RESUMEN

Genomic selection (GS) offers a promising opportunity for selecting more efficient animals to use consumed energy for maintenance and growth functions, impacting profitability and environmental sustainability. Here, we compared the prediction accuracy of multi-layer neural network (MLNN) and support vector regression (SVR) against single-trait (STGBLUP), multi-trait genomic best linear unbiased prediction (MTGBLUP), and Bayesian regression (BayesA, BayesB, BayesC, BRR, and BLasso) for feed efficiency (FE) traits. FE-related traits were measured in 1156 Nellore cattle from an experimental breeding program genotyped for ~ 300 K markers after quality control. Prediction accuracy (Acc) was evaluated using a forward validation splitting the dataset based on birth year, considering the phenotypes adjusted for the fixed effects and covariates as pseudo-phenotypes. The MLNN and SVR approaches were trained by randomly splitting the training population into fivefold to select the best hyperparameters. The results show that the machine learning methods (MLNN and SVR) and MTGBLUP outperformed STGBLUP and the Bayesian regression approaches, increasing the Acc by approximately 8.9%, 14.6%, and 13.7% using MLNN, SVR, and MTGBLUP, respectively. Acc for SVR and MTGBLUP were slightly different, ranging from 0.62 to 0.69 and 0.62 to 0.68, respectively, with empirically unbiased for both models (0.97 and 1.09). Our results indicated that SVR and MTGBLUBP approaches were more accurate in predicting FE-related traits than Bayesian regression and STGBLUP and seemed competitive for GS of complex phenotypes with various degrees of inheritance.

Asunto(s)

Benchmarking , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , Bovinos/genética , Animales , Teorema de Bayes , Modelos Genéticos , Fenotipo , Genómica/métodos , Genotipo

RESUMEN

The dynamics of competing opinions in social network plays an important role in society, with many applications in diverse social contexts such as consensus, election, morality, and so on. Here, we study a model of interacting agents connected in networks in order to analyze their decision stochastic process. We consider a first-neighbor interaction between agents in a one-dimensional network with the shape of ring topology. Moreover, some agents are also connected to a hub, or master node, who has preferential choice or bias. Such connections are quenched. As the main results, we observed a continuous nonequilibrium phase transition to an absorbing state as a function of control parameters. By using the finite-size scaling method we analyzed the static and dynamic critical exponents to show that this model probably cannot match any universality class already known.

RESUMEN

NO2 is one of the main greenhouse gases, which is mainly generated by the combustion of fossil fuels. In addition to its contribution to global warming, this gas is also directly dangerous to humans. The present work reports the structural and gas sensing properties of the CaCu3Ti4O12 compound prepared by the sol-gel technique. Rietveld refinement confirmed the formation of the pseudo-cubic CaCu3Ti4O12 compound, with less than 4 wt% of the secondary phases. The microstructural and elemental composition analysis were carried out using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, respectively, while the elemental oxidation states of the samples were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The gas sensing response of the samples was performed for different concentrations of NO2, H2, CO, C2H2 and C2H4 at temperatures between 100 and 300 °C. The materials exhibited selectivity for NO2, showing a greater sensor signal at 250 °C, which was correlated with the highest concentration of nitrite and nitrate species on the CCTO surface using DRIFT spectroscopy.

RESUMEN

Objective The aim of the present study is to determine whether previous shoulder and knee injuries were associated with isokinetic fatigue index and agonist/antagonist ratio of shoulder internal/external rotators and knee flexors/extensors in male volleyball athletes. Methods The current study is a cross-sectional investigation of 49 male elite volleyball players competing at a high level in Brazil. Isokinetic fatigue index and agonist/antagonist profiles were assessed during the preseason. Additionally, in order to record previous injuries, the athletes answered a standardized questionnaire. We conducted a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine the association strength and the clinically relevant cut-off point for variables presenting statistical significance for the area under the curve (AUC) (α = 0.05). An independent t-test was used to compare isokinetic variables between athletes with and without previous injury (α = 0.05). Results The results of the ROC curve analysis indicated that hamstring fatigue index values at 300 o /s were associated with the presence of previous knee injury (area under the curve [AUC] = 73%, p = 0.004), and shoulder external rotators fatigue index values at 360°/s were not associated with the presence of previous shoulder injury (AUC = 68%, p = 0.053). Conclusions Elite volleyball athletes who reported previous knee injuries were prone to a higher fatigue index than those reporting no injuries. Knee flexor resistance training might be useful for those athletes who reported knee injuries in the previous season.

RESUMEN

COVID-19 has been considered a vascular disease, and inflammation, intravascular coagulation, and consequent thrombosis may be associated with endothelial dysfunction. These changes, in addition to hypoxia, may be responsible for pathological angiogenesis. This research investigated the impact of COVID-19 on vascular function by analyzing post-mortem lung samples from 24 COVID-19 patients, 10 H1N1pdm09 patients, and 11 controls. We evaluated, through the immunohistochemistry technique, the tissue immunoexpressions of biomarkers involved in endothelial dysfunction, microthrombosis, and angiogenesis (ICAM-1, ANGPT-2, and IL-6, IL-1ß, vWF, PAI-1, CTNNB-1, GJA-1, VEGF, VEGFR-1, NF-kB, TNF-α and HIF-1α), along with the histopathological presence of microthrombosis, endothelial activation, and vascular layer hypertrophy. Clinical data from patients were also observed. The results showed that COVID-19 was associated with increased immunoexpression of biomarkers involved in endothelial dysfunction, microthrombosis, and angiogenesis compared to the H1N1 and CONTROL groups. Microthrombosis and vascular layer hypertrophy were found to be more prevalent in COVID-19 patients. This study concluded that immunothrombosis and angiogenesis might play a key role in COVID-19 progression and outcome, particularly in patients who die from the disease.

Asunto(s)

COVID-19 , Subtipo H1N1 del Virus de la Influenza A , Trombosis , Enfermedades Vasculares , Humanos , Pulmón/metabolismo , Hipoxia/metabolismo , Hipertrofia

RESUMEN

Great environmental changes may affect the survival capability of a variety of organisms. Testudinidae is the most diverse family of terrestrial chelonians within the whole order (Testudines). Interestingly, however, the number of extinct species overcome the extant ones. In order to understand better how the diversification process of this family occurred, this work used the PyRate software, which estimates both the preservation and diversification processes in a continuous time interval. For such, the software used a list of fossil occurrences obtained from the Paleobiology Database whereas the extant species list was obtained from Catalogue of Life. This way, the software was able to infer the probability of the ancestral clade having resulted in these species during its evolutionary history. The analyses generated graphs containing the diversification, extinction and speciation curves and their respective associated 95% credibility intervals. A great rise in the extinction rate was observed starting 6 million years ago. This rise is believed to be related to the drop of atmospheric CO2 all over the globe at the end of the Miocene, about 8-6 million years ago. This event led to a turnover of the vegetation composition on the warmer areas of the planet, with plants that used C3 metabolism giving way to C4 plants. In terms of landscape, grasses and herbal vegetation, such as savannas, started dominating. As for other animal groups, those herbivores with grazing habits were more successful than those used to only browsing or that did not have enough flexibility of choice.

Asunto(s)

Tortugas , Animales , Filogenia , Evolución Biológica , Fósiles

RESUMEN

This study investigated the feasibility of using easy-to-measure phenotypic traits to predict sheep resistant, resilient, and susceptible to gastrointestinal nematodes, compared the classification performance of multinomial logistic regression (MLR), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), random forest (RF), and artificial neural network (ANN) methods, and evaluated the applicability of the best classification model on each farm. The database comprised 3654 records of 1250 Santa Inês sheep from 6 farms. The animals were classified into resistant (2605 records), resilient (939 records), and susceptible (110 records) according to fecal egg count and packed cell volume. A random oversampling method was performed to balance the dataset. The classification methods were fitted using the information of age class, the month of record, farm, sex, Famacha© degree, body weight, and body condition score as predictors, and the resistance, resilience, and susceptibility to gastrointestinal nematodes as the target classes to be predicted considering data from all farms randomly. An additional leave-one-farm-out cross-validation technique was used to assess prediction quality across farms. The MLR and LDA models presented good performances in predicting susceptible and resistant animals. The results suggest that the use of readily available records and easily measurable traits may provide useful information for supporting management decisions at the farm level.

RESUMEN

Abstract Objective The aim of the present study is to determine whether previous shoulder and knee injuries were associated with isokinetic fatigue index and agonist/antagonist ratio of shoulder internal/external rotators and knee flexors/extensors in male volleyball athletes. Methods The current study is a cross-sectional investigation of 49 male elite volleyball players competing at a high level in Brazil. Isokinetic fatigue index and agonist/antagonist profiles were assessed during the preseason. Additionally, in order to record previous injuries, the athletes answered a standardized questionnaire. We conducted a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine the association strength and the clinically relevant cut-off point for variables presenting statistical significance for the area under the curve (AUC) (α = 0.05). An independent t-test was used to compare isokinetic variables between athletes with and without previous injury (α = 0.05). Results The results of the ROC curve analysis indicated that hamstring fatigue index values at 300o/s were associated with the presence of previous knee injury (area under the curve [AUC] = 73%, p= 0.004), and shoulder external rotators fatigue index values at 360°/s were not associated with the presence of previous shoulder injury (AUC = 68%, p= 0.053). Conclusions Elite volleyball athletes who reported previous knee injuries were prone to a higher fatigue index than those reporting no injuries. Knee flexor resistance training might be useful for those athletes who reported knee injuries in the previous season.

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Resumo Objetivo O objetivo deste estudo é determinar se lesões prévias de ombro e joelho estavam associadas ao índice de fadiga isocinética e razão agonista/antagonista dos rotadores internos/externos do ombro e flexores/extensores do joelho em jogadores de voleibol. Métodos Esta é uma investigação transversal com 49 jogadores de voleibol de elite que competem em alto nível no Brasil. O índice de fadiga isocinética e os perfis de agonistas/antagonistas foram avaliados durante a pré-temporada. Além disso, para registro de lesões anteriores, os atletas responderam a um questionário padronizado. Conduzimos uma análise da curva de característica de operação do receptor (receiver operating characteristic, ROC) para determinar a força de associação e o ponto de corte clinicamente relevante de variáveis com significância estatística na área sob a curva (AUC) (α = 0,05). Um teste t independente comparou as variáveis isocinéticas entre atletas com e sem lesão prévia (α = 0,05). Resultados Os resultados da análise da curva ROC indicam que os valores do índice de fadiga dos isquiotibiais a 300o/s foram associados à presença de lesão prévia no joelho (área soba a curva [AUC] = 73%, p= 0,004), enquanto os valores do índice de fadiga dos rotadores externos do ombro a 360°/s não foram associados à presença de lesão prévia no ombro (AUC = 68%, p= 0.053). Conclusões Atletas de voleibol de elite que relataram lesões anteriores no joelho estavam propensos a um índice de fadiga maior do que aqueles que não relataram lesões. O treinamento de resistência de flexores do joelho pode ser útil para atletas com relatos de lesões no joelho na temporada anterior.

Asunto(s)

Humanos , Fuerza Muscular , Voleibol , Atletas , Lesiones del Hombro , Traumatismos de la Rodilla

RESUMEN

Mandevilla Lindl. is an important genus of the Apocynaceae family, not only as ornamental plants but also for its medicinal uses. In Brazil, Mandevilla species are indicated to treat asthma and skin infections, their anti-inflammatory potential and wound healing properties are also reported in the literature. Concerning their chemical composition, this group of plants is a conspicuous producer of pregnane glycosides. Mandevilla dardanoi is an endemic species from the Brazilian semiarid region not studied by any phytochemical methods. In view of the medicinal potential of Mandevilla species, this study aimed to isolate new pregnane glycosides from M. dardanoi. To achieve this main goal, modern chromatography techniques were employed. Five new pregnane glycosides, dardanols A-E, were isolated from the roots of M. dardanoi by HPLC. Their structures were determined using extensive 1D and 2D-NMR and mass spectrometry (MSn and HRESIMS) data. The cytotoxicity and the anti-inflammatory potential of these compounds were evaluated. The first was evaluated by measuring proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide production by stimulated macrophages. Dardanols were able to inhibit the production of nitric oxide and reduce IL-1ß and TNF-α. The current work demonstrates the chemodiversity of Brazilian semiarid species and contributes to amplifying knowledge about the biological potential of the Mandevilla genus.

Asunto(s)

Apocynaceae , Óxido Nítrico , Antiinflamatorios/farmacología , Apocynaceae/química , Glicósidos/química , Glicósidos/farmacología , Extractos Vegetales/química , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Plantas , Pregnanos/química , Pregnanos/farmacología , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa

RESUMEN

The 3D printing is described of a complete and portable system comprising a batch injection analysis (BIA) cell and an electrochemical platform with eight sensing electrodes. Both BIA and electrochemical cells were printed within 3.4 h using a multimaterial printer equipped with insulating, flexible, and conductive filaments at cost of ca. ~ U$ 1.2 per unit, and their integration was based on a threadable assembling without commercial component requirements. Printed electrodes were exposed to electrochemical/Fenton pre-treatments to improve the sensitivity. Scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements upon printed materials revealed high-fidelity 3D features (90 to 98%) and fast heterogeneous rate constants ((1.5 ± 0.1) × 10-3 cm s-1). Operational parameters of BIA cell were optimized using a redox probe composed of [Fe(CN)6]4-/3- under stirring and the best analytical performance was achieved using a dispensing rate of 9.0 µL s-1 and an injection volume of 2.0 µL. The proof of concept of the printed device for bioanalytical applications was evaluated using adrenaline (ADR) as target analyte and its redox activities were carefully evaluated through different voltammetric techniques upon multiple 3D-printed electrodes. The coupling of BIA system with amperometric detection ensured fast responses with well-defined peak width related to the oxidation of ADR applying a potential of 0.4 V vs Ag. The fully 3D-printed system provided suitable analytical performance in terms of repeatability and reproducibility (RSD ≤ 6%), linear concentration range (5 to 40 µmol L-1; R2 = 0.99), limit of detection (0.61 µmol L-1), and high analytical frequency (494 ± 13 h-1). Lastly, artificial urine samples were spiked with ADR solutions at three different concentration levels and the obtained recovery values ranged from 87 to 118%, thus demonstrating potentiality for biological fluid analysis. Based on the analytical performance, the complete device fully printed through additive manufacturing technology emerges as powerful, inexpensive, and portable tool for electroanalytical applications involving biologically relevant compounds.

Asunto(s)

Espectroscopía Dieléctrica , Hollín , Electrodos , Impresión Tridimensional , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The Internet of Things (IoT) enables the development of innovative applications in various domains such as healthcare, transportation, and Industry 4.0. Publish-subscribe systems enable IoT devices to communicate with the cloud platform. However, IoT applications need context-aware messages to translate the data into contextual information, allowing the applications to act cognitively. Besides, end-to-end security of publish-subscribe messages on both ends (devices and cloud) is essential. However, achieving security on constrained IoT devices with memory, payload, and energy restrictions is a challenge. CONTRIBUTION: Messages in IoT need to achieve both energy efficiency and secure delivery. Thus, the main contribution of this paper refers to a performance evaluation of a message structure that standardizes the publish-subscribe topic and payload used by the cloud platform and the IoT devices. We also propose a standardization for the topic and payload for publish-subscribe systems. CONCLUSION: The messages promote energy efficiency, enabling ultra-low-power and high-capacity devices and reducing the bytes transmitted in the IoT domain. The performance evaluation demonstrates that publish-subscribe systems (namely, AMQP, DDS, and MQTT) can use our proposed energy-efficient message structure on IoT. Additionally, the message system provides end-to-end confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity between IoT devices and the cloud platform.

RESUMEN

Epilepsy is a disease that affects millions of people around the globe and has a multifactorial cause. Inflammation is a process that can be involved in the development of seizures. Thus, the present study proposed the design and synthesis of new candidates for antiepileptic drugs that would also control the inflammatory process. Nine new derivatives of the substituted thiazophthalimide hybrid core were obtained with satisfactory purity ≥99% and yields between 27% and 87%. All compounds showed cell viability values greater than 90% in the culture of PBMC cells from healthy volunteers and, therefore, were not considered cytotoxic. These compounds modulated proinflammatory cytokines IFN-y and IL-17A and can mitigate inflammation. Acute toxicity studies of compound 7i in an animal model indicated that the compound has low toxicity and an LD50 greater than 2 g/kg in healthy adult rats. The same compound did not show positive results for anticonvulsant activity through the PTZ test. However, 7i demonstrates the interaction with the target GABA-A receptor in silico, indicating a possible activity as an agonist of that receptor. Thus, further studies are needed to investigate the anticonvulsant activity, in particular, using models in which the inflammatory process triggers epileptic seizures.

Asunto(s)

Anticonvulsivantes/uso terapéutico , Epilepsia/tratamiento farmacológico , Ftalimidas/uso terapéutico , Convulsiones/tratamiento farmacológico , Tiazoles/uso terapéutico , Animales , Anticonvulsivantes/síntesis química , Anticonvulsivantes/química , Células Cultivadas , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Epilepsia/patología , Humanos , Masculino , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , Estructura Molecular , Ftalimidas/síntesis química , Ftalimidas/química , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Convulsiones/patología , Relación Estructura-Actividad , Tiazoles/síntesis química , Tiazoles/química

RESUMEN

Introducción: El método de referencia para diagnosticar el síndrome de apnea-hipopnea obstructiva del sueño (SAHOS) es la polisomnografía, esta no es diagnóstica en otros trastornos respiratorios del sueño, por lo que es necesario la implementación de puntajes predictivos para diferenciar aquellos pacientes que tienen más riesgos de padecer SAHOS y necesiten de una polisomnografía. El objetivo de este estudio fue validar el puntaje NoSAS y la escala de Berlín frente a la polisomnografía tipo 1 en pacientes con sospecha de SAHOS. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de pruebas diagnósticas. A 264 pacientes se les realizó una polisomnografía basal, la aplicación del puntaje NoSAS y la escala de Berlín; luego, se hizo el análisis de las pruebas diagnósticas y se calculó el rendimiento de cada una en relación con el índice de apnea hipopnea (IAH). Resultados: La sensibilidad del puntaje NoSAS para un IAH ≥ 20 fue 88,57% con intervalo de confianza (IC) 95% 80,4-96,74; especificidad 56,70 %; IC 95% 49,47-63,93 y valor predictivo negativo (VPN) de 93,22, IC 95% 91,70- 99,82. Para la escala de Berlín, la sensibilidad fue de 81,43%, IC 95% 71,60-91,25; especificidad de 58,76%, IC 95% 51,58-65,95 y VPN 89,76%, IC 95% 89,08-98,32. Conclusión: Se demostró que el puntaje NoSAS y la escala de Berlín tienen una buena sensibilidad para descartar a las personas con un menor riesgo de SAHOS. Un paciente clasificado de bajo riesgo probablemente está sano o tiene bajo riesgo para SAHOS moderado a severo y no requeriría de una polisomnografía inicial.

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Introduction: The gold standard for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is the polysomnography, and it is not a diagnostic tool for another sleep breathing disorders, so that it is necessary to implement predictive scores to differentiate those patients who have more risk of suffering OSAHS, therefore they need a polysomnography. The aim to this study was to validate the NoSAS score and Berlin scale in relation to the polysomnography type 1, in patients who have the clinical suspicion of OSAHS. Material and methods: Diagnostic tests study. 264 patients underwent polysomnography, and the NoSAS score and Berlin scale were applied to them. After that, the diagnostic tests analysis was done and the performance of each one of them was calculated in relation to the apnea- hypopnea index (AHI). Results: The sensitivity of the NoSAS score for an AHI ≥ 20 was 88.57%, confidence interval (CI) 95% (80.4-96.74), specificity 56.70 %, CI 95% (49.47-63.93), and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 93.22, CI 95% (91.70-99.82). For Berlin scale the sensitivity was 81.43%, CI 95% (71.60-91.25), specificity 58.76%, CI 95% (51.58-65.95) and NPV 89.76%, CI 95% (89.08-98.32). Conclusions: It was shown that NoSAS score and Berlin scale have a good sensitivity to rule out people who have less OSAHS risk. A patient classified as low risk, probably is healthy or at low risk for moderate to severe OSAHS and would not require an initial polysomnography.

Asunto(s)

Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Adulto Joven , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Apnea Obstructiva del Sueño/diagnóstico , Prevalencia , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Polisomnografía , Apnea Obstructiva del Sueño/epidemiología , Octogenarios

RESUMEN

Bilirubin oxidases (BOD) are metalloenzymes that catalyze the conversion of O2 and bilirubin to biliverdin and water in the metabolism of chlorophyll and porphyrin. In this work we have used the CpHMD method to analyze the effects of the different oxidation states on the BOD trinuclear cluster (TNC). Our results demonstrate that there is a link between the different oxidation states of copper ions and the protonation capacity of nearby titratable residues. Each configuration affects pKa differently, creating proton gradients within the enzyme that act in an extremely orderly manner. This order is closely linked to the catalytic mechanism and leads us to the conclusion of the entry of the O2 molecule and its reduction in water molecules is associated with the probability of the release of protons from nearby acid groups. With this information, we deduce that under the initial reaction conditions the acidic side chains of nearby residues can be protonated; this allows the enzyme to reduce the activation energy of the reaction by coupling the proton transfer to oxidation state changes in the metallic center.

Asunto(s)

Simulación de Dinámica Molecular , Oxidorreductasas actuantes sobre Donantes de Grupo CH-CH/química , Protones , Concentración de Iones de Hidrógeno , Oxidación-Reducción , Oxidorreductasas actuantes sobre Donantes de Grupo CH-CH/metabolismo

RESUMEN

The development of mimetic antibodies (MA) capable of combining the high affinity and selectivity of antibodies with the small size of the peptides has enormous potential for applications in current biotechnology. In this work, we demonstrate that in silico MA design is possible through genetic algorithms (GA) developed from shell scripts capable of combining software commonly used for atomistic simulation. Our results demonstrate that, using the GB1 domain of the streptococcal G protein as a model, it is possible to optimize the molecular recognition capacity of a large MA population in a few generations. In the first case, GA was able to generate 10 MA with binding free energy (BFE) less than the vascular endothelial cell growth factor conjugated with the fms-type tyrosine kinase receptor. In the second case, it generated 13 MA with BFE less than that of the hepatitis C-E2 viral envelope conjugate with the antibody. Through the GA developed in this work, we demonstrate the use of a new protocol, capable of guiding experimental methods for the design of bioactive peptides that can assist in the development of new therapeutic molecules.

Asunto(s)

Algoritmos , Proteínas Bacterianas , Simulación por Computador , Termodinámica

RESUMEN

Copper-exchanged zeolites have demonstrated high selectivity in methane-to-methanol conversion carried out on copper-oxo centers. Nevertheless, the reaction can only occur if the methane molecules reach the active site while the methanol molecules must leave the material without high energetic cost for the migration. In this context, we have used force field-based molecular dynamics simulations with the potential of mean force method to estimate the energy barrier in cage to cage diffusion of methane and methanol molecules in the chabazite framework type zeolite. The results show considerably higher energy barrier for methanol diffusion. The steric effect of the active site and the electrostatic environment favors the CH3OH diffusion toward nonactive cages where it tends to accumulate due to the strong interactions with the zeolite. The same behavior is observed in the water molecules distribution, which emphasizes the control of the electrostatic potential over the polar molecules migration. For high concentration of polar molecules, the electrostatic effect is shielded and the driving force is reduced for CH3OH diffusion. The results show that if the electrostatic environment can be controlled, the product migration may be facilitated, which can improve the catalytic process.

RESUMEN

Kelps are canopy-forming brown seaweed sustaining critical ecosystem services in coastal habitats, including shelter, nursery grounds, and providing food resources to a myriad of associated species. This study modeled the fundamental niche of Laminaria abyssalis along the Brazilian continental margin, an endemic species of the South Atlantic, to anticipate potential distributional range shifts under two contrasting scenarios of future environmental changes (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5). The model for fundamental niche predictions considering the "present scenario" has shown a wider potential area than the realized niche (i.e., the area where the species actually occurs) along the Brazilian coast. In both future scenarios, the models have shown niche erosion on the northern portion of the Brazilian coast and niche gains towards the south. In both scenarios, L. abyssalis populations tend to shift to deeper regions of the reef. The restricted range of occurrence (33,000 km2), intense anthropic activities along these beds (e.g., trawling fisheries, oil/gas mining, or removal for agricultural purposes) acting synergically with global warming, may drive this ecosystem to collapse faster than kelp species' ability to adapt. We propose to classify L. abyssalis as Endangered - (EN) under IUCN criteria, and highlight that long-term monitoring of kelp beds is an urgent need to develop effective conservation initiatives to protect such rare and invaluable ecosystem.

Asunto(s)

Kelp , Brasil , Ecosistema , Explotaciones Pesqueras , Calentamiento Global

RESUMEN

Three experiments (exp.) were conducted to determine and compare the digestibility of nutrients and energy of corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) from the United States (USDDGS), a dried mixture of corn bran with solubles (CBS) from Brazil (BRCBS), and high protein corn distillers dried grains (HP-DDG) from the United States (USHPDG) and Brazil (BRHPDG) in growing pigs. The feed ingredients were evaluated for apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of gross energy (GE), dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract, neutral and acid detergent fiber (NDF and ADF, respectively), and digestible and metabolizable energy (DE and ME, respectively) using the total collection and index methods in exp. 1; ATTD and standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of phosphorus (P) in exp. 2; and apparent (AID) and standardized (SID) ileal digestibilities of CP and amino acids (AA) in exp. 3. Fifty crossbred barrows (32.4 ± 6.9, 38.3 ± 5.2, and 46.2 ± 5.3 kg body weight [BW], in exp. 1, 2, and 3, respectively) were fed a corn basal diet in exp. 1, a P-free diet in exp. 2, and an N-free diet in exp. 3 or diets with 40% inclusion of test ingredients to provide 10 replications per treatment. Pigs were housed individually in metabolism cages (exp. 1) or in pens (exp. 2 and 3) and fed at 2.8 times the maintenance DE requirement (110 kcal/kg BW0.75) based on their BW at the beginning of each experiment. Except for ATTD of NDF, which tended (P = 0.058) to be greater by the index method compared with the total collection method, no difference between the total collection and index methods was observed for ATTD of remaining nutrients and DE. The ATTD of DM, GE, NDF, and DE content of BRHPDG were greater (P < 0.001) than USHPDG, BRCBS, and USDDGS. The AID of CP, Arg, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Thr, and Val and the SID of His, Leu, Lys, and Val of BRHPDG were 8% to 36% greater (P < 0.05) than those from USHPDG. Except for Trp, all AID and SID AA values were greater (P < 0.05) in BRHPDG than in USHPDG. The ATTD of DM, GE, NDF, and ADF; DE and ME content; AID of CP, Arg, Ile, Leu, Phe, Thr, and Trp; and SID of CP, Arg, Phe, and Thr of USDDGS were 9% to 45% greater (P < 0.05) than those in BRCBS. The ATTD and the STTD of P in USHPDG and USDDGS were 26% to 42% greater (P < 0.05) compared with BRHPDG and BRCBS. In conclusion, BRHPDG had a greater digestibility of energy and most of the AA than USHPDG, while the BRCBS evaluated had lower nutritional value than the USDDGS source.

Asunto(s)

Aminoácidos , Zea mays , Aminoácidos/metabolismo , Alimentación Animal/análisis , Fenómenos Fisiológicos Nutricionales de los Animales , Animales , Brasil , Dieta/veterinaria , Digestión , Metabolismo Energético , Etanol , Fósforo , Porcinos , Tecnología , Estados Unidos , Zea mays/metabolismo

RESUMEN

This study evaluated the biological behavior of the coffee compounds Trigonelline (T), chlorogenic acid (C), and nicotinic acid (N), correlating with their release from a resin matrix. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was evaluated against Streptococcus mutans UA159, and cytotoxicity was assessed by methyl tetrazolium salt on OD-21 cells. Resin matrices (bisphenol A-glycidyl-dimethacrylate/triethylene glycol-dimethacrylate 70/30 wt%, camphorquinone/ethyl 4-dimethyl aminobenzoate 0.5/1 wt%) were doped with coffee compounds in different concentrations (10/20/30/40/50 wt%), performing 15 groups (T10-T50, C10-C50, N10-N50), and a control group with no coffee compound. Degree of conversion (DC%) was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Antimicrobial properties were evaluated by bioluminescence (Luciferase assay). The release from loaded matrices was analyzed over time (24 hr, 6, 14, 21 and 28 days), using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Data were submitted to ANOVA/Tukey's test (α = 0.05). MIC for T and C was 6 mg/ml, and 4 mg/ml for N. None of them were cytotoxic. Only T50 and C50 showed lower DC% than control (α < 0.05). Some groups (T30/T40/T50/C40/C50/N50) were strongly antimicrobial, reducing bacterial activity approximately five times compared to control (α < 0.05). For T30, T40, T50, C40, and C50, the HPLC showed a release above or closer to MIC values mainly in 24 hr, but for N50, up to 28 days. In conclusion, the coffee compounds presented antimicrobial activity, depending on their concentration when added in resin matrices, being found a correlation with their release.

Asunto(s)

Alcaloides , Antiinfecciosos , Ácido Clorogénico , Café/química , Niacina , Streptococcus mutans/crecimiento & desarrollo , Alcaloides/química , Alcaloides/farmacología , Antiinfecciosos/química , Antiinfecciosos/farmacología , Ácido Clorogénico/química , Ácido Clorogénico/farmacología , Resinas Compuestas/química , Resinas Compuestas/farmacología , Niacina/química , Niacina/farmacología

RESUMEN

Activated biochars were prepared from residues of medium density fiberboard (MDF) produced by the furniture industry. Biomass residue was pre-treated with FeCl3 in two different FeCl3:biomass ratios (0.5:1 and 1:1, w/w) aiming to produce a matrix embedded with iron oxide. The pyrolysis process produced maghemite on the biochar surface and its magnetic properties were confirmed by its attraction to a hand magnet and its magnetic susceptibility. Samples were also characterized using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), surface area by BET-N2, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Magnetic biochar exhibited up to twelve-fold higher surface area than the non-magnetic biochar, which varies according the maghemite particles content. Iron oxide on biochar surface also contributed for increasing CEC around ten-fold compared to non-magnetic biochars. Phosphorus adsorption isotherms showed that these magnetic biochars have high capacity to sorb oxyanions like phosphate, especially at lower pH. Thus, these magnetic biochars could be used to clean water bodies contaminated with oxyanions in acidic conditions.

Asunto(s)

Fósforo , Agua , Adsorción , Carbón Orgánico , Fenómenos Magnéticos , Espectroscopía Infrarroja por Transformada de Fourier