This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of phenolic‐rich extracts from acerola (Malpighia emarginata D.C., PEA), cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L., PEC) and mango (Mangifera indica ...L., PEM) by‐products on distinct enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains. The capability of PEA and PEC of impairing various physiological functions of ETEC strains was investigated with multiparametric flow cytometry. Procyanidin B2, myricetin and p‐coumaric acid were the major phenolic compounds in PEA, PEC and PEM, respectively. PEA and PEC had lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) (MIC: 31·25 mg ml−1; MBC: 62·5 mg ml−1) on ETEC strains than PEM (MIC and MIC: >1000 mg ml−1). PEA and PEC (15·6, 31·2, 62·5 mg ml−1) caused viable count reductions (P < 0·05) on ETEC strains after 24 h of exposure, notably the ≥3 log reductions caused by 62·5 mg ml−1. The 24 h exposure of ETEC strains to PEA and PEC (31·2, 62·5 mg ml−1) led to high sizes of cell subpopulations with concomitant impairments in cell membrane polarization and permeability, as well as in enzymatic, respiratory and efflux activities. PEA and PEC are effective in inhibiting ETEC through a multi‐target action mode with disturbance in different physiological functions.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is one of the main causes of diarrhoea in humans and animals. The increasing resistance of ETEC strains to clinically relevant antibiotics has prompt the necessity to search for novel substances with inhibitory efficacy. This is the first study showing the capability of phenolic‐rich extracts of acerola and cashew apple by‐products causing the inhibition of distinct ETEC strains, with disturbance of various physiological functions, indicating these substances as potential antimicrobials to be exploited in solutions to control ETEC in humans and animals.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Inflammation resolution is an active process that functions to restore tissue homeostasis. The participation of the plasminogen (Plg)/plasmin (Pla) system in the productive phase of inflammation is ...well known, but its involvement in the resolution phase remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential role of Plg/Pla in key events during the resolution of acute inflammation and its underlying mechanisms. Plg/Pla injection into the pleural cavity of BALB/c mice induced a time-dependent influx of mononuclear cells that were primarily macrophages of anti-inflammatory (M2 F4/80high Gr1– CD11bhigh) and proresolving (Mres F4/80med CD11blow) phenotypes, without changing the number of macrophages with a proinflammatory profile (M1 F4/80low Gr1+ CD11bmed). Pleural injection of Plg/Pla also increased M2 markers (CD206 and arginase-1) and secretory products (transforming growth factor β and interleukin-6) and decreased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (M1 marker). During the resolving phase of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation when resolving macrophages predominate, we found increased Plg expression and Pla activity, further supporting a link between the Plg/Pla system and key cellular events in resolution. Indeed, Plg or Pla given at the peak of inflammation promoted resolution by decreasing neutrophil numbers and increasing neutrophil apoptosis and efferocytosis in a serine-protease inhibitor–sensitive manner. Next, we confirmed the ability of Plg/Pla to both promote efferocytosis and override the prosurvival effect of LPS via annexin A1. These findings suggest that Plg and Pla regulate several key steps in inflammation resolution, namely, neutrophil apoptosis, macrophage reprogramming, and efferocytosis, which have a major impact on the establishment of an efficient resolution process.
•Plg and Pla induce macrophage reprogramming and promote resolution of acute inflammation.•Plg and Pla enhance the efferocytic capacity of macrophages and override the prosurvival effect of LPS on neutrophils via annexin A1.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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•A novel WQIR integrating a historical series of hydrogeochemical data is developed.•The cumulative plots identified the variables in non-compliance with the MAVs.•WQIR contributes to ...the sustainable groundwater management strategy in semiarid.•Geospatial maps indicate areas most affected by anthropogenic activities.
Globally speaking, groundwater is the predominant source of water for populations living in arid and semiarid regions. The tools used to assess the quality of this resource contribute to the water security of the populations that depend on it. This study evaluated the quality of groundwater sampled from 22 monitored wells in the Araripe Sedimentary Basin (ASB), located in the Brazilian semiarid region. We used probability curves to identify the critical variables and a regional Water Quality Index (WQIR) to assess groundwater quality. The National Sanitation Foundation index (WQINSF) was adapted using multivariate statistical analyses. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to determine the principal water quality parameters and their weights. GIS technology was used to build geospatial behavior maps for the hydrogeochemical variables. The results for the variables phosphorus, Nitrate-N, thermotolerant coliforms, pH, and turbidity exceeded the regulatory limits, mainly in areas affected by anthropogenic sources with an insufficient sewage network. Nitrate-N and turbidity had a marked seasonal behavior. The WQIR showed that the aquifer’s waters can be classified mainly as Regular (18.2%) or Good (82.8%). The spatial behavior maps of the hydrogeochemical variables and the WQIR allow us to prioritize those areas requiring mitigation and monitoring actions. The water quality curves and the WQIR are important tools for the management and handling of aquifers. This study contributes to the assessment of water quality by policy makers and stakeholders, enabling the planning and management of groundwater resources.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract
Brazil is experiencing among the world’s fastest demographic aging worldwide. This demographic transition is occurring in a context of few resources and great social inequalities. The ...Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) is a nationally representative study of 9,412 people aged 50 years or older, residing in 70 municipalities across the 5 Brazilian regions. ELSI-Brazil allows investigations of the aging process, its health, psychosocial and economic determinants, and societal consequences. The baseline examination (2015–2016) included detailed household and individual interviews and physical measurements (blood pressure, anthropometry, grip strength, and timed walk and balance tests). Blood tests and sample storage were performed in a subsample of study participants. Subsequent waves are planned for every 3 years. The study adopts a conceptual framework common to other large-scale longitudinal studies of aging in the world, such as the Health and Retirement Study, allowing cross-national comparisons. The goal of ELSI-Brazil is not only to build an understanding of aging in a large, Western, middle-income country in a rapid demographic transition but also to provide scientific data to support and study policy changes that may affect older adults. We describe the methodology of the study and some descriptive results of the baseline survey.
On the Aromatic Stabilization of Fused Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Costa, José C. S; Campos, Ricardo M; Lima, Luís M. S. S ...
The journal of physical chemistry. A, Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment, & general theory,
05/2021, Volume:
125, Issue:
17
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The thermodynamic properties and band gap energies were evaluated for six ortho- and peri-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): triphenylene; benzoapyrene; benzoepyrene; perylene; ...benzoghiperylene; coronene. The standard molar enthalpies of formation in the crystalline state and the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation were measured by high precision combustion calorimetry and Knudsen effusion methodology, respectively. The combination of the molar enthalpies of formation in the crystalline state with the respective enthalpies of sublimation was used to evaluate the energetics of the progressive peri-fusion of the aromatic moieties from triphenylene to coronene aiming to investigate the hypothetical superaromaticity character of coronene. The linear trend of the enthalpy of formation in crystalline and gaseous phases in the series (from benzoepyrene to coronene) is an irrefutable indication of a non-superaromaticity character of coronene. High accurate thermodynamic properties of sublimation (volatility, enthalpy, and entropy of sublimation) were derived by the measurement of vapor pressures as a function of temperature, using a Knudsen/quartz crystal effusion methodology. Furthermore, the π-electronic conjugation of these compounds was explored by evaluation of the optical band gaps along with this series of compounds. The morphology of perylene, benzoghiperylene, and coronene thin films, deposited by physical vapor deposition onto transparent conductive oxide substrates (ITO and FTO), was used to analyze the nucleation and growth mechanisms. The morphologies observed were found to be related to the cohesive energy and entropy of the bulk.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
We examined socioeconomic inequalities in health among older adults in England and Brazil.
We analyzed nationally representative samples of residents aged 50 years and older in 2008 data from the ...Brazilian National Household Survey (n = 75,527) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (n = 9589). We estimated prevalence ratios for self-rated health, functional limitations, and reported chronic diseases, by education level and household income tertiles.
Brazilians reported worse health than did English respondents. Country-specific differences were higher among the poorest, but also affected the wealthiest persons. We observed a strong inverse gradient of similar magnitude across education and household income levels for most health indicators in each country. Prevalence ratios (lowest vs highest education level) of poor self-rated health were 3.24 in Brazil and 3.50 in England; having 2 or more functional limitations, 1.81 in Brazil and 1.96 in England; and having 1 or more diseases, 1.14 in Brazil and 1.36 in England.
Socioeconomic inequalities in health affect both populations, despite a less pronounced absolute difference in household income and education in Brazil than in England.
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CEKLJ, DOBA, FSPLJ, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
A reaction mechanism was proposed based on in situ DRIFTS and ethanol TPD. Reaction type, feed ratio, and temperature influence amounts and types of carbon deposited and in turn, catalyst stability. ...The mechanisms of Co/ceria catalyst deactivation during steam reforming, oxidative steam reforming, and partial oxidation of ethanol were explored by comparing the results from different characterization techniques with those obtained from catalytic testing in a fixed-bed reactor. The nature of carbon deposition and the reaction conditions played critical roles in determining the extent of a catalyst deactivation. To shed light on the modes of carbon deposition under different reaction conditions, the mechanisms by which the adsorbed surface species turned over on the catalyst surface were evaluated using diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy under reaction conditions and temperature-programed desorption of adsorbed ethanol. In steam reforming, ethoxy species were converted to acetate and steam promoted forward acetate demethanation. The resulting methane decomposed on Co metal particles. In this case, carbon diffused through the Co particle, nucleating growth sites for filamentous carbon behind it, with the resulting filaments lifting Co from the support. High H2 O/ethanol ratios and oxygen promoted cleaning of the cobalt surface.PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli are part of the Enterobacteriaceae family, being common sources of community and hospital infections and having high antimicrobial resistance. This ...resistance profile has become the main problem of public health infections. Determining whether a bacterium has resistance is critical to the correct treatment of the patient. Currently the method for determination of bacterial resistance used in laboratory routine is the antibiogram, whose time to obtain the results can vary from 1 to 3 days. An alternative method to perform this determination faster is excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy combined with multivariate classification methods. In this paper, Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA) and Support Vector Machines (SVM), coupled with dimensionality reduction and variable selection algorithms: Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and the Successive Projections Algorithm (SPA) were used. The most satisfactory models achieved sensitivity and specificity rates of 100% for all classes, both for E. coli and for K. pneumoniae. This finding demonstrates that the proposed methodology has promising potential in routine analyzes, streamlining the results and increasing the chances of treatment efficiency.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study aimed to measure the magnitude of education-related inequalities in the use of dental services among older adults (aged 50 y or older) from a sizable multicountry sample of 23 ...upper-middle- and high-income countries. This study used cross-sectional data from nationally representative surveys of people aged 50 y and over. Countries included in the Health and Retirement Study surveys were the following: Brazil, China, South Korea, Mexico, United States, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Israel, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The dependent variable was the use of dental services, based on the self-report of having had a dental visit within the previous year, except for the United States and South Korea, which used 2-y recall periods. Educational level was used as the measure of socioeconomic position and was standardized across countries. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to evaluate the factors associated with the use of dental services, and the magnitude of education inequalities in the use of dental services was assessed using the slope index of inequality (SII) to measure absolute inequalities and the relative index of inequality for relative inequalities. The pooled prevalence of the use of dental services was 31.7% and ranged from 18.7% in China to 81.2% in Sweden. In the overall sample, the absolute difference in the prevalence of use between the lowest and highest educational groups was 20 percentage points. SII was significant for all countries except Portugal. Relative educational inequalities were significant for all countries and ranged from 3.2 in Poland to 1.2 in Sweden. There were significant education-related inequalities in the use of dental care by older adults in all countries. Monitoring these inequalities is critical to the planning and delivery of dental services.
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CMK, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
We report the results from a search for z > 6.5 quasars using the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Year 3 data set combined with the VISTA Hemisphere Survey (VHS) and WISE All-Sky Survey. Our photometric ...selection method is shown to be highly efficient in identifying clean samples of high-redshift quasars, leading to spectroscopic confirmation of three new quasars – VDES J0244-5008 (z = 6.724), VDES J0020-3653 (z = 6.834), and VDES J0246-5219 (z = 6.90) – which were selected as the highest priority candidates in the survey data without any need for additional follow-up observations. Here, we have obtained spectroscopic observations in the near-infrared for VDES J0244-5008 and VDES J0020-3653 as well as our previously identified quasar, VDES J0224-4711 at z = 6.50 from Reed et al. We use the near-infrared spectra to derive virial black hole masses from the full width at half-maximum of the Mg ii line. These black hole masses are ≃1–2 × 109 M⊙. Combined with the bolometric luminosities of these quasars of Lbol ≃ 1–3 × 1047, these imply that the Eddington ratios are high, ≃0.6–1.1. We consider the C iv emission line properties of the sample and demonstrate that our high-redshift quasars do not have unusual C iv line properties when compared to carefully matched low-redshift samples. Our new DES + VHS z > 6.5 quasars now add to the growing census of luminous, rapidly accreting supermassive black holes seen well into the epoch of reionization.
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