Summary
Metacommunity structure may be strongly influenced by spatial dynamics and environmental factors, as well as biogeographic effects. Here, we examined variation in lake cladoceran communities ...associated with floating macrophytes in the four major Brazilian floodplain systems (Amazônia, Araguaia, Pantanal and Paraná) in relation to local environmental factors, spatial components, climate variables and basin identity.
Moran's eigenvector maps were used as a proxy to examine spatial structures within each drainage basin. The final sets of local environmental, climate and spatial variables were selected for constrained ordination models, using a forward selection method. We used variation partitioning to decompose variation in cladoceran community composition in relation to the four sets of predictor variables. Beta‐diversity indices were calculated to quantify the contributions of turnover and nestedness components to total beta diversity of cladocerans within each basin and across the basins.
Variation partitioning showed that the pure fractions were relatively small, ranging from around zero for spatial and basin identity variables to 2% for climate variables and 4% for local environmental variables. The shared effect of local environmental, climate and basin identity was considerable, accounting for 17% of the total variance. Furthermore, the shared effect of climate and basin identity was also considerable (6%). In total, 32% of variation in cladoceran community structure could be explained by our predictor variables. Cladoceran metacommunities showed high levels of beta diversity attributed to the turnover component, within each floodplain and across all four floodplains.
Our finding showed that species sorting was likely to be the main agent structuring cladoceran communities. Spatial processes were not important at very large spatial scales, contrary to what has been found in previous studies. This finding was most likely due to the inclusion of climatic variables in our analysis, combined with the high dispersal ability of cladocerans.
This study evaluated the feasibility of removing Alizarin Red S dye (ARS) from aqueous solutions, using nanoadsorbents such as single and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT and MWCNT, respectively). ...The effect of pH, shaking time, and temperature on adsorption was studied. The pH 2.0 was observed to show optimum removal for both of the carbon nanotubes. The equilibrium time (298–318 K) was fixed at 65 and 100 min for SWCNT and MWCNT, respectively. The kinetics of adsorption was calculated using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and general-order equations. The calculations revealed that the general-order kinetic equation best-fit the adsorption data. The Liu isotherm model best fit the equilibrium data (298–318 K). The maximum sorption capacity at 318 K for ARS dye was 312.5 and 135.2 mg g–1 for SWCNT and MWCNT, respectively. Change in entropy (Δ S°), Gibb’s free energy change (Δ G°), and enthalpy (Δ H°) were calculated for the adsorption of ARS dye. The electrostatic interaction between nanoadsorbent–adsorbate was conveyed using the magnitude of change in enthalpy. Ab initio simulation was used to study the interaction of ARS with (5,5) and (8,0) SWCNTs, and (16,0) and (25,0) SWCNTs with and without vacancy. The theoretical calculations showed that the binding energies between ARS dye and SWCNTs are enhanced as the nanotube diameter gets bigger; however, the distance of binding remains unchanged. Therefore, the results from first principle calculations indicated that electrostatic interaction may be responsible for the adsorption of ARS dye onto SWCNT. The theoretical outcomes were found to be in coordination with the experimental estimates.
Purpose
Both spondyloarthritis and chronic low back pain (CLBP) significantly impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL). It is important to clarify whether these disorders have different impacts ...on the several domains of HRQoL as different mechanisms may necessitate different treatment interventions. Moreover, the factors associated with HRQoL can inform more targeted group interventions to promote HRQoL.
Methods
We used data from EpiReumaPt, a population-based survey conducted from September 2011 to December 2013. HRQoL was assessed with EuroQoL-5-Dimensions (EQ-5D). Spondyloarthritis was diagnosed by expert opinion (rheumatologist) and predefined criteria. CLBP was diagnosed if low back pain was present on the day of the interview and persisted for > 90 days. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses compared HRQoL among subjects with spondyloarthritis, CLBP, and no rheumatic diseases. Multivariable linear regression analyses evaluated HRQoL factors in spondyloarthritis and CLBP subjects.
Results
We included 92 spondyloarthritis patients, 1376 CLBP patients, and 679 subjects without rheumatic diseases. HRQoL was similarly affected in spondyloarthritis and CLBP (ß = − 0.03, 95% CI − 0.08; 0.03) in all EQ5D dimensions. A much lower HRQoL was found in spondyloarthritis and CLBP patients compared with subjects without rheumatic diseases (ß = − 0.14, 95% CI − 0.19; − 0.10; ß = − 0.12, 95% CI − 0.14; − 0.09, respectively). In spondyloarthritis subjects, multimorbidity and active disease were associated with worse HRQoL (ß = − 0.18; 95% CI − 0.24; 0.03; ß = − 0.13; 95% CI − 0.29; − 0.05, respectively), and regular physical exercise was associated with better HRQoL (ß = 0.18; 95% CI 0.10; 0.30). In CLBP subjects, multimorbidity (β = − 0.11; 95% CI − 0.14; − 0.08), obesity (β = − 0.04; 95% CI − 0.08; − 0.01), and low back pain intensity (β = − 0.02; 95% CI − 0.03; − 0.02) were associated with worse HRQoL, and regular physical exercise (β = 0.08; 95% CI 0.05; 0.11) was significantly associated with better HRQoL.
Conclusion
Spondyloarthritis and CLBP subjects reported similar levels of impairment in the mental, physical, and social domains of HRQoL. Future health plans should address modifiable factors associated with HRQoL in these conditions to achieve better outcomes.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis can be aided by approaches based on eye-tracking signals. Recently, the feasibility of building Visual Attention Models (VAMs) from features extracted from ...visual stimuli and their use for classifying cases and controls has been demonstrated using Neural Networks and Support Vector Machines. The present work has three aims: 1) to evaluate whether the trained classifier from the previous study was generalist enough to classify new samples with a new stimulus; 2) to replicate the previously approach to train a new classifier with a new dataset; 3) to evaluate the performance of classifiers obtained by a new classification algorithm (Random Forest) using the previous and the current datasets.
The previously approach was replicated with a new stimulus and new sample, 44 from the Typical Development group and 33 from the ASD group. After the replication, Random Forest classifier was tested to substitute Neural Networks algorithm.
The test with the trained classifier reached an AUC of 0.56, suggesting that the trained classifier requires retraining of the VAMs when changing the stimulus. The replication results reached an AUC of 0.71, indicating the potential of generalization of the approach for aiding ASD diagnosis, as long as the stimulus is similar to the originally proposed. The results achieved with Random Forest were superior to those achieved with the original approach, with an average AUC of 0.95 for the previous dataset and 0.74 for the new dataset.
In summary, the results of the replication experiment were satisfactory, which suggests the robustness of the approach and the VAM-based approaches feasibility to aid in ASD diagnosis. The proposed method change improved the classification performance. Some limitations are discussed and additional studies are encouraged to test other conditions and scenarios.
Myrcia multiflora (Lam) DC. is a medicinal plant used in folk medicine for diabetes control, mainly in the Brazilian Amazon. The leaves of this species has already demonstrated antidiabetic ...properties; however, in mice with type 2 diabetes (DM2), the cumulative effect of the consumption of the dry extract of M. multiflora leaves (Mm) has not yet been reported.
To investigate the effect of the dry extract obtained from the infusion of the dried leaves of M. multiflora on the blood glucose levels of diabetic mice.
DM2 was induced in Swiss male mice by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin 150 mg/kg body weight (bw). The animals were divided into two control groups (healthy and diabetic without treatment) and three sample groups that received Mm (25 and 50 mg/kg bw) and acarbose (200 mg/kg bw) by gavage once daily for 28 days (D28). Additionally, biochemical parameters, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) levels in the liver, and histopathological analyses of the kidneys and liver were performed.
On the seventh day of treatment, a 74.7% reduction in glucose levels were observed in the group of diabetic animals treated with Mm (50 mg/kg bw) when compared to the beginning of the treatment. At D28, the hypoglycemic effect was maintained. The results of the biochemical and histopathological parameters and the TBARS levels suggest that this dry extract exerts nephro- and hepatoprotective effects.
The findings demonstrate the potential that this extract has to inhibit the α-glucosidase enzyme, and it acts similarly to the positive control acarbose. Furthermore, this extract is nephro- and hepatoprotective. Therefore, this dry extract has the potential to be an adjuvant for DM2, which corroborates its use in folk medicine.
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•Myrcia multiflora is used in Brazilian folk medicine to control diabetes.•M. multiflora leaf extract showed a hypoglycemic effect in diabetes-induced mice.•M. multiflora leaf extract inhibited lipid peroxidation in liver of diabetic mice.•The dry extract of M. multiflora exerts nephron- and hepatoprotective effects.
Changes in the polyphenol composition and content, l-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and antioxidant activity in different water treatments applied (rainfed (T0), deficit irrigation (T1) and applying a ...dose of irrigation equivalent to 30% of evapotranspiration (ET) and well watered (T2)) to the Portuguese olive tree cultivar Cobrançosa were studied during olive fruit ripening. The polyphenol content, PAL and antioxidant activity decreased during fruit maturation and were significantly affected by the water treatment applied (PAL — 120.0 to 35.8μmol cinnamic acidh−1g−1 for T0, 52.5 to 28.3μmol cinnamic acidh−1g−1 for T1 and 45.5 to 23.4μmol cinnamic acid h−1g−1 for T2; polyphenol content — 61.3 to 15.7mgGAEg−1 for T0, 24.5 to 11.2mgGAEg−1 for T1 and 14.7 to 10.2mgGAEg−1 for T2; antioxidant activity — 236.6 to 43.2mmolTrolox/kg for T0, 98.8 to 27.3mmolTrolox/kg for T1 and 60.3to 27.8mmol Trolox/kg for T2).
The content of the individual phenolic compounds including phenolic alcohols, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids and secoiridoids decreased during maturation and were affected by the irrigation treatment, being lower with the increase in the water applied during irrigation, although the difference decreases as olive became more mature. This decrease in polyphenols was highly correlated with the decrease in PAL activity of olive fruits. The rainfed conditions applied to the olive trees during fruit maturation yield olive fruits with higher total polyphenol and PAL activity, so the irrigation can have a negative impact on the olive oil quality obtained from Cobrançosa cv. due to a decrease in the amount of total polyphenols of the olive fruits.
► Olive tree irrigation reduces biosynthesis of phenolic compounds in olive fruits. ► Rainfed grown olive fruits contain higher total polyphenol and PAL activity. ► PAL activity and polyphenolic content decrease with maturation and irrigation. ► PAL activity correlates with polyphenolic content of olive fruits.
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•Acidified cocoa activated carbon (ACC-1.0) was prepared and characterised.•Adsorption of RV-5 dye was studied using ACC-1.0 and CAC.•Adsorption maximum values were 603.3mgg−1 ...(ACC-1.0) and 517.1mgg−1 (CAC).•General order kinetic model suitably described the adsorption processes.•ACC-1.0 effectively decolourised simulated industrial effluents.
A novel homemade furnace setup for preparation of chemically activated carbon was proposed in a quest for industrial wastewater treatment. Cocoa shell was initially mixed with inorganic components (red mud+lime+KOH+Al(NO3)3+Na2SO4) and water to form a paste. The paste was placed in a mould cylinder, dried at a room temperature, and then the material was placed in a stainless steel reactor and heated up to 1073K under inert atmosphere. Three carbon adsorbents with inorganic: organic ratio of 1.0 (CC-1.0), 1.5 (CC-1.5) and 2.0 (CC-2.0) were prepared. The adsorbents were acidified with a 6molL−1 HCl under reflux (24h) to obtain corresponding ACC-1.0, ACC-1.5 and ACC-2.0. The chemical activation process was completed by leaching the inorganic components from the carbonaceous matrix through acidification. ACC-1.0 exhibited highest sorption capacity compared with the other two adsorbents. CC-1.0 and ACC-1.0 were characterised using FTIR, SEM, N2 adsorption/desorption curves and X-ray diffraction. A well-known commercially activated carbon (CAC) was used to compare the sorption capacity of ACC-1.0. The ACC-1.0 and CAC adsorbents were used for adsorption of reactive violet 5 (RV-5) textile dye from aqueous solutions. The equilibrium times of 45 and 150min were observed for ACC-1.0 and CAC, respectively, at optimum pH 2.0. General order kinetic model best described the adsorption process than pseudo first-order and pseudo-second order kinetic models. Liu isotherm model gave the best fit of the equilibrium data at all experimental temperatures. The maximum amounts of RV-5 dye adsorbed at 298K were 603.3 (ACC-1.0) and 517.1mgg−1 (CAC). The adsorbents were tested on two simulated dyehouse effluents. ACC-1.0 is effectively capable of decolourising industrial textile effluents.
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•Theoretical prediction of the corrosion inhibition efficiencies.•Adsorption of the green synthetized molecules on alloy is of physicochemical type.•Anticorrosive efficiencies from ...83.5 up to 95.6% for mild steel in HCl 1 mol L−1.•Data crossing of the weight loss analysis and the electrochemical tests.•Polarization curves reveal that the three inhibitors act as mixed-type inhibitors.
Three phenylmethanimine derivatives (Schiff bases) were designed after a theoretical prediction of their corrosion inhibition efficiencies and a corroboration through the use of quantum chemical calculations. The molecules were then prepared using a classical condensation reaction between aldehydes and amines but taking in account the tenets of green chemistry. Their application as corrosion inhibitors for ASTM A36 steel in 1 mol L−1 hydrochloric acid media was explored by means of a weight loss analysis, electrochemical tests and a surface morphology analysis to physically evaluate the metallic sacrifice surfaces used. The results of the electrochemical tests revealed that the three compounds have a good anti-corrosion capacity and act as mixed-type corrosion inhibitors. In addition, cross-checking the data from weight loss analysis and electrochemical tests confirm Langmuir monolayer formation theory. The corrosion inhibition efficiencies found range between 83.5 and 95.6%.
Stretching a coiled carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn can provide large, reversible electrochemical capacitance changes, which convert mechanical energy to electricity. Here, it is shown that the ...performance of these “twistron” harvesters can be increased by optimizing the alignment of precursor CNT forests, plastically stretching the precursor twisted yarn, applying much higher tensile loads during precoiling twist than for coiling, using electrothermal pulse annealing under tension, and incorporating reduced graphene oxide nanoplates. The peak output power for a 1 and a 30 Hz sinusoidal deformation are 0.73 and 3.19 kW kg−1, respectively, which are 24‐ and 13‐fold that of previous twistron harvesters at these respective frequencies. This performance at 30 Hz is over 12‐fold that of other prior‐art mechanical energy harvesters for frequencies between 0.1 and 600 Hz. The maximum energy conversion efficiency is 7.2‐fold that for previous twistrons. Twistron anode and cathode yarn arrays are stretched 180° out‐of‐phase by locating them in the negative and positive compressibility directions of hinged wine‐rack frames, thereby doubling the output voltage and reducing the input mechanical energy.
More powerful twistron carbon nanotube yarn mechanical energy harvesters are achieved by mechanically and thermally modifying the fundamental structure of twistrons and by incorporating graphene sheets within twistrons. The energy conversion efficiency of the twistrons can be increased over 7‐fold and the peak power output can reach values that are 12‐fold those reported for previous materials‐based technologies for key frequency ranges.
The leaves of Eugenia biflora (Myrtaceae) are traditionally used by Amazonian populations for the control of diabetes. However, their chemical composition has not yet been described and ...pharmacological evidence has not been reported.
This study aimed to identify the chemical constituents and evaluate the hypoglycemic and toxic effect of the dry extract of the E. biflora leaves (DEEB).
DEEB, obtained by infusion, was analyzed using LC-HRMS and NMR, whose the catechin flavonoid was quantified using NMR. The antidiabetic effect of DEEB was evaluated according to its inhibition of the enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase, as well as the content of total phenols, free radical scavengingand antiglycation activities, and its in vitro cell viability. Oral maltose tolerance and chronic multiple dose tests (28 days) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice (STZ) were performed. The hypoglycemic effect and toxicity of this extract were evaluated in the multiple dose assay. Biochemical parameters, hemolysis, and levels of the thiobarbituric acid reactive species in the liver were investigated and histopathological analyses of the kidneys and liver were performed.
Eight phenolic compounds were identified, with catechin (15.5 ± 1.7 mg g−1) being the majority compound and a possible chemical marker of DEEB. The extract showed inhibition activity of the enzyme α-glucosidase. Chronic administration of DEEB (50 mg/kg of body weight) reduced glucose levels in diabetic animals, similar to acarbose; however, DEEB (100 and 200 mg/kg bw) caused premature death of mice by D22 of the treatment. Our data indicate that one of the mechanisms of toxicity in DEEB may be related to the aggravation of oxidative stress in the liver. This histopathological study indicated that DEEB failed to minimize the progression of the toxicity of diabetes caused by STZ.
This study demonstrated the hypoglycemic potential of E. biflora leaves. However, the prolonged use of this tea can be harmful to its users due to its considerable toxicity, which needs to be better investigated.
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•Eight phenolic compounds were identified using HRMS and NMR of E. biflora leaves.•The flavonoid catechin was quantified in Eugenia biflora leaf extract using qNMR.•The dry extract of E. biflora inhibited the α-glucosidase enzyme in vitro.•E. biflora leaf extract showed a hypoglycemic effect in diabetes induced mice.•E. biflora leaf extract caused side effects and mortality in diabetic mice.
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