We report for the first time the efficient use of accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) for extraction of ricin to analytical purposes, followed by the combined use of sodium dodecyl ...sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and MALDI-TOF MS/MS method. That has provided a fast and unambiguous method of ricin identification for in real cases of forensic investigation of suspected samples. Additionally, MALDI-TOF MS was applied to characterize the presence and the toxic activity of ricin in irradiated samples. Samples containing ricin were subjected to ASE, irradiated with different dosages of gamma radiation, and analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS/MS for verification of the intact protein signal. For identification purposes, samples were previously subjected to SDS-PAGE, for purification and separation of the chains, followed by digestion with trypsin, and analysis by MALDI-TOF MS/MS. The results were confirmed by verification of the amino acid sequences of some selected peptides by MALDI-TOF MS/MS. The samples residual toxic activity was evaluated through incubation with a DNA substrate, to simulate the attack by ricin, followed by MALDI-TOF MS/MS analyses.
In order to be reliable, safe, selective, and high speed, protection systems have evolved quite significantly. Protection relays, now called intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), are the main ...elements of these systems and currently encompass not only protection functions but also bring advantages to the entire automation process within a substation, such as control and supervision. In this sense, this paper presents a proposal of auto diagnostics and monitoring template applied to IEDs of a 230 kV substation. To achieve this, analysis of the existing protection, control, monitoring and structures for input circuit breakers, feeders and busbar interconnection are inserted. This proposal explores the latest in terms of the features available in benchtop IED. The main results obtained are presented as a future proposal for improvement and standardization of control, diagnostics, monitoring, protection, and communication logic.
The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing the COVID-19 outbreak, posed a primary concern of public health worldwide. The most common changes in SARS-CoV-2 ...are single nucleotide substitutions, also reported insertions and deletions. This work investigates the presence of SARS-CoV-2 ORF7a deletions identified in COVID-19-positive individuals. Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 complete genomes showed three different ORF7a size deletions (190-nt, 339-nt and 365-nt). Deletions were confirmed through Sanger sequencing. The ORF7a∆190 was detected in a group of five relatives with mild symptoms of COVID-19, and the ORF7a∆339 and ORF7a∆365 in a couple of co-workers. These deletions did not affect subgenomic RNAs (sgRNA) production downstream of ORF7a. Still, fragments associated with sgRNA of genes upstream of ORF7a showed a decrease in size when corresponding to samples with deletions. In silico analysis suggests that the deletions impair protein proper function; however, isolated viruses with partial deletion of ORF7a can replicate in culture cells similarly to wild-type viruses at 24 hpi, but with less infectious particles after 48 hpi. These findings on deleted ORF7a accessory protein gene, contribute to understanding SARS-CoV-2 phenotypes such as replication, immune evasion and evolutionary fitness as well insights into the role of SARS-CoV-2_ORF7a in the mechanism of virus-host interactions.
The emerging fungal pathogens comprising the Candida haemulonii complex (Candida haemulonii, Candida haemulonii var. vulnera and Candida duobushaemulonii) are notable for their antifungal resistance. ...Twelve isolates with phenotypic similarity to C. haemulonii were recovered from patients in Brazilian hospitals. Here we aimed to identify these isolates by a molecular approach, using the current classification of this fungal complex, and to evaluate their antifungal susceptibility profiles.
The fungal isolates were rechecked to certify their authentication by mycology methodologies and then characterized by ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 gene sequencing. A susceptibility assay was performed using the broth microdilution method published by CLSI (M27-A3/M27-S3).
Based on biochemical tests, all Brazilian isolates were identified as C. haemulonii. After employing ITS sequencing, five isolates were identified as C. haemulonii, four as C. duobushaemulonii and three as C. haemulonii var. vulnera. All 12 clinical isolates were resistant to amphotericin B (MICs ranged from 2 to >16 mg/L) and fluconazole (MICs ≥ 64 mg/L). One isolate of C. haemulonii var. vulnera and two isolates of C. duobushaemulonii were susceptible-dose dependent to itraconazole, while the remaining isolates (75%) were resistant to this antifungal. Eight out of 12 isolates (66.7%) were resistant to voriconazole (MICs ≥ 16 mg/L), while all isolates were susceptible to caspofungin (MICs ≤ 0.5 mg/L).
Our results reinforce the importance of molecular identification in differentiating species of the C. haemulonii complex. Moreover, the antifungal multiresistant profile of clinical isolates of the C. haemulonii complex represents a challenge to the treatment of such infections.
A single vaccination of Yellow Fever vaccines is believed to confer life-long protection. In this study, results of vaccinees who received a single dose of 17DD-YF immunization followed over 10 y ...challenge this premise. YF-neutralizing antibodies, subsets of memory T and B cells as well as cytokine-producing lymphocytes were evaluated in groups of adults before (NVday0) and after (PVday30-45, PVyear1-4, PVyear5-9, PVyear10-11, PVyear12-13) 17DD-YF primary vaccination. YF-neutralizing antibodies decrease significantly from PVyear1-4 to PVyear12-13 as compared to PVday30-45, and the seropositivity rates (PRNT≥2.9Log
10
mIU/mL) become critical (lower than 90%) beyond PVyear5-9. YF-specific memory phenotypes (effector T-cells and classical B-cells) significantly increase at PVday30-45 as compared to naïve baseline. Moreover, these phenotypes tend to decrease at PVyear10-11 as compared to PVday30-45. Decreasing levels of TNF-α
+
and IFN-γ
+
produced by CD4
+
and CD8
+
T-cells along with increasing levels of IL-10
+
CD4
+
T-cells were characteristic of anti-YF response over time. Systems biology profiling represented by hierarchic networks revealed that while the naïve baseline is characterized by independent micro-nets, primary vaccinees displayed an imbricate network with essential role of central and effector CD8
+
memory T-cell responses. Any putative limitations of this cross-sectional study will certainly be answered by the ongoing longitudinal population-based investigation. Overall, our data support the current Brazilian national immunization policy guidelines that recommend one booster dose 10 y after primary 17DD-YF vaccination.
AIM: The Tancredo Neves International Airport (TNIA) complex is situated in Brazil's Fidalgo watershed. Since its construction, the TNIA complex has attracted urban development, leading to expansion ...of the complex and occupation of the surrounding area. However, this area lacks basic infrastructure such as wastewater treatment facilities. This paper had the objectives of calibrating and validating a water quality prediction model and of assessing the capacity of small karstic watersheds to assimilate non-point source pollutant loads; METHODS: We used the QUAL2Kw model for modeling the water quality. We performed model calibration for the rainy period then validated the results for the dry period; RESULTS: The model adequately represented the physical, chemical, and hydraulic aspects of the Fidalgo watershed. The pH, EC, TDS, TP, alkalinity and E. coli presented the closest simulation values for the rainy period. For the dry period, the best simulations were obtained for pH, EC, TDS, TP, and alkalinity. We concluded that the calibration and validation periods had similar RMSE values for flow rate, TDS and DOC. The differences were greater for pH, EC, NO3, TP, and E. coli. The lowest dissolved oxygen contents obtained during the calibration and validation periods were 5.4 and 4.7 mg.L-1, respectively, both of which are higher than the minimum of 4.0 mg.L-1 established by the USEPA for the conservation of aquatic communities, but lower than the minimum of 5.0 mg.L-1established by the Brazilian CONAMA 357. The upper limits for biochemical oxygen demand and total N and P can be met as long as the respective loads increase by no more than 0.361 kg.d-1 O2, 0.022 kg.d-1 N, and 0.010 kg.d-1 P, according to USEPA and 0.361 kg.d-1 O2 and 0.012 kg.d-1 P according to CONAMA 357; CONCLUSIONS: The conservation of the water resources in this region should therefore consider the adoption of preventive measures such as protecting exposed soils and decreasing the nutrient influx from agricultural and livestock activities.
Throughput comparison between RACH and CPCH in 3GPP Soares, R.D.; Brito, J.M.C.
Advanced Industrial Conference on Telecommunications/Service Assurance with Partial and Intermittent Resources Conference/E-Learning on Telecommunications Workshop (AICT/SAPIR/ELETE'05),
2005
Conference Proceeding
Two uplink common channels using random access techniques are defined in the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS): random access channel (RACH) and common packet channel (CPCH). For a ...better utilization of UMTS resources, it is very important to predict the performance of these channels. We present new expressions to compute the success probability in both channels and, based on these results, we compare the throughput of the channels. Also, we show some conditions to maximize the performance of RACH and CPCH.
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