Fast, Affordable and multiplexed foodborne pathogen detection on miniaturized devices

Food poisoning is a global public health concern affecting, not only developing, but also developed countries, where several pathogens are responsible for these foodborne diseases causing high number of hospitalization and death. The objective of this thesis was to develop an improved methodology for the multiplex detection of Salmonella spp., Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and L. monocytogenes, based in DNA detection, and its integration in a miniaturized device. To achieve this goal, the different steps of the analysis, including the sample pre-treatment, DNA amplification and visualization of the results were addressed in order to reduce the time of analysis, reduce the cost, and allow naked-eye detection. The methodology developed in this project allowed for the multiplex detection of the three targets, reducing the time of analysis to only 9 h vs 7 days by traditional approaches with similar sensitivity and specificity to qPCR. Furthermore, the possibility to integrate the amplification step in a miniaturize device opens the door for the development of Point-of-Care systems

Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing

Plant-based repellents have been used for generations in traditional practice as a personal protection measure against host-seeking mosquitoes. Knowledge on traditional repellent plants obtained through ethnobotanical studies is a valuable resource for the development of new natural products. Recently, commercial repellent products containing plant-based ingredients have gained increasing popularity among consumers, as these are commonly perceived as “safe” in comparison to long-established synthetic repellents although this is sometimes a misconception. To date insufficient studies have followed standard WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme guidelines for repellent testing. There is a need for further standardized studies in order to better evaluate repellent compounds and develop new products that offer high repellency as well as good consumer safety. This paper presents a summary of recent information on testing, efficacy and safety of plant-based repellents as well as promising new developments in the field

A crossover study to evaluate the diversion of malaria vectors in a community with incomplete coverage of spatial repellents in the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania

Malaria elimination is unlikely to occur if vector control efforts focus entirely on transmission occurring indoors without addressing vectors that bite outdoors and outside sleeping hours. Additional control tools such as spatial repellents may provide the personal protection required to fill this gap. However, since repellents do not kill mosquitoes it is unclear if vectors will be diverted from households that use spatial repellents to those that do not.; A crossover study was performed over 24 weeks in Kilombero, Tanzania. The density of resting and blood-engorged mosquitoes and human blood index (HBI) of malaria vector species per household was measured among 90 households using or not using 0.03 % transfluthrin coils burned outdoors under three coverage scenarios: (i) no coverage (blank coils); (ii) complete coverage of repellent coils; and (iii) incomplete coverage of repellent and blank coils. Mosquitoes were collected three days a week for 24 weeks from the inside and outside of all participating households using mosquito aspirators. Paired indoor and outdoor human landing collections were performed in three random households for six consecutive nights to confirm repellent efficacy of the coils and local vector biting times.; The main vectors were Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus (sensu stricto), which fed outdoors, outside sleeping hours, on humans as well as animals. Anopheles arabiensis landings were reduced by 80 % by the spatial repellent although household densities were not reduced. The HBI for An. arabiensis was significantly higher among households without repellents in the incomplete coverage scenario compared to houses in the no coverage scenario (Odds ratio 1.71; 95 % CI: 1.04-2.83; P = 0.03). This indicated that An. arabiensis mosquitoes seeking a human blood meal were diverted from repellent users to non-users. The repellent coils did not affect An. funestus densities or HBI.; Substantial malaria vector activity is occurring outside sleeping hours in the Kilombero valley. Repellent coils provided some protection against local An. arabiensis but did not protect against local (and potentially pyrethroid-resistant) An. funestus. Pyrethroid-based spatial repellents may offer a degree of personal protection, however the overall public health benefit is doubtful and potentially iniquitous as their use may divert malaria vectors to those who do not use them

Genome-wide identification of FoxO-dependent gene networks in skeletal muscle during C26 cancer cachexia

BACKGROUND: Evidence from cachectic cancer patients and animal models of cancer cachexia supports the involvement of Forkhead box O (FoxO) transcription factors in driving cancer-induced skeletal muscle wasting. However, the genome-wide gene networks and associated biological processes regulated by FoxO during cancer cachexia are unknown. We hypothesize that FoxO is a central upstream regulator of diverse gene networks in skeletal muscle during cancer that may act coordinately to promote the wasting phenotype. METHODS: To inhibit endogenous FoxO DNA-binding, we transduced limb and diaphragm muscles of mice with AAV9 containing the cDNA for a dominant negative (d.n.) FoxO protein (or GFP control). The d.n.FoxO construct consists of only the FoxO3a DNA-binding domain that is highly homologous to that of FoxO1 and FoxO4, and which outcompetes and blocks endogenous FoxO DNA binding. Mice were subsequently inoculated with Colon-26 (C26) cells and muscles harvested 26 days later. RESULTS: Blocking FoxO prevented C26-induced muscle fiber atrophy of both locomotor muscles and the diaphragm and significantly spared force deficits. This sparing of muscle size and function was associated with the differential regulation of 543 transcripts (out of 2,093) which changed in response to C26. Bioinformatics analysis of upregulated gene transcripts that required FoxO revealed enrichment of the proteasome, AP-1 and IL-6 pathways, and included several atrophy-related transcription factors, including Stat3, Fos, and Cebpb. FoxO was also necessary for the cancer-induced downregulation of several gene transcripts that were enriched for extracellular matrix and sarcomere protein-encoding genes. We validated these findings in limb muscles and the diaphragm through qRT-PCR, and further demonstrate that FoxO1 and/or FoxO3a are sufficient to increase Stat3, Fos, Cebpb, and the C/EBPβ target gene, Ubr2. Analysis of the Cebpb proximal promoter revealed two bona fide FoxO binding elements, which we further establish are necessary for Cebpb promoter activation in response to IL-6, a predominant cytokine in the C26 cancer model. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide new evidence that FoxO-dependent transcription is a central node controlling diverse gene networks in skeletal muscle during cancer cachexia, and identifies novel candidate genes and networks for further investigation as causative factors in cancer-induced wasting.R01 AR060217 - NIAMS NIH HHS; R01 AR060209 - NIAMS NIH HHS; T32 HD043730 - NICHD NIH HHS; R00 HL098453 - NHLBI NIH HHS; R00HL098453 - NHLBI NIH HHS; R01AR060209 - NIAMS NIH HHS; R01AR060217 - NIAMS NIH HH

Emprego de óleo de soja no tingimento de fibras de acrílico com corantes catiônicos

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Blumenau, Engenharia Têxtil.O beneficiamento têxtil, uma etapa da indústria têxtil, é responsável por um significativo impacto ambiental, devido ao elevado consumo de recursos hídricos e ao emprego de uma grande quantidade de agentes auxiliares nos seus processos. Visando diminuir este impacto, o setor têxtil tem explorado alternativas sustentáveis, como a redução de sal e a incorporação de óleos vegetais nos procedimentos de tingimentos. Em virtude disso, o presente trabalho se propôs a avaliar a viabilidade do uso do óleo de soja, como substituto da água no processo de tingimento de fibras de acrílico com três diferentes corantes catiônicos, com objetivo adicional de diminuir a concentração de sal presente nesta etapa. Inicialmente, foram investigadas diferentes proporções de água e óleo de soja, e concluiu-se que as amostras com indicadores mais satisfatórios em termos de colorimetria para fins de replicação, foram tingidas com a combinação de 75% óleo e 25% água sem cloreto de sódio. Para o corante vermelho, foi alcançado um valor de K/S de 225,60; para o amarelo, 219,11 e, para o azul, 176,89. Posteriormente, as amostras tingidas com esta proporção foram submetidas a testes de solidez à fricção e solidez à lavagem, com intuito de avaliar sua durabilidade e resistência da cor. Confirmou-se que suas propriedades não foram alteradas com a presença do óleo de soja e ausência de sal, uma vez que obtiveram nota máxima na escala de cinza e de branco, comparáveis aos substratos tingidos por métodos convencionais. Após a avaliação das manchas, determinou-se que as amostras previamente identificadas como resultados mais satisfatórios, apresentaram maior homogeneidade de tingimento. Além disso, o banho residual revelou uma baixa concentração de corante remanescente, indicando que os corantes utilizados migraram praticamente por completo para as fibras. O estudo de cinética, mostrou que o modelo de pseudo-primeira ordem mostrou maior ajuste ao método convencional com sal avaliado e, quanto a isoterma, Freundlich exibiu maior ajuste quanto a forma de adsorção do soluto. A eficácia deste tingimento pode ser explicada pelo auxílio do óleo de soja como meio de transporte dos corantes até a fibra, onde o tingimento acontece por meio da fase aquosa. Desta forma, estabelece-se que o beneficiamento secundário de fibras de acrílico é viável mediante o emprego de óleo de soja, resultando em uma redução considerável do consumo de água e sal no processo.Textile processing, a stage in the textile industry, is responsible for a significant environmental impact due to the high consumption of water resources and the use of a large number of auxiliary agents in its processes. In order to reduce this impact, the textile sector has been exploring sustainable alternatives, such as salt reduction and the incorporation of vegetable oils in dyeing procedures. As a result, this study set out to assess the feasibility of using soybean oil as a substitute for water in the process of dyeing acrylic fibers with three different cationic dyes, with the additional aim of reducing the salt concentration present in this stage. Initially, different proportions of water and soybean oil were investigated, and it was concluded that the samples with the most satisfactory indicators in terms of colorimetry for replication purposes were dyed with the combination of 75% oil and 25% water without sodium chloride. A K/S value of 225.60 was achieved for the red dye, 219.11 for the yellow and 176.89 for the blue. Subsequently, the samples dyed with this proportion were subjected to rubbing fastness and washing fastness tests in order to assess their durability and color resistance. It was confirmed that their properties were not altered by the presence of soybean oil and the absence of salt, since they scored maximum marks on the gray and white scales, comparable to substrates dyed using conventional methods. After evaluating the stains, it was determined that the samples previously identified as having the most satisfactory results showed greater dyeing homogeneity. In addition, the residual bath revealed a low concentration of remaining dye, indicating that the dyes used had migrated almost completely into the fibers. The kinetics study showed that the pseudo-first order model was the best fit for the conventional salt method evaluated and, as for the isotherm, Freundlich showed the best fit for the form of solute adsorption. The effectiveness of this dyeing can be explained by the help of soybean oil as a means of transporting the dyes to the fiber, where the dyeing takes place through the aqueous phase. This establishes that the secondary processing of acrylic fibers is feasible using soybean oil, resulting in a considerable reduction in the consumption of water and salt in the process

Allelopathic effect of Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil. leaves on the germination and growth of Sesamum indicum L. (Pedaliaceae) under different temperatures

Alelopatia pode ser definida como o efeito maléfico ou benéfico que uma planta exerce sobre a outra por meio de compostos químicos liberados no ambiente. Diversas espécies do gênero Solanum apresentam evidências de propriedades alelopáticas. S. lycocarpum A. St.-Hil (lobeira) é espécie de ampla distribuição em ambientes perturbados do Cerrado. No presente trabalho foram investigados efeitos alelopáticos de extratos de folhas de lobeira na germinação e no crescimento do gergelim (Sesamum indicum L.). Extratos aquosos das folhas foram preparados nas concentrações de 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% e 5% (p/v). A osmolaridade dos extratos foi medida e soluções de polietileno glicol (PEG 6000), de osmolaridade similar, foram preparadas para avaliar possíveis efeitos osmóticos dos extratos aquosos. Nos testes de germinação, as sementes de gergelim foram colocadas em placas de Petri forradas com papel de filtro com a solução a ser testada e observadas a cada 8h. Para os experimemtos de crescimento, sementes de gergelim foram germinadas em água e posteriormente dispostas para crescimento nos extratos. Após 5 dias, foram medidos os comprimentos da parte aérea e radicular das plântulas. Todos os experimentos foram conduzidos a 22ºC, 30ºC e 38ºC. Observou-se que os extratos de folhas não afetaram a germinabilidade, mas aumentaram o tempo médio de germinação em uma relação próxima à dose-dependente, nas três temperaturas. Quanto ao crescimento, a parte radicular foi a mais afetada pelos extratos aquosos, apresentando redução no tamanho, necroses, ausência de pêlos absorventes e formação de raízes laterais. Os efeitos dos extratos no crescimento das plântulas foram mais evidentes a 38ºC. Os experimentos conduzidos com soluções de PEG 6000 mostraram que os efeitos observados na presença dos extratos não são de natureza osmótica. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTAllelopathy should be defined as any stimulatory or inhibitory effect by one plant on another through production of chemical compounds released into the environment. Several Solanum species have shown some allelopathic property. S. lycocarpum is largely distributed on disturbed areas of the Brazilian Cerrado. In the present study the effects of aqueous extracts of S. lycocarpum leaves on the germination and growth of Sesanum indicum L. (sesame) were investigated. Aqueous leaf extracts at concentrations of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% (w/v) were prepared. The osmolarity of the extracts were measured and solutions of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) of similar osmolarity were prepared to evaluate osmotic effects of the extracts on sesame germination and growth. The experiments were carried out on petri dishes lined by two layers of filter paper plus the solutions to be tested. For the germination experiments the number of germinated seeds was checked every 8h. For the growth experiments sesame seeds were previously germinated in water and disposed to grow in the extracts. After five days of incubation the root and shoot length of the seedlings was measured. All the experiments were performed at 22ºC, 30ºC and 38ºC. The extracts did not affect the germinability but increased the average germination time in a dose-dependent manner at the three temperatures. The root growth was more affected by the extracts, showing tip-necrosis, absence of root hairs, and formation of secondary roots. These effects were more evident at 38ºC. Using PEG 6000 it was shown that the observed effects were not due to osmotic properties of the leaf extracts

Assessing Student Perceptions of Indigenous Science Co-educators, Interest in STEM, and Identity as a Scientist: A Pilot Study

Minorities are underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce, post-secondary STEM education, and show high academic attrition rates. Academic performance and retention improve when culturally relevant support is provided. The interface of Western science and Indigenous science provides an opportunity for bridging this divide. We hypothesized that there would be regional (U.S.A. vs. Canada) differences amongst post-secondary students regarding these variables: perceptions of traditional Elders as STEM co-educators; interest in STEM; and self-identity as a scientist. We conducted a short-term longitudinal pilot study of an interdisciplinary, multi-institutional, and cross-cultural STEM course in the spring of 2013. This online STEM course was concurrently offered at mainstream and tribal universities in the U.S.A. and Canada. Pre- and post-course surveys were administered to participants (n=11). The outcome measures of interest were assessed, and group differences were tested by ANOVA (SPSS 21 software). Due to the limited sample size, the statistical power was low. We found no statistically significant results upon data analysis. In regards to region, however, we found that Canadian students showed a stronger trend to believe that traditional Elders are appropriate as post-secondary STEM co-educators as compared to U.S. students (p=.31). Students from the U.S. showed a weak trend to be more interested in STEM fields than Canadian students (p=.52). Finally, U.S. students showed a weak trend to self-identify as scientists more so than Canadian students (p=.77). In regards to race/ethnicity, we found that non-White students tended to consider traditional Elders appropriate post-secondary STEM co-educators (p=0.45); that White students tended to be more interested in STEM fields than non-White students (p=0.80); and that non-White students tended to self-identify as a scientist more so than White students (p=0.31). Despite the lack of statistically significant results from this pilot study, the observed trends suggest a need for more research. Do Indigenous science Elder educators merit involvement in novel pedagogical approaches and delivery modalities to reach minority students and to increase students’ interest in STEM? Next, we will conduct a quasi-experiment with a larger sample of university students, to assess the impact of traditional Elders as STEM co-educators in an online STEM course at tribal and mainstream universities in the U.S.A. and Canada

Assessing the deployment of electric mobility: a review

The transport sector of the European Union is the only sector of the economy that has been increasing its emissions since 2014. To reduce the use of fossil fuels and achieve the greenhouse gas emissions mitigation target, many countries are focusing on the deployment of electric vehicles. This paper aims at analysing recent literature on the deployment of electric vehicles (EV) and typifying objectives, methods and indicators generally exploited, to better understand the state of the art on this topic. The Web of Science database was used and the results showed that the interest in the topic of electric vehicles has been increasing exponentially since 2010. The main significant indicators and the assessment methodologies were analysed. The indicators identified were aggregated in four main clusters: environmental, economic, social and technical indicators. Although the factors that contribute to EV deployment can vary depending on the regions specific characteristics, most of the research studies pointed out that the main contributors are the high density of recharging points, the existence of government monetary incentives and the lower operational cost of EV.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio