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Interacting with the environment requires a remarkable ability to control, learn, and adapt motor skills to ever-changing conditions. The intriguing complexity involved in the process of controlling, learning, and adapting motor skills has led to the development of many theoretical approaches to explain and investigate motor behavior. This paper will present a theoretical approach built upon the top-down mode of motor control that shows substantial internal coherence and has a large and growing body of empirical evidence: The Internal Models. The Internal Models are representations of the external world within the CNS, which learn to predict this external world, simulate behaviors based on sensory inputs, and transform these predictions into motor actions. We present the Internal Models’ background based on two main structures, Inverse and Forward models, explain how they work, and present some applicability.

Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPS) are promising alternatives to synthetic polymers in a variety of applications. Their high production costs, however, limit their use despite their outstanding properties. The use of low-cost substrates such as agro-industrial wastes in their production, can help to boost their market competitiveness. In this work, an alternative low-cost culture medium (CSLM) was developed for EPS production by

A formal swimming learning occurs through a direct interaction between teacher and learner. The aim of this study is to present models for classification of learning in stages and discuss their implications for the teaching-learning process of swimming. This narrative review was carried out through bibliographic research. We used qualitative and exploratory approaches. Models proposed by Adams (1971), Fitts and Posner, (1967), and Gentile (1972) categorize learning into several stages, accounting for the characteristics of the learners and the environment. To enhance the teaching-learning process of swimming skills, the teacher must recognize the stages in which the learner finds himself, and to establish efficient teaching strategies. The learning stage identification affects the manipulation of variables that interfere in learning, such as setting goals, selecting content, choosing appropriate strategies and assessing learning, regardless of the swimming stroke. Even though some points will differ between swimming styles, such as the specificity, the specificity of errors, the informational demand, and the amount of practice, it is the teacher's role to establish the relationship between the student and the contents to be taught in the teaching-learning process. Overall, the quality of the teaching-learning process will depend on the teacher’s ability to propose contents that are appropriate to the characteristics, needs and expectations of the learners, being sufficiently challenging to arouse motivation and to promote skills learning. El aprendizaje formal de la natación ocurre mediante una interacción directa entre maestro y alumno. El objetivo de este estudio fue presentar modelos de clasificación del aprendizaje en etapas y discutir sus implicaciones para el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la natación. Esta revisión narrativa se realizó a través de una investigación bibliográfica. Se utilizaron enfoques cualitativos y exploratorios. Los modelos propuestos por Adams (1971), Fitts y Posner, (1967) y Gentile (1972) clasifican el aprendizaje en varias etapas, teniendo en cuenta las características de los alumnos y del entorno. Para potencializar el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de las habilidades de natación, el docente debe reconocer las etapas en las que se encuentra el aprendiz y establecer estrategias de enseñanza eficientes. La identificación de la etapa de aprendizaje afecta la manipulación de variables que interfieren en el aprendizaje, como el establecimiento de metas, la selección de contenidos, la elección de estrategias adecuadas y la evaluación del aprendizaje, independientemente del estilo de natación. Aunque algunos puntos diferirán entre los estilos de natación, como la especificidad y cantidad de información, la especificidad de los errores, la demanda de información y la cantidad de práctica, es el papel del profesor establecer la relación entre el estudiante y los contenidos a enseñarse en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. En general, la calidad del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje dependerá de la capacidad del profesor proponer contenidos adecuados a las características, necesidades y expectativas de los educandos, siendo lo suficientemente desafiantes para despertar la motivación y promover el aprendizaje de competencias. A aprendizagem formal da natação ocorre por meio da interação direta entre professor e aprendiz. O objetivo deste estudo foi apresentar modelos de classificação da aprendizagem em etapas e discutir suas implicações para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem da natação. Esta revisão narrativa foi realizada por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica. Para tanto, utilizaram-se abordagens qualitativas e exploratórias. Os modelos propostos por Adams (1971), Fitts & Posner, (1967) e Gentile (1972) categorizam a aprendizagem em vários estágios, considerando as características dos aprendizes e do ambiente. A fim de potencializar o processo de ensino-aprendizagem na natação, o professor deve reconhecer as etapas em que o aprendiz se encontra e estabelecer estratégias de ensino eficientes. A identificação do estágio de aprendizagem afeta a manipulação de variáveis ​​que influenciam na aprendizagem, como o estabelecimento de metas, a seleção dos conteúdos, a escolha das estratégias adequadas e a avaliação da aprendizagem, independentemente estilo do nado. Ainda que hajam diferenças entre os nados, como a especificidade, a especificidade dos erros, a demanda informacional e a quantidade de prática, é papel do professor estabelecer a relação entre o aluno e os conteúdos a serem ensinados no processo de ensino-aprendizagem. De forma geral, a qualidade do processo de ensino-aprendizagem dependerá da capacidade do professor para propor conteúdos adequados às características, necessidades e expectativas dos aprendizes, conteúdos suficientemente desafiadores para motivá-los e promover aprendizagem.

Ketosis in dairy cattle is primarily diagnosed based on the concentrations of ketone bodies in the blood, milk, or urine. Cow-side tests using these fluids are available for rapid detection of elevated concentrations of ketone bodies. Although these tests have been extensively validated, the performance of different tests has not been compared over time. Our objectives were to investigate the relationship between point-of-care diagnostic tests measuring the concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in blood (BT; Precision Xtra, Abbott Laboratories), BHB in milk (MT; Keto-Test, Elanco), and acetoacetate (AcAc) in urine (UT; Ketostix, Bayer Corporation) through cases of ketosis. Holstein cows (n = 148) were screened daily for hyperketonemia (HYK; blood BHB ≥1.2 mmol/L) from 3 to 16 d in milk (DIM); moreover, milk and urine samples were collected concomitantly and tested for ketones (ketosis thresholds: 100 µmol/L milk BHB and 5 mg/dL urine AcAc). Of the animals screened (n = 148), 74% were diagnosed with HYK. When diagnosed with HYK, cows were treated with propylene glycol orally once daily for 5 d. After the day of diagnosis (d 0), hyperketonemic cows were retested with BT, MT, and UT for 3 d (d 1, 2, and 3). We assessed the diagnostic test performance and time to ketosis (survival analyses and Cox proportional hazards models) of MT and UT compared with BT. Considering all paired samples (before and after diagnosis of HYK), MT had 61% sensitivity and 91% specificity, whereas the UT had 77% sensitivity and 94% specificity compared with BT. The specificity of MT and UT increased from d 0 to d 1, decreased on d 2, and increased on d 3. The median time to diagnosis of ketosis in blood was 5 DIM (95% CI 5 to 7 DIM); moreover, MT and UT had 2 d greater median time to diagnosis of ketosis compared with the BT [7 DIM (6 to 11 d); and 7 DIM (6 to 13 d), respectively]. We concluded that the UT is a more sensitive predictor of blood BHB concentration than the MT. The UT and MT tests diagnosed ketotic cows approximately 2 d later than the BT. The possible consequences of delay in detection of ketosis in milk and urine should be investigated.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the supplementation of embryo culture medium with antioxidant obtained from oily extract of Lippia origanoides on in vitro blastocyst development and quality. Oocytes collected from slaughterhouse ovaries were matured and fertilized in vitro following standard laboratory procedures. Zygotes were cultured in SOF medium supplemented according to the following treatments: T1 embryo culture medium without antioxidant supplementation; T2)50μM/mL Cysteamine; T3)2.5μg/mL; T4)5.0μg/mL and T5)10.0μg/mL of antioxidant obtained from oily extract of Lippia origanoides. On the seventh day of culture, the blastocysts were fixed and evaluated for apoptosis rates, number of total cell and inner cell mass cells by means of the TUNEL Test. The use of antioxidants during cultivation did not increase (P> 0.05) the final blastocyst production rate. The treatments T2, T3, T4 and T5 had the lowest (P< 0.05) apoptotic indexes (4.5±1.1%, 8.4±2.5%, 3.4±1.1% and 5.5±0.9%, respectively) when compared to T1 treatment (10.0±1.4%). The number of inner cell mass did not differ (P> 0.05) among embryos from different treatments. The addition of antioxidant obtained from oily extract of Lippia origanoides reduces the apoptosis rate and improves the quality without increasing the total in vitro production of bovine embryos. RESUMO O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a suplementação de meio de cultura de embriões com antioxidante obtido do extrato oleoso da Lippia origanoides no desenvolvimento e na qualidade de blastocistos produzidos in vitro. Oócitos coletados de ovários de matadouros foram maturados e fertilizados in vitro segundo procedimento laboratorial padrão. Zigotos foram cultivados em meio SOF suplementado de acordo com os seguintes tratamentos: T1) meio de cultivo embrionário sem suplementação antioxidantes; T2) 50μM/mL Cisteamina; T3) 2,5μg/mL; T4) 5,0μg/mL e T5) 10,0μg/mL do antioxidante obtido do extrato oleoso de Lippia origanoides. No sétimo dia de cultivo, os blastocistos foram fixados e avaliados para taxa de apoptose, número total de células e massa celular interna através do teste TUNEL. O uso de antioxidantes durante cultivo não aumentou (P>0,05) a taxa de produção final de blastócitos. Os tratamentos T2, T3, T4 e T5 tiverem menor índice apoptótico (p>0,05 - 4,5±1,1%, 8,4±2,5%, 3,4±1,1% e 5,5±0,9%, respectivamente) quando comparados a T2 (10,0±1,4%). O valor de massa celular interna não diferenciou (p>0,05) entre embriões de diferentes tratamentos. A adição de antioxidante obtido do extrato oleoso de Lippia origanoides reduziu a taxa de apoptose e melhorou a qualidade sem aumentar a produção in vitro de embriões bovinos.

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of temporarily reducing milking frequency (MF) on the resolution of ketosis and milk production in dairy cows in early lactation. To detect ketosis [blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) ≥1.2 mmol/L], Holstein cows were screened daily from 3 to 16 d in milk using a cow-side meter. Cows diagnosed with ketosis (n = 104) were randomly assigned to twice-daily milking (TDM) or reduced to once-daily milking (ODM) for 2 wk, then returned to twice-daily milking. Both treatment groups received a 5-d treatment of an oral propylene glycol drench (PG; 300 g) beginning on the afternoon of the diagnosis; cows received additional 5-d PG treatments if they had a ketotic test result (blood BHB ≥1.2 mmol/L) at least 4 d after finishing the first PG treatment. Blood BHB tests were conducted for the first 3 d after ketosis diagnosis, and then once every 3 d for 21 d of trial (DOT). Milk and milk component data were collected weekly for 15 wk following trial enrollment. The ODM group showed rapidly and markedly decreased blood BHB concentrations (primiparous cows: 1 DOT, 0.92 ODM vs. 1.22 TDM, 15 DOT, 0.55 vs. 0.81 mmol/L; multiparous cows: 1 DOT, 1.01 vs. 1.40, 15 DOT, 0.78 vs. 1.65 mmol/L). In addition, a logistic regression model indicated that ODM cows were less likely to have blood BHB concentrations ≥1.2 mmol/L [primiparous cows: 3 DOT: ODM 1% (95% confidence interval: 0–10%) vs. TDM 43% (30–58%), 15 DOT ODM 0% (0–0.2%) vs. TDM 22% (13–36%); multiparous cows: 3 DOT: ODM 33% (24–44%) vs. TDM 59% (48–69%), 15 DOT ODM 20.9% (13–31%) vs. TDM 64% (53–74%)]. The proportion of ODM cows that required additional treatments of PG were substantially lower than the TDM group (ODM: 39%; TDM: 64%) than the TDM cows during the initial 21-d period. However, during the 2-wk treatment period, cows in the ODM group produced 26% less milk and 25% less energy-corrected milk than the TDM cows. During wk 3 to 15, when all cows were milked twice daily, ODM cows produced less milk (−14%) and energy-corrected milk (−12%) compared with the TDM group. Milk protein percentage was greater, and milk fat percentage and linear score tended to be greater in the ODM group over 15 wk. In conclusion, a 2-wk reduction of MF in ketotic cows from twice to once daily with treatment with PG resolved ketosis and decreased blood BHB concentrations more effectively than treating TDM cows with PG alone. However, the 2-wk MF reduction had immediate and long-term (up to 13 wk after cessation of MF reduction) negative effects on milk production.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a serious problem in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). It is a multifactorial disease that may influence the growth and development of preterm neonates. The aim of this retrospective case-control study of preterm infants with BPD who were born in our centre was to evaluate the growth of these infants in the first 2 years of life compared with healthy preterm infants and to determine risk factors associated with poor growth. Those with major congenital malformations, congenital TORCH infection, deceased before 36 weeks of postmenstrual age or during the first 28 days of life and those who were transferred during hospitalization and outborn neonates were excluded. A total of 90 preterm neonates were enrolled and 30 (33.3%) of them had BPD. At 12 months of corrected age, gestational age and pre-pregnancy mother’s weight were shown to be associated with short stature. Weight at birth was also associated with low weight and head circumference growth. At 12 months after term, no differences were found within the growth assessment. Our study showed that growth between 12 and 18 months of life in preterm infants with BPD was sufficient to catch up.

Objectives Many acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) are available for use in periodontal surgical procedures. However, few studies exist evaluating their in vivo healing properties. The objectives of this study were to compare the wound healing and remodeling of two ADMs used for gingival augmentation procedures in the rat model. Materials and methods This was a nonrandomized controlled split‐mouth study. Envelope flaps were surgically created in the maxillary quadrants of 24 Sprague Dawley rats. Each received either (a) AlloDerm Regenerative Tissue Matrix, or (b) OrACELL. Gingival tissue from one mandibular quadrant served as the untreated control. Six male and six female rats were treated for 7 or 21 days. Biopsies were processed for histologic analysis (H&E, Picro‐sirius red, Verhoeff's solution) or RNA analysis (RT‐PCR) to analyze the expression of type I collagen (Col1a1), fibronectin (Fn‐1) and VEGF‐A (Vegf‐A). Results There was a greater density of fibroblasts in OrACELL compared to AlloDerm at both timepoints. There was a greater density of elastin present in AlloDerm compared to OrACELL at 7 days but no differences at 21 days. There were no differences between test groups in the percentage of birefringent collagen or in the expression of Vegf‐A or Fn‐1. At 7 days, there were significantly more fibroblasts for males in the OrACELL group compared to females. At 21 days, there was a significantly greater expression of Col1a1 for males in the OrACELL group compared to females. Conclusions Early wound healing and remodeling of OrACELL appeared to occur more rapidly than AlloDerm and was accelerated in male rats. Whether these results have clinical implications for soft tissue grafting procedures in humans remains to be determined.

Conventional assays of polymorphonuclear cell (PMN, neutrophil) function such as oxidative burst (OB) and phagocytosis (PC) are widely used to evaluate innate immunity in the transition period of dairy cows. Oxidative burst is commonly evaluated by measuring PMN median fluorescence intensity (MFI) involving the release of reactive oxygen species after in vitro stimulation. Phagocytosis can be measured by engulfment of fluorescent beads by PMN. DQ-ovalbumin (DQ-OVA) is a molecule suitable for the assessment of intracellular proteolytic degradation, so it might be informative about an additional pathway of pathogen handling by PMN. In this study, we evaluated the use of the DQ-OVA assay for the assessment of PMN function and the relationships among OB, PC, and DQ-OVA results in PMN isolated from blood of dairy cows between 5 and 21 d post partum. Results of the DQ-OVA validation assay were assessed with mixed linear regression models. Pearson correlation tests and kappa values for agreement were used to associate the MFI between each PMN function assay (OB, PC, and DQ-OVA). For the validation assay (9 cows in 3 replicates), PMN incubated with DQ-OVA were stimulated with IFN-gamma or inhibited with cytochalasin D, and fluorescence was compared with untreated PMN. Stimulated and inhibited PMN had greater (970 +/- 160 units) and lesser (593 +/- 55 units) MFI relative to untreated PMN (791 +/- 154 units), respectively, indicating that DQ-OVA fluorescence reflected enhanced or reduced endocytic and proteolytic function. To associate the MFI outcomes among OB, PC, and DQ-OVA, 153 samples from 40 cows were analyzed. Results showed significant, although weak association between DQ-OVA and PC MFI (Pearson r = 0.16). When values of MP! were categorized according to the first ("high" PMN functionality), second and third ("moderate" PMN functionality), or fourth ("low" PMN functionality) quartiles, agreement beyond chance (kappa) was moderate: kappa = 0.38 for DQ-OVA and OB, kappa = 0.43 for DQ-OVA and PC, and kappa = 0.43 for OB and PC. The DQ-OVA assay may complement traditional PMN functional assays because it provides additional information regarding the combination of endocytosis and proteolytic degradation, but it is not a substitute for assessment of OB or PC.

Polymer flooding is one of the most promising techniques used to increase the productivity of mature oil reservoirs. Polymers reduce the mobility ratio of the injected water relative to the crude oil, improving the displacement of the entrapped oil and consequently, increasing oil recovery. Biopolymers such as xanthan gum have emerged as environmentally friendly alternatives to the chemical polymers commonly employed by the oil industry. However, in order to seek more efficient biomolecules, alternative biopolymers must be studied. Here, the applicability of a biopolymer produced by Rhizobium viscosum CECT 908 in Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) was evaluated. This biopolymer exhibited better rheological properties (including higher viscosity) when compared with xanthan gum. Its stability at high shear rates (up to 300 s-1), temperatures (up to 80?°C) and salinities (up to 200?g/L of NaCl) was also demonstrated. The biopolymer exhibited better performance than xanthan gum in oil recovery assays performed with a heavy crude oil, achieving 25.7?±?0.5% of additional recovery. Thus the R. viscosum CECT 908 biopolymer is a promising candidate for application in MEOR., This work was supported by PARTEX OIL AND GAS (Lisobon, Portugal). The authors acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for financial support under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684). The authors also acknowledge financial support from BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145FEDER-000004) and the project MultiBiorefinery (POCI-01-0145FEDER-016403) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. Márcia R. Couto was supported by the doctoral Grant SFRH/BD/ 132998/2017 provided by FCT. Débora Ferreira is recipient of a fellowship (UMINHO/BD/21/2016) supported by a doctoral advanced training (call NORTE-69-2015-15) funded by the European Social Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.E.J.Gudiñawassupported bythePost-Doctoral grant UMINHO/BPD/39/2015 from the project UID/BIO/04469/2013, funded by FCT., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The Brazilian species Pustulatirus ogum and Hemipolygona beckyae were examined, and certain morphological characters were described. Both species were originally assigned to the genus Latirus, considered as a heterogeneous complex. The radulae of both species are like that which characterizes Latirus, in which the innermost cusp of the rachidian tooth is well developed but always smaller than the other cusps. This feature differs from Leucozonia, in which this cusp is reduced or absent. The penis tapers terminally, and the tapered part may be long (more than half the total penis length), as in H. beckyae, or very short (less than half the total penis length), as in P. ogum. The anatomical data observed in both species are discussed under the framework of fasciolariid systematics and they appear to be widespread among other fasciolariid species. For this reason, to date, the soft-part features here provided and those known from previously studied species of Latirus are not useful for delineating precise generic diagnoses. Se describe la morfología y anatomía de las especies brasileñas Pustulatirus ogum y Hemipolygona beckyae. Ambas especies han sido tradicionalmente asignadas al género Latirus, que en la actualidad se considera que agrupa a un conjunto heterogéneo de especies. Las rádulas de ambas especies son como la que caracteriza a Latirus, con la cúspide más interna del diente raquídeo bien desarrollada y siempre menor que las otras cúspides. Esta característica difiere de la que presentan las especies del género Leucozonia, en las que esta cúspide está reducida o ausente. El pene se estrecha en su parte terminal, y la parte cónica puede ser larga (más de la mitad de la longitud total del pene), como en H. beckyae, o muy corta (menos de la mitad de la longitud total del pene), como en P. ogum. Los caracteres morfológicos observados en ambas especies se discuten en el marco de la sistemática de los Fasciolariidae y parecen estar ampliamente distribuidos en otras especies de fascioláridos. Por ello, hasta la fecha, las características de las partes blandas del animal aquí descritas y las conocidas previamente de otras especies de Latirus no se consideran de utilidad para la diagnosis de los géneros en esta familia.

Supplementary data associated with this article can be found, inthe online version, at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2017.05.015., Hydroxycinnamic acids and curcumin are compounds with great therapeutic potential, including anticancer properties. In this study, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid and curcumin were produced in Escherichia coli. Their production was induced by heat using the dnaK and ibpA heat shock promoters. The ribosome binding site (RBS) used was tested and further optimized for each gene to assure an efficient translation. p-Coumaric acid was successfully produced from tyrosine and caffeic acid was produced either from tyrosine or p-coumaric acid using tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL) from Rhodotorula glutinis, 4-coumarate 3-hydroxylase (C3H) from Saccharothrix espanaensis or cytochrome P450 CYP199A2 from Rhodopseudomonas palustris. The highest p-coumaric acid production obtained was 2.5 mM; caffeic acid production reached 370 M. Regarding curcumin, 17 M was produced using 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL1) from Arabidopsis thaliana, diketide-CoA synthase (DCS) and curcumin synthase 1 (CURS1) from Curcuma longa. Stronger RBSs and/or different induction conditions should be further evaluated to optimize those production levels. Herein it was demonstrated that the biosynthetic pathway of p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid and curcumin in E. coli can be triggered by using heat shock promoters, suggesting its potential for the development of new industrial bioprocesses or even new bacterial therapies., FundingThis study was supported by the Portuguese Foundationfor Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of thestrategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and under the scope ofthe Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462). The authors also acknowledge financial support fromBioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) and theproject MultiBiorefinery (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016403) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope ofNorte2020 − Programa Operacional Regional do Norte and the Post-doctoral grant (UMINHO/BPD/37/2015) to J. L. Rodrigues funded byFCT., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Curcumin is a plant secondary metabolite with outstanding therapeutic effects. Therefore, there is a great interest in developing new strategies to produce this high-value compound in a cheaper and environmentally friendly way. Curcumin heterologous production in E. coli using artificial biosynthetic pathways was previously demonstrated using synthetic biology approaches. However, the culturing conditions to produce this compound were not optimized and so far only a two-step fermentation involving the exchange of the culture medium allowed to obtain high concentrations of curcumin, which limits its production at an industrial scale. In this study, the culturing conditions to produce curcumin were evaluated and optimized. In addition, it was concluded that E. coli BL21 allows to produce higher concentrations compared to E. coli K-12 strains. Different IPTG concentrations, time of protein expression induction and substrate type and concentration were also evaluated. The highest curcumin production obtained was 959.3 µM (95.93% of percent yield), which was 3.1-fold higher than the highest concentration previously reported. This concentration was obtained using a two-stage fermentation with LB and M9. Moreover, TB demonstrated to be a very interesting alternative medium to produce curcumin since it also led to high concentrations (817.7 µM). The use of this single fermentation medium represents an advantage at industrial scale and although the final production is lower than the one obtained with the LB-M9 combination, it leads to a significantly higher curcumin production in the first 24 h of fermentation. This study allowed obtaining the highest concentrations of curcumin reported so far in a heterologous organism and is of interest for all of those working with the heterologous production of curcuminoids, other complex polyphenolic compounds or plant secondary metabolites., This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of the UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01- 0145-FEDER-006684) and under the scope of the Project MultiBiorefinery-Multi-purpose strategies for broadband agro-forest and fisheries by-products valorization: a step forward for a truly integrated biorefinery (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016403). The authors also acknowledge financial support from BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004), funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020—Programa Operacional Regional do Norte and the post-doctoral grant (UMINHO/BPD/37/2015) to J.L.R. funded by FCT., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The commercially available resin Amberlyst A-31 was efficiently used to promote the propargylation of aldehydes using potassium allenyltrifluoroborate. The method is simple and fast, and the products were obtained in short reaction times in high yields and purity at room temperature in a regio- and chemoselective manner.

The use of ultrasound irradiation to promote the allylation of aldehydes containing different functionalities with potassium allyltrifluoroborates is described. The method features the use of a minimum amount of acetone as solvent, without any other catalyst or promoter. The products were obtained in high yields, short reaction times, at room temperature and without the need of further purification.

Giardia duodenalisis a small intestinal protozoan parasite of several terrestrial vertebrates. This work aims to assess the genotypic variability ofGiardia duodenalisisolates from cattle, sheep and pigs in the Southeast of Brazil, by comparing the standard characterization between glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) primers. Fecal samples from the three groups of animals were analyzed using the zinc sulphate centrifugal flotation technique. Out of 59 positive samples, 30 were from cattle, 26 from sheep and 3 from pigs. Cyst pellets were stored and submitted to PCR and nested-PCR reactions withgdhandtpiprimers. Fragment amplification ofgdhandtpigenes was observed in 25 (42.4%) and 36 (61.0%) samples, respectively. Regarding the sequencing, 24 sequences were obtained withgdhand 20 withtpi. For both genes, there was a prevalence of E specific species assemblage, although some isolates have been identified as A and B, by thetpisequencing. This has also shown a larger number of heterogeneous sequences, which have been attribute to mixed infections between assemblages B and E. The largest variability of inter-assemblage associated to the frequency of heterogeneity provided bytpisequencing reinforces the polymorphic nature of this gene and makes it an excellent target for studies on molecular epidemiology.

Objective Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in occidental countries. Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) is associated with an increased risk for CRC development. The aim of this work was to investigate the relationship between inflammatory status and absorption of nutrients with a role in CRC pathogenesis. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, we evaluated the in vitro effect of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IF-γ), and acetylsalicylic acid on 14C-butyrate (14C- BT), 3H-folic acid (3H-FA) uptake, and on proliferation, viability and differentiation of Caco-2 and IEC-6 cells in culture. Results The proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and INF-γ were found to decrease uptake of a low concentration of 14C-BT (10 µM) by Caco-2 (tumoral) and IEC-6 (normal) intestinal epithelial cell lines. However, the effect of TNF-α and INF-γ in IEC-6 cells is most probably related to a cytotoxic and antiproliferative impact. In contrast, INF-γ increases uptake of a high concentration (10 mM) of 14C-BT in Caco-2 cells. The anticarcinogenic effect of BT (10 mM) in these cells is not affected by the presence of this cytokine. On the other hand, acetylsalicylic acid stimulates 14C-BT uptake by Caco-2 cells and potentiates its antiproliferative effect. Finally, both TNF-α and INF-γ cause a significant decrease in 3H-FA uptake by Caco-2 cells. Conclusion The inflammatory status has an impact upon cellular uptake of BT and FA, two nutrients with a role in CRC pathogenesis. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory acetylsalicylic acid potentiates the anticarcinogenic effect of BT in Caco-2 cells by increasing its cellular uptake.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, associated risk factors and genotype of Giardia duodenalis infection in children attending public daycare centers in the city of Araguari, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Fecal samples were collected from 245 children aged 0-5 years, and questionnaires were asked about sociodemographic and hygiene-related characteristics. At the daycare centers where children tested positive, fecal samples were collected from the staff handling food, and from family members and domestic animals. Positive samples were analyzed at the dehydrogenase glutamate (gdh) locus to determine the genotype. The prevalence of G. duodenalis was 51.8%, and drinking unfiltered and unboiled water (OR 2.12, CI 1.26-3.69, p

While the contribution of Bacteria to bioremediation of oil-contaminated shorelines is well established, the response of Archaea to spilled oil and bioremediation treatments is unknown. The relationship between archaeal community structure and oil spill bioremediation was examined in laboratory microcosms and in a bioremediation field trial. 16S rRNA gene-based PCR and denaturing gradient gel analysis revealed that the archaeal community in oil-free laboratory microcosms was stable for 26 days. In contrast, in oil-polluted microcosms a dramatic decrease in the ability to detect Archaea was observed, and it was not possible to amplify fragments of archaeal 16S rRNA genes from samples taken from microcosms treated with oil. This was the case irrespective of whether a bioremediation treatment (addition of inorganic nutrients) was applied. Since rapid oil biodegradation occurred in nutrient-treated microcosms, we concluded that Archaea are unlikely to play a role in oil degradation in beach ecosystems. A clear-cut relationship between the presence of oil and the absence of Archaea was not apparent in the field experiment. This may have been related to continuous inoculation of beach sediments in the field with Archaea from seawater or invertebrates and shows that the reestablishment of Archaea following bioremediation cannot be used as a determinant of ecosystem recovery following bioremediation. Comparative 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed that the majority of the Archaea detected (94%) belonged to a novel, distinct cluster of group II uncultured Euryarchaeota , which exhibited less than 87% identity to previously described sequences. A minor contribution of group I uncultured Crenarchaeota was observed.

We report the analysis of altogether 1050 suspected hereditary breast/ovarian cancer (HBOC) families, 524 fully screened for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations and 526 tested only for the most common mutations. Of the 119 families with pathogenic mutations, 40 (33.6%) had the BRCA2 c.156_157insAlu rearrangement and 15 (12.6%) the BRCA1 c.3331_3334del mutation, the former being specific of Portuguese ancestry and the latter showing a founder effect in Portugal. Interestingly, the two most common mutations were found in a significant proportion of the HBOC families with an a priori BRCAPRO mutation probability

The unique properties of poliynes and acetylenic arrays continue to receive attention and increased research interest. 1 In addition to their unusual electrical and optical properties, they are encountered in numerous natural products and display a wide range of potential applications in both biology and material sciences. Consequently, research into the synthesis of well-defined poliynes continues to expand.

The synthesis of this class of compounds is generally based on the glycosidation reaction, which involves a nucleophilic substitution reaction combined with an allylic shift in a glucal. A number of Lewis acids and oxidizing agents can promote the reaction. These methods, however, present some drawbacks such as low yields and lack of selectivity. The ongoing interest in constructing libraries of highly glycosylated compounds that can mimic specific oligosaccharide-protein interactions prompted us to further search for efficient routes based on the use of tellurium tetrahalides toward glycosylated building blocks. 2

The compliance with influenza vaccination is poor among health care workers (HCWs) due to misconceptions about safety and effectiveness of influenza vaccine. We proposed an educational prospective study to demonstrate to HCWs that influenza vaccine is safe and that other respiratory viruses (RV) are the cause of respiratory symptoms in the months following influenza vaccination. 398 HCWs were surveyed for adverse events (AE) occurring within 48 h of vaccination. AE were reported by 30% of the HCWs. No severe AE was observed. A subset of 337 HCWs was followed up during four months, twice a week, for the detection of respiratory symptoms. RV was diagnosed by direct immunofluorescent assay (DFA) and real time PCR in symptomatic HCWs. Influenza A was detected in five episodes of respiratory symptoms (5.3%) and other RV in 26 (27.9%) episodes. The incidence density of influenza and other RV was 4.3 and 10.8 episodes per 100 HCW-month, respectively. The educational nature of the present study may persuade HCWs to develop a more positive attitude to influenza vaccination.

Hypertension-associated hypoalgesia is widely recognized in acute pain conditions. In chronic pain states, however, the relationship between blood pressure and pain sensitivity is still ill-defined, with different authors reporting negative, positive, or even no relationship at all. This work addresses this issue, using complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced monoarthritis in different models of hypertension: Spontaneous (spontaneously hypertensive rats, SHR), induced by infusion of angiotensin II (ANG) or 1,3-dipropyl-8-sulfophenylxanthine (DPSPX, an adenosine receptors' antagonist), and renal artery ligation (RAL). Nociceptive responses associated with monoarthritis were evaluated by different behavioral tests (von Frey, ankle-bend and CatWalk) and by quantification of Fos expression at the dorsal horn upon noxious stimulation. In all hypertension models, higher von Frey thresholds and lower Fos expression were detected in hypertensive rats with chronic inflammatory pain, as compared to normotensive monoarthritic rats. In SHR and DPSPX, but not ANG or RAL models, hypertensive animals displayed lower inflammation than normotensives. Ankle-bend and CatWalk results indicated lower pain sensitivity in hypertensive rats only in SHR and DPSPX models. The present study shows the importance of using multiple models of hypertension, and evaluating pain responses by various methods, to better understand the complexity of the interactions between pain and cardiovascular regulatory systems.

INTRODUCTION: Autochthonous malaria in the State of Sao Paulo is characterized by sporadic outbreaks in the western region and by persistent transmission in the eastern region, where oligosymptomatic cases with low parasitemia due to Plasmodium vivax occur. The objectives of this study were to assess the completeness of autochthonous malaria notification forms; to estimate the incidence trends of autochthonous cases in the State of Sao Paulo from 1980 to 2007; and to analyze the clinical and epidemiological patterns of cases in two autochthonous regions over this period. METHODS: This was a descriptive study that analyzed 18 variables on the notification form for malaria in the State of Sao Paulo, comparing these two regions over two periods (1980-1993 and 1994-2007). The data sources were SUCEN/SES/SP, SINAN/CVE/SES/SP and DATASUS. RESULTS: The completeness was greater than 85% for 11 variables. The incidence trend was decreasing. There were 821 autochthonous cases: 91.6% occurred in the eastern region, predominantly due to Plasmodium vivax. Asymptomatic infection had a higher percentage in the second period (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The completeness of the information was satisfactory. The clinical differences observed deserve attention from epidemiological surveillance agencies, which need to deal with the challenge of asymptomatic infection by Plasmodium.

Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-27T11:24:00Z No. of bitstreams: 0 Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-27T11:24:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-10-27 The study, evaluated the addition of different concentrations of Se in mineral mixture affecting creatine kinase (CK) serum concentrations in cattle. 60 male, Nellore cattle, at about 12 months old, were randomly assigned to groups (15 calves/ group), Gc, G3,6, G5,4 or G6,4 (0, 3.6, 5.4, and 6.4 mg Se/bovine/day). The levels of serum CK in the cattle were not affected by neither the interaction selenium concentration x time nor the concentration of supplementation. However, CK levels increased over the experiment irrespective of dietary selenium concentration. In addition, the frequency of animals with CK levels above normal increased (p

Resumo: Procuramos neste estudo levantar as concepções de jovens escolarizados sobre a conservação de primatas a partir de suas vivências em duas instituições não-formais de ensino: Fundação Zoo-botânica de Belo Horizonte (FZB-BH) e Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Nacional Feliciano Miguel Abdala (RPPN-FMA). Os dados foram levantados por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas, realizadas com estudantes entre 14 e 18 anos. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os entrevistados da FZB-BH associam aquela área quase sempre às atividades de lazer, enquanto a RPPN-FMA foi vista como uma unidade voltada à realização de pesquisas. Os entrevistados nesta última instituição apresentaram um maior nível de informação a respeito dos aspectos da ecologia e comportamento dos primatas, contrariamente aos da FZB-BH, o que pode ser explicado, entre outros, pelas atividades sistematizadas de educação ambiental desenvolvidas pela unidade de conservação em questão. A educação ambiental nestas instituições mostrou-se importante na disseminação de informações sobre os primatas e suas ameaças. Abstract : Preliminary survey of teen student's conception concerning Atlantic Forest primate conservation in two non-formal educational institutions In this study we survey the teen student's conception concerning primate conservation in two non-formal educational institutions: Fundação Zoo-Botânica de Belo Horizonte (FZB-BH) e Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Nacional Feliciano Miguel Abdala (RPPN- FMA). Data was collected by semi-structured interviews of 14 to 18 years old students. Our results showed that interviewers at FZB-BH associate that area almost always to leisure's activities while RPPN-FMA was pointed like a research's unit. Moreover, students at RPPN-FMA presented higher level of information about ecology and behavior of the primates than that at FZB-BH, what can be explained, among other things, by the systematic activities of environmental education developed in this protected area. Environmental education at these institutions becomes important to spread information about primate and its threats.

Antibody responses to malaria invasion ligands and proteins on the merozoite surface have been shown to interfere with red cell invasion and correlate with immunity to malaria. The current study is the first to characterize the antibody responses to EBA-140 and EBA-181, Plasmodium falciparum invasion ligands implicated in the alternative pathways of invasion, in age-matched populations of individuals living in endemic areas in both Brazil and Cameroon. Antibody responses to the proteins screened were different between populations. The African individuals reacted strongly with most fragments of these two EBAs, while the majority of the individuals from Mato Grosso, Brazil, reacted weakly and those from the Amazon had elevated responses to these EBA proteins. When compared with the responses against MSP-1(19) and EBA-175, it appeared that the Brazilian population has a variable ability to recognize P. falciparum invasion ligand proteins and that these responses are distinct from the African population.

Integral membrane proteins are important drug targets and monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against them are highly sought for therapeutic purposes. However, the complex structure of membrane protein targets makes the discovery of these MAbs especially challenging. To address this need, we have developed the MPS Discovery Engine® to enable the isolation, characterization, and engineering of monoclonal antibodies for challenging membrane protein targets, including GPCRs, ion channels, and transporters. MPS harnesses the strength of Integral's 10+ years of expertise in membrane protein expression and analysis, as well as proprietary technologies including Lipoparticles for high concentration membrane protein presentation and Shotgun Mutagenesis for comprehensive epitope mapping and MAb optimization. Integral Molecular currently has a pipeline of several dozen MAbs against complex membrane proteins that are involved in a variety of diseases, including cancer, inflammation, pain, and infectious diseases. There are currently no FDA-approved MAbs that target GPCRs, ion channels, or transporters, and MPS provides a pathway to these new and previously intractable targets. Citation Format: Sharon H. Willis, Kimberly Mattia, Riley Payne, Moniquetta Hall, Manu Mabila, Christine Rettew, Joseph Couto, Rohan Keshwara, Cheryl Paes, Benjamin J. Doranz, Joseph Rucker. Discovery of MAbs against difficult GPCRs, ion channels, and transporters using the MPS Discovery Engine®. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 656. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-656

Alanine (Ala) scanning is a widely used mutagenesis approach for systematic evaluation of protein function, which for large targets can be laborious and time-consuming. We have developed a platform technology, Shotgun Mutagenesis, for rapid and comprehensive alanine scanning mutagenesis for protein mapping and engineering applications. Using this technology, every residue in a target protein is individually mutated, expressed in human cells, and assayed for desired functions. Critical mutations are rapidly identified using high-throughput 384-well assays including flow cytometry. Here we used Shotgun Mutagenesis to create comprehensive mutation libraries for different classes of targets including the GPCR CXCR4, bitter taste receptor TAS2R16 and the therapeutic antibody Palivizumab (Synagis). For the cancer target CXCR4, we identified critical residues for antibody binding (epitope mapping) and ligand-dependent activation (functional domain mapping). We also discovered TAS2R16 residues that can be altered for increased expression (protein optimization) and Palivizumab residues which tolerate germline substitutions permitting engineering of a maximally humanized antibody variant (antibody humanization). This platform allows comprehensive protein mapping and engineering of challenging targets previously considered prohibitively time-consuming or expensive, enabling discovery pathways for many untapped therapeutic targets. Citation Format: Cheryl Paes, Jason Goodman, Melanie Wescott, Yana Thaker, Anu Thomas, Joseph Couto, Joseph Rucker, Benjamin J. Doranz. Engineering and mapping difficult proteins using comprehensive mutagenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2441. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2441

OBJECTIVES: To examine the role of the laboratory in nosocomial infection control from January 1993 to December 1996 in Centro Geral de Pediatria of Hospital Foundation of Minas Gerais state. METHODS: Follow -up of 101,139 patient-days (11,147 discharges + deaths + transfers) in the wards and intensive care unit by using the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) system proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC- Atlanta). Prospective surveillance of nosocomial infections at all sites was performed according to the hospital - wide (since 1992) and intensive care unit (since 1996) NNIS components. The CDC definitions since 1988 and Brazilian Ministry of Health regulation number 930 since 1992 were used to diagnose the nosocomial infections. RESULTS: The five most frequent nosocomial pathogens (from a total of 139 isolates) were Klebsiella sp = 24.5%; S. aureus = 18%; P. aeruginosa = 13.7%; E. coli = 12.9%; S. epidermidis = 12.2%. The percentage of identification of pathogens isolated from nosocomial infection sites has increased from 6.2% in 1993 to 13.3% in 1995 and 28.2% in 1996 (p0.001) and so has the attempt to isolate the pathogens: 7.5% in 1993, 16.1% in 1995, 33.8% in 1996 (p0.001). The time interval taken for lab results (from specimen collected to microbiology result) has decreased from the average of ten days in 1993 to six days in 1996 (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The continuing education and improved communication among infection control personnel, pediatricians, surgeons and members of the laboratory have proven to play a key role in the epidemiology of nosocomial infections by defining their etiologies in the Centro Geral de Pediatria. A task force to determine the microbiology has been achieved by the understanding of all clinicians that it is important to treat their patients specifically. The NNIS method applied to Brazilian hospitals has shown its impact on the microbiology lab role in nosocomial infection control as well.

We have studied the polymorphism of HLA class I in two West African Pygmy populations, namely, the Bakola from Cameroon and the Mbenzele from the Central African Republic. A unique number of HLA alleles and haplotypes showed specific patterns of these populations. In this study, we identify two alleles (B*37, B*41) and three haplotypes (A*30-B*37, A*66-B*41 and A*68-B*58) that appear to be 'private' or typical of Western Pygmies. These data reflect similarities with the AKA Pygmies from the Central African Republic. On the other hand, we failed to identify alleles that are found at high frequencies among other sub-Saharan populations (B*42, B*51). Allelic and haplotypic frequency distributions show differences between the two Pygmy groups, e.g. B*35 was very common in the Mbenzele but has been found to be absent in the Bakola. In contrast, B*53, which is found in the Bakola, has been found to be rare in the Mbenzele Pygmies. In order to analyse the genetic relationships of the Bakola and Mbenzele Pygmies with other sub-Saharan populations, HLA gene frequencies were subjected to the Neighbour-Joining tree analysis. The Mbenzele, Bakola and AKA were found to be relatively close to each other and isolated from other sub-African populations. However, both the genetic distances and the within-group variation suggests that the Bakola are more admixed with Bantu farmers than Mbenzele.

Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito residual da adubação potássica do azevém sobre o arroz subseqüente, em sistema de semeadura direta, foi desenvolvido um experimento de campo, no período de maio de 1996 a abril de 1997, no Centro Agropecuário da Palma-UFPel, localizado no município do Capão do Leão (RS). Foi utilizado um Planossolo pertencente à unidade de mapeamento Pelotas. Os tratamentos constituíram-se por três níveis de K aplicados no azevém, equivalentes a 0, 0,5 e 1 vez a dose recomendada de 70 kg ha-1 de K2O, sobre cada um dos quais foram aplicados quatro níveis de K no arroz, cultivado após o azevém, equivalentes a 0, 0,5, 1 e 1,5 vez a dose recomendada de 60 kg ha-1 de K2O, resultando num fatorial completo com 12 tratamentos. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com três repetições. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que: (a) o K disponível após as culturas não aumentou neste solo com a adubação potássica nas doses recomendadas; (b) o efeito residual da adubação potássica do azevém para a cultura seguinte, neste solo, equivaleu a pelo menos 56 % do potássio aplicado, contido na parte aérea do azevém. To evaluate residual effects of potassium fertilization throught ryegrass on subsequent rice, under no-tillage system, a field experiment was performed from May 1996 to April 1997 in the Agricultural Center (Centro Agropecuário) of Palma/UFPel, in the county of Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The examined soil was a Planossolo (Albaqualf) belonging to the Pelotas mapping unit. Treatments consisted of three K levels applied on the ryegrass (0, 0.5 and 1 time the recommended dose of 70 kg ha-1 K2O) and four K levels on the rice grown after the ryegrass (equivalents to 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 times the recommended dose of 60 kg ha-1 K2O), resulting in complete factorial of twelve treatments. The design used was a randomized block with three replicates. The results indicated that: (a) the available K after the cultures does not increase in this soil with potassium fertilization in the recommended dosages; (b) the ryegrass potassium fertilization residual effect to the following culture, in this soil, is equivalent, at least, to 56 % of the applied potassium contained in the aerial part of ryegrass.