram and furosemide in cyanobacteria growth

Worldwide one of the most prevalent water problems is eutrophication, a result of high nutrient concentration, mainly phosphorus and nitrogen. In freshwater environments, anthropogenic inputs of nutrients and other substances are a major contributing to eutrophication and consequent formation of cyanobacteria and algal blooms. The formation of cyanobacteria blooms can result in toxin production and have ecological and human health impacts. Another emerging water quality concern is the impact of personal care products and pharmaceuticals in the environment. In eutrophic waters the increased availability of pharmaceuticals can interfere with cyanobacteria cells and disrupt or enhance cyanobacteria growth. This study describes the effect of metformine, escitalopram and furosemide in the cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa. Cyanobacteria tests were conducted following the European Guideline (OECD 201) for algal and cyanobacteria growth inhibition test. Cyanobacteria were incubated in microplate with pharmaceuticals solutions prepared in Z8 medium under continuous light and shaking at 22ºC. Results were quantified in terms of average growth rates calculated from cell numbers based on OD determination at 24h period until 120h. Pharmaceuticals used were metformin an anti-diabetic, escitalopram an antidepressive and furosemide a diuretic in ten concentrations. At 120h exposure and at the higher concentration tested the three pharmaceuticals (metformin-10mg/mL; 100% inhibition; escitalopram- 0.1mg/ml; 100% inhibition and furosemide-0.4 mg/mL; 50% inhibition) inhibited Microcystis growth rate. Escitalopram response showed hormesis but at higher concentrations it was more toxic than metformin and furosemide. Time related response was different between pharmaceuticals. The three pharmaceuticals interfere with Microcystis growth rate in different ways.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Methods of earth building in the Huila Province, Angola

In Angola, the construction made of raw earth is a cultural heritage widely used by low income households, representing over 80% of the population [1, 3]. In Huila province is evident construction in raw earth in a large scale, either in urban or in periurban and rural areas. The construction methods follow the ancestral standards, distributed throughout the region of Huila, being built by the several ethnic groups. Among the construction techniques in earth, stand out: the adobe, wattle-and-daub and more recently on CEB (Compressed Earth Block). The type of soil used to make the adobes is mainly silty-clayed sand [1]. The most applied materials are: rods, reeds, wood, grass, straw, soil and stone, almost with the same characteristics [2]. The manufacture of adobe, consists essentially in mixing clay and grass (plant fibers), then put the mixture inside a wooden mold, having a size of 42 cm long and 18 cm high and taking three to four days to dry and be applied in housing construction. The application of these materials makes the construction less expensive because they are collected, transformed and applied by the owner himself of housing without any project, based only on the result of the practice and experience acquired from their ancestors. They are simple constructions, presenting a typology of grouped and isolated single-family housing, ranging between 2 and 3 bedrooms [2]. The construction techniques used in such small housings have positive environmental aspects, both as regards the materials employed, such as the manner in which the constructions are raised, showing special concerns for the quality improvement of them, as regards the resistance, durability and comfort [4]

Ensaios in-situ e de laboratório para a caracterização dos solos utilizados na produção de adobes na Província da Huíla, Angola

Em Angola, a construção em terra crua é uma herança cultural que tem sido desenvolvida durante séculos e continua a ser muito utilizada pelas famílias de baixo rendimento [Guedes, 2009; Duarte et al, 2015]. Na província da Huíla, existem inúmeras habitações de terra crua, construídas com base em métodos e técnicas ancestrais. Entre as técnicas de construção em terra, destaca-se: o adobe, pau-a-pique e mais recentemente, os blocos de terra comprimida [Pedro, et al, 2014]. A aplicação desta técnica tradicional, justifica-se pela eficiência do material como isolante térmico, pelo seu baixo custo e pelas caraterísticas físicas e mecânicas dos solos utilizados no fabrico dos adobes [Wachilala, et al, 2016]. Na Província da Huíla a execução dos adobes consiste na mistura de solo com água e capim e/ou fibras vegetais, posterior moldagem de pequenos blocos, utilizando moldes duplos em madeira, sendo desmoldados ainda no estado fresco e colocados a secar à temperatura ambiente [Wachilala, et al, 2016]. O tipo de solo utilizado para fabricar os adobes é essencialmente areia argilosa de cor cinzenta, castanha, amarela ou vermelha escura. As propriedades dos solos que mais condicionam o desempenho das estruturas em terra crua, relacionam-se com a composição do solo, principalmente a da fracção argilosa [Santana e Rodrigues, 2005], que influencia o comportamento mecânico, nomeadamente a resistência à compressão e a durabilidade dos adobes. Para o conhecimento das propriedades do solo é necessário que se proceda previamente à sua caracterização com recurso a ensaios específicos para o efeito [Torgal, et al, 2009]. Neste trabalho, realizaram-se ensaios expeditos in-situ para caracterizar o material no local (cor, cheiro, tacto, brilho, sedimentação e retracção) e identificar as anomalias existentes na construção. Também, foram recolhidas amostras de solos em 6 municípios da Província da Huíla, a fim de caracterizar estes geomateriais utilizados na produção de adobes, através de ensaios no laboratório que permitiram quantificar diversos parâmetros, nomeadamente a granulometria, a consistência, expansibilidade, compacidade, resistência e durabilidade

Caracterização mineralógica e geotécnica dos solos para a construção em terra crua no sudoeste de Angola

RESUMO A construção feita em terra crua é um património cultural em Angola amplamente utilizado por famílias de baixa renda. No sudoeste de Angola existem inúmeras habitações de terra crua construídas com métodos e técnicas ancestrais que respeitam o meio ambiente. Entre as técnicas de construção em terra, destacam-se: o adobe, o pau-a-pique e mais recentemente em BTC (Bloco de Terra Comprimida). A sustentabilidade deste tipo de construção é um dos fatores que impulsionou o seu recente desenvolvimento em todo o mundo. É caracterizada por baixo consumo de energia e baixas emissões de carbono porque está associada a níveis de poluição perto de zero, por possuir níveis benéficos de humidade interna em termos de saúde humana, bom isolamento térmico e baixos custos económicos. Este trabalho faz parte de um projeto que visa melhorar e otimizar essas soluções construtivas, respondendo às demandas atuais de sustentabilidade social, económica e ambiental. Neste trabalho foram caracterizadas as propriedades mineralógicas de oito amostras de solos utilizados na construção em terra crua na região do sudoeste de Angola (província da Huíla), mediante a aplicação da técnica de análise mineralógica por Difração de raios-X (DRX) e as características geotécnicas (dimensões das partículas do solo, consistência, expansibilidade, densidade, compactação). Além disso, para avaliar a durabilidade dos adobes foram realizados os testes Geelong. Os resultados obtidos põem em evidência que as propriedades mineralógicas controlam as propriedades geotécnicas dos solos e o comportamento dos mesmos quando utilizados na construção em terra. ABSTRACT The construction made off raw earth is a cultural heritage in Angola widely used by low income households. In Southwest of Angola there are numerous dwellings of raw earth built with methods and ancestral techniques that respect the environment. Among the construction techniques in earth, stand out: the adobe, wattle-and-daub and more recently on CEB (Compressed Earth Block). The sustainability of this type of construction is one of the factors that has driven its recent development around the world. It is characterized by low energy consumption and low carbon emissions because it is associated with levels of pollution near zero, it provides beneficial indoor humidity levels in terms of human health, good thermal insulation and low economic costs. This work is part of a project, which aims to improve and optimize these constructive solutions, responding to the current demands of social, economic and environmental sustainability. In this work the mineralogical and mechanical properties of the soils used in the construction on raw earth in this region were characterized, in order to identify its potentialities and limitations as geomaterial in this type of eco-construction. In this work, the mineralogical properties of eight soil samples used in the construction in the ground in the southwestern region of Angola (Huíla province) were characterized by the application of mineralogical analysis by X-ray diffraction technique and the geotechnical characteristics (particle size, consistency, expansibility, density, Proctor compaction). In addition, the Geelong tests were performed to prove the durability of the adobes. The results show that the mineralogical properties control the geotechnical properties of the soils and their behavior for the construction on raw earth

Electrochemical detection of in situ adriamycin oxidative damage to DNA

Adriamycin intercalation and in situ interaction with double helix DNA was investigated using a voltammetric DNA-biosensor. Oxidation and reduction of adriamycin molecules intercalated in double helix DNA were investigated in order to understand the in vivo mechanism of action with this anti-neoplasic drug. The results showed that the interaction of adriamycin with DNA is potential-dependent causing contact between DNA guanine and adenine bases and the electrode surface such that their oxidation is easily detected. A mechanism for adriamycin reduction and oxidation in situ when intercalated in double helix DNA immobilised onto the glassy carbon electrode surface is presented and the formation of the mutagenic 8-oxoguanine explained.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6THP-44PVS7R-M/1/1474d369a4b1d556b84d548d2df2543

Diagnóstico fitossanitário em sementes de cedro e tachi branco.

O trabalho objetivou diagnosticar fitopatógenos presentes em sementes de cedro vermelho (Cedrela odorata L.) e tachi branco (Sclerolobium paniculatum Vogel), espécies florestais nativas da Amazônia. A importância da patologia de sementes relaciona-se com a disseminação de doenças pelo fruto quando este é levado para beneficiamento e para evitar o apodrecimento das sementes, o que pode ocasionar perda pela presença de fitopatógenos nas mesmas. Os testes foram feitos com base nas Regras de Análise de Sementes (RAS) do Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento ? MAPA, pelo método de incubação em papel filtro ?Blotter Test?. Foram detectados os seguintes gêneros de fungos: Aspergillus sp., Penicillium spp. e Lasiodiplodia sp. em sementes de cedro e Penicillium spp. e Aspergillus sp. em tachi branco. As sementes de cedro apresentaram maiores níveis de incidência de fungos.PIBIC-2011

Natural polymorphisms of HIV type 2 pol sequences from drug-naive individuals

Until today, the susceptibility of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) to protease and nucleosidic reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (PI and NRTI, respectively) has not been clearly documented. In this report we studied HIV-2 proviral sequences (n = 30) from drug-naive patients. Our results revealed that several amino acid positions in the protease and reverse transcriptase coding sequence harbored residues that have been associated with drug resistance in HIV-1-infected patients. In particular, the M46I substitution in the protease was detected in 90% of the sequences analyzed, which, together with the other substitutions identified, may indicate a reduced susceptibility of HIV-2-infected drug-naive patients to PI. Furthermore, interpretation of genotypic data with four available algorithms, developed for interpretation of HIV-1 sequence data, suggested nonoverlapping profiles of drug resistance

Population structure of Pentaclethra macroloba (Willd.) Kuntze in high and low floodplains of the Amazonian estuary.

The flood cycle of floodplain forests and topographic variations are important factors of diversification and morphological and ecophysiological adaptations of the plant community. Pentaclethra macroloba is a hyperdominant species adapted to flood variations. The objective of this study was to characterize the P. macroloba population structure between environments with high topography, flooded only during the rainy season and peak flood of the river, (high várzea-HV) and low topography with daily flood (low várzea-LV). The study was carried in the Mazagão Experimental Field, Brazil. Four plots of 1 ha were installed in each environment. All individuals with DBH ≥ 5 cm were measured and georeferenced. ANOVA test, 0.05% probability, was applied to verify the structural differences between two environments. The HV had higher population density (51.2 individuals.ha-1) compared to the LV (36.7 individuals.ha-1), although without significance. Basal area was higher in the HV (10.42 m²) in comparison with LV (5.90 m²), with significant difference (F = 7.13, p = 0.00795). The maximum DAP of HV was 67 cm with mean of 24 cm. The LV presented maximum DBH of 42 cm with mean of 21 cm, showing structural difference between the two environments (F = 6.22, p = 0.0131). The aggregation index showed high aggregation in the LV (R = 0.89) than in the HV (R = 0.79), differing significantly between the two environments (F = 11.31, p = 0.0008). Frequency and time of flooding are ecological drives that structure the population of pracaxizeiro causing morphological and ecophysiological adaptations to the individual

A construção sustentável na perspetiva dos geomateriais utilizados na Província da Huíla, Angola

A construção sustentável centra-se na busca da necessidade de maior eficiência energética, menor preço e maior durabilidade, com o objetivo de obter uma edificação que não agrida o meio ambiente, mas também com melhor conforto térmico, com reduzida necessidade de consumo de energia e com melhoria da qualidade de vida dos seus moradores. Na província da Huíla, Angola, existem inúmeras habitações de terra crua que constituem uma verdadeira herança cultural e que têm sido construídas com base em métodos e técnicas ancestrais que respeitam o ambiente. Os materiais utilizados e as características construtivas diferem, sobretudo, em função do rendimento das próprias famílias e dos materiais disponíveis, sendo o adobe, o método construtivo em terra que assume uma maior presença nesta região, não obstante a existência de edificações de pau-a-pique e, mais recentemente, em blocos de terra comprimida. O principal objetivo deste estudo é avaliar e relacionar a composição mineralógica e textural dos solos com as respetivas características físicas e mecânicas, de forma a identificar as suas potencialidades e limitações como material de construção em terra crua nesta região. Para o efeito, foram colhidas 8 amostras de solos e adobes fabricados nos respetivos locais, de modo a realizarem-se ensaios específicos cujos resultados possibilitaram a identificação e caracterização destes geomateriais. Neste trabalho, realizaram-se os ensaios in-situ e laboratoriais para determinar as propriedades mineralógicas (DRX), as físicas (granulometria, consistência, expansibilidade, densidade), as mecânicas, os ensaios Geelong e o ensaio de avaliação do ciclo húmido/seco, de acordo com as normas Neozelandesas, NZS 4298 (1998) e 4297 (1998). Esta investigação contribui para a caracterização dos geomateriais utilizados na construção em terra crua nesta região de Angola, contribuindo assim, para o desenvolvimento de soluções construtivas sustentáveis e com características melhoradas, de conforto, segurança e de durabilidade

Elucidating the mechanisms Involved in the cytotoxicity induced by marine cyanobacteria strains against the RKO colon carcinoma cell line

Cyanobacteria are known to synthesize secondary metabolites that may have potential as drugs for the treatment of human diseases such as cancer. Previous studies on marine cyanobacteria isolated from the Portuguese coast revealed strains of the picoplanktonic genera Cyanobium and Synechocystis as potential sources of anticancer compounds. The ethyl acetate fraction of the strains Cyanobium sp. LEGE06113 and the Synechocystis salina LEGE06155 was found to reduce cell viability of cancer cell lines. This work aimed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the cytotoxicity of this strains in the colon adenocarcinoma cell line RKO by employing real-time PCR (RT-PCR) for genes involved in cell cycle and apoptosis, by flow cytometry for cell cycle and by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis for protein expression. RT-PCR results revealed differences in mRNA expression of genes CCNB1 (cell cycle) and BCL-2 (apoptosis). Flow cytometry results revealed a decrease in the G0/G1 and S phase and increased its number in the G2/M phase, which is in accordance with the lower expression of CCNB1. The proteomic results demonstrated different protein patterns comparing treatment groups with control. Proteins differentially regulated in exposed RKO cells were involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, cell structure, protein regulation and cell metabolism. Although several of these proteins were identified in cells exposed to both cyanobacterial extracts, the data provides an indication that the cytotoxicity is induced by different toxic mechanisms in LEGE06113 and LEGE06155 fractions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio