The mechanical properties of ultrafine-grained metals at elevated temperatures

Ultrafine-grained materials, having grain sizes in the submicrometer or nanometer range, may be readily produced by processing bulk solids through the application of severe plastic deformation (SPD) and this leads to the possibility of revealing different flow mechanisms when these materials are tested at elevated temperatures. Experiments show the two-phase Zn-22% Al alloy and various magnesium alloys exhibit excellent superplastic properties after processing by SPD whereas it is not possible to reveal different creep mechanisms in high-purity aluminum because the ultrafine grains are unstable at high temperature

Contribution to the knowledge of the Coccinellidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) fauna from the Azores islands.

An updated list of the Coccinellidae species of the Azores archipelago is presented. New records for S. Miguel: Nephus (Sidis) hiekei; Sta. Maria: Rodolia cardinalis; S. Jorge: Stethorus punctilium, Clitosthetus arcuatus, Scymnus nubilus, N. (Sidis) hiekei; Pico: R. cardinalis; Graciosa: C. arcuatus, S. (Scymnus) interruptus, N. (Sidis) hiekei, Lindorus lophantae and R. cardinalis; Corvo: S. nubilus, N. (Sidis) hiekei and Coccinella undecimpunctata. Regressions of species richness against area of the islands and distance from the nearest mainland were performed. No statistical significant correlation between species richness against area was found but a statistical significant negative correlation between the number of species and the distance from the nearest mainland was obtained. The results are, in part, in accordance with the predictions of MACARTHUR & WILSON’S (1967) equilibrium theory of island biogeography, relating differences in the diversity within Azorean islands with isolation

Chemical Composition and In Vitro Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Activities of the Essential Oil from Leaves of Zanthoxylum monogynum St. Hill (Rutaceae).

Background: The Zanthoxylum monogynum species belongs to the family Rutaceae and is found in Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast Brazil. For this genus several biological activities have been described. Methods: The essential oil (EO) was obtained from the leaves of Zanthoxylum monogynum by hydro-distillation and was analyzed by gas chromatograph and gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry (GC and GC/MS). Also the EO of Z. monogynum was evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity against six tumor cell lines and for antimicrobial activity, performing disk diffusion and MIC assays with yeast and bacterial strains. Results: The chemical analysis afforded the identification of 18 components (99.0% of the EO). The major components were found to be citronellol (43.0%) and farnesol (32.0%). The in vitro cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines, resulted in IC50 values ranging from 11-65 µg/mL against all tested cell lines. Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was also tested and oil was effective, especially against Cryptococcus sp. yeast. All the tested yeast strains showed at least 90% growth inhibition. Conclusions: the essential oil from leaves of Z. monogynum has a different qualitative and quantitative composition when compared to the composition previously described. Also this EO has significant cytotoxic activity and moderate activity against Cryptococcus sp. and Saccharomyces cereviseae yeasts

Hypotensive Responses of Reciprocal Supersets versus Traditional Resistance Training in Apparently Healthy Men

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(3): 434-445, 2017. The purpose of this study was to compare the hypotensive responses of reciprocal supersets (SS) versus traditional training (TRAD) methods. Thirteen men with at least five years of recreational experience in resistance training (RT) volunteered for the study. When completing the TRAD protocol, participants performed the following exercises separately in sequence: chest press (CP), low row (LR), leg extension (LE), leg curl (LC), pull down (PD), and shoulder press (SP). The SS method required participants to complete the same exercises as in the TRAD protocol, but exercises were coupled such that muscles sequentially served both as an agonist for lift one and then antagonist for lift two and vice versa. Exercise order used was CP and LR, LE and LC, and PD and SP with 10 repetition maximum loads. Blood pressure (BP) was measured before and for every 10 minutes for one hour after training. There was significantly more total work (TW) done in the TRAD condition compared to SS. Post exercise hypotension was evident only after the TRAD session at minutes 30 and 40 for systolic BP. Significant differences between the TRAD and SS methods were found at 20 minutes, 30 minutes, and 40 minutes for systolic BP. There was no significant two-way interaction for group × time for diastolic BP. There was a significant two-way interaction for group × time for mean arterial pressure. Significant reductions for mean arterial pressure (MAP) occurred only in the TRAD method after 30 to 40 minutes compared to the baseline values. Therefore, a TRAD RT method was sufficient to cause a hypotensive effect after the training session whereas the SS method did not reveal significant decreases in BP after the session. However, these findings are important to elucidate concerns regarding the post-exercise hypotension after RT and showed that TW might be the key to promote these changes because the volume of training was shown to be an important training variable to manipulate and might be associated with BP hypotension after RT

Ethical issues in longitudinal studies: the case of ELSA-Brasil

Historicamente a discussão acerca da eticidade dos atos em pesquisas com seres humanos privilegiou os estudos experimentais, pelo maior potencial de danos aos sujeitos envolvidos. Todavia, os estudos observacionais também envolvem riscos e suscitam questões relevantes. Neste artigo pretende-se apresentar e discutir aspectos éticos do desenvolvimento do ELSA-Brasil, um estudo longitudinal e multicêntrico, com financiamento público, no qual os sujeitos da pesquisa e pesquisadores pertencem às mesmas instituições. São descritos os procedimentos adotados para atender às exigências e compromissos éticos e a casuística que orientou as ações segundo seus princípios norteadores (beneficência, autonomia e justiça social). São apresentados alguns problemas morais que exigiram ponderação sobre riscos e benefícios na confluência com os objetivos do estudo e comentam-se peculiaridades de um estudo longitudinal e seus potenciais benefícios.The debate about ethics in research with human beings has historically emphasized experimental studies because of their greater potential to harm the subjects involved. However, observational studies also include risks and relevant questions to be discussed. This article aims to present and discuss the ethical aspects involved in the implementation of ELSA-Brasil, a longitudinal multicenter study, with public funding, in which the research subjects and investigators are employees of the same institutions. The procedures adopted to meet the ethical requirements and commitments are described, as well as the casuistics that guided the actions according to their guiding principles (beneficence, autonomy and social justice). We present some moral problems that required consideration of risks and benefits at the confluence with the study's objectives, and we conclude with comments on the peculiarities and the potential benefits of a longitudinal study

The R337H mutation in TP53 and breast cancer in Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Germline mutations in p53 are associated with the Li-Fraumeni Syndrome which is characterized by childhood cancers, including pediatric adrenal cortical carcinomas and early onset breast cancer. The high incidence of adrenal cortical carcinomas in southern Brazil is mostly attributed to the <it>R337H </it>mutation in <it>TP53</it>. The relatively high population frequency of this mutation in southern Brazil, along with the clustering of early onset breast cancer in Li-Frameni families, suggests this mutation may also be a low-penetrance breast cancer susceptibility polymorphism.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We undertook this study to evaluate the frequency of the <it>R337H </it>mutation in breast cancer patients from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. <it>R337H </it>mutation status was determined in 390 unselected breast cases and 324 controls identified from clinics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil using a PCR-based assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two of the breast cancer cases (0.5%) and none of the controls carried the mutation. Both cases had an early age at diagnosis (< 40 years old) and a family history of breast and other cancers.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data suggest genetic screening of young onset breast cancer patients should include testing for the <it>R337H </it>mutation.</p

Correction: Effectiveness of a scalable, remotely delivered stepped-care intervention to reduce symptoms of psychological distress among Polish migrant workers in the Netherlands: study protocol for the RESPOND randomised controlled trial

Following the publication of the original article [1], the authors identified that the sentence under the subheading Sample size was incorrect. The correct sentence is given below. The incorrect sentence is: Power calculations suggested a minimum sample size of 74 per group (power = 0.80, α = 0.05, two-sided). The correct sentence is: Power calculations suggested a minimum sample size of 74 per group (power = 0.95, α = 0.05, two-sided). The original article [1] has been corrected