Recycling of the Proterozoic crystalline basement in the Coastal Block (Moroccan Meseta): New insights for understanding the geodynamic evolution of the northern peri-Gondwanan realm

Detrital zircon age spectra from the siliciclastic rocks of the Lalla Mouchaa Calcschists and El Jadida Dolomitic formations (the Coastal Block of the Moroccan Meseta) are dominated by Paleoproterozoic and Ediacaran ages. The provenance of these two formations is a composite Proterozoic crystalline basement. El Jadida rhyolite (584.2 ± 4.8 Ma) represents the Ediacaran crystalline basement of the El Jadida dome. El Jadida rhyolite is unconformably overlain by the microbreccia, arkosic sandstone and dolostone of the El Jadida Dolomitic Formation with a maximum depositional age of ca. 539 Ma (Lower Cambrian). Detrital zircon-age spectra from El Jadida Dolomitic Formation (ca. 583–582 Ma) suggest direct recycling of El Jadida rhyolite as an exclusive original primary source. However, in the Western Rehamna massif, detrital zircon-age spectra from pre-Middle Cambrian microbreccia and arkosic sandstone of the Lalla Mouchaa Calcschists Formation (ca. 2.05–2.03 Ga) indicate exclusive recycling of the ca. 2.05 Ga-aged crystalline basement rocks (original primary source). Detrital zircon contents of the siliciciclastic rocks from these two formations of the Coastal Block are consistent with derivation from either Eburnian (Paleoproterozoic) or Cadomian/Pan-African (Ediacaran) igneous rocks. The discovery of this composite Proterozoic crystalline basement in the Moroccan Meseta stresses that Cadomian/ Pan-African magmatic arcs were built on an Eburnian basement in a paleoposition close to the West African craton, as part of the northern peri-Gondwanan realm

Polymeric micelles containing resveratrol: development, characterization, cytotoxicity on tumor cells and antimicrobial activity

Antimicrobial and antitumor activities of resveratrol, a compound found mainly in grapes, have already been demonstrated. However, its low bioavailability is a limiting factor for therapeutic application. Polymeric micelles can be an approach to solve this problem since they can encapsulate hydrophobic substances. We developed and characterized micellar formulations containing resveratrol and evaluated their cytotoxic and antimicrobial effects. The formulations were prepared by the cold dispersion method with different concentrations of F127 (5 or 10% w/w) and resveratrol (500 or 5000 µM). The formulations were characterized according to size, polydispersity index, pH, encapsulation rate and in vitro release. Cytotoxic effect was evaluated on a bladder cancer cell line and antimicrobial effect was evaluated on E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans. One of the formulations (10% w/w of F127 and 5000 µM of resveratrol) was a monodispersed solution with high encapsulation rate, thus it was chosen for the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial assays. MS10+RES-3 was able to preserve the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of resveratrol. This is the first study that evaluated antimicrobial potential and cytotoxicity of micelles containing resveratrol on bladder cancer cells and the results showed that micellar nanostructures could ensure the maintenance of the biological activity of resveratrol

Plant Macromolecules as Biomaterials for Wound Healing

Natural biomolecules are increasingly relevant for biomedical applications and tissue engineering for being able to produce an effect on chemical signals, organization of cells, and restitution of extracellular matrix in lesioned tissues. In this chapter, we will address the potential of plant macromolecules, in particular, carbohydrates and proteins such as hemicelluloses and lectins. While lectins are mostly carbohydrate-binding proteins, which can interact with cell surfaces to initiate anti-inflammatory pathways, as well as immunomodulatory functions, hemicelluloses are remarkably known by their ability to form viscous solutions even at low concentrations, which makes them an excellent candidate as vehicle to carry different sorts of biomolecules. Taking into account the complexity of the whole healing process, as an overlapping and coordinated cascade of events, most of the properties presented here by those materials may be of interest to the wound-care market

A influência da distribuição espacial na qualidade do fuste de Euxylophora paraensis (Huber) em floresta de terra firme manejada na Amazônia Oriental / The influence of spatial distribution on the stem quality of Euxylophora paraensis (Huber) in a managed upland forest in the Eastern Amazon

A manutenção da diversidade tanto de espécies como de habitats, é fundamental para o sucesso de empreendimentos florestais na Amazônia. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a influência da distribuição espacial na qualidade do fuste de Euxylhophora paraensis (Huber), em floresta de terra firme manejada na Amazônia Oriental. A área de estudo está localizada na Fazenda Rio Capim, pertencente a CKBV Florestal Ltda., no município de Paragominas estado Pará. Para a análise da influência da distribuição espacial na qualidade do fuste das árvores utilizou a geoestatística, a partir da modelagem de semivariograma e confecção de mapas de krigagem. De acordo com os dados observou-se que todas as avaliações tiveram melhor ajuste ao modelo esférico, que apresentou o maior coeficiente de determinação em relação aos outros modelos testados. A espécie florestal E. paraensis apresentou padrão de distribuição agregada, com alcance de 570 a 840 metros formando reboleiras de árvores na floresta estudada, indicando que maiores agregações favorecem maior qualidade do fuste esse delineamento ecológico deve ser avaliado nas tomadas de decisão sobre o manejo e sobrevivência da espécie

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

PADRÃO DE ABSORÇÃO DE ÁGUA EM SEMENTES DE CUTIEIRA

A cutieira (Joannesia princeps VELL.), possui enorme potencial madeireiro, medicinal e como oleaginosa. Torna-se prioridade a avaliação da qualidade das sementes, visando acelerar e uniformizar o processo germinativo desta espécie. O experimento foi desenvolvido visando a caracterização da curva de absorção de água nas sementes de cutieira. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualisado, em esquema fatorial 2X33, sendo 2 classes de sementes (vivas e mortas), com 33 períodos de embebição e 4 repetições de 5 sementes por parcela. Para os tratamentos com as sementes mortas, realizou-se autoclavagem úmida das sementes vivas por período de 20 minutos, temperatura de 121ºC e pressão constante, e foi realizado teste de tetrazólio, para verificar a morte das sementes. Após intervalos de tempo predeterminados (3 em 3 horas no primeiro dia, 6 em 6 horas no segundo dia, 12 em 12 horas e 24 em 24 horas a partir do quarto dia de embebição) as sementes foram retiradas dos tratamentos, pesadas e levadas para a estufa, 105°c (±3°C) por 24 horas para a determinação do seu grau de umidade. As sementes de cutieira não enceram a fase I, pois os teores de absorção ficaram abaixo de 35% de umidade. No processo de embebição das sementes de cutieira, não foi possível distinguir as fases de absorção de água das sementes. O tegumento de semente de cutieira afeta negativamente a absorção de água pela mesma

Narrative Benchmarking in Scenario Assessments for Digital Design

This article aims to propose a strategy for narrative development, for photo/ image sharing social tools. By generating scenarios for product assessment through comparing consumption narratives as a contribution to the creation of new communication strategies. Developing as hypothesis that the development of narratives from a brand and its consequent comparison with consumers feedback, allows a more reliable way to generate inputs for the development of more effective communication strategies. The article follows an exploratory study methodology intended “to develop pertinent hypotheses and propositions for further inquiry. The article draws on a qualitative proposal of a method to apply in narratives of consumption. The results of the proposed strategy open avenues for narratives developments, where the consumers contribution receive expansion values from the brands strategy, returning value to first consumer feedbacks. The implications of this study are the creation of a paradigm of curatorship as authorship. The research limitations/ implications address the speculative scope of the proposed strategy and the need for more empirical work in the subject

Avaliação nutricional e desenvolvimento pondo estatural de crianças falcêmicas no Nordeste do Brasil - doi:10.5020/18061230.2009.p187

Objective: To evaluate the weight-height development and the nutritional status of a sickle cell anemia infantile sample in relation to zinc seric levels and to bone age in comparison to a control group of eutrophic children of the same Brazilian region. Methods: There were studied 66 sickle cell children (GE) and 50 eutrophic ones (GC). The nutritional status was assessed using Rohrer Index, Z-score analysis of weight/age, height/age and body mass index (BMI). Zinc seric level (SZn), growth velocity (VC) and bone age (IO) were assessed using the standards of the National Center for Health Statistic (NCHS) data and the results obtained from the GC evaluation. Results: Both groups had similar Rohrer Index. GE presented weight/age and height/age Z scores and BMI of underdevelopment levels with significant statistical difference. VC and IO were also lower in GE. The mean SZn in GE was significantly lower than in GC. Conclusion: The studied sickle cell children were born with normal stature, after that an important decrease in weight-height development occurred, which may be related to under-nourishing status, bone age delay, smaller growth velocity and worse zinc seric levels.Objetivo: Avaliar o desenvolvimento pondo-estatural e o perfil nutricional de uma amostra de população infantil portadora de anemia falciforme (GE), relacionando-o com os níveis séricos de zinco e a idade óssea, comparados a um grupo de crianças eutróficas (GC) da mesma região do Nordeste do Brasil. Métodos: Estudaram-se 66 crianças portadoras de anemia falciforme (GE) e 50 eutróficas (GC). O estado nutricional foi avaliado utilizando os índices de Rohrer, Escore Z para peso e altura para a idade e índice de massa corporal (IMC). O nível de zinco sérico (SZn), a velocidade de crescimento (VC) e a idade óssea (IO) foram avaliados utilizando-se os padrões do Nacional Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) e os dados obtidos da avaliação do GC. Resultados: Os dois grupos apresentaram Índices de Rohrer semelhantes. O GE apresentou escore Z para peso e altura para a idade e o IMC a níveis de hipodesenvolvimento com significância estatística. A VC e a IO também foram mais baixas no GE. O SZn médio no GE foi significativamente mais baixo que no GC. Conclusão: As crianças portadoras de anemia falciforme estudadas nasceram com estatura normal, em seguida ocorreu uma queda significativa no desenvolvimento pondo-estatural, que pode estar relacionado a estados de desnutrição, a atraso na idade óssea, uma menor velocidade de crescimento e a piores níveis séricos de zinc

Posição da semente na emergência de plântulas de pinhão-manso (Jatropha curcas L.) Position the seed in the emergence of seedlings of Pinhão-manso (Jatropha curcas L.)

Para a produção de mudas busca se minimizar o tempo em que estas permanecem no viveiro e fatores como a temperatura, a umidade do substrato, a germinação e posição da semente na semeadura podem contribuir com o prolongamento deste tempo aumentando assim os custos de produção. Desta forma, objetivou-se avaliar a influência da posição das sementes na semeadura do pinhão-manso (Jatropha curcas L.) sobre o processo de emergência e vigor das plântulas. Para tanto, os tratamentos foram dispostos sob o delineamento inteiramente casualizado e, constituído de 5 posições de semeadura com quatro repetições de 25 sementes, sendo elas: carúncula posicionada para cima, carúncula posicionada para baixo, rafe posicionada para cima, rafe posicionada para baixo e  rafe posicionada para o lado. Foram avaliados a percentagem de emergência de plântulas aos 21 dias da semeadura, o tempo médio de emergência, a massa da matéria seca da parte radicular e parte aérea das plântulas. As posições da semente afetam o percentual de emergência do pinhão-manso. As sementes com a rafe para baixo apresentaram o melhor desempenho durante a emergência. As sementes semeadas com a rafe para cima e rafe para o lado dificultando o processo de emergência