Resumo Os vegetais apresentam uma fonte renovável de metabólitos com enorme diversidade química estrutural, os quais podem apresentar potencial relevante na terapêutica, aumentando as possibilidades de encontrar novos e diferentes constituintes químicos com atividades antimicrobiana, antioxidante e antitumoral. Este trabalho analisou o perfil fitoquímico preliminar e as atividades antimicrobiana, antioxidante, citotóxica dos extratos em hexano das folhas de dez espécies da família Melastomataceae. A triagem fitoquímica foi executada utilizando métodos de coloração e quantificação de fenóis e flavonoides totais por espectrofotometria. A atividade antimicrobiana foi realizada pelo método de difusão em disco. A atividade antioxidante foi determinada pelo método 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazila (DPPH). A toxicidade foi registrada utilizando o ensaio de letalidade com Artemia salina Leach (1819). A atividade citotóxica dos extratos foi realizada in vitro com células leucêmicas monocítica aguda (THP-1). A análise fitoquímica detectou a presença de taninos, terpenos, esteroides, polifenóis, flavonoides e ausência de alcaloides. A maior quantificação de polifenóis foi da Clidemia capitellata (Bonpl.) D. Don (205,95 mg/g ± 4,14) e o extrato de Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don apresentou maior teor de flavonoides totais (143,99 mg/g ± 4,18). Os extratos hexânicos não demostraram atividade antimicrobiana e nem toxicidade frente à Artemia salina. O extrato de Tibouchina francavillana Cogn. foi o mais ativo no sequestro do radical DPPH. Os extratos apresentaram citotoxicidade em células THP-1, com visualização de corpos apoptóticos e morte celular. Os extratos de Miconia amoena, Clidemia sericea e Clidemia capitellata são atóxicos contra Artemia salina e induzem a formação de corpos apoptóticos e morte celular da linhagem THP-1.

Abstract Plants possess a renewable source of metabolites with enormous chemical structural diversity, which may have potential therapeutic relevance. Furthermore, this chemical diversity favors the possibility of finding new and different chemical constituents with antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-tumor activities. This work analyzed preliminary phytochemical profiles and evaluated the antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of hexane extracts of leaves of ten species of the family Melastomataceae. Phytochemical screening was performed using staining methods while total phenols and flavonoids were quantified by spectrophotometry. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the disk diffusion method. Antioxidant activity was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) method. Toxicity was recorded using the lethality test with Artemia salina Leach (1819). Cytotoxic activity of the extracts was assessed in vitro with acute monocytic leukemia cells (THP-1). Phytochemical analysis detected the presence of tannins, terpenes, steroids, polyphenols and flavonoids and the absence of alkaloids. Clidemia capitellata (Bonpl.) D. Don had the greatest amount of polyphenols (205.95 mg/g ± 4.14) while Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don had the highest content of total flavonoids (143.99 mg/g ± 4.18). The hexane extracts did not show antimicrobial activity nor toxicity against Artemia salina. The extract of Tibouchina francavillana Cogn. was the most active in sequestering the DPPH radical. The extracts showed cytotoxicity in THP-1 cells with the appearance of apoptotic bodies and cell death. The extracts of Miconia amoena, Clidemia sericea and Clidemia capitellata are non-toxic against Artemia salina and induce the formation of apoptotic bodies and cell death of the THP-1 lineage.

Resumo Bacillus thuringiensis é o entomopatógeno mais utilizado no controle do Aedes aegypti, vetor de diferentes agentes etiológicos que causam infecções graves em humanos. Diversos estudos têm como objetivo isolar cepas dessa bactéria de diferentes ambientes, com a perspectiva de selecionar isolados com atividade larvicida para mosquitos. Visando a ação inseticida de B. thuringiensis, o presente estudo teve como objetivo prospectar B. thuringiensis de solos de restinga e mangue do estado do Maranhão, Brasil, com potencial tóxico para uso no controle biológico de Ae. aegypti. Bioensaios foram realizados para determinar a atividade entomopatogênica do bacilo contra Ae. aegypti e as concentrações letais (CL50 e CL90) foram estimadas após os testes. As técnicas de Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase e SDS-PAGE foram realizadas para verificar o conteúdo de genes e proteínas dos isolados, respectivamente. Os solos dos ecossistemas de mangue e restinga apresentaram potencial para obtenção de B. thuringiensis. O isolado BtMA-750, obtido a partir da amostra de solo da restinga, foi interessantemente distinguido por sua alta toxicidade para Ae. aegypti. Este isolado, além de apresentar proteínas com massa molecular semelhante às toxinas Cry e Cyt, apresentou também diversos genes díptero-específicos cry e cyt, demonstrando que tem alto potencial para ser usado no controle biológico de Ae. aegypti.

Abstract Bacillus thuringiensis is the most commonly used entomopathogen in the control of Aedes aegypti, which is a vector for different etiological agents that cause serious infections in humans. Several studies aim to isolate strains of this bacterium from different environments, with the perspective of selecting isolates with larvicidal activity for mosquitoes. Aiming at the insecticidal action of B. thuringiensis, the present study aimed to prospect B. thuringiensis of restinga and mangrove soils from the state of Maranhão, Brazil, with toxic potential for use in the biological control of Ae. aegypti. Bioassays were performed to determine the entomopathogenic activity of the bacilli against Ae. aegypti and lethal concentrations (LC50 and CL90) were estimated after the tests. Polymerase Chain Reaction and SDS-PAGE techniques were performed to verify the gene and protein content of the isolates, respectively. The soil of the mangrove and restinga ecosystems showed potential for obtaining B. thuringiensis. This isolate, in addition to having proteins with molecular mass similar to the toxins Cry and Cyt, also presented several diptera-specific genes cry and cyt, demonstrating that it has high potential to be used in the biological control of Ae. aegypti.

Resumo Descreve-se a caracterização da matéria-prima flogopita [KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2] e o processo de fabricação de filtros cerâmicos porosos (FCPs) a partir desta, via método da réplica (esponja polimérica) de forma simples e eficaz. A flogopita foi caracterizada por difratometria de raios X (DRX), espectroscopia no infravermelho com transformada de Fourier por reflexão total atenuada, espectroscopia no UV-vis, termogravimetria, análise térmica diferencial e dilatometria, e os FCPs por microscopia eletrônica de varredura acoplada por espectroscopia por energia dispersiva e pelo método de imersão para determinação da porosidade aparente (PA), absorção de água (AA) e densidade aparente (DA). DRX indicou, além da fase flogopita, as fases caulinita, biotita e goetita para a amostra sem tratamento térmico. A energia de band gap de 3,10 eV foi determinada por UV-vis. A partir das análises térmicas, encontrou-se a temperatura de queima do material entre 1000 e 1200 °C. Determinaram-se PA na faixa de 92% a 95%, AA de 84% a 89% e DA de 0,12 a 0,25 g.cm-3. Os FCPs apresentaram altos teores dos elementos oxigênio, alumínio, silício, ferro e magnésio, além de estruturas celulares interconectadas com perfis circulares e distribuição de tamanho dos poros na faixa de 0,25 a 0,40 mm.

Abstract The characterization of the raw material phlogopite [KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2] and the process of manufacturing porous ceramic filters (PCFs) from it, using the polymeric sponge method in a simple and effective way, are described. Phlogopite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, and dilatometry, and PCFs by scanning electron microscopy coupled by energy dispersive spectroscopy and the immersion method to determine apparent porosity (PA), water absorption (AA), and bulk density (DA). XRD indicated, in addition to the phlogopite phase, the kaolinite, biotite, and goethite phases for the sample without heat-treatment. The band gap energy of 3.10 eV was determined by UV-vis. From the thermal analysis, the firing temperature between 1000 and 1200 °C was found. PA in the range of 92% to 95%, AA from 84% to 89%, and DA from 0.12 to 0.25 g.cm-3 were determined. The PCFs presented high contents of oxygen, aluminum, silicon, iron, and magnesium, besides regular cellular structures with interconnectivity, and pore size distribution in the range of 250 to 400 µm.

Abstract Developing plantations of Eucalyptus camaldulensis has high potential in north-west Argentina since wood of physical and mechanical features appropriated for industrial use can be obtained. Managing forest plantations demands using herbicides, being glyphosate the most frequently employed. This work aimed to test the hypothesis that glyphosate drift inhibes photosynthesis and produces oxidative stress to E. camaldulensis. Tests were carried out in a greenhouse by applying doses of 3 and 6 L ha-1 of glyphosate on one-year old E. camaldulensis seedlings and a control left untreated. Ten days later, the emissions of modulated fluorescence and gas exchange were measured, and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) besides the activities superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were quantified. A 10- replicate completely randomized experimental design was utilized and the results analyzed using ANOVA and the Fisher’s Test. Both doses of glyphosate lowered the number of centers of reaction active and increased energy dissipation as heat; the highest dose brought about photoinhibition. A decrease of the photosynthetic rate occurred due to the inhibition of the photochemical stage and stomate closure. The herbicide caused lipid peroxidation despite the increase of the SOD and POD activities. The hypothesis was confirmed.

Resumen El desarrollo de plantaciones de Eucalyptus camaldulensis tiene un gran potencial en el noroeste argentino, ya que puede producir madera con características físicas y mecánicas adecuadas para su uso industrial. El manejo de las plantaciones forestales requiere del uso de herbicidas, siendo el glifosato el más frecuente. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo poner a prueba la hipótesis que la deriva de glifosato inhibe la fotosíntesis, y produce estrés oxidativo en hojas de E. camaldulensis. Se realizaron ensayos en invernáculo, con plantines E. camaldulensis de un año de edad. Se aplicaron dos dosis de herbicida: 3 y 6 L de glifosato ha-1, y un testigo sin tratar. Diez días después de la aplicación del herbicida, se realizaron mediciones de emisión de fluorescencia modulada e intercambio gaseoso, y se cuantificó la concentración de malondialdehído (MDA), y las actividades de las enzimas superóxido dismutasa (SOD), y peroxidadas (POD). Se utilizó un diseño experimental completamente aleatorizado, con 10 repeticiones, y los resultados se analizaron con ANOVA y Test de Fisher. Ambas dosis de glifosato disminuyeron el número de centros de reacción activos, e incrementaron la disipación de energía como calor; la mayor dosis produjo fotoinhibición. Hubo una disminución en la tasa fotosintética; como consecuencia de la inhibición en la etapa fotoquímica, y por cierre estomático. El herbicida produjo peroxidación de lípidos, pese a incremento en las actividades SOD y POD. Se confirmó la hipótesis propuesta.

Resumo Quarenta e cinco espécimes que representa nove espécies de répteis (Salvator merianae, Enyalius bilineatus, Amphisbaena alba, Xenopholis undulatus, Chironius fuscus, Helicops angulatus, Chironius flavolineatus, Erythrolamprus viridis e Crotalus durissus) coletados em cinco estados brasileiros foram examinados para helmintos. Foram encontrados doze espécies de helmintos sendo: nove Nematoda (Physaloptera tupinambae, Strongyluris oscari, Paracapillaria sp., Dracunculus brasiliensis, Physaloptera liophis, Serpentirhabias sp. 1, Serpentirhabias sp. 2, Serpentirhabias sp. 3 e Aplectana sp.), um Cestoda (Semenoviella amphisbaenia), um Trematoda (Paracotyletrema sp.) e um Acantocephala (Centrorhynchus sp.). Dez novos registros de hospedeiros e sete novos registros de localidade foram relatados.

Abstract Forty five specimens representing nine species of reptile (Salvator merianae, Enyalius bilineatus, Amphisbaena alba, Xenopholis undulatus, Chironius fuscus, Helicops angulatus, Chironius flavolineatus, Erythrolamprus viridis and Crotalus durissus) collected in five Brazilian states were examined for helminths. Twelve helminth species were found as follow: nine Nematoda (Physaloptera tupinambae, Strongyluris oscari, Paracapillaria sp., Dracunculus brasiliensis, Physaloptera liophis, Serpentirhabias sp. 1, Serpentirhabias sp. 2, Serpentirhabias sp. 3 and Aplectana sp.), one Cestoda (Semenoviella amphisbaenia), one Trematoda (Paracotyletrema sp.), and one Acantocephala (Centrorhynchus sp.). Ten new host records and seven new locality records were reported.

A tecnologia de membranas vem sendo disseminada pelo mundo, em diversos setores onde existe a necessidade de separação de substancias, em diferentes escalas de dimensões e condições de temperatura e pressão. Neste sentido, as membranas cerâmicas vêm sendo exploradas para atuarem em ambientes onde as membranas poliméricas teriam restrições, como por exemplo, na presença de solventes orgânicos, altas pressões e temperaturas, etc. Diante disso, esse trabalho tem como objetivo a obtenção de membrana cerâmica assimétrica formada por uma camada filtrante à base de argila depositada sobre suporte poroso obtido com alumina comercial e bentonita. A camada ativa foi depositada por colagem em tempos de 10, 20 e 30 s para obtenção da membrana assimétrica. As massas cerâmicas para confecção do suporte e para obtenção da membrana foram caracerizadas por distrubuição granulométrica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. O suporte poroso e a membrana assimétrica foram caracterizados por microscopia eletrônica de varredura, porosimetria por intrusão de mercúrio e foram realizadas análises de fluxo com água. Os resultados mostraram um suporte com diâmetro médio de 0,99 µm e porosidade de 39,25%. A membrana assimétrica foi obtida com sucesso, isenta de defeitos para tempo de colagem de 10 s, atingindo uma espessura de camada depositada de 104 µm, diâmetro médio de poro de 0,25 µm e porosidade de 35%, sendo classificada, portanto, para aplicações em processos de microfiltração, com fluxo permeado estabilizado com água destilada em torno de 100 L/h.m².

Membrane technology has been disseminated throughout the world, in several sectors where there is a need for separation of substances, in different scales of dimensions and conditions of temperature and pressure. In this way, ceramic membranes has been exploited to work in environments where the polymeric membrane have restriction, such as, in the presence of organic solvents, high pressures and temperatures, etc. So, the aim of this work is to obtain asymmetric ceramic membrane based on clay deposited on porous support obtained with commercial alumina. The active layer was deposited by slip casting with times of 10, 20 and 30 s to obtain the asymmetric membrane. The ceramics masses for the preparation of support and for the membrane were characterized by particle size distribution and scanning electron microscopy. The asymmetric porous support and the membrane were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, mercury intrusion porosimetry and water flow analyzes. The results showed a support with a mean diameter of 0.99 µm and porosity of 39.25%. The asymmetric membrane was successfully obtained, free of defects for bonding 10 s, reaching a thickness of 104 µm, average pore diameter of 0.25 µm and porosity of 35%, thereby being considered for applications in the microfiltration process, with a stabilized distilled water flux permeate close to 100 L/h.m2.

Introduction: The valuation of the quality of life (QL) of our patients is an aspect of the pathological process more and more considered when carrying out the anamnesis. For it, we have thought about to carry out the present study with an objective double: . To check if differences exist in the quality of people's life that they consult for painful squares regarding those that consult for other pathologies. . To know different etiologies of the pain consulted in Primary Care (PC). Patient and methods: The patients of 10 consultations of PC of the county of Lugo were recruited. A notebook of data collection was designed; that consists of a common part for the two groups objects of the study (age, sex, personal antecedents of interest and data antropometrics) and of another specific one for the cases, that is to say people that consulted for any painful process, (chronology, type of pain, diagnostic, time of evolution, treatment and result of the analogical visual scale [AVS]). All the participants they were carried out the survey of quality of life SF-36. Results: The sample is composed of 347 individuáis (170 cases and 177 controls) with a 63 year-old half age (+ / - 31). There were differences statistically significant in all the analyzed aspects of the quality of life among the two groups (physical function, social function, physical problems, emotional problems, mental health, vitality, pain,general health and changes in the time). The most frequent diagnosis in painful process was gonarthrosis/coxarthrosis with 12.69% of the cases, followed by spine osteoarthritis (10.27%). For apparatuses, the most affected is the muscleskeletal (37.76% of the cases), followed by the nervous system (3.63% of the cases). Conclusions: . People that consult for painful processes have their quality of life more deteriorated that those that consult for another type of processes. . The chronic pain impairs the QL in a wider way more than the acute one. . The most frequent cause in consulted pain is the gonartrosis/coxartrosis. . The apparatus more commonly affected by painful processes it is the muscleskeletal one.

Introducción: La valoración de la calidad es vida de nuestros pacientes es un aspecto del proceso patológico cada vez más considerado a la hora de realizar la anamnesis. Por ello, nos hemos planteado realizar el presente estudio con un doble objetivo: . Comprobar si existen diferencias en la calidad de vida de las personas que consultan por cuadros dolorosos respecto a las que consultan por otras patologías. . Conocer diferentes etiologías del dolor consultado en Atención Primaria (AP). Pacientes y métodos: Se reclutaron los pacientes de 10 consultas de AP de la provincia de Lugo. Se diseñó un cuaderno de recogida de datos al efecto, que consta de una parte común para los dos grupos objetos del estudio (edad, sexo, antecedentes personales de interés y datos antropométricos) y de otra específica para los casos, es decir las personas que consultaron por cualquier proceso doloroso, (cronología, tipo de dolor, diagnóstico, tiempo de evolución, tratamiento y resultado de la escala visual analógica [EVA]). A todos los participantes se les realizó la encuesta de calidad de vida SF-36. Resultados: La muestra se compone de 347 individuos (170 casos y 177 controles) con una edad media de 63 años (+/- 31). Hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas en todos los aspectos analizados de la calidad de vida entre los dos grupos (función física, función social, problemas físicos, problemas emocionales, salud mental, vitalidad, dolor, salud general y cambios en el tiempo). El diagnóstico más frecuente de proceso doloroso fue gonartrosis/coxartrosis con el 12.69 % de los casos, seguido de osteoartrisis de columna vertebral (10.27 %). Por aparatos, el más afectado es el músculo-esquelético (37.76% de los casos), seguido del sistema nervioso (3.63% de los casos). Conclusiones: . Las personas que consultan por procesos dolorosos tienen su calidad de vida más deteriorada que las que consultan por otro tipo de procesos. . El dolor crónico menoscaba la CV de una manera más amplia que el agudo. . La causa más frecuente de dolor consultado es la gonartrosis/coxartrosis. . El aparato más comúnmente afectado por procesos dolorosos es el músculo-esquelético.

A model for the Universe is proposed where it is considered as a mixture of scalar and matter fields. The particle production is due to an irreversible transfer of energy from the gravitational field to the matter field and represented by a non-equilibrium pressure. This model can simulate three distinct periods of the Universe: (a) an accelerated epoch where the energy density of the scalar field prevails over that of the matter field, (b) a past decelerated period where the energy density of the matter field becomes larger than the scalar field energy density, and (c) a present acceleration phase where the scalar field energy density overcomes the energy density of the matter field.

Recently, thermoanalytic methods have frequently been used in the characterization of oils and fats. In this work, thermoanalytic and kinetic parameters of sunflower oils, with and without antioxidants, were evaluated using thermogravimetry / derivative thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. The thermogravimetric profiles for the sunflower oils had similar characteristics, showing a level stretch indicative of stability up to about 200ºC. Thermal decomposition of these oils occurred in three stages, related to the decomposition of polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids, respectively. DSC curves show two events that characterize the polymerization and decomposition of triglycerides. The heat capacities of the sunflower oils, obtained by DSC, showed a good correlation and were dependent on the composition of fatty acids. The kinetic parameters, obtained by non isothermal thermogravimetry by the Coats and Redfern, Madhusudanan, Horowitz and Metzger and Van Krevelen methods, were dependent on the antioxidant used. Increasing the frying time produced a decrease in the onset of thermal decomposition temperature in the sunflower oils analyzed.

A Filariose bancroftiana está se disseminando em áreas urbanas de regiões endêmicas como no Recife, nordeste do Brasil, onde se constitui em um problema de saúde pública. Este artigo descreve a prevalência de microfilaremia e doença filarial em duas áreas urbanas do Recife, estudando sua associação com características individuais e variáveis relacionadas ao contacto com vetores. O inquérito parasitológico foi realizado através de um censo "porta-a-porta" e a pesquisa de microfilárias foi efetuada pela técnica da gota espessa utilizando 45µl de sangue capilar entre 20:00 e 24:00 horas. Homens com idade entre 15 e 44 anos apresentaram o maior risco de microfilaremia. Microfilaremia esteve também associada com o não uso de mosquiteiros para dormir e um maior tempo de residência nas áreas de estudo. A prevalência total de doença filarial foi 6,3%. Os homens apresentaram o maior risco de desenvolver doença aguda. O risco de manifestações clínicas crônicas foi também maior entre os homens e aumentou com a idade. Não encontramos associação entre tempo de residência nas áreas, uso de mosquiteiros, microfilaremia e doença filarial aguda e crônica. Podemos concluir que em áreas endêmicas existem subgrupos de indivíduos que têm um maior risco de serem portadores de microfilárias devido a comportamentos diferentes em relação ao contato com o vetor.

Bancroftian filariasis is spreading in towns of endemic areas as in Recife, northeastern Brazil, where it is a major public health problem. This paper deals with the prevalence of microfilaraemia and filarial disease in two urban areas of Recife, studying their association with individual characteristics and variables related to the exposure to the vectors. The parasitologic survey was performed through a "door-to-door" census and microfilaraemia was examined by the thick-drop technique using 45µl of peripheral blood collected between 20:00 and 24:00 o' clock. 2,863 individuals aged between 5 and 65 years were interviewed and submitted to clinical examination. Males aged between 15 and 44 years old presented the greatest risk of being microfilaraemic. Microfilaraemia was also significantly associated with no use of bednet to sleep. The risk of being microfilaraemic was greater among those who had lived in the studied areas for more than 5 years. The overall disease prevalence was 6.3%. Males presented the greatest risk of developing acute disease. The risk of developing chronic manifestations was also greater among males and increased with age. We found no association between time of residence, bednet use, microfilaraemia and acute and chronic disease. We may conclude that in endemic areas there are subgroups of individuals who has a higher risk of being microfilariae carriers due to different behaviours in relation to vector contact.