Concepts for the reduction of industrial wastes

Includes bibliography

Reduction of infant mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean: uneven progress requiring a variety of responses

Infant mortality has unquestionably declined throughout Latin America over the last decade, even under conditions of low and unstable economic growth and a meagre overall reduction of poverty in the region. The declines in infant mortality vary from one country to another. The persistence of high infant mortality rates is related to low income, teenage pregnancy and lack of access to basic services, as well as to the lack of appropriate health care infrastructure. At the same time, both the rural population as a whole, and the indigenous and Afro-descendent population in particular, has fallen markedly behind, with overall infant mortality rates much higher than among the rest of the population. Moreover, the cause and incidence of death in this age group have been changing according with the changes in neonatal and post-neonatal deaths. Our editorial line-up has created space for opinions from adolescents and youth, as well as from policy experts on the problem, its causes, and approaches to dealing with infant mortality. We also offer succinct information on a broad range of programmes—utilizing various interventions—in different countries of the region regarding maternal and infant care, in an attempt to bring about a reduction in mortality.

The need to establish coordinated measures for the reduction of road accidents in Latin America and the Caribbean

This edition of the FAL Bulletin approaches road safety and the need for urgent, coordinated measures to be established between the public and private sectors and civil society in order to prevent the rapid increase in deaths and casualties in road accidents in Latin America and the Caribbean, an issue which is threatening the sustainability of regional development.

The ability of orthodontists and laypeople in the perception of gradual reduction of dentogingival exposure while smiling

OBJETIVO: avaliar a diferença na percepção de ortodontistas e leigos quanto à redução da exposição dentogengival no sorriso. MÉTODOS: no total, 60 avaliadores de ambos os sexos (30 leigos e 30 ortodontistas) avaliaram fotografias do sorriso espontâneo de dois indivíduos, um do sexo masculino e um do feminino. A partir das imagens originais, a altura do sorriso foi modificada usando-se um programa de manipulação de imagens. Os examinadores emitiram notas de 0 a 10, conforme o nível de agradabilidade. A reprodutibilidade do método foi examinada através do teste de Wilcoxon, enquanto os testes de Friedman e Wilcoxon (P<0,05) foram utilizados para observar as diferenças intra e interexaminadores, respectivamente. RESULTADOS: os resultados demonstraram não haver diferença entre os grupos de avaliadores com relação à estética quando a altura de ambos os sorrisos foi modificada. Entretanto, o sorriso do indivíduo do sexo masculino teve menor aceitabilidade do que o sorriso feminino. Uma suave redução na exposição dentogengival no sorriso (2mm) não foi percebida por leigos ou ortodontistas (p>0,05). CONCLUSÃO: o sorriso do indivíduo do sexo feminino recebeu notas mais altas do que o do masculino; entretanto, amostras envolvendo um maior número de indivíduos em cada grupo são necessárias para confirmar se a observação estaria relacionada ao sexo do indivíduo examinado.

Quantification of Endotoxins in Infected Root Canals and Acute Apical Abscess Exudates: Monitoring the Effectiveness of Root Canal Procedures in the Reduction of Endotoxins

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dimensional reduction of the massless limit of the linearized 'New Massive Gravity'

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The increase of dairy intake is the main dietary factor associated with reduction of body weight in overweight adults after lifestyle change program

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

WITHDRAWN: The increase of dairy intake is the main dietary factor associated with reduction of body weight in overweight adults after lifestyle change program

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.

REDUCTION IN RODENT POPULATIONS THROUGH INTERMITTENT CONTROL OPERATIONS IN THE CROPPING ECOSYSTEM OF THE INDIAN DESERT

Control operations at 6-month intervals, continued for four years in crop fields, reduced the rodent population to 5.08 percent losses to agricultural production. After eight crop seasons, a significant reduction in rodent density was observed in treated areas when compared with that of the control areas (P < 0.01). Correlation between pre-treatment population index (y) and number of seasons (log of x) was found to be 0.91 (P < 0.01). A relationship was established between y and x : y = 0.804.0-0.9621 log x. From this equation, it can be inferred that rodent population will reach zero level after treating crop fields continuously for6.85 or say 7.0 (seven) seasons. After control, the numbers of predominant rodents, Tatera indica, Meriones hurrianae and Rattus meltada. were significantly reduced and the residual population was composed of Mus booduga. Gerbillus spp., Rattus gleadowi. Golunda ellioti and Funambulus pennanti.

Disulfide Biochemistry in 2-Cys Peroxiredoxin: Requirement of Glu50 and Arg146 for the Reduction of Yeast Tsa1 by Thioredoxin

2-Cys peroxiredoxin (Prx) enzymes are ubiquitously distributed peroxidases that make use of a peroxidatic cysteine (Cys(P)) to decompose hydroperoxides. A disulfide bond is generated as a consequence of the partial unfolding of the alpha-helix that contains Cys(P). Therefore, during its catalytic cycle, 2-Cys Prx alternates between two states, locally unfolded and fully folded. Tsa1 (thiol-specific antioxidant protein 1 from yeast) is by far the most abundant Cys-based peroxidase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this work, we present the crystallographic structure at 2.8 angstrom resolution of Tsa1(C47S) in the decameric form [(alpha(2))(5)] with a DTT molecule bound to the active site, representing one of the few available reports of a 2-Cys Prx (AhpC-Prx1 subfamily) (AhpC, alkyl hydroperoxide reductase subunit C) structure that incorporates a ligand. The analysis of the Tsa1(C47S) structure indicated that G1u50 and Arg146 participate in the stabilization of the Cys(P) alpha-helix. As a consequence, we raised the hypothesis that G1u50 and Arg146 might be relevant to the Cys(P) reactivity. Therefore, Tsa1(E50A) and Tsa1(R146Q) mutants were generated and were still able to decompose hydrogen peroxide, presenting a second-order rate constant in the range of 10(6) M-1 S-1. Remarkably, although Tsa1(E50A) and Tsa1(R146Q) were efficiently reduced by the low-molecular-weight reductant DTT, these mutants displayed only marginal thioredoxin (Trx)-dependent peroxidase activity, indicating that G1u50 and Arg146 are important for the Tsa1-Trx interaction. These results may impact the comprehension of downstream events of signaling pathways that are triggered by the oxidation of critical Cys residues, such as Trx. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Initial experience with Pomerantzeff's technique for reduction of the size of giant left atrium

Introduction: The most common indication for surgical correction of giant left atrium is associated with mitral valve insufficiency with or without atrial fibrillation. Several techniques for this purpose are already described with varying results. Objective: To present the initial experience with the tangential triangular resection technique (Pomerantzeff). Methods: From 2002 to 2010, four patients underwent mitral valve operation with reduction of left atrial volume by the technique of triangular resection tangential in our service. Three patients were female. The age ranged from 21 to 51 years old. The four patients presented with atrial fibrillation. Ejection fraction of left ventricle preoperatively ranged from 38% to 62%. The left atrial diameter ranged from 78mm to 140mm. After treatment of mitral dysfunction, the left atrium was reduced by resecting triangular tangential posterior wall between the pulmonary veins to avoid anatomic distortion of the mitral valve or pulmonary veins, reducing tension in the suture line. Results: Average hospital stay was 21.5 +/- 6.5 days. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 130 +/- 30 minutes. There was no surgical bleeding or mortality in the postoperative period. All patients had sinus rhythm restored in the output of cardiopulmonary bypass, maintaining this rate postoperatively. The average diameter of the left atrium was reduced by 50.5% +/- 19.5%. The left ventricular ejection fraction improved in all patients. Conclusion: Initial results with this technique have shown effective reduction of the left atrium.

Straightforward Synthesis of Carbon-Supported Ag Nanoparticles and Their Application for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

In this paper we report a simple and environmentally friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNps) and their activities towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-vis) and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)-protected colloidal AgNps through direct reduction of Ag+ by glycerol in alkaline medium at room temperature. For the ORR tests, the AgNps were directly produced onto carbon to yield the Ag/C catalyst. Levich plots revealed the process to occur via 2.7 electrons, suggesting that the carbon support contributes to the ORR. We discuss here possibilities of improving the catalytic properties of the Ag/C for ORR by optimizing the parameters of the synthesis.

Inhibition of Macrophage Oxidative Stress Prevents the Reduction of ABCA-1 Transporter Induced by Advanced Glycated Albumin

We investigated the role of aminoguanidine and benfotiamine on the inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in macrophages induced by advanced glycated albumin (AGE-albumin) and its relationship with cell cholesterol homeostasis, emphasizing the expression of the ATP binding cassette transporter A-1 (ABCA-1). AGE-albumin was made by incubating fatty acid-free albumin with 10 mM glycolaldehyde. ROS production and ABCA-1 protein level were determined by flow cytometry in J774 macrophages treated along time with control (C) or AGE-albumin alone or in the presence of aminoguanidine or benfotiamine. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by oxygraphy. Compared to C-albumin, AGE-albumin increased ROS production in macrophages, which was ascribed to the activities of NADPH oxidase and of the mitochondrial system. Mitochondrial respiratory chain activity was reduced in cells incubated with AGE-albumin. ROS generation along time was associated with the reduction in macrophage ABCA-1 protein level. Aminoguanidine prevented ROS elevation and restored the ABCA-1 content in macrophages; on the other hand, benfotiamine that promoted a lesser reduction in ROS generation was not able to restore ABCA-1 levels. Inhibition of oxidative stress induced by AGE-albumin prevents disturbances in reverse cholesterol transport by curbing the reduction of ABCA-1 elicited by advanced glycation in macrophages and therefore may contribute to the prevention of atherosclerosis in diabetes mellitus.

Electrodeposition of PVA-protected PtCo electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in H2SO4

In this paper we report the electrosynthesis of PVA-protected PtCo films (PVA = poly(vinylalcohol)) and their activities towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). PtCo electrodeposits were potentiostatically obtained in the presence and absence of PVA at distinct potentials. The film morphology and composition were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), which revealed that the use of PVA in the electrodeposition of PtCo films was decisive to achieve better film composition control. Cyclic voltammetry for PVA-protected PtCo films showed that the electrochemical surface area is dependent on the electrodeposition potentials and suggested different adsorption strengths of oxygen-containing species. Films produced in the presence of PVA presented the following activity order towards ORR as a function of the electrodeposition potential (vs. Ag/AgCl): -0.9 V> -0.8 V> -1.0 V> -0.7 V. In contrast, PtCo films electrodeposited in the absence of PVA displayed very similar activities regardless of the electrodeposition potential. The simplicity of the electrodeposition method combined with its effectiveness enabled the production of "model electrodes" for investigating the fundamental aspects of the reactions taking place in the fuel cell cathodes. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.