Evaluation of antibiotics as a methodological procedure to inhibit free-living and biofilm bacteria in marine zooplankton culture

There is a problem with keeping culture medium completely or partially free from bacteria. The use of prokaryotic metabolic inhibitors, such as antibiotics, is suggested as an alternative solution, although such substances should not harm non-target organisms. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments in inhibiting free-living and biofilm bacteria and their half-life in artificial marine environment using the copepod Acartia tonsa as bioindicador of non-harmful antibiotic combinations. Regarding to results, the application of 0.025 g L-1 penicillin G potassium + 0.08 g L-1 streptomycin sulphate + 0.04 g L-1 neomycin sulphate showed great potential for use in marine cultures and scientific experiments without lethal effects to non-target organisms. The effect of this combination starts within the first six hours of exposure and reduces up to 93 % the bacterial density, but the half-life is short, requiring replacement. No adverse changes in water quality were observed within 168 hours of exposure. As a conclusion, we can infer that this treatment was an effective procedure for zooplankton cultures and scientific experiments with the aim of measuring the role of free-living and biofilm in the marine community

Caracterização experimental de núcleos de cortiça de configuração alveolar para aplicações em componentes do tipo sandwich

A indústria aeronáutica/aeroespacial está em constate procura de novos materiais, assim como de novos processos. Este desenvolvimento pretende sempre alcançar estruturas leves e de elevada resistência específica, como também de elevada tolerância ao dano e fiabilidade na aplicação. O principal objetivo deste trabalho é realizar a caracterização mecânica do aglomerado de cortiça com configuração alveolar de base NL-10. Como é de conhecimento geral, a cortiça é um material natural, renovável e reciclável com propriedades muito interessantes, nomeadamente térmicas e acústicas. Nesta investigação, utiliza-se uma estrutura semelhante à honeycomb com a finalidade de reduzir a densidade global do material sem perdas de propriedades mecânicas acentuadas. Com a criação de vários provetes, efetuam-se testes mecânicos estáticos, de modo a analisar as suas propriedades mecânicas e os seus modos de falha. Os ensaios mecânicos realizados foram à flexão em quatro pontos, à tração e ao corte, variando os seguintes parâmetros de estudo: padrão, dimensão do furo e espaçamento de parede entre os furos. Os resultados obtidos revelam que a performance deste material pode depender da granulometria da cortiça e também o agente de ligação utilizado. Como conclusão geral constata-se que, o comportamento do material sendo algo irregular com a combinação dos parâmetros em estudo, não apresentam degradação excessiva das propriedades mecânicas específicas, melhorando mesmo em muitos casos.The aeronautical/aerospace industry is in constant search for new materials, as well as new processes. This development aims always to achieve lightweight and high specific strength structures, and also high damage tolerance and reliability in application. The main objective of this work is the mechanical characterization of cork agglomerate NL-10. As is widely known, cork is a natural, renewable and recyclable material with very interesting properties, particularly thermal and acoustic. In this study, a similar honeycomb structure is used in order to reduce density of the material without accentuated losses of mechanical properties. With the creation of several specimens, static mechanical tests are realized in order to analyze their mechanical properties and failure modes. The mechanical tests performed were flexural at four points, tensile and shear, varying the following study parameters: pattern, hole size and spacing wall between the holes. The results show that the performance of this material may depend on the particle size of the cork agglomerate and also the binding agent used. As a general conclusion it appears that the behavior of the material being somewhat irregular with the combination of the parameters under study show no excessive degradation of specific mechanical properties, improving it in many cases

Endophytic fungi as a source of antibacterial compounds : a focus on gram-negative bacteria

Bacterial resistance has become one of the main motives in the worldwide race for undescribed antibacterial agents. The difficulties in the treatment of bacterial infections are a public health issue that increasingly highlights the need for antimicrobial agents. Endophytic microorganisms are a promising alternative in the search for drugs, due to the vast number of metabolites produced with unique characteristics and bioactive potential. This review highlights the importance of endophytic microorganisms as a source of secondary metabolites in the search for active molecules against bacteria of medical importance, with a special focus on gram-negative species. This fact is supported by the findings raised in this review, which brings an arsenal of 166 molecules with characterized chemical structures and their antibacterial activities. In addition, the low cost, ease of maintenance, and optimization-controlled fermentation conditions favor reproducibility in commercial scale. Given their importance, it is necessary to intensify the search for new molecules from endophytic microorganisms, and to increasingly invest in this very promising font

Comparación de técnicas para contar procariotas en muestras de biofilm y plancton marino

Though a large number of techniques are available for the study of aquatic bacteria, the aim of this study was to establish a technique for analysing free-living and biofilm prokaryotic cells through laboratory assays. In particular, we wished to analyse the efficiency of ultrasound to detach and disrupt biofilm, to obtain an efficient stain treatment for quantifying free-living and biofilm prokaryotes in flow cytometry (FC), and to compare epifluorescence microscopy (EFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FC for quantifying free-living and biofilm prokaryotes#. Marine-grade plywood substrates were immersed in natural marine water that was conditioned for 12 days. At 6 and 12 days, water aliquots and substrates were removed to estimate free-living and biofilm prokaryote density. Ultrasound efficiently removed marine biofilm from substrates (up to 94%) without cell damage. FC analysis (unstained) reliably quantified marine plankton and young or mature biofilm prokaryotes compared with other staining (acridine orange, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, propidium iodide and green fluorescent nucleic acid), EFM or SEM techniques. FC and SEM achieved similar results, while a high variability was observed in the EFM technique. FC was faster and more precise than SEM because the count is not dependent on the observer.A pesar de la gran cantidad de técnicas disponibles para el estudio de bacterias acuáticas, el objetivo de este estudio fue aplicar y proponer una técnica para el análisis de células procariotas de vida libre y asociado a biofilms en ensayos de laboratorio. En particular, deseamos analizar la eficiencia de de la aplicación de ultrasonidos para separar y romper el biofilm, obtener un tratamiento de tinción eficiente para cuantificar procariotas de vida libre y de biofilm por citometría de flujo (CF), y comparar microscopía de epifluorescencia (MEP), microscopía electrónica de barrido (MEB) y CF para cuantificar los procariotas de vida libre y de biofilm. Los sustratos de madera contrachapada de grado marino se sumergieron en agua marina natural que se acondicionó durante 12 días. A los 6 y 12 días, se retiraron alícuotas de agua y sustratos para estimar la densidad de procariotas de vida libre y asociados a los biofilms. Los ultrasonidos eliminaron de manera eficiente el biofilm marino de los sustratos (hasta 94%) sin dañar las células. El análisis por CF (sin marcador) cuantificó de manera fiable las células del plancton marino y los procariotas de biofilms jóvenes o maduros en comparación con otras técnicas de marcación (naranja de acridina, 4’, 6-diamidino-2-fenilindol, yoduro de propidio, ácido nucleico fluorescente verde), MEP o MEB. CF y MEB lograron resultados similares, mientras que se observó una alta variabilidad en la técnica EFM. Cuando se compara, CF es más rápido y más preciso que MED, ya que el recuento no depende del observador

Comparación de técnicas para contar procariotas en muestras de biofilm y plancton marino

Though a large number of techniques are available for the study of aquatic bacteria, the aim of this study was to establish a technique for analysing free-living and biofilm prokaryotic cells through laboratory assays. In particular, we wished to analyse the efficiency of ultrasound to detach and disrupt biofilm, to obtain an efficient stain treatment for quantifying free-living and biofilm prokaryotes in flow cytometry (FC), and to compare epifluorescence microscopy (EFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FC for quantifying free-living and biofilm prokaryotes#. Marine-grade plywood substrates were immersed in natural marine water that was conditioned for 12 days. At 6 and 12 days, water aliquots and substrates were removed to estimate free-living and biofilm prokaryote density. Ultrasound efficiently removed marine biofilm from substrates (up to 94%) without cell damage. FC analysis (unstained) reliably quantified marine plankton and young or mature biofilm prokaryotes compared with other staining (acridine orange, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, propidium iodide and green fluorescent nucleic acid), EFM or SEM techniques. FC and SEM achieved similar results, while a high variability was observed in the EFM technique. FC was faster and more precise than SEM because the count is not dependent on the observer.A pesar de la gran cantidad de técnicas disponibles para el estudio de bacterias acuáticas, el objetivo de este estudio fue aplicar y proponer una técnica para el análisis de células procariotas de vida libre y asociado a biofilms en ensayos de laboratorio. En particular, deseamos analizar la eficiencia de de la aplicación de ultrasonidos para separar y romper el biofilm, obtener un tratamiento de tinción eficiente para cuantificar procariotas de vida libre y de biofilm por citometría de flujo (CF), y comparar microscopía de epifluorescencia (MEP), microscopía electrónica de barrido (MEB) y CF para cuantificar los procariotas de vida libre y de biofilm. Los sustratos de madera contrachapada de grado marino se sumergieron en agua marina natural que se acondicionó durante 12 días. A los 6 y 12 días, se retiraron alícuotas de agua y sustratos para estimar la densidad de procariotas de vida libre y asociados a los biofilms. Los ultrasonidos eliminaron de manera eficiente el biofilm marino de los sustratos (hasta 94%) sin dañar las células. El análisis por CF (sin marcador) cuantificó de manera fiable las células del plancton marino y los procariotas de biofilms jóvenes o maduros en comparación con otras técnicas de marcación (naranja de acridina, 4’, 6-diamidino-2-fenilindol, yoduro de propidio, ácido nucleico fluorescente verde), MEP o MEB. CF y MEB lograron resultados similares, mientras que se observó una alta variabilidad en la técnica EFM. Cuando se compara, CF es más rápido y más preciso que MED, ya que el recuento no depende del observador

Não incidência do ISS sobre a atividade de beneficiamento (alvejamento e tingimento) de produtos têxteis destinados a posterior comercialização ou industrialização pelos encomendantes

Texto de Ministro do Superior Tribunal de Justiça.Apresenta o resultado de uma consultoria jurídica feita a pedido de uma empresa têxtil da cidade de Brusque - SC. com relação a competência de cobrança de IPI, ICMS, ISS e sobre a incidência do IPI e ISSQN

Melhorias no setor das bancadas : Simoldes Aços

Estágio realizado na Simoldes Aços, e orientado pelo Eng. António PinhoTese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Mecânica. Universidade do Porto. Faculdade de Engenharia. 201

Parasitismo intestinal e fatores socioambientais de indígenas Mbyá-Guarani, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Disturbing data reveal the prevalence of intestinal parasites and their relationship with socio-environmental factors among Mbyá-Guarani Indians. The prevalence was determined by spontaneous sedimentation in water, centrifugation-floatation, and Kato-Katz. A socioeconomic questionnaire was submitted to each family. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 88.7%, and 45.5% were polyparasitized. There was 90.5% prevalence of enteric parasites in children (1-12- year-old), and 85% among 13-65-year-old individuals, indicating that both age groups are extensively parasitized. The parasite load was low to moderate for geohelminths and 75% of the families did not have latrine, thus the practice of defecation occurred outdoors. These findings suggest that the multiple intestinal parasitism in the Mbyá-Guarani community is high to the point of being the rule, and that it relates essentially to the traditional lifestyle and health habits. It is urgently necessary to implement the association of anti-parasitic treatment with sanitation improvement. This should be done simultaneously with health education activities for this population.Dados preocupantes demonstram a prevalência de parasitos intestinais e sua relação com fatores socioambientais entre indígenas Mbyá-Guarani. A prevalência foi determinada pelas técnicas de sedimentação espontânea em água, centrífugo-flutuação e Kato-Katz. Para cada família, um questionário socioeconômico foi aplicado. A prevalência geral de parasitos intestinais foi de 88,7% e 45,5% estavam poliparasitados. A prevalência em crianças (1-12 anos) foi 90,5% e em indivíduos entre 13-65 anos foi 85%, indicando que ambas as faixas etárias são amplamente parasitadas. A carga parasitária foi baixa a moderada para geohelmintos e 75% das famílias não possuem banheiro, sendo a prática da defecação feita ao ar livre. Estes achados sugerem que o poliparasitismo intestinal na comunidade Mbyá-Guarani é altíssimo, a ponto de ser a regra, e que se refere essencialmente ao estilo de vida tradicional e hábitos de saúde. Há a necessidade de aplicar urgentemente a associação de tratamento antiparasitário às melhorias sanitárias. Isto deve ser feito simultaneamente com atividades de educação em saúde para esta população