Measuring the Redshift Evolution of Clustering: the Hubble Deep Field South

We present an analysis of the evolution of galaxy clustering in the redshift interval 0<z<4.5 in the HDF-S. The HST optical data are combined with infrared ISAAC/VLT observations, and photometric redshifts are used for all the galaxies brighter than I_AB<27.5. The clustering signal is obtained in different redshift bins using two different approaches: a standard one, which uses the best redshift estimate of each object, and a second one, which takes into account the redshift probability function of each object. This second method makes it possible to improve the information in the redshift intervals where contamination from objects with insecure redshifts is important. With both methods, we find that the clustering strength up to z~3.5 in the HDF-S is consistent with the previous results in the HDF-N. While at redshift lower than z~1 the HDF galaxy population is un/anti-biased (b<1) with respect to the underlying dark matter, at high redshift the bias increases up to b~2-3, depending on the cosmological model. These results support previous claims that, at high redshift, galaxies are preferentially located in massive haloes, as predicted by the biased galaxy formation scenario. The impact of cosmic errors on our analyses has been quantified, showing that errors in the clustering measurements in the HDF surveys are indeed dominated by shot-noise in most regimes. Future observations with instruments like the ACS on HST will improve the S/N by at least a factor of two and more detailed analyses of the errors will be required. In fact, pure shot-noise will give a smaller contribution with respect to other sources of errors, such as finite volume effects or non-Poissonian discreteness effects.Comment: 17 pages Latex, with 12 PostScript figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA

CONTRIBUIÇÕES DA ATIVIDADE DE MONITORIA NO DESENVOLVIMENTO DA DISCIPLINA DE QUÍMICA GERAL TEÓRICA I NO PERÍODO LETIVO DE 2016.2

O alarmante número de reprovações que vem sendo observado no decorrer dos anos de existência de curso de Licenciatura em Química para as disciplinas de Química Geral Teórica, chama a atenção dos docentes e da direção da Faculdade de Química I. A disciplina Química Geral Teórica I é ofertada no 1° nível da matriz curricular do curso. A referida componente é de formação básica preparatória necessárias ao bom desempenho dos discentes nas demais disciplinas de Química do Curso, e o que se tem observado e que talvez por déficit na aprendizagem na área de Química na educação básica, estes discentes vêm apresentando um péssimo desempenho nas disciplinas de Química Geral. Diante do exposto acima, a Faculdade de Química, entende que a monitoria pode ser uma alternativa para diminuição dos indicies de reprovação na referida componente curricular. A Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional (LDB), trata a importância da atividade de monitoria, a mesma prever que os discentes da educação superior poderão ser aproveitados em atividades de ensino dentro da própria instituição (Brasil, 1996, Art. 84). No âmbito da Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, o programa de monitoria está vinculado a Pró-Reitora de Ensino de Graduação (PROEG) a qual oferta bolsas de monitoria via edital especifico. Com base no que preconiza os editais da PROEG com respeito a seleção de monitores, entendemos que o monitor deve dar suporte as atividades desenvolvidas em sala de aula pelo Professor responsável pela disciplina auxiliando os discentes com dificuldades de compreensão do conteúdo ministrado em sala. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo mostrar os resultados obtidos na turma de Química Geral Teórica I no período de 2016.2, que foi assistido pelo programa de monitoria da Unifesspa em comparação com a mesma disciplina ministrada em 2015 sem assistência do programa de monitoria

(Des) educação à Brasileira: os reflexos da retirada unilateral do Brasil do setor educacional do Mercosul no governo Bolsonaro / Brazilian (Un) education: the reflexes of Brazil's unilateral withdrawal from the educational sector of the Mercosur under the Bolsonaro government

O aspecto educacional é parte indissociável do processo integrativo entre países. Recentemente, o Brasil se retirou de todas as tratativas do Setor Educacional do Mercado Comum do Sul (MERCOSUL) através de uma decisão unilateral tomada pelo então ministro da Educação, Abraham Weintraub, alegando que referido setor não havia produzido resultados bastantes que justificassem a vinculação brasileira. Neste sentido, o artigo versa sobre o formato integrativo do Mercado Comum do Sul (MERCOSUL), examinando especialmente o impacto já produzido pelas ações do Setor Educacional do bloco. O primeiro objetivo específico do trabalho é explicitar as razões de fundação do MERCOSUL, seguido de um detalhado tópico expondo os programas desenvolvidos pelo SEM e suas dimensões e como último objetivo específico têm-se a análise dos motivos da deliberação de Weintraub, evidenciando também os reais motivos de criação do setor. Utilizando-se de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, através do método dedutivo, de cunho exploratório, demonstra-se a existência de diversos projetos bem sucedidos desenvolvidos pelo bloco. Tal fato nos permite concluir que a decisão, claramente equivocada, do ex-ministro não considerou o avanço proporcionado pelo Setor Educacional do MERCOSUL no processo de integração dos países membros, tal qual era o objetivo original do programa, tendo sido calcada exclusivamente em influências ideológicas e econômicas. 

Gene co-expression networks in liver and muscle transcriptome reveal sex-specific gene expression in lambs fed with a mix of essential oils

Background: Essential oil (EO) dietary supplementation is a new strategy to improve animal health. EO compounds have antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antimycotic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory proprieties. Nutrigenomics investigations represent innovative approaches in understanding the relation between diet effect and gene expression related to the animal performance. Few nutrigenomics studies have used a high-throughput RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) approach, despite great potential of RNA-Seq data in gene expression quantification and in co-expression network analyses. Our aim is to use the potential of RNA-Sequencing data in order to evaluate the effect of an EO supplementary diet on gene expression in both lamb liver and muscle. Results: Using a treatment and sex interaction model, 13 and 4 differentially expressed genes were identified in liver and muscle respectively. Sex-specific differentially expressed (DE) genes were identified in both sexes. Using network based analysis, different clusters of co-expressed genes that were highly correlated to the diet were detected in males vs. females, in agreement with DE analysis. A total of five regulatory genes in liver tissue associated to EO diet were identified: DNAJB9, MANF, UFM1, CTNNLA1 and NFX1. Our study reveals a sex-dependent effect of EO diet in both tissues, and an influence on the expression of genes mainly involved in immune, inflammatory and stress pathway. Conclusion: Our analysis suggests a sex-dependent effect of the EO dietary supplementation on the expression profile of both liver and muscle tissues. We hypothesize that the presence of EOs could have beneficial effects on wellness of male lamb and further analyses are needed to understand the biological mechanisms behind the different effect of EO metabolites based on sex. Using lamb as a model for nutrigenomics studies, it could be interesting to investigate the effects of EO diets in other species and in humans

Novel parvoviruses from wild and domestic animals in Brazil provide new insights into parvovirus distribution and diversity

Parvoviruses (family Parvoviridae) are small, single-stranded DNA viruses. Many parvoviral pathogens of medical, veterinary and ecological importance have been identified. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing (HTS) to investigate the diversity of parvoviruses infecting wild and domestic animals in Brazil. We identified 21 parvovirus sequences (including twelve nearly complete genomes and nine partial genomes) in samples derived from rodents, bats, opossums, birds and cattle in Pernambuco, São Paulo, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul states. These sequences were investigated using phylogenetic and distance-based approaches and were thereby classified into eight parvovirus species (six of which have not been described previously), representing six distinct genera in the subfamily Parvovirinae. Our findings extend the known biogeographic range of previously characterized parvovirus species and the known host range of three parvovirus genera (Dependovirus, Aveparvovirus and Tetraparvovirus). Moreover, our investigation provides a window into the ecological dynamics of parvovirus infections in vertebrates, revealing that many parvovirus genera contain well-defined sub-lineages that circulate widely throughout the world within particular taxonomic groups of hosts

Exposure of workers to occupational heat during the application of phytosanitary products in coffee crop

During the application of phytosanitary products in coffee trees, workers may be exposed to temperatures that could compromise their health. Exposure to occupational heat can lead to progressive dehydration, cramps, exhaustion and the possibility of thermal shock. Thus, knowing the levels of occupational heat that workers are exposed becomes important. This study aimed to evaluate workers’ occupational exposure to heat during the application of phytosanitary products with manual costal pump in the coffee crops. The case study was developed at the IFSULDEMINAS school farm - Campus Inconfidentes in the months of September and October 2017. The occupational heat in the coffee crop was evaluated using the WBGTAVERAGE method, using TGD 400 thermal stress meter. The WBGT values found were compared to the exposure limits of NR 15 for the purposes of insalubrity classification and with NHO 06 for acclimatized and non-acclimatized workers. The results showed that the WBGT found is below the tolerance limit of NR 15, for the month of September. In October, the tolerance limit was exceeded in the period from 11:00 a.m. to 2:59 p.m., considering a continuous heavy activity and rest in the workplace, and the activity considered unhealthy. Considering the criteria of the NHO 06 it was observed that the limits of occupational exposure were exceeded in the month of October, for acclimatized and non-acclimatized workers. In September the occupational exposure limit of NHO 06 was exceeded only for non-acclimated workers. Therefore, the workers should be submitted to acclimatization during the phytosanitary application activity in the month of October

Fluorouracil and dose-dense chemotherapy in adjuvant treatment of patients with early-stage breast cancer: An open-label, 2 × 2 factorial, randomised phase 3 trial

Background: Whether addition of fluorouracil to epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel (EC-P) is favourable in adjuvant treatment of patients with node-positive breast cancer is controversial, as is the benefit of increased density of dosing. We aimed to address these questions in terms of improvements in disease-free survival. METHODS: In this 2 × 2 factorial, open-label, phase 3 trial, we enrolled patients aged 18-70 years with operable, node positive, early-stage breast cancer from 81 Italian centres. Eligible patients were randomly allocated in a 1:1:1:1 ratio with a centralised, interactive online system to receive either dose-dense chemotherapy (administered intravenously every 2 weeks with pegfilgrastim support) with fluorouracil plus EC-P (FEC-P) or EC-P or to receive standard-interval chemotherapy (administered intravenously every 3 weeks) with FEC-P or EC-P. The primary study endpoint was disease-free survival, assessed with the Kaplan-Meier method in the intention-to-treat population. Our primary comparisons were between dose schedule (every 2 weeks vs every 3 weeks) and dose type (FEC-P vs EC-P). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00433420. FINDINGS: Between April 24, 2003, and July 3, 2006, we recruited 2091 patients. 88 patients were enrolled in centres that only provided standard-intensity dosing. After a median follow-up of 7·0 years (interquartile range [IQR] 4·5-6·3), 140 (26%) of 545 patients given EC-P every 3 weeks, 157 (29%) of 544 patients given FEC-P every 3 weeks, 111 (22%) of 502 patients given EC-P every 2 weeks, and 113 (23%) of 500 patients given FEC-P every 2 weeks had a disease-free survival event. For the dose-density comparison, disease-free survival at 5 years was 81% (95% CI 79-84) in patients treated every 2 weeks and 76% (74-79) in patients treated every 3 weeks (HR 0·77, 95% CI 0·65-0·92; p=0·004); overall survival rates at 5 years were 94% (93-96) and 89% (87-91; HR 0·65, 0·51-0·84; p=0·001) and for the chemotherapy-type comparison, disease-free survival at 5 years was 78% (75-81) in the FEC-P groups and 79% (76-82) in the EC-P groups (HR 1·06, 0·89-1·25; p=0·561); overall survival rates at 5 years were 91% (89-93) and 92% (90-94; 1·16, 0·91-1·46; p=0·234). Compared with 3 week dosing, chemotherapy every 2 weeks was associated with increased rate of grade 3-4 of anaemia (14 [1·4%] of 988 patients vs two [0·2%] of 984 patients; p=0·002); transaminitis (19 [1·9%] vs four [0·4%]; p=0·001), and myalgias (31 [3·1%] vs 16 [1·6%]; p=0·019), and decreased rates of grade 3-4 neutropenia (147 [14·9%] vs 433 [44·0%]; p<0·0001). Addition of fluorouracil led to increased rates of grade 3-4 neutropenia (354 [34·5%] of 1025 patients on FEC-P vs 250 [24·2%] of 1032 patients on EC-P; p<0·0001), fever (nine [0·9%] vs two [0·2%]), nausea (47 [4·6%] vs 28 [2·7%]), and vomiting (32 [3·1%] vs 15 [1·4%]). INTERPRETATION: In patients with node-positive early breast cancer, dose-dense adjuvant chemotherapy improved disease-free survival compared with standard interval chemotherapy. Addition of fluorouracil to a sequential EC-P regimen was not associated with an improved disease-free survival outcome

Níveis de troponina I segundo a classificação molecular do tumor em mulheres com câncer de mama sob uso de doxorrubicina / Troponin I levels according to molecular classification of tumor in women with breast cancer under doxorubicine treatment

Justificativa: Doenças cardiovasculares e câncer são causas frequentes de óbitos e a sua associação é cada vez mais comum, em função da possibilidade de cardiotoxicidade induzida pelos quimioterápicos. Objetivo: avaliar os níveis de troponina cardíaca I (cTnI) como marcador de cardiotoxicidade em mulheres com câncer de mama sob uso de doxorrubicina (DOXO), segundo a classificação molecular do tumor. Métodos: Foram investigadas 80 mulheres, cujas amostras foram colhidas antes (T0) e imediatamente após o último ciclo de terapia com DOXO (T1). As mulheres foram divididas em três grupos segundo a classificação molecular do tumor: receptor hormonal positivo (grupo 1, n= 25), HER2 positivo (2, n= 34) e triplo negativo (3, n= 20). As análises estatísticas foram realizadas em programa SPSS versão 17. Resultados: Quando comparados os níveis de cTnI no tempo T0 entre os grupos, foi observada diferença significativa entre os grupos 1 e 2, sendo níveis de cTnI maiores no grupo 1 (p=0,006). Não houve diferença significativa nos níveis de cTnI no tempo T1 entre os grupos (p&gt;0,05). Quando comparados os tempos T0 e T1 dentro de cada grupo, foi observado um aumento dos níveis de cTnI em T1, independentemente da classificação molecular. Conclusões: Os resultados sugerem que os níveis de cTnI aumentam em todos os grupos, independentemente do tipo molecular do tumor, após o fim do tratamento com DOXO. Porém, mulheres com tumor receptor hormonal positivo possuem maiores níveis de cTnI antes do tratamento e, dessa maneira, apresentam maior risco para complicações cardiovasculares

Síntese e avaliação de potencial atividade antitumoral de derivados arilfuranos / Synthesis and evaluation of potential antitumor activity of arylfuran derivatives

Fármacos que possuem um anel furano em sua estrutura são versáteis quanto à sua atividade biológica, sendo utilizados para diversas funções terapêuticas, como antitumoral. O câncer é, atualmente, um dos principais problemas de saúde pública mundial, estando entre as quatro principais causas de morte prematura na maioria dos países. No presente trabalho, oito derivados arilfuranos foram sintetizados e testados frente a linhagens de células tumorais de mama (MCF7) e leucemia mielóide (K562). Desses, alguns demonstraram valores de IC50 bastante promissores, como (3) (30,55 μM ± 1,78 para MCF7 e 41,68 ± 2,33 para K562), (5) (29,20 μM ± 1,10 para K562), (6) (32,50 ± 2,50 para K562) e (10) (30,46 μM ± 2,52 para MCF7 e 28,98 μM ± 1,84 para K562)