Globalization and Health in a Small Town in the Amazon Region

The chapter describes results of a study conducted in Ponta de Pedras, a small municipality (27,000 inhabitants) in the estuary of the Amazon River on Marajó Island, in the State of Pará. Close to 400 questionnaires were applied to the population to assess the impact of globalization on the municipality. The main revenue of the municipality comes from the export of açaí fruit, which became a global product after being discovered by two Californian surfers in around 1990. The city is three and half hours by boat from a large city, but it is connected to the world by Internet via mobile phones (95% of urban and 79% of rural population have a mobile phone), which is used for social media access, studies, açaí sales, and to buy products. Effects on cultural and eating habits have been observed, as processed foods are replacing fish and açaí among youngsters in the local diet. Hypertension was the main morbidity reported by the interviewees, particularly those living in the rural area. On the other hand, the urban area has poor sanitary infrastructure and public services. The chapter ends by discussing the complex role of globalization in the development of communities and how local governments and health policies could act to balance the effects of globalization on health

Water-based polyurethane dispersions: chemistry, technology and applications

Over the past few decades, polyurethane-polyurea aqueous dispersions (PUDs) have developed a solid reputation for high performance applications, particularly in the field of adhesives and coatings. PUDs are mostly environmentally compatible products; they are totally devoid or contain only low amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOC). This is an important feature in view of the present environmental policies where governments and internal agencies are placing emphasis on developing sustainable processes, improving work conditions and reducing emissions of toxic and polluting substances into the atmosphere. In the past years, our research group has been involved in the development of polyurethane-polyurea aqueous dispersions for two main applications (footwear and indirect food contact). With this work we intend to review this theme and describe some of the achieved developments. Characterization of commercial dispersions will be presented and examples of synthesis will be described, following a modified pre-polymer process developed in our group

Development of sulfur based polymers for rechargeable lithium batteries

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are in the front edge of recent achievements concerning energy storage. However, Li-ion devices are reaching their maximum regarding energy density storage which restricts their appiicatíon in systems with large power needs, such as electric vehicles. Driven by this shortcoming, in the last few years, Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries are being considered as an alternative for the exploitatíon of energy storage and conversion systems with improved performance. Indeed, to the S cathodes is associated a theoretical specifíc capacity of 1672 mA h g-1 and a specifíc energy of 2600 W h kg-\ which are several times higher than the correspondent to other possible systems. The relative low atomic weight of S in comparison with other elements (e.g. cobalt) and the multí-electron transfer reactíons in the pair Li/S are at the source ofthis superior theoretícal performance of Li-S batteries.Este trabalho foi financiado por: projeto POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984 - Laboratório Associado LSRE-LCM - financiado pelo Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER), através do COMPETE2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Analysis of the deep chlorophyll maximum across the Azores Front

Physical, chemical and biological observations made in late July and August 1997 across the Azores Front (37ºN, 32ºW to 32ºN, 29ºW) are presented. The objectives of the study were: (1) to analyse horizontal and vertical profiles of temperature, salinity, density, nutrients and chlorophyll-a (Chl a) of the top 350 m; (2) to identify the main differences in the deep Chl a Maximum (DCM) and hydrographic structure between the water masses that pass north and south of the Azores Front; and (3) to estimate phytoplankton primary production in these water masses. Horizontal and vertical profiles of salinity, temperature, density, nutrients and phytoplankton pigments in the top 350 m were analysed. The Front separates two distinct water types: the 18 ºC ModeWater (18MW) of subtropical origin, and the 15 ºC ModeWater (15MW) of sub-polar origin. Differences in the DCM and hydrographic structure between 18 MW and 15 MW were observed in the contour plots of each section. The average Chl a concentration between 5 and 200 m depth decreased significantly from 15 MW to 18 MW. The same pattern was observed for the Chl a concentration at the DCM depth. A vertical one-dimensional model was used to estimate the phytoplankton primary production in the 15 MW and 18 MW and led to an estimated water column average gross primary productivity (GPP) between 1.08 and 2.71 mg C

Molecular identification of Sicilian (deltaß)º-thalassemia associated with ß-thalassemia and hemoglobin S in Brazil

We describe the clinical and molecular characteristics of two unrelated Brazilian families with an association of the Sicilian form of (deltaß)º-thalassemia with hemoglobin S and ß-thalassemia. Direct sequencing of the ß-globin gene showed only the hemoglobin S mutation in patient 1 and the ß-thalassemia IVS1-110 in patient 2. The other allele was deleted in both patients and PCR of DNA samples of the breakpoint region of both patients showed a band of approximately 1,150 bp, expected to be observed in the DNA of carriers of Sicilian (deltaß)º-thalassemia. The nucleotide sequence of this fragment confirmed the Sicilian deletion. There are few reports concerning the Hb S/(deltaß)º-thalassemia association and patient 2 is the first reported case of Sicilian type of (deltaß)º-thalassemia in association with ß-thalassemia documented at the molecular level.87387

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism distribution in an elderly Brazilian population: the Bambuí Health and Aging Study

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is one of the most extensively studied genes in the context of aging, but there are few population-based studies on ApoE polymorphism in the elderly in developing countries. The objective of the present study was to assess ApoE allele and genotype distribution in a large elderly community-based sample and its association with age, sex and skin color. Participants included 1408 subjects (80.8% of all residents aged ³60 years) residing in Bambuí city, MG, Brazil. The DNA samples were subjected to the polymerase chain reaction amplification, followed by the restriction fragment length polymorphism technique, with digestion by HhaI. Analysis was carried out taking into consideration the six ApoE genotypes (e3/e3, e3/e4, e2/e3, e4/e4, e2/e4, and e2/e2), the three ApoE alleles, and the number of ApoE4 alleles for each individual. The e3 allele predominated (80.0%), followed by e4 (13.5%) and e2 (6.5%). All six possible genotypes were observed, the e3/e3 genotype being the most frequent (63.4%). This distribution was similar to that described in other western populations. Sex was not associated with number of ApoE4 alleles. Black skin color was significantly and independently associated with the presence of two ApoE4 alleles (age-sex adjusted OR = 7.38; 95%CI = 1.93-28.25), showing that the African-Brazilian elderly have a high prevalence of the e4 allele, as observed in blacks from Africa. No association between number of ApoE4 alleles and age was found, suggesting the absence of association of ApoE genotype with mortality in this population

High Prevalence Of α-thalassemia Among Individuals With Microcytosis And Hypochromia Without Anemia

In order to determine the contribution of α-thalassemia to microcytosis and hypochromia, 339 adult outpatients seen at Unicamp University Hospital (with the exception of the Clinical Hematology outpatient clinics), who showed normal hemoglobin (Hb) levels and reduced mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin, were analyzed. Ninety-eight were Blacks (28.9%) and 241 were Caucasians (71.1%). In all cases, Hb A2 and F levels were either normal or low. The most common deletional and nondeletional forms of α-thalassemia [-α3.7, -α4.2, -MED, -(α)20.5, αHphIα, αNcolα, ααNcoI and αTSAUDI] were investigated by PCR and restriction enzyme analyses. A total of 169 individuals (49.9%) presented α-thalassemia: 145 (42.8%) were heterozygous for the -α3.7 deletion (-α3.7/αα) and 18 (5.3%) homozygous (-α3.7/-α3.7), 5 (1.5%) were heterozygous for the nondeletional form αHPhlα/αα, and 1 (0.3%) was a -MED carrier (-MED/αα). Among the Blacks, 56 (57.1%) showed the -α3.7/ αα genotype, whereas 12 (12.2%) were -α3.7/-α3.7 and I (1.0%) was an αHPhlα carrier; among the Caucasians, 89 (36.9%) were -α3.7/αα, 6 (2.5%) had the -α3.7/-α3.7 genotype, 4 (1.7%) presented the nondeletional form (αHPhlα/αα), and 1 (0.4%) was a -MED carrier. These results demonstrate that α-thalassemia, mainly through the -α3.7 deletion, is an important cause of microcytosis and hypochromia in individuals without anemia. These data are of clinical relevance since these hematological alterations are often interpreted as indicators of iron deficiency.346759762Weatherall, D.J., Clegg, J.G., (1981) The Thalassaemia Syndromes. 3rd Edn., , Blackwell Scientific Publications, OxfordBunn, H.F., Forget, B.G., (1986) Hemoglobin: Molecular, Genetics and Clinical Aspects, , W.B. Saunders, PhiladelphiaHiggs, D.R., Vickers, M.A., Wilkie, A.O.M., Pretorius, I.M., Jarman, A.P., Weatherall, D.J., A review of the molecular genetics of the human α-globin gene cluster (1989) Blood, 73, pp. 1081-1104Kazazian H., Jr., The thalassemia syndromes: Molecular basis and prenatal diagnosis in 1990 (1990) Seminars in Hematology, 27, pp. 209-228Harteveld, K.L., Losekoot, M., Ajgam, H., Van Der Wielen, M., Giordano, P.C., Bernini, L.F., α-Thalassaemia in the Netherlands: A heterogeneous spectrum of both deletions and point mutations (1997) Human Genetics, 100, pp. 465-471Higgs, D.R., α-Thalassaemia (1993) Baillieres Clinical Haematology, 6, pp. 117-150Kattamis, A.C., Camaschella, C., Sivera, P., Surrey, S., Fortina, P., Human α-thalassemia syndromes: Detection of molecular defects (1996) American Journal of Hematology, 53, pp. 81-91Bianco, I., Cappabianca, M.P., Foglietta, E., Lerone, M., Deidda, G., Morlupi, L., Grisanti, P., Graziani, B., Silent thalassemias: Genotypes and phenotypes (1997) Haematologica, 82, pp. 269-280Galanello, R., Sollaino, C., Paglietti, E., Barella, S., Perra, C., Doneddu, I., Pirroni, M.G., Cao, A., α-Thalassemia carrier identification by DNA analysis in the screening for thalassemia (1998) American Journal of Hematology, 59, pp. 273-278Sonati, M.F., Costa, F.F., Hemoglobin Bart's in a Brazilian black population (1990) Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 23, pp. 395-396Sonati, M.F., Farah, S.B., Ramalho, A.S., Costa, F.F., High prevalence of α-thalassemia in a Black population of Brazil (1991) Hemoglobin, 15, pp. 309-311Zago, M.A., Costa, F.F., Bottura, C., Hemoglobin H disease in three Brazilian families (1984) Revista Brasileira de Genética, 7, pp. 137-147Wenning, M.R.S.C., Kimura, E.M., Costa, F.F., Saad, S.T.O., Gervásio, S.A., De Jorge, S.B., Borges, E., Sonati, M.F., α-Globin genes: Thalassemic and structural alterations in a Brazilian population (2000) Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 33, pp. 1041-1045Dodé, C., Krishnamoorthy, R., Lamb, J., Rochette, J., Rapid analysis of -α3.7 thalassaemia and αααanti 3.7 triplication by enzymatic amplification analysis (1993) British Journal of Haematology, 82, pp. 105-111Bowden, D.K., Vickers, M.A., Higgs, D.R., A PCR-based strategy to detect the common severe determinants of a thalassaemia (1992) British Journal of Haematology, 81, pp. 104-108Oron-Karni, V., Filon, D., Oppenheim, A., Rund, D., Rapid detection of the common Mediterranean α-globin deletions/rearrangements using PCR (1998) American Journal of Hematology, 58, pp. 306-310Hall, G.W., Thein, S.L., Newland, C.A., Chisholm, J.T.S., Kanavakis, E., Kattamis, C., Higgs, D.R., A base substitution (T→C) in codon 29 of the α2-globin gene causes α thalassemia (1993) British Journal of Haematology, 85, pp. 546-552Pearson, H.A., Ehrenkranz, R.A., Rinder, H.M., Hemosiderosis in a normal child secondary to oral iron medication (2000) Pediatrics, 105, pp. 429-43

Kinetics of oxidative degradation of lignin-based phenolic compounds in batch reactor

Vanillin, vanillic acid, acetovanillone, syringaldehyde, syringic acid, and acetosyringone are products obtained from lignin oxidation in an alkaline medium. The evaluation of their individual degradation under oxidation conditions mimicking lignin oxidation is an important tool to better understand this reaction and maximize the yield of target value-added products. In this context, the main objective of the present work was to study the kinetics of degradation of the selected ligninbased phenolic compounds. The effect of temperature, initial concentration, and oxygen partial pressure was evaluated, and a simple mathematical model was developed to describe the data from the degradation of the phenolics during oxidation reactions. The results indicate that, for all the evaluated compounds, the reaction order is first order with respect to both the initial phenolic compound concentration and oxygen concentration. A high degradation rate was found for the reactions performed at 413 K, and an activation energy in the range of 53−86 kJ/mol was found for all the studied phenolic compounds. Moreover, syringic acid is the phenolic compound more prone to degradation, while vanillin is the less one.This work is a result of Project “AIProcMat@N2020 - Advanced Industrial Processes and Materials for a Sustainable Northern Region of Portugal 2020”, with the reference NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000006, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM-UID/EQU/50020/2019 - funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) and Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal). CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019) through FEDER under Program PT2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of soil management and deficit irrigation strategies on physiological and agronomical responses of Aragonez field-grown grapevines

The use of irrigation in Mediterranean viticulture is now a common practice in intensive grapevine production to improve quality of production. The negative effects of water deficits on grape berry development are well known but the underlying mechanisms remain not fully understood. To avoid the unfavourable impacts of mechanization on the soil structure and biology some farmers are using cover crops on their vineyards. Within this frame we have compared the traditional soil tillage with a high level of mechanization with other system where we maintained a permanent soil cover between the rows. In both soil systems we tested three different irrigation treatments, deficit irrigation (DI - 40% of evapotranspiration (ETc)); regulated deficit irrigation (RDI); partial root drying (PRD) while in the soil cover treatment we also studied the full irrigation (FI) and the non irrigation (NI) treatments. Compared to soil tillage the resident vegetation reduced soil water content during late Spring, before irrigation started, inducing a significant reduction on vine vegetative growth berry weight and yield. Among irrigation strategies only RDI treatment showed a significant reduction in the lateral leaf area development, berry weight and yield when compared to PRD and DI treatments which presented similar values. No significant differences were observed in berry composition either for the two floor management practices or for the three irrigation strategiesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio