Resumo A busca por herbicidas mais amigáveis ao meio ambiente, visando o controle de pragas agrícolas, aliado a uma menor nocividade à saúde humana e ao meio ambiente tem crescido. Uma alternativa utilizada pelos pesquisadores é a aplicação de produtos do metabolismo secundário de plantas, que são investigados em virtude do seu potencial bioativo. Assim, espécies pertencentes à família Myrtaceae são potenciais nestes estudos, uma vez que esta família é reconhecida por possuir alta atividade biológica. Uma espécie pertencente a este gênero é Psidium cattleyanum, que possui efeito medicinal e seus frutos são utilizados na alimentação humana. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar e comparar a fitocitogenotoxicidade de extratos foliares aquosos e etanólicos da espécie P. cattleyanum, a partir de bioensaios vegetais, bem como identificar as principais classes de compostos presentes nos extratos. Para isso, os extratos foram preparados e caracterizados e foram realizados testes biológicos avaliando, em sementes e plântulas de alface e sorgo, as variáveis: porcentagem de germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação, crescimento radicular e crescimento aéreo; em células meristemáticas de alface foram avaliadas as variáveis: fases mitóticas, índice mitótico, alterações nucleares e alterações cromossômicas. Flavonas, flavononas, flavonóis, flavononóis, flavonóides, alcalóides, resinas, xantonas e glicosídeo de antraquinona foram caracterizados no extrato etanólico. Ambos os extratos avaliados, na maior concentração, inibiram o desenvolvimento inicial da planta. Todos os tratamentos causaram alterações nas fases mitóticas e inibiram o índice mitótico. Além disso, os tratamentos promoveram aumento de alterações nucleares e cromossômicas. O mecanismo de ação apresentado foi aneugênico, clastogênico e epigenético. O extrato etanólico foi mais citotóxico, pois teve efeito mais expressivo em menor concentração. Apesar da citotoxicidade dos extratos em estudo, eles promoveram alterações em níveis inferiores ao controle positivo glifosato.

Abstract The search for more environmental friendly herbicides, aiming at the control of agricultural pests, combinated with less harmfulness to human health and the environment has grown. An alternative used by researchers is the application of products of secondary plant metabolism, which are investigated due to their potential bioactivities. Thus, species belonging to the Myrtaceae family are potential in these studies, since this family is recognized for having high biological activity. A species belonging to this genus is Psidium cattleyanum, which has a medicinal effect and its fruits are used in human food. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate and compare the phyto-cyto-genotoxicity of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of the specie P. cattleyanum, from plant bioassays, as well as to identify the main classes of compounds present in the extracts. For this, the extracts were prepared, characterized and biological tests were carried out by evaluating, in seeds and seedlings of lettuce and sorghum, the variables: percentage of germination, germination speed index, root growth and aerial growth; and in meristematic lettuce cells the variables: mitotic phases, mitotic index, nuclear alterations and chromosomal alterations. Flavones, flavonones, flavonols, flavononols, flavonoids, alkaloids, resins, xanthones and anthraquinone glycoside were characterized in the ethanolic extract. Both evaluated extracts, in the highest concentration, inhibited the initial plant development. All treatments caused alterations in the mitotic phases and inhibited mitotic index. In addition, the treatments promoted an increase in nuclear and chromosomal alterations. The mechanism of action presented was aneugenic, clastogenic and determined in epigenetic alterations. The ethanolic extract was more cytotoxic, since it had a more expressive effect at a lower concentration. Despite the cytotoxicity of the extracts under study, they promoted alterations at lower levels than the glyphosate positive control.

RESUMO Introdução A diabetes mellitus é uma doença crónica com elevada e crescente prevalência, nomeadamente entre a população mais jovem. O aumento da doença entre a população ativa pode originar um maior risco de incapacidade para o trabalho e de uma taxa mais elevada de absentismo. Métodos Este estudo consiste numa revisão integrativa da literatura. Após o estabelecimento dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão e análise dos investigadores foram selecionados quatro estudos transversais. Resultados Embora não exista evidência suficiente, parece existir uma tendência para níveis de glicemia mais elevados nos trabalhadores diabéticos e não diabéticos que fazem trabalho noturno. Os estudos evidenciaram que os trabalhadores noturnos têm mais fatores de risco cardiovascular, o que pode influenciar o controlo glicémico e vem ao encontro com estudos que associam o trabalho por turnos noturnos a um aumento da prevalência da síndrome metabólica, que consistem na junção da alteração lipídica (diminuição do bom colesterol ou HDL e aumento os triglicerídeos), aumento da tensão arterial, obesidade abdominal e glicemia alterada. Discussão/Conclusão Existe necessidade de desenvolver estudos controlados randomizados. Não obstante, o controlo mais agressivo da glicemia nos trabalhadores noturnos pode ser importante para evitar as complicações da doença. Há necessidade de investir em programas de prevenção da diabetes junto dos trabalhadores nos serviços de Saúde Ocupacional e desenvolver/ implementar intervenções direcionadas e eficazes para ajudar os trabalhadores a gerir melhor sua doença, uma vez que a prevalência de diabetes tipo 2 na população em idade laboral continua a aumentar. Pode ser necessário adequar o regime terapêutico e alimentar aos trabalhadores diabéticos que trabalham em regime noturno.

ABSTRACT Introduction Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease with a high and growing prevalence, particularly among the younger population. The increase in disease among the active population can lead to a greater risk of incapacity for work and a high rate of absenteeism. Methods This study consists of an integrative literature review. After establishing the inclusion and exclusion criteria, four cross-sectional studies were selected. Results Although there is not enough evidence, there seems to be a trend towards higher blood glucose levels in diabetic and non-diabetic workers who do night work. Studies have shown that night workers have more cardiovascular risk factors, which can influence glycemic control and is in line with studies that associate night shift work with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome, which consists of the junction of lipid alteration (decreased good cholesterol or HDL and increased triglycerides), increased blood pressure, abdominal obesity and altered blood glucose. Discussion / Conclusion There is a need to develop randomized controlled studies. However, more aggressive glycemic control in night workers can be important to avoid complications of the disease. There is a need to invest in diabetes prevention programs with workers in Occupational Health services and develop/ implement targeted and effective interventions to help workers better manage their disease, since the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the working age population continues to increase. It may be necessary to adapt the therapeutic and dietary regime to diabetic workers who work at night.

Resumo O objetivo de deste estudo foi modelar a adequabilidade de habitat do bivalve invasor Corbicula fluminea em uma lagoa costeira na região Neotropical (–30.22, –50.55). A lagoa (19km2, 2,5 m de profundidade máxima) foi amostrada com uma draga Ekman em uma matriz ortogonal compreendendo 84 pontos. Em cada ponto de amostragem foram obtidos descritores ambientais como a profundidade, teor de matéria orgânica (OMC), granulometria média (Avgran), e a percentagem de areia (Pcsand). O poder preditivo dos métodos Modelos Lineares Generalizados (GLM), Modelos Aditivos Generalizados (GAM) e Boosted Regression Trees (BRT) foram comparados. Além disso, a sobreposição de nicho com espécies de moluscos nativos (Castalia martensi, Neocorbicula limosa e Anodontites trapesialis) foi examinada. Um modelo BRT com 1.400 árvores foi selecionado como o melhor modelo, com correlação da validação cruzada de 0,82. As contribuições relativas dos preditores foram Pcsand-42,6%, OMC-35,8%, Avgran-10,9% e profundidade-10,8%. Foi demonstrado que C. fluminea está associada a sedimentos arenosos com pouca matéria orgânica, em áreas rasas próximo às margens. A PCA mostrou uma ampla sobreposição de nicho com as espécies de moluscos nativos C. martensi, N. limosa e A. trapesialis.

Abstract This study aimed to model the habitat suitability for an invasive clam Corbicula fluminea in a coastal shallow lagoon in the southern Neotropical region (–30.22, –50.55). The lagoon (19km2, maximum deep 2.5m) was sampled with an Ekman dredge in an orthogonal matrix comprising 84 points. At each sampling point, were obtained environmental descriptors as depth, organic matter content (OMC), average granulometry (Avgran), and the percentage of sand (Pcsand). Prediction performance of Generalized Linear Models (GLM), Generalized Additive Models (GAM) and Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) were compared. Also, niche overlapping with other native clam species (Castalia martensi, Neocorbicula limosa and Anodontites trapesialis) was examined. A BRT model with 1400 trees was selected as the best model, with cross-validated correlation of 0.82. The relative contributions of predictors were Pcsand-42.6%, OMC-35.8%, Avgran-10.9% and Depth-10.8%. Were identified that C. fluminea occur mainly in sandy sediments with few organic matter, in shallow areas nor by the shore. The PCA showed a wide niche overlap with the native clam species C. martensi, N. limosa and A. trapesialis.

Resumo O conhecimento da composição da dieta do molusco de água doce Diplodon enno é de extrema importância para a sua cultura e propagação, permitindo desta forma a recuperação de populações em perigo de extinção no Brasil. As microalgas são a principal fonte de alimento para moluscos filtradores e os uniónidos sendo selecionadas por estes com base nas suas características celulares. O principal objectivo deste trabalho é analisar a composição fitoplanctônica da água e do conteúdo gastrointestinal do molusco D. enno, de forma a desenvolver uma dieta apropriada ao seu cultivo. Para isso, amostras de água e espécimes de bivalves foram recolhidos do rio São Francisco, cidade de Paulo Afonso, Bahia, Brasil. A composição de microalgas encontrada na água e no conteúdo do estômago/intestino foi muito diversa, sendo representada pelas seguintes divisões: Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Dinophyta e Heterokontophyta (diatomáceas). Atendendo à abundância relativa de cada divisão de microalgas, podemos afirmar que na água e no trato gastrointestinal Cyanophyta representa 15% e 14%, Chlorophyta 54% em ambos, Heterokontophyta 31% e 27% e Dinophyta 0% and 5%, respectivamente. De acordo com o critério CETESB de classificação de espécies de fitoplâncton, 50% das espécies de Cyanophyta e 15% das de Chlorophyta observadas nas amostras de água foram classificadas como “muito frequentes”, tal como aconteceu para 68% das espécies de Heterokontophyta e 33% das de Chlorophyta nas amostras do conteúdo do trato gastrointestinal. Realçando as espécies presentes, apesar de apenas Coelastrum sp. e Chroococcus sp. terem sido observadas em 100% e 75% das amostras de água, respectivamente, nas amostras de trato gastrointestinal Staurastrum sp., Aulacoseira sp., Scenedesmus sp. e Fragilaria crotonensis foram identificadas em entre 80% e 100% das amostras. Os resultados deste estudo mostram que D. enno se alimenta não apenas de pequenas microalgas clorófitas, devido ao seu pequeno tamanho que possibilita maiores taxas de filtração, como também de diatomáceas maiores, devido a uma possível vantagem nutricional para os bivalves. Assim sendo, uma dieta composta por diatomáceas e pequenas clorófitas poderá ser considerada a mais indicada para a manutenção de populações de D. enno.

Abstract The knowledge on diet composition of the freshwater mussel Diplodon enno (Ortmann) would aid in its culture and propagation allowing, this way, the replacement of natural endangered populations in Brazil. Microalgae are the main food source for captive mussels and unionids have displayed an ability to sort algae based on the cellular characteristics prior to ingestion. The main objective of the present work is to analyze the phytoplankton composition of the water from and of the gastrointestinal contents of the mussel D. enno, as an initial step for development of a suitable rearing diet. Therefore, water samples and bivalve specimens were collected from S. Francisco River, city of Paulo Afonso, Bahia, Brazil. The microalgal composition found in water and stomach/gut content samples was very diverse being represented by the following divisions: Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Dinophyta and Heterokontophyta (Diatoms). Concerning the relative abundance of microalgae divisions, it is possible to state, for the water and gastrointestinal contents, that Cyanophyta represents 15% and 14%, Chlorophyta 54% in both, Heterokontophyta 31% and 27% and Dinophyta 0% and 5%, respectively. According to the Brazilian CETESB criteria for phytoplankton species classification, 50% of Cyanophyta and 15% of Chlorophyta species observed in the water samples were classified as “very frequent”, as were 68% of Heterokontophyta and 33% of Chlorophyta species in the gut/stomach tract samples. Focusing at a species level, although in the water only Coelastrum sp. and Chroococcus sp. were observed in 100% and 75% of the samples, respectively, in the gastrointestinal tract the species Staurastrum sp., Aulacoseira sp., Scenedesmus sp. and Fragilaria crotonensis occurred in 80% to 100% of the samples. The present results showed that D. enno feeds not only on small chlorophytes microalgae, due to their convenient size that facilitates higher feeding rates, but also on large size diatoms, due to a possible nutritional advantage for the bivalves. Thus, a diet composed by large diatoms and small chlorophytes microalgae may be considered as the most reasonable for the maintenance of D. enno populations.

Lactobionic acid has a number of applications, such as in cosmetic formulations and detergents, as well as in the medical field, where it is used for the preservation of organs destined for transplantation. Previous studies have reported that a promising alternative procedure for the production of lactobionic acid is the biotechnological route, using permeabilized cells of Zymomonas mobilis to produce sorbitol and lactobionic acid from fructose and lactose. However, the acid produced during the process accumulates in the reaction medium, causing enzyme deactivation. It was found that this problem can be avoided by coupling an electrodialysis unit to the reaction vessel, resulting in efficient removal of the acid from the reaction medium and improved the stability of the enzyme. These tests employed a synthetic mixture containing lactobionic acid, sorbitol, lactose, and fructose, and a factorial design was performed to identify the most influential variables. The NaCl concentration in the concentrate stream, together with the potential difference, exerted the greatest effects on the rate of removal of lactobionic acid. In all experiments, the removal efficiency exceeded 95%. The best conditions for the system investigated were a potential of 60 V, and NaCl concentrations of 3 and 25 g L-1 in the concentrate stream and the electrode compartment, respectively.

Our goal in this study was the immobilization of myoglobin in poly(vinyl alcohol) dense membranes. Glutaraldehyde was investigated both as the crosslinking agent, aiming to increase the membrane stability in aqueous medium, and as the vehicle to bind myoglobin and PVA. Reaction and membrane synthesis were carried simultaneously in mild operating conditions in order to maintain the native protein folding. Membrane characterization comprised the water swelling degree, DSC, TGA, UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR analysis and oxygen transport in a dialysis cell. The incorporation of myoglobin in the film decreased the water swelling degree and improved the membrane thermal properties compared to unmodified PVA membrane. The reduction of ferric iron in the prosthetic group of the protein to the ferrous form was observed. The increased affinity between oxygen and the immobilized myoglobin did not favor the release of this solute from the biocarrier.

Objective: To determine the rates of red blood cell and leukocyte alloimmunization in patients with chronic kidney disease awaiting kidney transplantation. Methods: In this cross-sectional and prospective study, the serum of 393 chronic kidney disease patients on a transplant waiting list in Ceará, Northeastern Brazil were tested for red cell and leukocyte antibodies. In addition, demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected. Results: The average age in the sample of 393 patients was 34.1 ± 14 years. Slightly more than half (208; 52.9%) were male. The average numbers of transfusions and gestations were 3.1 ± 3.3 and 1.6 ± 6, respectively. One third (33.6%) were alloimmunized: 78% with leukocyte antibodies, 9.1% with red cell antibodies and 12.9% with both. Red cell antibodies were detected in 29 cases (7.4%), 17 of whom were women, who had received more transfusions than the males (p-value < 0.0001). The most frequently detected red cell antibodies belonged to the Rh (24.1%) and Kell (13.8%) blood group systems. Leukocyte antibodies were detected in 30.5% of cases, 83 of whom were women, who had received more transfusions than the males (p-value < 0.0001) and were more reactive to panel reactive antibodies (p-value < 0.0001). The mean alloreactivity to panel reactive antibodies was 47.7 ± 31.2%. Conclusion: Chronic kidney disease patients on the transplant waiting list in Ceará, Brazil, display high rates of red cell (7.4%) and leukocyte (30.5%) alloimmunization. In this sample, alloimmunization was significantly associated with the number of transfusions and gender.

The proportion of nitrogenated compounds such as carbazole in heavy fractions of crude oil is higher in Brazil than in other parts of the world. The degradation of this compound by microorganisms has already been described for bacteria such as Pseudomonas stutzeri ATCC 31258. Assays were undertaken to assess the influence of different carbazole concentrations on cell growth, carbazole degradation and the formation of anthranilic acid (an intermediate in the carbazole degradation pathway). The results indicated that there was an accumulation of anthranilic acid in the medium with the higher concentration of substrate (10 g/L), which could be related to the inhibition of Pseudomonas stutzeri growth in an excess of carbazole. With 1 g/L of carbazole, growth was found to be ten times greater (0.37 g dry cell weight/L) and there was no accumulation of anthranilic acid (formation of around 7 mg/L), with complete carbazole degradation after three days.

Membrane separation processes have been extensively used for some important industrial separations, substituting traditional methods. However, some applications require the development of new membranes. In this work, we discuss recent progress achieved in this field, focusing on gas and liquid separation using facilitated transport membranes. The advantages of using a carrier species either in a liquid membrane or fixed in a polymer matrix to enhance both the flux and the selectivity of the transport are summarized. The most probable transport mechanisms in these membranes are presented and the improvements needed to spread this technology are also discussed. As examples, we discuss our very successful experiences in air fractioning, olefin/paraffin separation and sugar recovery using liquid and fixed carrier membranes.

In this work, the process of capsular polysaccharide production by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C was studied. Batch experimental runs were conducted in a set of one-liter bioreactors with 0.5 L of Frantz cultivation medium. Cultivation temperature and pH were controlled at optimal pre-established values. The dynamic behavior of the bacteria was analyzed based on biomass growth, glucose uptake, polysaccharide production and dissolved oxygen time profile obtained in a set of experimental runs with initial concentrations of glucose that varied from 5 to 13.5 g/L. Formulated hypotheses were then employed in the construction of a phenomenological model of the bioprocess under study that successfully described the dynamic behavior of the system and can be used in future control and optimization of the industrial process of capsular polysaccharide production.

Only ten years were enough for hybrid neural network-first principle models (HNM) reach a status of a standard industrial tool. This modeling strategy is employed here to represent the production of sorbitol and gluconic acid from glucose and fructose, using permeabilized and immobilized Zymomonas mobilis cells. Mass component balances are derived for the substrate concentrations. A multilayered neural network is used to represent the reaction rate. Experimental results were used to develop and validate the model. The HNM allows the elucidation of the phenomena involved in the process. It is observed from the results that the resistance for mass transfer from the liquid to the particles is increased at higher substrate concentrations and that the reaction rate depends on the concentrations of substrate and product in the particles. Additionally, it may be stated that the flexibility of the HNM allows the development of a model that would otherwise be difficult, if based solely on phenomenological principles.

The optimization problem of a fed-batch alcoholic fermentation by Zymomonas mobilis, solved using Pontryagin's maximum principle and the singular control theory, is used to discuss the main challenges that usually arise during the implementation of optimal strategies. For each problem a practical solution is proposed. In order to solve the optimization problem, a hybrid neural model is developed using experimental data from batch and fed-batch fermentations. The calculated optimal solution is experimentally implemented in open-loop scheme.

This paper presents an enzymatic process for sorbitol and gluconic acid production using cells of Zymomonas mobilis permeabilized with CTAB. Equimolar solutions of glucose and fructose (from 96.0 to 422.2 g/L) were used. In a batch reactor, conversions of 97% were attained after 15 to 20 hours of reaction. The effect of the initial concentration of the substrates was evaluated in experiments using 20% more and 20% less glucose than fructose. It was observed that the reaction performed with more fructose reached completion faster and with a higher value of conversion

Abstract - The start-up of continuous bioreactors is solved as an optimal control problem. The choice of the dilution rate as the control variable reduces the dimension of the system by making the use of the global balance equation unnecessary for the solution of the optimization problem. Therefore, for systems described by four or less mass balance equations, it is always possible to obtain an analytical expression for the singular arc as a function of only the state variables. The steady state conditions are shown to satisfy the singular arc expression and, based on this knowledge, a feeding strategy is proposed which leads the reactor from an initial state to the steady state of maximum productivity