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Dengue viral (DENV) infections can lead to acute pancreatitis and associated tissue damage. This study examined the pancreas from two fatal cases of DENV for histopathological changes as well as for the detection of cytokines, and other inflammatory mediators. Tissue sections were prepared for examination by ultrastructural and histopathological techniques. Sections from the pancreas of non-infected individuals were prepared in parallel as a control. The presence of viral replication in macrophages was detected by co-staining for the proteins NS3 and CD68 by immunofluorescence. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect cells that expressed cytokines and inflammatory mediators to characterize the inflammatory response. Edema, acinar necrosis and fibrosis areas associated with a mononuclear infiltrate were found in infected tissues. The major site of virus replication appeared to be macrophages based on their exclusive presentation of the viral protein NS3. Pancreatic tissues from the infected individuals also displayed increased levels of high mobility group box-1, caspase-3, gelatinase B and tumor necrosis factor alpha compared to controls. The presence of virus replicating macrophages in the pancreas was associated with multiple changes in tissue structure that included elevated levels of cytokines and inflammatory markers that may differentiate acute pancreatitis due to DENV infections from other causes.

Novel Eu2+,3+/Yb3+ co-doping calcium aluminosilicate glasses prepared under a vacuum atmosphere were developed and characterized from the spectroscopic point of view, as a potential spectral converter for application in solar cells. The emission of near-infrared photons by downconversion due to cooperative energy transfer (ET) from Eu2+ and Eu3+ to Yb3+ in these glasses was reported. Absorption, excitation, emission, and fluorescence decay measurements were performed to examine the ET processes. The occurrence of cooperative energy transfer from Eu2+ and/or Eu3+ to Yb3+ ions was discussed in detail. The obtained samples have high efficiency and broad absorption in the ultraviolet and visible regions. Under 325 nm excitation, the samples achieve intense near-infrared emission, which increases with Yb2O3 concentration (0 < Yb2O3 < 1.38 mol. %). The energy transfer efficiency from Eu2+,3+ to Yb3+ was evaluated, and a maximum efficiency of ∼85% was obtained (Yb2O3 = 1.38 mol. %). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viviane Lamim Lovatel,1 Cecilia de Souza Fernandez,2 Eliane Ferreira Rodrigues,1 Rita de Cassia Tavares,3 Elaine Sobral da Costa,4 Eliana Abdelhay,5 Sheila Coelho Soares Lima,6 Teresa de Souza Fernandez1 1Cytogenetics Department, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center (CEMO), National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; 2Mathematical and Statistical Institute, Federal Fluminense University (UFF), Niterói, RJ, Brazil; 3Outpatient Department, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center (CEMO), National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; 4Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Federal Rio de Janeiro University (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; 5Stem Cell Department, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center (CEMO), National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; 6Molecular Carcinogenesis Program, National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilCorrespondence: Teresa de Souza FernandezInstituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Centro de Transplante de Medula Óssea, Laboratório de Citogenética, Praça Cruz Vermelha N o 23, 6º Andar. Centro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP: 20230-130, BrasilTel +55 21 3207-1701Email teresafernandez@inca.gov.brPurpose: The aim of this study was to analyse the expression profiles of DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B (components of DNA methylation machinery), TET2 and APOBEC3B (components of DNA demethylation machinery) in pediatric MDS patients and investigate their associations with MDS subtypes, cytogenetics, evolution to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and p15INK4B methylation level.Patients and Methods: The expressions of DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B, TET2, and APOBEC3B were evaluated in 39 pediatric MDS patients by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). The quantification of p15INK4B methylation levels (MtL) was performed in 20 pediatric MDS patients by pyrosequencing. Mann–Whitney test was used to evaluate possible differences between the expression levels of selected in patients and donors, according to MDS subtypes, karyotypes, evolution to AML and p15INK4B MtL. The correlations between the expression levels of the different genes were assessed by Spearman rank correlation coefficient.Results: We found that DNMTs expression levels were higher in pediatric MDS compared to donors [DNMT1 (p< 0.03), DNMT3A (p< 0.03), DNMT3B (p< 0.02)]. TET2 and APOBEC3B expression levels did not show a statistically significant difference between pediatric patients and donors. Considering MDS subtypes, patients at initial stage presented DNMT1 overexpression (p< 0.01), while DNMT3A (p< 0.02) and DNMT3B (p< 0.007) were overexpressed in advanced subtypes. TET2 and APOBEC3B expression did not differ in MDS subtypes. DNMT1 (p< 0.03), DNMT3B (p< 0.03), and APOBEC3B (p< 0.04) expression was higher in patients with normal karyotypes, while patients with abnormal karyotypes showed higher DNMT3A expression (p< 0.03). Karyotypes had no association with TET2 expression. DNMTs overexpression was observed in patients who showed disease evolution. A positive correlation was found between DNMTs expression and between APOBEC3B and DNMT3A/DNMT3B. However, TET2 expression was not correlated with DNMTs or APOBEC3B. p15INK4B MtL was higher in pediatric MDS patients compared with donors (p< 0.03) and its hypermethylation was associated with increased DNMT1 expression (p< 0.009).Conclusion: Our results suggest that the overexpression of DNMTs and an imbalance between the expressions of the DNA methylation/demethylation machinery components play an important role in MDS development and evolution to AML. These results have clinical implications indicating the importance of DNMTs inhibitors for preventing or delaying the progression to leukemia in pediatric MDS patients.Keywords: pediatric myelodysplastic syndrome, DNMTs, TET2, APOBEC3B

Raw milk and colostrum can harbor dangerous microorganisms that can pose serious health risks for animals and humans. According to the USDA, more than 58% of calves in the United States are fed unpasteurized milk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of UV light on reduction of bacteria in milk and colostrum, and on colostrum IgG. A pilot-scale UV light continuous (UVC) flow-through unit (45 J/cm(2)) was used to treat milk and colostrum. Colostrum and sterile whole milk were inoculated with Listeria innocua, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Salmonella serovar Typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Acinetobacter baumannii before being treated with UVC. During UVC treatment, samples were collected at 5 time points and bacteria were enumerated using selective media. The effect of UVC on IgG was evaluated using raw colostrum from a nearby dairy farm without the addition of bacteria. For each colostrum batch, samples were collected at several different time points and IgG was measured using ELISA. The UVC treatment of milk resulted in a significant final count (log cfu/mL) reduction of Listeria monocytogenes (3.2 ± 0.3 log cfu/mL reduction), Salmonella spp. (3.7 ± 0.2 log cfu/mL reduction), Escherichia coli (2.8 ± 0.2 log cfu/mL reduction), Staph. aureus (3.4 ± 0.3 log cfu/mL reduction), Streptococcus spp. (3.4 ± 0.4 log cfu/mL reduction), and A. baumannii (2.8 ± 0.2 log cfu/mL reduction). The UVC treatment of milk did not result in a significant final count (log cfu/mL) reduction for M. smegmatis (1.8 ± 0.5 log cfu/mL reduction). The UVC treatment of colostrum was significantly associated with a final reduction of bacterial count (log cfu/mL) of Listeria spp. (1.4 ± 0.3 log cfu/mL reduction), Salmonella spp. (1.0 ± 0.2 log cfu/mL reduction), and Acinetobacter spp. (1.1 ± 0.3 log cfu/mL reduction), but not of E. coli (0.5 ± 0.3 log cfu/mL reduction), Strep. agalactiae (0.8 ± 0.2 log cfu/mL reduction), and Staph. aureus (0.4 ± 0.2 log cfu/mL reduction). The UVC treatment of colostrum significantly decreased the IgG concentration, with an observed final mean IgG reduction of approximately 50%. Development of new methods to reduce bacterial contaminants in colostrum must take into consideration the barriers imposed by its opacity and organic components, and account for the incidental damage to IgG caused by manipulating colostrum.

Modeling and accurately forecasting trend and seasonal patterns of a time series is a crucial activity in economics. The main propose of this study is to evaluate and compare the performance of three traditional forecasting methods, namely the ARIMA models and their extensions, the classical decomposition time series associated with multiple linear regression models with correlated errors, and the Holt–Winters method. These methodologies are applied to retail time series from seven different European countries that present strong trend and seasonal fluctuations. In general, the results indicate that all the forecasting models somehow follow the seasonal pattern exhibited in the data. Based on mean squared error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean absolute scaled error (MASE) and U-Theil statistic, the results demonstrate the superiority of the ARIMA model over the other two forecasting approaches. Holt–Winters method also produces accurate forecasts, so it is considered a viable alternative to ARIMA. The performance of the forecasting methods in terms of coverage rates matches the results for accuracy measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical losses are the major drawback to overcome in the solar energy industry and development. Conversion of solar radiation into heat accounts for over 80% of the incident solar energy, which is driven by several aspects like the chosen design and encapsulation of the devices, built-in materials, and the mismatch between the solar spectrum and the active cell's bandgap energy. Photoacoustic (PA) and photothermal (PT) methods are characterization techniques based on the heat generation after the illumination of a material and respective detection. Since the beginning of the solar panel industrial development, these methods have been successfully applied to evaluate the photovoltaic efficiency of devices and the thermophysical parameters of related materials. Here, we present the state-of-art of application of these PA and PT methods to characterize solar cell devices and their built-in materials. Historical aspects, conceptual mechanisms of the basic phenomena, and perspectives on their application for energy-conversion measurements in the new frontier of solar cell research will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of HOLOS is the property of Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do norte - IFRN and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Floral scent is a key olfactory cue in both diurnal and nocturnal pollination systems. In the case of nocturnal systems, such as bat‐pollinated flowers, odour seems to play a more important role than visual cues. Cactaceae include many bat‐pollinated species; however, few studies have investigated the olfactory cues in this family.We analysed and compared the chemical composition of the floral bouquet of three chiropterophilous cactus species, among which are a pair of congeners that differ considerably in scent intensity.Our research presents novel findings regarding the floral scent chemistry of chiropterophilous cactus species. We documented the first case of a bat‐pollinated cactus whose flowers lack perceptible floral scent and in which no volatile compounds were detected in our chemical analyses. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of the floral bouquet of the other two bat‐pollinated species, revealing a resemblance among closely related species within the same genus.We highlight the need for further studies using biotests to investigate the mechanisms through which bats find flowers lacking scent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)