BayesMortalityPlus: A package in R for Bayesian graduation of mortality modelling

The BayesMortalityPlus package provides a framework for modelling and predicting mortality data. The package includes tools for the construction of life tables based on Heligman-Pollard laws, and also on dynamic linear smoothers. Flexibility is available in terms of modelling so that the response variable may be modeled as Poisson, Binomial or Gaussian. If temporal data is available, the package provides a Bayesian implementation for the well-known Lee-Carter model that allows for estimation, projection of mortality over time, and assessment of uncertainty of any linear or nonlinear function of parameters such as life expectancy. Illustrations are considered to show the capability of the proposed package to model mortality data

Cachexia: pathophysiology and ghrelin liposomes for nose-to-brain delivery

Cachexia, a severe multifactorial condition that is underestimated and unrecognized in patients, is characterized by continuous muscle mass loss that leads to progressive functional impairment, while nutritional support cannot completely reverse this clinical condition. There is a strong need for more effective and targeted therapies for cachexia patients. There is a need for drugs that act on cachexia as a distinct and treatable condition to prevent or reverse excess catabolism and inflammation. Due to ghrelin properties, it has been studied in the cachexia and other treatments in a growing number of works. However, in the body, exogenous ghrelin is subject to very rapid degradation. In this context, the intranasal release of ghrelin-loaded liposomes to cross the blood-brain barrier and the release of the drug into the central nervous system may be a promising alternative to improve its bioavailability. The administration of nose-to-brain liposomes for the management of cachexia was addressed only in a limited number of published works. This review focuses on the discussion of the pathophysiology of cachexia, synthesis and physiological effects of ghrelin and the potential treatment of the diseased using ghrelin-loaded liposomes through the nose-to-brain route.Funded by PROSUP/Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement (CAPES), University of Sorocaba (UNISO), São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP/2014/50928-2), Brazil, granted to MVC, and by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT/MCT) and from European Funds (PRODER/COMPETE), co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020 granted to EBS (UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Libidibia ferrea loaded in bacterial nanocellulose: evaluation of antimicrobial activity and wound care / Libidibia ferrea loaded in bacterial nanocellulose: evaluation of antimicrobial activity and wound care

The effects of Bacterial Nanocellulose (BNC) loaded with Libidibia ferrea (Lf) hydroalcoholic extract were investigated on the healing process of burn in diabetic and non-diabetic animals. In vivo assay was performed with 36 male rats, with streptozotocin-induced diabetes and burns induced by contact. Animals were divided into Nd-BNC (Non-diabetic + Bacterial nanocellulose membranes); Nd-BNC-Lf (Non-diabetic + Bacterial nanocellulose membranes + Libidibia ferrea); D-BNC (Diabetic + Bacterial nanocellulose membranes); D-BNC-Lf (Diabetic + Bacterial nanocellulose membranes + Libidibia ferrea). Wounds were evaluated for 28 days histologically. Lf extract and BNC-Lf extract showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The severe degree of infection, granulation and inflammation observed after 14 days in diabetic rats (exposed or not to Lf extract), disappeared after 21 days. On the 28th day, there was no histological difference among the groups. BNC-Lf extract demonstrated to have antimicrobial activity, however as an wound dressing, both BNC or BNC-Lf extract were effective in the healing of second-degree burn wounds

A problem-based learning experience with undergraduate marketing students

O presente artigo descreve a implementação da metodologia de aprendizagem baseada em problemas (ABP) no âmbito da unidade curricular de Publicidade e Relações Públicas, do 2.º ano da licenciatura em Marketing. A ABP é considerada uma abordagem global que tem sido reconhecida pelos académicos. Os resultados mostraram que a metodologia ABP tem resultados similares entre diferentes grupos. Todos os grupos de alunos estavam fortemente motivados, à exceção de um grupo que não demonstrou essas evidências por não ter a assiduidade suficiente para aproveitar o acompanhamento do professor. Em geral, todos os alunos puderam melhorar a colaboração entre os seus pares, bem como capacidades de comunicação. Demonstraram também evidências de uma postura ativa e de um trabalho autónomo. A inovação e a criatividade foram evidentes nos resultados finais. Em conclusão, a abordagem ABP pode influenciar os alunos de uma forma positiva.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Friedelin in Maytenus ilicifolia Is Produced by Friedelin Synthase Isoforms

Triterpenes are interesting compounds because they play an important role in cell homeostasis and a wide variety exhibiting defense functions is produced by plant secondary metabolism. Those same plant secondary metabolites also exhibit biological properties with promising therapeutic potential as anti-inflammatory and antitumor agents. Friedelin is a triterpene ketone with anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activities and it is a precursor of relevant antitumor quinonemethides. Although many triterpene synthases have been described, only two friedelin synthases were characterized and there is no information about their genomic features and alleles. In the present work, we aimed to identify the gene and new isoforms of friedelin synthase in Maytenus ilicifolia leaves to be functionally characterized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The gene sequence analysis elucidated the exon/intron structure and confirmed the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms with four non-synonymous mutations outside the active site of the enzyme. Therefore, two new isoforms were observed and the heterologous production of the enzymes in yeast showed similar production of friedelin. This first description of different alleles of the gene of friedelin synthase in M. ilicifolia can guide their validation as markers for friedelin-producer specimens