The objective of this work is to assess the wind resources of the east coast of Maranhão, Brazil. Wind profilers were combined with micrometeorological towers and atmospheric reanalysis to ...investigate micro- and mesoscale aspects of wind variability. Field campaigns recorded winds in the dry and wet seasons, under the influence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The dry season was characterized by strong winds (8 to 12 m s−1) from the northeast. Surface heat fluxes were generally positive (250 to 320 W m−2) at midday and negative (−10 to −20 W m−2) during the night. Convective profiles predominated near the beach, with strongly stable conditions rarely occurring before sunrise. Further inland, convective to strongly convective profiles occurred during the day, and neutral to strongly stable profiles at night. Wind speeds decreased during the rainy season (4 to 8 m s−1), with increasingly easterly and southeasterly components. Cloud cover and precipitation reduced midday heat fluxes (77 W m−2). Profiles were convective during midday and stable to strongly stable at night. Terrain roughness increased with distance from the ocean ranging from smooth surfaces (zo = 0.95 mm) and rough pastures (zo = 15.33 mm) to crops and bushes (zo = 52.68 mm), and trees and small buildings (zo = 246.46 mm) farther inland. Seasonal variations of the mean flow and sea and land breezes produced distinct diurnal patterns of wind speeds. The strongest (weakest) breeze amplitudes were observed in the dry (rainy) period. Daily changes in heat fluxes and fetch over land controlled the characteristics of wind profiles. During sea breezes, winds approached the coast at right angles, resulting in shorter fetches over land that maintained or enhanced oceanic convective conditions. During land breezes, winds blew from the mainland or with acute angles against the coastline, resulting in large fetches with nighttime surface cooling, generating strongly stable profiles. Coastal observations demonstrated that with increasing monopiles from 100 to 130 m it is possible to obtain similar capacity factors of beachfront turbines.
The bacterial genus Borrelia comprises vector-borne spirochetes that have been classified into three major groups: the relapsing fever group (RFG), the Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, ...Steigerwalt & Brenner sensu lato group (Bbsl), and the reptile-monotreme group (RMG). All three groups have been associated mainly with ticks and wild animals, especially rodents, birds, and reptiles. Here, we searched for Borrelia infection among 99 vampire bats Desmodus rotundus (É. Geoffroy) (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from the Brazilian semiarid region. Through molecular investigation of bat internal organs, haplotypes of a potentially novel Borrelia organism were detected in 5% (5/99) of the bats. Borrelia DNA was detected in the liver, blood, spleen, kidney and brain, suggesting a systemic infection. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from partial sequences of the borrelial rrs and flaB genes indicated that the vampire bat-associated Borrelia sp. of this study form a monophyletic group with a newly reported Borrelia associated with a Colombia bat, distinct from the three main currently recognized groups of Borrelia spp., Bbsl, RFG, and RMG. These novel bat-associated Borrelia spp. from South America might have arisen through an independent event along the borrelial evolutionary history, since previous molecular reports of Borrelia organisms in bats or bat-associated ticks from Africa, Europe, and North America were all classified in the RFG.
Dengue is a public health problem, with several gaps in understanding its pathogenesis. Studies based on human fatal cases are extremely important and may clarify some of these gaps. In this work, we ...analyzed lesions in different organs of four dengue fatal cases, occurred in Brazil. Tissues were prepared for visualization in optical and electron microscopy, with damages quantification. As expected, we observed in all studied organ lesions characteristic of severe dengue, such as hemorrhage and edema, although other injuries were also detected. Cases presented necrotic areas in the liver and diffuse macro and microsteatosis, which were more accentuated in case 1, who also had obesity. The lung was the most affected organ, with hyaline membrane formation associated with mononuclear infiltrates in patients with pre-existing diseases such as diabetes and obesity (cases 1 and 2, respectively). These cases had also extensive acute tubular necrosis in the kidney. Infection induced destruction of cardiac fibers in most cases, with absence of nucleus and loss of striations, suggesting myocarditis. Spleens revealed significant destruction of the germinal centers and atrophy of lymphoid follicles, which may be associated to decrease of T cell number. Circulatory disturbs were reinforced by the presence of megakaryocytes in alveolar spaces, thrombus formation in glomerular capillaries and loss of endothelium in several tissues. Besides histopathological and ultrastructural observations, virus replication were investigated by detection of dengue antigens, especially the non-structural 3 protein (NS3), and confirmed by the presence of virus RNA negative strand (in situ hybridization), with second staining for identification of some cells. Results showed that dengue had broader tropism comparing to what was described before in literature, replicating in hepatocytes, type II pneumocytes and cardiac fibers, as well as in resident and circulating monocytes/macrophages and endothelial cells.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
In Brazil, 19 species of the genus
Ornithodoros
(Acari: Argasidae) have been reported. The medical and veterinary importance of
Ornithodoros
ticks has increased substantially in recent decades, with ...the discovery of various relapsing fever
Borrelia
infecting
Ornithodoros
ticks. Herein, argasid ticks were collected during 2019–2020 from caves, abandoned nests and homes in various regions of Ceará State, Brazilian semiarid—Caatinga biome. In total, 289 ticks were collected and identified into five species:
Ornithodoros cavernicolous
(176 specimens),
Ornithodoros fonsecai
(81),
Ornithodoros mimon
(12),
Ornithodoros rietcorreai
(4), and a fifth species provisionally retained as
Ornithodoros
sp. Ubajara. Tick identifications were corroborated by a phylogenetic analysis inferred using the 16S rRNA gene. To extend the molecular characterization, DNA samples were tested by an additional PCR assay targeting the nuclear
Histone 3
(H3) gene. Because there were no H3 sequences of argasids in GenBank, we extended this PCR assay for additional
Ornithodoros
species, available in our laboratory. In total, 15 partial sequences of the H3 gene were generated for 10
Ornithodoros
species, showing 0% intraspecific polymorphism, and 1.5–11.6% interspecific polymorphism. Phylogenetic analyses inferred segregated
Ornithodoros
sp. Ubajara as a potential novel species. Our results also highlight the potential of the H3 gene for deeper phylogenetic analyses of argasids. The present study provides new data for argasid ticks of the genus
Ornithodoros
in the Caatinga biome. Because some of these tick species are human-biting ticks, active surveillance for the incidence of human infection due to
Ornithodoros-
borne agents is imperative in the Caatinga biome.
Klebsiella pneumoniae is considered one of the most important Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens. The contact between humans and birds poses health risks to both. The aim of this study was to ...investigate the resistance and virulence of K. pneumoniae isolates from psittacines and passerines, seized from illegal trade in Brazil. We analysed 32 strains isolated from birds of the orders Psittaciformes and Passeriformes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for virulence factor genes. Antibiotic resistance was assessed by disk diffusion assay and PCR. The results indicated that fimH (100%), uge (96.8%), kfu (81.2%) and irp -2 (68.7%) were the most common virulence genes, followed by kpn (46.8%), K2 (43.7%), mrkD (34.3%) and iroN (15.6%). The combination of virulence genes resulted in a great diversity of genotypes and the heterogeneity of the strains is also confirmed in the analysis by amplified fragment length polymorphism. The susceptibility profiles of the K. pneumoniae showed 25% of multiple antibiotic resistance strains. We identified seven strains that presented non-extended spectrum beta lactamase bla SHV variants SHV-1 and SHV-11 and one strain positive to the bla TEM-1 gene. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance was present in 10 strains (10/32). The data obtained in this study reveal the pathogenic potential of this pathogen and highlight the need for surveillance and monitoring.
Spontaneous abortion is considered a public health problem having several causes, including infections. Among the infectious agents, bacteria of the vaginal microbiota and Ureaplasma parvum have been ...associated with abortion, but their participation needs to be further elucidated. This study aims to evaluate the influence of Mollicutes on the development of spontaneous abortion. Women who underwent spontaneous abortion and those with normal birth (control) were studied. Samples of cervical mucus (CM) and placental tissue were collected to identify Mollicutes using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction methodology. Eighty-nine women who had a miscarriage and 20 women with normal pregnancies were studied. The presence of Mollicutes in placental tissue increased the chance of developing miscarriage sevenfold. The prevalence of U. parvum in women who experienced spontaneous abortion was 66.3% in placental tissue. A positive association was observed between the detection of U. parvum in samples of placental tissue and abortion. There was a significant increase in microbial load in placental tissue for M. hominis, U. urealyticum and U. parvum compared to the control group. Detection of U. parvum in CM in pregnant women can ascend to the region of the placental tissue and trigger a spontaneous abortion.
Aim
The increase in the number of fungal infections worldwide, coupled with the limitations of current antifungal chemotherapy, demand the development of safe and effective new antifungals. Here, we ...presented the synthesis of a novel acridone (M14) and its antifungal properties against Candida and dermatophytes species.
Methods and Results
A series of 17 acridones was designed, synthesized and tested for its antifungal activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the broth microdilution method. Only the acridone M14 showed growth‐inhibitory activity against reference strains and clinical isolates of Candida and dermatophytes, with MIC range of 7·81–31·25 µg ml−1. Moreover, M14 exhibited fungicidal activity and prevented biofilm formation by C. albicans as well as reduced the viability of preformed biofilms, even at sub‐MICs. The confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis revealed that C. albicans hyphal growth was completely inhibited in the presence of M14. Similarly, there was a severe inhibition on hyphal growth of Trichophyton rubrum. We also found that M14 has relatively low toxicity to human fibroblasts.
Conclusions
The new acridone M14 has antifungal properties against Candida spp. and dermatophytes, and antibiofilm activity against C. albicans. In addition, M14 is relatively selective to fungal cells compared to human normal cells.
Significance and Impact of the Study
Because of its in vitro antifungal activity, anti‐Candida biofilm effect and moderate cytotoxicity towards normal human cell, M14 may serve as a valuable lead compound to develop a new antifungal agent.
Obesity is a troubling public health problem as it increases risks of sleep disorders, respiratory complications, systemic arterial hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, ...and metabolic syndrome (MetS). As a measure to counteract comorbidities associated with severe obesity, bariatric surgery stands out. This study aimed to investigate the adiponectin/leptin ratio in women with severe obesity with and without MetS who had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and to characterize the biochemical, glucose, and inflammatory parameters of blood in women with severe obesity before and after RYGB. Were enrolled females with severe obesity undergoing RYGP with MetS (
= 11) and without (
= 39). Anthropometric data and circulating levels of glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), adiponectin, and leptin were assessed before and 6 months after RYGB. Significant reductions in weight, body mass index, and glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, and leptin were observed after surgery, with higher levels of HDL, adiponectin, and adiponectin/leptin ratio being observed after surgery compared to the preoperative values of those. This study demonstrated that weight loss induced by RYGB in patients with severe obesity with or without MetS improved biochemical and systemic inflammatory parameters, particularly the adiponectin/leptin ratio.
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•Forensic analysis of artwork.•Pigment analysis by FTIR.•Pigment analysis by XRF.•Analysis of artworks by MA-XRF.•Scientific analysis of analytical data.
This work studied suspicious ...and authentic artworks by Brazilian painters Ivan Serpa, Ismael Nery, and Iberê Camargo by XRF, FTIR, OM, and MA-XRF techniques. The studies made it possible to verify that all suspicious artworks are counterfeit artifacts. The analyses were conducted in situ, and different approaches were applied for data treatment. For example, principal component analysis and spectral deconvolution were performed on the XRF data. From these methods, it was possible to verify that the suspect artworks by Ivan Serpa and Iberê Camargo have different materiality than the authentic paintings. Additionally, MA-XRF images did not reveal the presence of a polychrome preparation layer in the suspicious paintings by Ivan Serpa. The suspect artworks from Ismael Nery exhibited a Ca-K/Ti-K ratio that indicates they were created on a low-quality paper support, which is not suitable for paintings. The differences in materials used in the suspicious and authentic artworks are further supported by the FTIR and OM results. In addition to the physicochemical analysis, the paintings were studies graphotechnical examinations, financial evaluations, and artistic analyses that demonstrated they were counterfeit artifacts. The results of the analysis demonstrate how physicochemical techniques can contribute to the forensic investigation of paintings. However, this work highlights the importance of applying distinct treatments to the XRF data in order to accentuate the differences between the suspect and authentic artworks.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic modality that has shown effectiveness in the inactivation of cancer cell lines and microorganisms. Treatment consists of activating the photosensitizer ...(PS) upon light irradiation of adequate wavelength. After reaching the excited state, the PS can handle the intersystem conversion through energy transfer to the molecular oxygen, generating reactive oxygen species. This especially applies to singlet oxygen (1O2), which is responsible for the selective destruction of the sick tissue. Photosensitizing compounds (chlorophylls and derivatives) existing in the spinach extract have applicability for PDT. This study aimed to develop and characterize the thermoresponsive bioadhesive system composed of Pluronic F127 20.0%- and Carbopol 934P 0.2% (w/w) (FC)-containing chlorophyll-based extract 0.5% (w/w) (FC-Chl). Mechanical and rheological properties, in vitro release, sol–gel transition temperature, and ex vivo permeability of the spinach extract PS components (through pig ear skin) were investigated. Furthermore, photodynamic activity of the system was accessed through uric acid and time-solved measurements. The sol–gel transition temperature obtained for the FC-Chl system was 28.8 ± 0.3 °C. Rheological and texture properties of the platform were suitable for use as a dermatological system, exhibiting easy application and good characteristics of retention in the place of administration. In vitro release studies showed the presence of two distinct mechanisms that reasonably obey the zero-order and first-order kinetics models. PS components presented skin permeability and reached a permeation depth of 830 μm (between the epidermis and dermis). The photodynamic evaluation of the FC-Chl system was effective in the degradation of uric acid. The quantum yield (ΦΔ 1O2) and life time (τ1O2) of singlet oxygen showed similar values for the spinach extract and the isolated chlorophyll a species in ethanol. These results allowed for the classification of the FC-Chl platform as potentially useful for the delivery of the chlorophyll-based extract in the topic PDT, suggesting that it is worthy for in vivo evaluation.
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