Daldinia eschscholtzii (Ascomycota, Xylariaceae) isolated from the Brazilian Amazon: taxonomic features and mycelial growth conditions

The Amazon has a high diversity of fungi, including species of the genus Daldinia (Ascomycota, Xylariaceae), which produce secondary metabolites with recognized nematicidal and antimicrobial activity. The ecological role of Daldinia is important, as stromata serve as refuges to many insects and arthropodes, and the fungi contribute to the degradation of vegetable organic matter. The aim of this study was to analyze the taxonomic features and mycelial growth conditions in vitro of a Daldinia specimen collected in the Brazilian Amazon. Morphological and molecular studies of the fungus identified it as D. eschscholtzii. To evaluate mycelial growth, we cultivated the fungus at 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 ��C in malt extract-peptone agar (MEPA), malt extract-peptone (MEP), potato dextrose (PD), and minimum medium (MM). The best mycelial growth occurred at 35 ��C, although the greatest amount of biomass was obtained at 25 ��C and 30 ��C. PD proved to be the best medium for biomass production.

Photosynthetic parameters and growth in seedlings of Bertholletia excelsa and Carapa guianensis in response to pre-acclimation to full sunlight and mild water stress

Light and water are important factors that may limit the growth and development of higher plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate photosynthetic parameters and growth in seedlings of Bertholletia excelsa and Carapa guianensis in response to pre-acclimation to full sunlight and mild water stress. I used six independent pre-acclimation treatments (0, 90 (11h15-12h45), 180 (10h30-13h30), 360 (09h00-15h00), 540 (07h30-16h30) and 720 min (06h00-18h00)) varying the time of exposure to full sunlight (PFS) during 30 days, followed by whole-day outdoor exposure for 120 days. Before PFS, the plants were kept in a greenhouse at low light levels (0.8 mol m-2 day-1). The PFS of 0 min corresponded to plants constantly kept under greenhouse conditions. From the beginning to the end of the experiment, each PFS treatment was submitted to two water regimes: moderate water stress (MWS, pre-dawn leaf water potential (ΨL) of -500 to -700 kPa) and without water stress (WWS, ΨL of -300 kPa, soil kept at field capacity). Plants under MWS received only a fraction of the amount of water applied to the well-watered ones. At the end of the 120-day-period under outdoor conditions, I evaluated light saturated photosynthesis (Amax), stomatal conductance (g s), transpiration (E) and plant growth. Both Amax and g s were higher for all plants under the PFS treatment. Stem diameter growth rate and Amax were higher for C. guianensis subjected to MWS than in well-watered plants. The contrary was true for B. excelsa. The growth of seedlings was enhanced by exposure to full sunlight for 180 minutes in both species. However, plants of B. excelsa were sensitive to moderate water stress. The higher photosynthetic rates and faster growth of C. guianensis under full sun and moderate water stress make this species a promissory candidate to be tested in reforestation programs.

The Data Mining applied for the prediction of highway roughness due to overloaded trucks

Currently, the quality of the Indonesian national road network is inadequate due to several constraints, including overcapacity and overloaded trucks. The high deterioration rate of the road infrastructure in developing countries along with major budgetary restrictions and high growth in traffic have led to an emerging need for improving the performance of the highway maintenance system. However, the high number of intervening factors and their complex effects require advanced tools to successfully solve this problem. The high learning capabilities of Data Mining (DM) are a powerful solution to this problem. In the past, these tools have been successfully applied to solve complex and multi-dimensional problems in various scientific fields. Therefore, it is expected that DM can be used to analyze the large amount of data regarding the pavement and traffic, identify the relationship between variables, and provide information regarding the prediction of the data. In this paper, we present a new approach to predict the International Roughness Index (IRI) of pavement based on DM techniques. DM was used to analyze the initial IRI data, including age, Equivalent Single Axle Load (ESAL), crack, potholes, rutting, and long cracks. This model was developed and verified using data from an Integrated Indonesia Road Management System (IIRMS) that was measured with the National Association of Australian State Road Authorities (NAASRA) roughness meter. The results of the proposed approach are compared with the IIRMS analytical model adapted to the IRI, and the advantages of the new approach are highlighted. We show that the novel data-driven model is able to learn (with high accuracy) the complex relationships between the IRI and the contributing factors of overloaded trucks

Diversity and capacity to promote maize growth of bacteria isolated from the Amazon region

ABSTRACT Maize plants can establish beneficial associations with plant growth-promoting bacteria. However, few studies have been conducted on the characterization and inoculation of these bacteria in the Amazon region. This study aimed to characterize endophytic bacteria isolated from maize in the Amazon region and to assess their capacity to promote plant growth. Fifty-five bacterial isolates were obtained from maize grown in two types of ecosystems, i.e., a cerrado (savanna) and a forest area. The isolates were characterized by the presence of the nifH gene, their ability to synthesize indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and solubilize calcium phosphate (CaHPO4), and 16S rRNA partial gene sequencing. Twenty-four bacteria contained the nifH gene, of which seven were isolated from maize plants cultivated in a cerrado area and seventeen from a forest area. Fourteen samples showed the capacity to synthesize IAA and only four solubilized calcium phosphate. The following genera were found among these isolates: Pseudomonas; Acinetobacter; Enterobacter; Pantoea; Burkholderia and Bacillus. In addition, eight isolates with plant growth-promoting capacity were selected for a glasshouse experiment involving the inoculation of two maize genotypes (a hybrid and a variety) grown in pots containing soil. Inoculation promoted the development of the maize plants but no significant interaction between maize cultivar and bacterial inoculation was found. A high diversity of endophytic bacteria is present in the Amazon region and these bacteria have potential to promote the development of maize plants.

Biomimetic supramolecular designs for the controlled release of growth factors in bone regeneration

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues is an assembly of insoluble macromolecules that specifically interact with soluble bioactive molecules and regulate their distribution and availability to cells. Recapitulating this ability has been an important target in controlled growth factor delivery strategies for tissue regeneration and requires the design of multifunctional carriers. This review describes the integration of supramolecular interactions on the design of delivery strategies that encompass self-assembling and engineered affinity components to construct advanced biomimetic carriers for growth factor delivery. Several glycan- and peptide-based self-assemblies reported in the literature are highlighted and commented upon. These examples demonstrate how molecular design and chemistry are successfully employed to create versatile multifunctional molecules which self-assemble/disassemble in a precisely predicted manner, thus controlling compartmentalization, transport and delivery. Finally, we discuss whether recent advances in the design and preparation of supramolecular delivery systems have been sufficient to drive real translation towards a clinical impact.��

Targeting lactate transport suppresses in vivo breast tumour growth.

BACKGROUND Most cancers, including breast cancer, have high rates of glucose consumption, associated with lactate production, a process referred as "Warburg effect". Acidification of the tumour microenvironment by lactate extrusion, performed by lactate transporters (MCTs), is associated with higher cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and increased cell survival. Previously, we have described MCT1 up-regulation in breast carcinoma samples and demonstrated the importance of in vitro MCT inhibition. In this study, we performed siRNA knockdown of MCT1 and MCT4 in basal-like breast cancer cells in both normoxia and hypoxia conditions to validate the potential of lactate transport inhibition in breast cancer treatment. RESULTS The effect of MCT knockdown was evaluated on lactate efflux, proliferation, cell biomass, migration and invasion and induction of tumour xenografts in nude mice. MCT knockdown led to a decrease in in vitro tumour cell aggressiveness, with decreased lactate transport, cell proliferation, migration and invasion and, importantly, to an inhibition of in vivo tumour formation and growth. CONCLUSIONS This work supports MCTs as promising targets in cancer therapy, demonstrates the contribution of MCTs to cancer cell aggressiveness and, more importantly, shows, for the first time, the disruption of in vivo breast tumour growth by targeting lactate transport.

Estrat��gias desenvolvidas por usu��rios de crack para lidar com os riscos decorrentes do consumo da droga

OBJETIVOS: O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar, sob a ��tica de usu��rios de crack, quais s��o as estrat��gias que eles utilizam para minimizar ou evitar os riscos decorrentes do consumo de crack. M��TODO: Utilizou-se m��todo qualitativo de pesquisa, desenvolvido mediante entrevistas semiestruturadas em profundidade. Foi entrevistada uma amostra intencional por crit��rios, composta por 30 usu��rios de crack, selecionados por meio de informantes-chave e distribu��dos em oito diferentes cadeias. As entrevistas foram transcritas literalmente, inseridas e analisadas no software NVivo 8, com explora����o dos dados mediante a t��cnica de an��lise de conte��do. RESULTADOS: Os entrevistados acreditam que os maiores riscos decorrentes da depend��ncia do crack sejam os relacionados aos efeitos ps��quicos da droga, como fissura, sintomas paranoides transit��rios e sintomas depressivos, assim como os decorrentes da ilegalidade dela, como a pol��cia e as quest��es referentes ao tr��fico. Entretanto, os riscos de complica����es f��sicas do consumo quase n��o foram apontados. As estrat��gias se concentraram no controle dos efeitos ps��quicos, principalmente pelo consumo de ��lcool e maconha. Para lidar com as consequ��ncias da ilegalidade da droga, mostraram se preocupar com a postura que adotam perante o traficante e a pol��cia. CONCLUS��ES: As estrat��gias desenvolvidas pelos usu��rios focam na tentativa de se autoprotegerem principalmente dos epis��dios de viol��ncia e no al��vio de sintomas desagrad��veis causados pela droga - principalmente fissura e sintomas paranoides transit��rios. Essas estrat��gias podem parecer efetivas a curto prazo, por��m apresentaram riscos de longo prazo, tais como depend��ncia de ��lcool e maconha.

Looking for mechanisms regulating lung growth in CDH: rat and human studies

Tese de Doutoramento em Ci��ncias da Sa��de

Rela����o entre o craving por tabaco e o craving por crack em pacientes internados para desintoxica����o

OBJETIVO: Verificar se h�� rela����o entre aumento do craving por crack e aumento do craving por tabaco em pacientes internados para desintoxica����o. M��TODO: Ensaio cl��nico tipo quase-experimental de an��lise quantitativa. Amostra composta por 32 homens dependentes de coca��na (crack) e tabaco, em duas a tr��s semanas de abstin��ncia. Realizou-se interven����o em grupo, no qual, inicialmente, foram aplicados: CCQB (Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief ), QSUB (Questionnaire of Smoking Urges-Brief ) e BAI (Invent��rio Beck de Ansiedade). Em seguida, foram aplicadas imagens relacionadas ao crack e reaplicados CCQB, QSUB e BAI. Ap��s, foi realizada entrevista individual em que se aplicaram FSD (Ficha com Dados Sociodemogr��ficos) e FTND (Fagerstr��m Test for Nicotine Dependence). RESULTADOS: A partir da exposi����o de imagens relativas ao crack, houve aumento significativo do craving por crack, do craving por tabaco e dos sintomas de ansiedade, estando essas medidas correlacionadas positivamente entre si. CONCLUS��O: Os resultados indicam uma associa����o significativa entre craving por crack e craving por tabaco, sugerindo que a abstin��ncia de tabaco pode ajudar na efic��cia do tratamento para depend��ncia de crack.

Associa����o entre fissura e perfil antropom��trico em dependentes de crack

OBJETIVO: Verificar a varia����o da fissura de dependentes de crack no decorrer da interna����o e a associa����o com perfil antropom��trico. M��TODOS: Trata-se de uma pesquisa quantitativa com delineamento transversal (n = 30). Avaliaram-se o perfil de consumo de subst��ncias psicoativas; dados sociodemogr��ficos; vari��veis antropom��tricas (peso, estatura, ��ndice de massa corporal, rela����o cintura-quadril, per��metros, dobras cut��neas e di��metro ��sseo); e fissura avaliada por meio do Cocaine Craving Questionnaire Brief. As coletas de dados ocorreram nas 24 horas iniciais e finais do tratamento. RESULTADOS: Observou-se aumento significativo do percentual de gordura e diminui����o significativa da fissura. N��o se evidenciou associa����o entre vari��veis antropom��tricas e fissura, tanto no in��cio como ao final da interna����o. CONCLUS��O: Houve significativa diminui����o na fissura e modifica����o na composi����o corporal, entretanto n��o houve correla����o entre essas vari��veis.

Valida����o psicom��trica do Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief - Vers��o Brasileira Adaptada para o Crack para dependentes hospitalizados

Introdu����o: O craving (ou fissura) �� um fator muito importante no tratamento da depend��ncia de subst��ncias psicotr��picas. Objetivo: Validar o Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief - Vers��o Brasileira Adaptada para o Crack. M��todo: O delineamento foi experimental e seus participantes foram randomizados, em grupos: experimental, para o qual foi apresentada uma imagem de um indiv��duo consumindo crack (G1), e controle (G2), para o qual n��o foi apresentada nenhuma imagem. A amostra foi composta por 109 sujeitos (G1 = 50 e G2 = 59) do sexo masculino, internados por causa da depend��ncia do crack. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: Entrevista Cl��nica com dados sociodemogr��ficos, CCQ-B Vers��o Adaptada para o Crack, Escala Anal��gico-Visual do Craving, Invent��rios Beck de Ansiedade e de Depress��o e o Est��mulo Visual indutor de craving para o G1. Resultados: Na an��lise fatorial, foram encontrados dois fatores: o fator 1, relacionado ao craving propriamente dito, e o fator 2, relacionado �� percep����o da falta de controle do uso do crack. Os dois fatores apresentaram vari��ncia total de 68,84%, e a correla����o entre os fatores foi significativa e de baixa intensidade (r = 0,204; p = 0,041). O alfa de Cronbach do seu total de pontos foi 0,85. O instrumento no total de pontos foi correlacionado com a Escala Anal��gico-Visual (r = 0,515; p < 0,01). Conclus��o: O CCQ-B - Vers��o Brasileira Adaptada para o Crack demonstrou ser, psicometricamente, satisfat��rio para utiliza����o em pesquisas e em ambiente cl��nico.

Pregnant crack addicts in a psychiatric unit

OBJECTIVE: In this study we aim to characterize a sample of 85 pregnant crack addicts admitted for detoxification in a psychiatric inpatient unit. METHOD: Cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic, clinical, obstetric and lifestyle information were evaluated. RESULTS: Age of onset for crack use varied from 11 to 35 years (median = 21). Approximately 25% of the patients smoked more than 20 crack rocks in a typical day of use (median = 10; min-max = 1-100). Tobacco (89.4%), alcohol (63.5%) and marijuana (51.8%) were the drugs other than crack most currently used. Robbery was reported by 32 patients (41.2%), imprisonment experience by 21 (24.7%), trade of sex for money/drugs by 38 (44.7%), home desertion by 33 (38.8%); 15.3% were positive for HIV, 5.9% for HCV, 1.2% for HBV and 8.2% for syphilis. After discharge from the psychiatric unit, only 25% of the sample followed the proposed treatment in the chemical dependency outpatient service. CONCLUSION: Greater risky behaviors for STD, as well as high rates of maternal HIV and Syphilis were found. Moreover, the high rates of concurrent use of other drugs and involvement in illegal activities contribute to show their chaotic lifestyles. Prevention and intervention programs need to be developed to address the multifactorial nature of this problem.

Exposi����o a trauma e transtorno de estresse p��s-traum��tico em usu��rias de crack

OBJETIVO: Verificar a ocorr��ncia de trauma e transtorno de estresse p��s-traum��tico (TEPT) em uma amostra de mulheres dependentes de coca��na tipo crack. M��TODO: A amostra foi composta por 99 mulheres, entre 18 e 52 anos, internadas em uma unidade de desintoxica����o e extensamente avaliadas por meio da SCID-I e a ASI-6. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se uma taxa de exposi����o a trauma de 86,9% entre mulheres dependentes de coca��na tipo crack. A taxa de TEPT na amostra foi de 15,1%. Os clusters de revivesc��ncia e hiperexcitabilidade foram os mais frequentes - 24,4% e 20,9% respectivamente. Entre os tipos de eventos relatados, os mais frequentes foram sofrer agress��o/abuso f��sico e ser testemunha de viol��ncia a outros. CONCLUS��O: Os resultados sugerem uma frequente exposi����o a eventos traum��ticos. Com rela����o �� idade da experi��ncia traum��tica, sugere-se que as usu��rias expostas a trauma durante a inf��ncia e adolesc��ncia apresentam um in��cio do uso de drogas em idades mais precoces que aquelas cujo trauma ocorreu na vida adulta.

Intensidade de uso de crack de acordo com a classe econ��mica de usu��rios internados na cidade de Porto Alegre/Brasil

OBJETIVOS: Investigar se h�� associa����o entre intensidade e frequ��ncia de uso de crack e o n��vel econ��mico de dependentes da droga e verificar se h�� rela����o entre classe econ��mica e intensidade e frequ��ncia de uso de crack em homens adultos em interna����o psiqui��trica. M��TODO: Estudo transversal quantitativo. Instrumentos: entrevista estruturada, Crit��rios de Classifica����o Econ��mica Brasil e Miniexame do Estado Mental. Tratamento estat��stico: an��lises descritivas e inferenciais (testes de Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis - n��vel de signific��ncia de 5%). RESULTADOS: Duzentos e vinte e um participantes foram divididos em dois grupos: (1) Grupo de maior n��vel econ��mico (classes A e B) e (2) Grupo de menor n��vel econ��mico (Classes C, D e E). N��o houve diferen��a significativa (p = 0,893 - teste de Mann-Whitney) entre os grupos quanto �� intensidade e �� frequ��ncia de uso de crack. Tamb��m n��o houve rela����o significativa (p = 0,549 - teste de Kruskal-Wallis) entre classe econ��mica (A, B, C, D e E) e intensidade e frequ��ncia de uso de crack. CONCLUS��O: Os dependentes de crack de maior e de menor poder aquisitivo n��o diferiram de forma significativa com rela����o �� intensidade e �� frequ��ncia de uso da droga. N��o houve rela����o entre classe econ��mica e intensidade e frequ��ncia de uso de crack nesta amostra.

Altera����es na composi����o corporal e em par��metros antropom��tricos de dependentes de crack internados em unidade de adi����o

OBJETIVOS: Verificar as altera����es da composi����o corporal e de par��metros antropom��tricos de dependentes de crack internados para tratamento da adi����o. M��TODOS: Estudo de coorte prospectivo, com 40 volunt��rios masculinos dependentes de crack, de 18 a 60 anos, em tratamento. Foram aferidos par��metros antropom��tricos e de composi����o corporal, por meio de bioimped��ncia el��trica, na interna����o e alta hospitalar. RESULTADOS: Com idade m��dia de 29,3 �� 6,9 anos, os pacientes tiveram, durante a abstin��ncia, aumento de peso de 7,6 �� 3,7 kg; 11,6 �� 6,4% do peso corporal; 5,6 �� 4,2 cm de circunfer��ncia de cintura. Houve aumento de 4,2 �� 3,2 kg de gordura, 3,5 �� 3,0 kg de massa magra e de 2,5 �� 2,6 litros de ��gua. Ao se internarem, 75% estavam eutr��ficos, 17,5% apresentavam sobrepeso e 5% apresentavam desnutri����o, valores que, na alta, se alteraram para 50% de eutrofia e 47,6% de sobrepeso (IMC - ��ndice de Massa Corporal). Observou-se que a m��dia de ganho de peso foi maior nas duas primeiras semanas de interna����o. CONCLUS��O: Ao longo da interna����o, foram identificados ganho de peso e altera����es de composi����o corporal e nos par��metros antropom��tricos dos pacientes, refletindo em migra����o da eutrofia para o sobrepeso em parcela expressiva deles.