RESUMO

The Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean, are an archipelago of volcanic origin which, for decades, has been affected by natural fluoride contamination in the water supply of some of its islands, mainly the island of Tenerife. In addition, recent volcanic eruptions in the archipelago and the increased demand for water supply have led to an increase in the fluoride content in other areas which, historically, were not affected. Fluoride content was determined in 274 water supply samples from the most populated islands of the Canary Islands (Tenerife and Gran Canaria) collected during the months of June 2021 to May 2022. The samples were analysed by fluoride ion selective potentiometry. The highest concentrations in Tenerife were found in the municipalities of Sauzal (7.00 mg/L) and Tegueste (5.39 mg/L), both water samples are over the parametric value of 1.5 mg/L set in the supply water legislation. In the Gran Canaria Island, the highest fluoride levels were found in Valsequillo and Mogán with 1.44 mg/L in both locations, but under the parametric fluoride value abovementioned. Consumption of just 1 L of water per day in the El Sauzal area would result in a contribution rate of 77% for adults and children over 15 years of age (Upper Level value of 7 mg/day) and 108% for children 9-14 years of age (UL value of 5 mg/day). The contribution rates increase considerably, reaching or exceeding 100% of the reference value (UL) with increasing consumption of 1 to 2 L of water per day. Therefore, it is considered that there is a health risk of overexposure to fluoride on the island of Tenerife. In the case of the island of Gran Canaria, it has been shown that even the consumption of 2 litres of water per day does not confer contribution rates that pose a health risk.

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Cognitive stimulation virtual therapy (CSVT) is an evidence-based psychosocial intervention for people with mild-to-moderate dementia due to various etiological factors. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of a cognitive stimulation virtual therapy CSVT program, in individuals who have vascular or Alzheimer dementia in COVID-19 isolation. METHODS: Older adults with mild vascular or Alzheimer dementia (N = 20) were assigned to one of two programs: one group (N = 10) attended during six months, two sessions per week program of the cognitive stimulation virtual therapy CSVT program, while the other, active control group (N = 10) took part in alternative activities. The following tests were applied to their primary caregivers. A short form of the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) and quality of life (Quality of Life (QoL) RESULTS: Compared with the active controls, the cognitive stimulation virtual therapy CSVT program showed a greater improvement in general cognitive functioning after the intervention (i.e. score increase on the IQCODE test). A trend towards improvement was also identified in short term/working memory and perceived quality of life (Quality of life (QoL) of elderly with dementia). The primary caregivers also perceived an improvement in mood, stress, anxiety and quality of sleep after the start of the virtual therapy during COVID-19 isolation. CONCLUSION: The present results support the efficacy of cognitive stimulation virtual therapy CSVT program in people with dementia during COVID-19 isolation.

RESUMO

Inactivated Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine has proven to be effective in the control of the disease. However, its production has some disadvantages, including the costly biosafety facilities required for the production of huge amounts of growing live virus, the need of an exhaustive purification process to eliminate non-structural proteins of the virus in the final formulations in order to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals and variable local regulatory restrictions to produce and commercialize the vaccine. Thus, a novel vaccine against FMD that overcome these restrictions is desirable. Although many developments have been made in this regard, most of them failed in terms of efficacy or when considering their transferability to the industry. We have previously reported the use of transient gene expression in mammalian cells to produce FMD virus-like particles (VLPs) as a novel vaccine for FMD and demonstrated the immunogenicity of the recombinant structures in animal models. Here, we report the optimization of the production system by assaying different DNA:polyethylenimine concentrations, cell densities, and direct and indirect protocols of transfection. Also, we evaluated the reproducibility and scalability of the technology to produce high yields of recombinant VLPs in a cost-effective and scalable system compatible with industrial tech-transfer of an effective and safe vaccine.

RESUMO

No Ensino Superior, a prática inclusiva é recente, e este panorama novo exige das instituições o desenvolvimento de políticas de apoio e acompanhamento com ações que vão além da disponibilidade de vaga. Somado a isto, os requisitos legais de avaliação e reconhecimento de cursos também exigem as evidências de práticas inclusivas no ambiente universitário. O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever a atuação de um núcleo de apoio ao discente e docente (NADD) de dois Centros Universitários do município de São Paulo. O Núcleo foi criado em 2015 e, deste então, desenvolve ações de inclusão no contexto universitário a partir de um programa intitulado "Atenção Especial". O foco de atuação do programa é o acolhimento e apoio aos estudantes com deficiência, dificuldades de aprendizagem e outros transtornos por meio da sua identificação, estratégias de intervenção, encaminhamento e orientação. Atualmente, o programa acompanha 193 estudantes orientados por um protocolo de atendimento, que contempla diversas ações para favorecer a inclusão destes estudantes a partir da sua entrevista inicial: monitorias de reforço entre pares, nivelamento, cursos de apoio ao estudante, encaminhamento para clínicas de saúde, parceria com profissionais de saúde, acessibilidade física, tecnologia assistiva, orientação aos professores, atividades de sensibilização com estudantes e palestras a toda comunidade acadêmica. Os resultados do programa têm promovido, além da conscientização ampla de toda comunidade acadêmica, o favorecimento da inclusão e da permanência destes estudantes em um ambiente receptivo, inclusivo e legítimo.

In Higher Education, inclusive practice is recent, this totally new panorama requires that higher education institutions develop support and follow-up policies with actions that go beyond the availability of vacancies. In addition to this, the legal requirements for course evaluation and recognition also require evidences of inclusive practices in the university environment. The objective of this paper is to describe the performance of NADD - Núcleo de Apoio Discente e Docente (Nucleus for Faculty and Student Support) of two University Centers of the city of São Paulo. NADD was created in 2015 and, since then, develops inclusion actions in the university context with a program titled "Atenção Especial" (Special Attention). The focus of this program is the reception and support of students with disabilities, learning difficulties and other disorders through identification, intervention strategies, referral and orientation. Currently, 193 students guided by a service protocol that includes several actions to favor the inclusion of these students since their initial interview accompany the program: reinforcement, peer, leveling, student support courses, referral to health clinics, partnership with health professionals, physical accessibility and assistive technology. The results of the program have promoted, in addition to the broad awareness of the entire academic community, the favoring of inclusion and permanence of these students in a receptive, inclusive and legitimate environment.

RESUMO

Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 has a functional type III secretion system (T3SS) that is involved in the determination of nodulation competitiveness on Lotus. The M. loti T3SS cluster contains gene y4yS (mlr8765) that codes for a protein of unknown function (Y4yS). A mutation in the y4yS gene favors the M. loti symbiotic competitive ability on Lotus tenuis cv. Esmeralda and affects negatively the secretion of proteins through T3SS. Here we localize Y4yS in the bacterial membrane using a translational reporter peptide fusion. In silico analysis indicated that this protein presents a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain, a signal peptide and a canonical lipobox LGCC in the N-terminal sequence. These features that are shared with proteins required for the formation of the secretin complex in type IV secretion systems and in the Tad system, together with its localization, suggest that the y4yS-encoded protein is required for the formation of the M. loti T3SS secretin (RhcC2) complex. Remarkably, analysis of RhcC2 in the wild-type and M. loti y4yS mutant strains indicated that the absence of Y4yS affects negatively the accumulation of normal levels of RhcC2 in the membrane.

RESUMO

Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 has a functional type III secretory system (T3SS) involved in the nodulation process on Lotus tenuis and Lotus japonicus. Four putative M. loti T3SS effectors (Mlr6358, Mlr6331, Mlr6361, and Mlr6316) have been previously described, and it has been demonstrated that the N-terminal regions of Mlr6361 and Mlr6358 mediate the secretion via a T3SS. Here, we demonstrate the capacity of Mlr6316 and Mlr6331 N-terminal regions to direct the secretion of a translational fusion to a reporter peptide through T3SS. By using single, double, and triple mutants, we demonstrated the positive and negative participation of some of these proteins in the determination of competitiveness on Lotus spp. Low competitiveness values correlated with low nodulation efficiency for a mutant deficient in three of the putative M. loti effectors. Our data suggest that the net effect of M. loti T3SS function on symbiotic process with Lotus results from a balance between positive and negative effects.

Assuntos

RESUMO

O presente trabalho pretendeu comparar a ansiedade relatada através da Escala Analógica de Humor (EAH) no Teste da Simulação do Falar em Público em adolescentes surdos e ouvintes. Participaram do experimento quinze surdos que dominam o alfabeto digital e a Língua Brasileira de Sinais (LIBRAS) (grupo experimental) e quinze ouvintes (grupo controle) com idades entre 11 a 18 anos, pareados em relação a variáveis sócio-econômicas e sexo. Ambos os grupos foram submetidos individualmente ao teste da simulação do falar em público, no qual a escala analógica de humor foi aplicada nas fases de adaptação, pré-discurso, durante o discurso e pós-discurso. Os resultados obtidos em ambos os grupos indicam que para a população de adolescentes o teste não gerou a ansiedade tipicamente relatada em adultos e não houve diferença estatística significativa entre os grupos segundo tipo de linguagem usada.

The purpose of this study was to compare the anxiety reported by deaf and normal hearing teenagers on the Public Speaking Simulation Test through the Humor Analog Scale (HAS). Fifteen deaf teenagers expert on the digital alphabet and on the Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) and fifteen normal hearing (control group) with 11 to 18 years of age participated on the study. Social economic class and genre were similar in the two groups. Both groups were individually submitted to a Public Speaking Simulation Test, and evaluated by the Humor Analog Scale applied on the adaptation phase, pre-speech phase, during the speech phase and after the speech phase. For the teenager population the test did not cause anxiety, typically obtained with adults. There was no significant statistic difference between the two different language groups.

Assuntos

RESUMO

O presente trabalho pretendeu comparar a ansiedade relatada através da Escala Analógica de Humor (EAH) no Teste da Simulação do Falar em Público em adolescentes surdos e ouvintes. Participaram do experimento quinze surdos que dominam o alfabeto digital e a Língua Brasileira de Sinais (LIBRAS) (grupo experimental) e quinze ouvintes (grupo controle) com idades entre 11 a 18 anos, pareados em relação a variáveis sócio-econômicas e sexo. Ambos os grupos foram submetidos individualmente ao teste da simulação do falar em público, no qual a escala analógica de humor foi aplicada nas fases de adaptação, pré-discurso, durante o discurso e pós-discurso. Os resultados obtidos em ambos os grupos indicam que para a população de adolescentes o teste não gerou a ansiedade tipicamente relatada em adultos e não houve diferença estatística significativa entre os grupos segundo tipo de linguagem usada.(AU)

The purpose of this study was to compare the anxiety reported by deaf and normal hearing teenagers on the Public Speaking Simulation Test through the Humor Analog Scale (HAS). Fifteen deaf teenagers expert on the digital alphabet and on the Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) and fifteen normal hearing (control group) with 11 to 18 years of age participated on the study. Social economic class and genre were similar in the two groups. Both groups were individually submitted to a Public Speaking Simulation Test, and evaluated by the Humor Analog Scale applied on the adaptation phase, pre-speech phase, during the speech phase and after the speech phase. For the teenager population the test did not cause anxiety, typically obtained with adults. There was no significant statistic difference between the two different language groups.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

Ethylene inhibits the establishment of symbiosis between rhizobia and legumes. Several rhizobia species express the enzyme ACC deaminase, which degrades the ethylene precursor 1-cyclopropane-1-carboxilate (ACC), leading to reductions in the amount of ethylene evolved by the plant. M. loti has a gene encoding ACC deaminase, but this gene is under the activity of the NifA-RpoN-dependent promoter; thus, it is only expressed inside the nodule. The M. loti structural gene ACC deaminase (acdS) was integrated into the M. loti chromosome under a constitutive promoter activity. The resulting strain induced the formation of a higher number of nodules and was more competitive than the wild-type strain on Lotus japonicus and L. tenuis. These results suggest that the introduction of the ACC deaminase activity within M. loti in a constitutive way could be a novel strategy to increase nodulation competitiveness of the bacteria, which could be useful for the forage inoculants industry.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Type III secretion systems (T3SS) have been found in several species of rhizobia. Proteins (termed effectors) secreted by this system are involved in host-range determination and influence nodulation efficiency. Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 possesses a functional T3SS in its symbiotic island whose expression is induced by flavonoids. As in other rhizobia, conserved cis-elements (tts box) were found in the promoter regions of genes or operons encoding T3SS components. Using a bioinformatics approach, we searched for other tts-box-controlled genes, and confirmed this transcriptional regulation for some of them using lacZ fusions to the predicted promoter regions. Translational fusions to a reporter peptide were created to demonstrate T3SS-mediated secretion of two new MAFF303099 effectors. Finally, we showed that mutation of the M. loti MAFF303099 T3SS affects its competitiveness on Lotus glaber and investigated, at the molecular level, responses of the model legume L. japonicus to the T3SS.

Assuntos

RESUMO

O objetivo deste estudo é traduzir a Escala Analógica de Humor, para surdos usuários da língua brasileira de sinais (LIBRAS) e do alfabeto digital, gerando uma escala trilíngüe. A amostra de estudo foi composta de 15 surdos que dominam o alfabeto digital e a LIBRAS e 40 ouvintes com idades entre 11 e 18 anos de ambos os sexos. Após o treino prévio, os participantes preencheram uma versão da escala segundo as características do seu grupo: em português para o grupo-controle (ouvinte) ou em LIBRAS para o grupo experimental (surdos). A aplicação foi realizada em grupo. Os resultados obtidos no experimento mostraram que a escala analógica de humor apresentou equivalência em ambos os grupos, dado que nas suas duas versões (escala analógica padrão e escala traduzida), não foram detectadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas no índice total e nos componentes da escala: ansiedade, sedação física e sedação mental. O único fator que apresentou diferença estatística significativa foi o componente outros sentimentos. Tais resultados indicam a possibilidade do uso desta escala para estudos de ansiedade em pacientes com surdez.

The aim of the present study was to adapt the Analogic Mood Scale for hearing impaired individuals speaking Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) and talking by the finger alphabet, yielding a bilingual scale. The sample of Study was composed of 15 hearing impaired individuals talking by the finger alphabet and LIBRAS and 40 normal hearing individuals aged 11 to 18 years of both genders. After previous training, the participants filled a version of the scale according to the characteristics of their group, in Portuguese or in LIBRAS. The scales were applied in group. The results showed that both versions of the analogue mood scale were equivalent, because no-statistical significant differences in the total index and in the components of the scale (anxiety, physical sedation and mental sedation) were related. The only factor presenting statistically significant difference was the presence of other feelings. Such results suggest the possibility of use of this scale for studies of anxiety among hearing impaired patients.

Assuntos

RESUMO

O objetivo deste estudo é traduzir a Escala Analógica de Humor, para surdos usuários da língua brasileira de sinais (LIBRAS) e do alfabeto digital, gerando uma escala trilíngüe. A amostra de estudo foi composta de 15 surdos que dominam o alfabeto digital e a LIBRAS e 40 ouvintes com idades entre 11 e 18 anos de ambos os sexos. Após o treino prévio, os participantes preencheram uma versão da escala segundo as características do seu grupo: em português para o grupo-controle (ouvinte) ou em LIBRAS para o grupo experimental (surdos). A aplicação foi realizada em grupo. Os resultados obtidos no experimento mostraram que a escala analógica de humor apresentou equivalência em ambos os grupos, dado que nas suas duas versões (escala analógica padrão e escala traduzida), não foram detectadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas no índice total e nos componentes da escala: ansiedade, sedação física e sedação mental. O único fator que apresentou diferença estatística significativa foi o componente outros sentimentos. Tais resultados indicam a possibilidade do uso desta escala para estudos de ansiedade em pacientes com surdez.(AU)

The aim of the present study was to adapt the Analogic Mood Scale for hearing impaired individuals speaking Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) and talking by the finger alphabet, yielding a bilingual scale. The sample of Study was composed of 15 hearing impaired individuals talking by the finger alphabet and LIBRAS and 40 normal hearing individuals aged 11 to 18 years of both genders. After previous training, the participants filled a version of the scale according to the characteristics of their group, in Portuguese or in LIBRAS. The scales were applied in group. The results showed that both versions of the analogue mood scale were equivalent, because no-statistical significant differences in the total index and in the components of the scale (anxiety, physical sedation and mental sedation) were related. The only factor presenting statistically significant difference was the presence of other feelings. Such results suggest the possibility of use of this scale for studies of anxiety among hearing impaired patients.(AU)

Assuntos