Leptospirosis severity may be associated with the intensity of humoral immune response

Leptospirosis severity may be increasing, with pulmonary involvement becoming more frequent. Does this increase result from an intense immune response to leptospire? Notice that renal failure, thrombocytopenia and pulmonary complications are found during the immune phase. Thirty-five hospitalized patients with Weil's disease had 5 blood samples drawn, from the 15th day to the 12th month of symptoms, for ELISA-IgM, -IgG and -IgA specific antibody detection. According their 1st IgG titer, the patients were divided into: group 1 (n = 13) titer >; 1:400 (positive) and group 2 (n = 22) titerA gravidade da leptospirose parece estar aumentando principalmente quanto ao envolvimento pulmonar. Essa maior gravidade poderia ser decorrente de uma resposta imunológica mais intensa, já que tanto a insuficiência renal, quanto a plaquetopenia e as lesões pulmonares são encontradas na fase imune da doença. Para investigar esta hipótese foram detectados por ELISA anticorpos IgM, IgG e IgA específicos em amostras de sangue de 35 pacientes internados com síndrome de Weil colhidas a partir de cerca de 15 dias do início dos sintomas até 1 ano após a alta. Os pacientes foram divididos em 2 grupos conforme o seu título de IgG na primeira amostra, colhida com até 2 semanas de sintomas: grupo 1 (n = 13) com título >;1:400 (positivo) e grupo 2 (n = 22) com títul

Battery-like behavior of Ni-ceria based systems: synthesis, surface defects and electrochemical assessment

NiO, CeO2 and respective composites are extensively used in energy storage devices due to mostly their high electrochemical activity. However, the assessment of battery-like behavior of Ni-ceria based systems comprising (Ni or Gd)-doped ceria combined with NiO seems to be neglected in the literature. In this work, NiO and ceria-based solid solutions composite powders were obtained by a co-precipitation synthesis method. The structure and particle size of the calcined powders were investigated by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), respectively. Oxidative states of composites were inspected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical performance of powders was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and impedance spectroscopy. Refinement of the XRD patterns showed that powders have nanosized crystallites and mean size of particles within 20 – 70 nm were revealed by FESEM. The improved specific capacity of the NiO-CeO2 electrode material (about 2.5 times higher than that of NiO-CGO at 5 mV s−1) is due to an increase in Faradic reactions taken place on its surface with a higher fraction of defects (namely Ni3+, Ce3+ and oxygen vacancies), as determined by XPS. The superior electrochemical performance of the NiO-CeO2 electrode is also confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.publishe

Agronomic biofortification of cowpea with selenium: effects of selenate and selenite applications on selenium and phytate concentrations in seeds

BACKGROUNDSelenium (Se) is a nutrient for animals and humans, and is considered beneficial to higher plants. Selenium concentrations are low in most soils, which can result in a lack of Se in plants, and consequently in human diets. Phytic acid (PA) is the main storage form of phosphorus in seeds, and it is able to form insoluble complexes with essential minerals in the monogastric gut. This study aimed to establish optimal levels of Se application to cowpea, with the aim of increasing Se concentrations. The efficiency of agronomic biofortification was evaluated by the application of seven levels of Se (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 g ha−1) from two sources (selenate and selenite) to the soil under field conditions in 2016 and 2017.RESULTSApplication of Se as selenate led to greater plant Se concentrations than application as selenite in both leaves and grains. Assuming human cowpea consumption of 54.2 g day−1, Se application of 20 g ha−1 in 2016 or 10 g ha−1 in 2017 as selenate would have provided a suitable daily intake of Se (between 20 and 55 μg day−1) for humans. Phytic acid showed no direct response to Se application.CONCLUSIONSelenate provides greater phytoavailability than selenite. The application of 10 g Se ha−1 of selenate to cowpea plants could provide sufficient seed Se to increase daily human intake by 13–14 μg d−1. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industr

A fáscia transversal e o colágeno na hérnia inguinal direta

OBJECTIVE: The main objective os the present work is to identify the constitutive elements of 23 samples of tranversalis fascia from direct inguinal hernia patients compairing to 22 fascia from corpses.MATERIAL AND METHODS: The samples were obtained at the moment of videolaparospic repair. They were stained for haematoxiline-eosine and immunohistochemistry with collagen type I monoclonal antibody.RESULTS: The dense connective tissue was the principal constitutive element in both groups, although less present in the patient one, followed by adipose tissue. We were able to identify, by immunohistochemistry, the type I collagen as the main protein.CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that transversalis fascia is mainly formed by type I collagen and suggest to use hernia repair technics that increase the collagen deposition in fascia, like when using mesh.OBJETIVO: O objetivo do presente estudo é o de identificar os elementos histológicos constituintes da fáscia transversal em 23 pacientes com hérnia inguinal direta, comparando-os com a fáscia de 22 cadáveres sem esta doença.MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: As biópsias dos pacientes foram obtidas no momento da correção videolaparoscópica. As fáscias foram estudadas histologicamente, sendo empregadas as técnicas de coloração de hematoxilina-eosina e anticorpo monoclonal para colágeno tipo I.RESULTADOS: O tecido conjuntivo denso foi o principal elemento constitutivo das fáscias de pacientes e controles, embora em menor presença nos primeiros, seguido do tecido adiposo. Identificamos, através da técnica de imuno-histoquímica, o colágeno tipo I como sendo a principal proteína das fáscias.CONCLUSÃO: Os autores concluem que a fáscia transversal é constituída principalmente por colágeno tipo I e sugerem o uso de técnicas de correção de hérnia inguinal que aumentem a deposição de colágeno na fáscia, como quando do uso de próteses

Risk of local extinction and genetic diversity of Melipona quadrifasciata (Apidae: Meliponini) in a possible Northeastern limit of its distribution in Brazil

Rapid loss of genetic diversity among eusocial bees, and extinction of their local population has become a major world concern. Populations of M. quadrifasciata have increasingly declined due to predatory extractivism and destruction of their habitat. Knowledge of their local population could give insights on the strategies for monitoring and conservation of this species. In this study, initially, 14 colonies (140 workers) from the Northern limit of the Northeastern sandbank of the Atlantic Forest were analyzed employing geometric morphometrics techniques. Then the cytochrome b gene sequences and ISSR primers were utilized for molecular analysis. The results were compared with the results of 30 M. quadrifasciata colonies (300 workers) found in the semiarid Caatinga region. The morphometrics and the molecular analysis suggested the formation of disjunct populations between the studied geographical zones. All the 14 colonies analyzed from the river São Francisco region were found on the Southern margin of the river São Francisco and they all belonged to one single haplotype. No colonies were found on the Northern bank of the river. We suggest that the river São Francisco is an effective georgraphical barrier for the distribution of this species and propose an urgent need for the development of a conservation program for the population of M. quadrifasciata as it represents a unique haplotype in the region. Also their nesting habit exclusively in the diseased coconut trees which probably will be replaced by new trees, create the risk of population extinction due to the lack of nesting site

Agronomic biofortification with selenium impacts storage proteins in grains of upland rice

© 2019 Society of Chemical Industry BACKGROUND: Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans and animals. Rice is one of the most commonly consumed cereals in the world, so the agronomic biofortification of cereals with Se may be a good strategy to increase the levels of daily intake of Se by the population. This study evaluated the agronomic biofortification of rice genotypes with Se and its effects on grain nutritional quality. Five rates of Se (0, 10, 25, 50, and 100 g ha−1) were applied as selenate via the soil to three rice genotypes under field conditions. RESULTS: Selenium concentrations in the leaves and polished grains increased linearly in response to Se application rates. A highly significant correlation was observed between the Se rates and the Se concentration in the leaves and grains, indicating high translocation of Se. The application of Se also increased the concentration of albumin, globulin, prolamin, and glutelin in polished grains. CONCLUSION: Biofortifying rice genotypes using 25 g Se ha−1 could increase the average daily Se intake from 4.64 to 66 μg day−1. Considering that the recommended daily intake of Se by adults is 55 μg day−1, this agronomic strategy could contribute to alleviating widespread Se malnutrition. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Schematic models of wood for optic mineralogy and geosciences teaching / Modelos esquemáticos em madeira para o ensino de mineralogia óptica e de geociências

Optical physics applied to mineralogy becomes a complex concept, since it is based on concepts of refractoriness of isotropic and anisotropic materials, dependent on crystallographic parameters. The work aims to materialize these concepts in three-dimensional schematic models in wood, such as optical indicatrix and figures of interferences, generated when the plane polarized or polarized light interacts with several transparent minerals. The pieces were applied in the classes of Mineralogy II of the Geology course of the Federal University of Espírito Santo in the years 2017 and 2018, presenting great receptivity by the dissenting body and ease in the profusion of the knowledge of the group of monitors and teachers. The geometric representations were also shown in workshops at the Natural History Museum of Southern Espírito Santo State with the objective of disseminating the geosciences. As a result, the classes obtained satisfactory results of approval and learni

Tratamento do Lixo: Materiais, substâncias, separação - uma proposta do PIBID como estratégia para o ensino de Química

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Estratégias diferenciadas e contextualizadas no Ensino de Química na Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA)

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