Abstract Dynamic soil parameters such as the shear modulus suffer degradation while damping in soil increases under dynamic loading. These can be determined from various tests such as element tests, field tests and centrifuge experiments. Most of the studies about dynamic soil characterization have focused on evaluating these parameters assuming horizontal ground conditions without considering the effect of static shear stresses induced by ground inclination. This paper presents a dynamic centrifuge test conducted on a layered gentle slope comprising clay and sand, to obtain experimental data in terms of shear modulus and damping for various shear strains. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was employed to measure the displacements and to calculate accelerations due to seismic loading at various depths throughout the slope model. The results suggest that the static shear stress caused by the profile inclination causes a more pronounced degradation of the shear modulus when compared to flat ground conditions. Moreover, the damping during the centrifuge test exhibited larger values than expected, following a similar behavior observed in other experimental programs. The strain rate analysis revealed the mobilization of shear stresses higher than the monotonic shear strength for the clay layers during the seismic shaking. experiments sand strains PIV (PIV model Moreover expected programs shaking

In this work, a discussed and step-wise tutorial for LC-MS and GC-MS data processing using the open-access software MZMine2 is presented and discussed. The rationale behind each step was demonstrated to enable the readers to go through their own data and process it accordingly. The main lesson to be learned is that each parameter must be chosen in light of the raw data and no guidelines should suggest a predetermined value. Still, it is worth mentioning that ideal values for each parameter do not exist, and that the user might end up investing too much time futilely optimizing values. Our suggestion is to process your data in light of the raw data (and the study design) following the preview figure result and the resulting feature list generated in each processing step, interpret your data, and go back to process it again to tune the detection of important features.

Abstract The anchoring of floating platforms is one of many processes in the oil industry that requires innovative strategies. In this respect, there is interest in developing techniques that improve the shear strength of soft soils in order to increase the bearing capacity of offshore foundations anchored in these soils. Normally consolidated clay soil is known to undergo thermal consolidation when submitted to temperature cycles. The present study aimed to assess the impact of a temperature cycle on soft kaolin clay using a reduced-scale physical model submitted to heating at maximum temperatures of 85 °C and 65 °C, followed by cooling. Variables such as pore pressure, temperature at different soil depths and displacement were monitored during the thermal cycle to better understand the phenomenon. The strength profile before and after heating was determined via T-bar tests conducted in different positions in relation to the heat source. The temperature variation increased the undrained shear strength of the soil directly proportional to the temperature applied and inversely proportional to the radial distance from the heat source, reaching improvements of 123%. In this respect, it is believed that applying a temperature cycle to normally consolidated soft clayey soil can improve the pullout capacity of offshore foundations.

RESUMO O presente estudo teve por objetivo determinar o potencial apícola de Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth, baseado na sua estratégia de floração, características florais, recursos florais ofertados, frequência e atividade de forrageamento de indivíduos de Apis mellifera L. às flores na Fazenda Ingazeira, Brasil. C heliotropiifolius possui flores díclinas e inconspícuas agrupadas em densas inflorescências terminais, em que cada indivíduo produz 560 ± 60 inflorescências, com 59 ± 12 flores pistiladas e 160 ± 26 flores estaminadas, tendo cada flor estaminada a capacidade de produzir aproximadamente 6 × 10 3 grãos de pólen. Embora ambas as flores produzam néctar ( 2 , 8 ± 0 , 8 e 0 , 3 ± 0 , 06 μL , nas flores pistiladas e estaminadas, respectivamente), os espécimes de A. mellifera concentraram suas visitas nas flores estaminadas (98%), com pico das visitações registrados entre 08:00-11:00 h. Foi estimado que nas atividades de forrageamentos, essa abelhas removem em média 405 grãos de pólen por visita em cada flor, desta forma, como um indivíduo da espécie estudada pode produzir aproximadamente 5 , 376 × 10 8 grãos de pólen, tal quantidade é suficiente para suportar até 33 ciclos de visitações de uma colônia de A. mellifera. Além disso, C. heliotropiifolius apresentou um padrão de floração anual, com altas produções de flores por cinco meses, manifestando estratégia de floração cornucópia, representando uma característica importante por favorecer na maior disponibilização de recursos florais nos ambientes. Portanto, esses dados demostram o grande potencial de C. heliotropiifolius para a apicultura na região.

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to determine the beekeeping potential of Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth (Euphorbiaceae) based on flowering strategy, floral characteristics, available floral resources, and the individuals frequencies and foraging activities of Apis mellifera L. on its flowers in Fazenda Ingazeira, Brazil. Each C. heliotropiifolius plant possessed inconspicuous diclinous flowers clustered into 560 ± 60 dense terminal inflorescences containing 59 ± 12 pistillate and 160 ± 26 staminate flowers. Although both types of flowers produced nectar (pistillate: 2.8 ± 0.8 μL ; staminate: 0.3 ± 0.06 μL ), A. mellifera workers mostly visited staminate flowers (98%) during the peak visitation period (08:00-11:00 h). Moreover, during the foraging period, each plant produced approximately 5.376 × 10 8 pollen grains, ensuring approximately 33 visitation cycles from a colony of A mellifera workers that picked up an average of 405 pollen grains per visit per flower. Further, C. heliotropiifolius showed an annual cornucopia flowering strategy with high flower production for five months, which is an important characteristic that ensures floral resource availability in the environment. These findings suggest that C. heliotropiifolius has a great potential for apiculture in this region.

The comprehended knowledge of the metabolic profile of the fecal matter has been recognized as an important point for understanding metabolic changes in the human systemic metabolism and it can provide precious information about host-gut microbiota interactions. However, few analytical strategies have been addressed for a broad analysis of metabolites with different chemical properties to better understand the chemical space of fecal samples. Here we report a systematic pipeline to achieve comprehensive coverage of the fecal metabolome, from high polar to nonpolar metabolites, using dog fecal samples as a proof-of-concept. This pipeline comprises a monophasic (ACN/H2O) and a biphasic extraction (methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)/MeOH/H2O) of the sample, followed by three liquid chromatography-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) methods using HILIC-amide, RP-C18 and CSH-C18 columns, and a switch polarity acquisition mode in the electrospray ion source. This approach allowed the annotation of 376 metabolites from 70 different chemical classes. The chemical space analysis by molecular networking and the pathway analysis revealed the complexity of the fecal sample and the importance of combined methods to better understand biochemical pathways. This pipeline can be used as a valuable tool to comprehend the relationship between host-gut microbiota metabolites and the influence of diet, medication, or environmental changes.

Resumen Brasil se encuentra en una región intra-placa de baja a moderada sismicidad, esto quiere decir que hay una limitada disponibilidad de registros de acelerogramas representativos de la región. Parte de un estudio de respuesta local o del diseño sísmico de estructuras requiere del uso de registros aceleración-tiempo que sean compatibles con un espectro de diseño. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo la aplicación de metodologías para obtener acelerogramas representativos de la región sudeste brasilera, en particular en la región offshore de la cuenca de Campos. Se utilizó la información del análisis probabilístico del riesgo sísmico desarrollado para la región de interés en este estudio para obtener el espectro de respuesta de diseño y para definir los escenarios sísmicos que generan mayor influencia. Adicionalmente, se utilizó la información de acelerogramas registrados a partir de dos sismos relativamente recientes ocurridos en la región sudeste brasilera, para la aplicación de una de las metodologías de obtención de acelerogramas sintéticos.

Abstract Brazil is in an intraplate area of low to moderate seismicity, this means that few or no records of strong ground motions are available. Part of the site response analysis and seismic design of structures require the use of acceleration time-histories compatible with a specified target response spectrum. This study aims to utilize methodologies based on the use of existing earthquake records from a well-known database and synthetic accelerograms to obtain ground motions representative of the Brazilian Southeast Region, particularly in the offshore Campos Basin. Information from a probabilistic seismic hazard assessment performed in the interest area was employed as input to the methodologies applied in terms of target response spectrum and the dominant earthquake scenarios. Besides, the acceleration time-histories of two relatively recent earthquakes that occurred in the Brazilian Southeast were used to apply one of the approaches to obtain a synthetic spectrum compatible accelerogram.

The metabolomics approach is widespread and accepted in several lines within life sciences. However, much of what has been called metabolomics could be better defined as a comparison study, regardless of its purpose. Metabolomics finds its definition in the understanding of biological properties and effects on a given organism. In any case, the tools used in metabolomics are undoubtfully useful and should be used in natural products studies, both those already established and those that are under development. Natural products research is in a continuous process of evolution to become a discipline driven by multivariate data with a solid influence of “omic” technologies.

A new tetraglycosylated flavonoid derivative of kaempferol was isolated from the butanol extract of leaves of Platycyamus regnellii (Fabaceae) using high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC). The butanol extract (960.5 mg) was initially fractionated with the solvent system EtOAC-BuOH-H2O 2:8:10 (v/v/v) (elution in normal phase mode). The fractions containing the major tetraglycosylated flavonoid were further purified with the same solvent system by modifying the ratios to 3:7:10 (v/v/v) and alternating the elution to reversed phase mode. The structure of the isolated flavonoid (48.1 mg, 99.7% purity by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (UHPLC-DAD)) was characterized by spectrometric and spectroscopic methods and identified as kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopiranosyl-(1®2)-α-L-rhamnopiranoside-(1®6)-α-L-rhamnopiranoside-7-O-α-L-rhamnopiranoside. Other minor flavonoids were also detected and tentatively identified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector coupled to mass spectrometry using the electrospray ionization interface (UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS). By using the latter technique, a second tetraglycosylated flavonol with an O-methyl substituent (either rhamnetin, 3-O-methyl-quercetin or isorhamnetin) was detected, together with a triglycosylated kaempferol and diglycosylated flavonoids (either rhamnetin, 3-O-methyl-quercetin or isorhamnetin).

Three new steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGA) were isolated from green berries of Solanum pseudoquina A. St.-Hil. The extract obtained after treatment with 5% acetic acid aqueous solution was subjected to several chromatographic procedures, leading to an enriched alkaloidal fraction. The enriched alkaloidal fraction was subjected to a semi preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) leading to the isolation of three new SGA from S. pseudoquina: 3-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl) (20S,25S)-22,26-epimino-16α-acetyl-cholesta-22(N)-ene, 3-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl) (20R,25ξ)-23,26-epimino-16α-acetyl-cholesta-5,23(N)-dien-22-one and 3-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl) (20S,25ξ)-23,26-epimino-16α-acetyl-cholesta-5,23(N)-dien-22-one. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated with the help of 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared spectroscopy together with high resolution electrospray ionization and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

RESUMO: Este projeto teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito prebiótico da bardana (Arctium lappa) em aves comerciais. Foram realizados quatro experimentos para avaliar os parâmetros zootécnicos e o grau de proteção após o desafio com Salmonella Kedougou e Salmonella Enteritidis, com e sem a adição de probióticos à base de Bifidobacterium. Em dois experimentos, as aves receberam a farinha de bardana 1% na ração, durante 42 dias. Nos outros dois, as aves receberam o frutano extraído da bardana (inulina), por gavagem, na concentração de 100 mg/ave, nos três primeiros dias de vida. Os resultados demonstraram que os frangos tratados com farinha de bardana apresentaram desempenho zootécnico inferior ao controle, com menor ganho de peso a partir da segunda semana e piores resultados na fase de engorda. As aves tratadas apresentaram diarreia e comprometimento da integridade intestinal. Em contrapartida, os grupos tratados com a farinha tiveram menor taxa de colonização intestinal por Salmonella Kedougou, após o desafio. Não foram detectadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas nos parâmetros zootécnicos dos frangos que receberam a inulina, e a análise morfométrica não evidenciou lesões nas vilosidades intestinais. No entanto, não houve proteção no desafio por Salmonella Enteritidis, independentemente da associação com probiótico. Esses resultados demonstraram que o modo de administração tem influência sobre o efeito prebiótico da bardana. A farinha de bardana foi administrada por 42 dias, o que pode ter causado a lesão da mucosa intestinal. Em contrapartida, a inulina foi administrada apenas nos primeiros três primeiros dias, o que pode ter sido insuficiente para proteção contra Salmonella. Novos experimentos são necessários para determinar uma formulação capaz de promover efeito protetor, sem impacto negativo no crescimento, ganho de peso e conversão alimentar dos animais suplementados.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prebiotic effect of burdock (Arctium lappa) in commercial poultry. Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance parameters and the protection after challenge with Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Kedougou, with and without Bifidobacterium probiotic. In two trials, the chickens were fed with flour burdock 1% during 42 days. In the other two, the chickens were fed with fructan extracted from burdock (inulin), by gavage, at a concentration of 100 mg/bird, during the first three days of life. The results showed that the broilers treated with burdock flour showed underperformed, with less weight gain from the second week, and the worst results in the fattening stage. The treated birds had diarrhea and impaired intestinal integrity. However, the groups treated with the flour had a lower rate of intestinal colonization by Salmonella Kedougou, after challenge. No statistically significant differences were detected in the performance parameters of broilers receiving the inulin, and the morphometric analysis showed no lesions in the intestinal villi. However, there was no protection in the challenge with Salmonella Enteritidis, regardless of association with probiotic. These results demonstrated that the manner of administration has influence on the prebiotic effect of burdock. The burdock flour was administered for 42 days, which may have influenced intestinal mucosal injury. Instead, the inulin was given only in the first three days, which may have been insufficient for protection against Salmonella. New experiments are needed to determine an able formulation for a protective effect, without negative impact on growth, weight gain and feed conversion of the supplemented animals.

Resumo Introdução: O zumbido é a sensação subjetiva de ouvir um som na ausência de um estímulo externo e piora significativamente a qualidade de vida de 15%-25% das pessoas afetadas. Objetivo: Verificar a efetividade da terapia por acupuntura em indivíduos com zumbido. Método: Ensaio clínico aleatorizado com 50 participantes com zumbido, divididos em dois grupos: 25 participantes no Grupo da Acupuntura (GA) e 25 participantes do Grupo de Controle (GC). O GA recebeu tratamento com a craniopuntura chinês e o GC não recebeu nenhum tratamento. Após o período de 5 semanas, eles foram chamados para realizar a avaliação final e o GC recebeu tratamento de acupuntura por questões éticas de pesquisa. Resultados: Foi encontrado resultado estatisticamente significativo para o desfecho primário, reduzindo a intensidade do zumbido, com p = 0,0001 e o desfecho secundário, apresentando melhora na qualidade de vida, com p = 0,0001. Conclusão: A craniopuntura chinesa associada à eletroacupuntura bilateral nos mostrou no curto prazo, uma melhora estatisticamente significativa, reduzindo o nível de intensidade do zumbido, bem como melhorando a qualidade de vida dos indivíduos com zumbido.

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Tinnitus is a subjective sensation of hearing a sound in the absence of an external stimulus, which significantly worsens the quality of life in 15-25% of affected individuals. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy for tinnitus. METHODS: Randomized clinical trial (REBEC: 2T9T7Q) with 50 participants with tinnitus, divided into two groups: 25 participants in the acupuncture group and 25 participants in the control group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture treatment and the control group received no treatment. After a period of 5 weeks, they were called to perform the final evaluation and the control group received acupuncture treatment for ethical reasons. RESULTS: A statistically significant result was found for the primary outcome, reducing the intensity of tinnitus, with p = 0.0001 and the secondary endpoint, showing improvement in quality of life, with p = 0.0001. CONCLUSION: Chinese scalp acupuncture associated with bilateral electroacupuncture demonstrated, in the short term, a statistically significant improvement by reducing the level of tinnitus intensity, as well as improving the quality of life of individuals with tinnitus.

This study describes the isolation of a flavonoid fraction from leaves of Ocotea notata (Nees & Mart.) Mez, Lauraceae, the identification of six major compounds (an A-type proanthocyanidin trimer [3], isoquercitrin [4], reynoutrin [5], miquelianin [6], quercitrin [7], afzelin [8]) and four minor compounds (catechin [1], epicatechin [2], quercetin [9], kaempferol [10]) present in the fraction and its activity against the Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). The 50% effective concentrations values (EC50) calculated from the dose-response curve and the selectivity indices (SI) against the virus were: EC50 35.8 µg/mL and SI 5.5 to HSV-1 and EC50 23.5 µg/mL and SI 8.5 to HSV-2. The flavonoid fraction was more active against HSV-2 than HSV-1. The mechanisms of antiviral action of the flavonoid fraction against the virus were also evaluated. The percentage inhibition (PI) obtained for HSV-2 was higher than 90% in the following assays: virucidal, pre-treatment of cells, treatment of cells after viral adsorption and treatment of cells after viral penetration. For HSV-1, the flavonoid fraction had no effect in pre-treatment of cells and showed 60% of inhibition in virucidal assay.

Eriocaulaceae é uma família pantropical com dez gêneros e cerca de 1.400 espécies, com centro de diversidade no Novo Mundo, especialmente no Brasil. A última revisão da família foi publicada há mais de 100 anos, e até recentemente, as relações genéricas e infra-genéricas ainda eram pouco resolvidas. Entretanto, tem havido nos últimos 30 anos, um grande esforço por parte de pesquisadores brasileiros para preencher as lacunas existentes, utilizando caracteres morfológicos e anatômicos, complementados por dados adicionais de diferentes fontes, como palinologia, química, embriologia, genética de populações, citologia e, mais recentemente, estudos de filogenia molecular. Tal conjunto de dados tem levado a uma re-avaliação do relacionamento filogenético dentro da familia. Neste trabalho são apresentados novos dados para as regiões de ITS e trnL-F, analisadas separadamente e em combinação, usando máxima parcimônia e inferência Bayesiana. Os dados obtidos confirmam resultados já publicados, e mostram que muitos caracteres tradicionalmente usados para diferenciação e circunscrição dos gêneros dentro da família são homoplásicos. Uma nova descrição e chave genérica para a família, utilizando caracteres de várias fontes são apresentadas, refletindo a taxonomia atual das Eriocaulaceae.

The pantropical family Eriocaulaceae includes ten genera and c. 1,400 species, with diversity concentrated in the New World. The last complete revision of the family was published more than 100 years ago, and until recently the generic and infrageneric relationships were poorly resolved. However, a multi-disciplinary approach over the last 30 years, using morphological and anatomical characters, has been supplemented with additional data from palynology, chemistry, embryology, population genetics, cytology and, more recently, molecular phylogenetic studies. This led to a reassessment of phylogenetic relationships within the family. In this paper we present new data for the ITS and trnL-F regions, analysed separately and in combination, using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. The data confirm previous results, and show that many characters traditionally used for differentiating and circumscribing the genera within the family are homoplasious. A new generic key with characters from various sources and reflecting the current taxonomic changes is presented.

Duas saponinas triterpênicas foram isoladas do extrato etanólico das raízes de Chiococca alba (L.) Hitch. (Rubiaceae). Suas estruturas foram elucidadas por RMN de ¹H e 13C 1D e 2D e por espectrometria de massas de alta resolução com ionização por eletronebulização como 3-O-β-D-glucopiranurosil-3-β-hidroxiolean-12,15-dien-28-oato de O-α-D-apiofuranosil (1→3)- [α-D-apiofuranosil (1→4)]-α-L-rhamnopiranosil (1→2)-α-L-arabinopiranosila (1) e 3-O-β-D-glucopiranurosil-3-β-hidroxiolean-12,15-dien-28-oato de 28-O-α-D-apiofuranosil (1→3)-α-L-rhamnopiranosil (1→2)-α-L-arabinopiranosila (2).

Two triterpene saponins were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the roots of Chiococca alba (L.) Hitch (Rubiaceae). Their structures were determined by ¹H and 13C 1D and 2D NMR and high resolution electrospray mass spectrometry as 3-O-β-D-glucopyranurosyl-3β-hydroxyolean-12,15-dien-28-oic acid 28-O-α-D-apiofuranosyl (1→3)-[α-D-apiofuranosyl (1→4)]-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl ester (1) and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranurosyl-3β-hydroxyolean-12,15-dien-28-oic acid 28-O-α-D-apiofuranosyl (1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl ester (2).

O trabalho verifica e analisa hiperuricemia em nove mulheres obesas, com índice de massa corporal (IMC) >35kg/m², sob dieta altamente restritiva (DAR, 400-600kcal/dia) durante 6 semanas. As primeiras duas semanas foram para o diagnóstico clínico e adaptação dietética. Semanalmente foram medidas cetonúria e uricemia e na 4ª. semana foi também determinada a excreção urinária de ácido úrico. A média (±dp) do IMC foi de 54±12 e 49±11kg/m², respectivamente na admissão e alta hospitalar, correspondendo a uma perda de peso de 14±2kg (p<0,05). Das pacientes, 78% apresentavam hiperuricemia assintomática, com níveis >5,7mg/dl, atingindo, durante o estudo, o valor máximo de 12mg/dl. Duas pacientes, com níveis de uricemia >10mg/dl, receberam alopurinol. A uricosúria, na 4ª. semana, foi de 770±262mg/24 hs. 33% das pacientes excretaram entre 300-700mg, considerados valores normais, e 67% excretaram mais do que 700mg. Nenhuma foi considerada hipoexcretora. Sugere-se que pacientes obesos submetidos à DAR tenham, além de uricemia, os valores de uricosúria monitorizados. Quando ocorrer hiperuricemia, a introdução de fármacos que inibem a síntese de ácido úrico estaria indicada.

In the present paper, hyperuricemia was analyzed in nine obese women with body mass index (BMI) >35kg/m², while receiving a very low calorie diet (400/600kcal/day) for 6 weeks. The first two weeks were for clinical diagnosis and diet adaptation. Serum uric acid and ketonuria were measured weekly, and on the 4th week total uric acid urinary excretion was also determined. The mean (±SD) BMI were 54±12 and 49±11kg/m², respectively at admission and discharge, corresponding to a body weight loss of 14±2kg (p<0.05). 78% of the patients had asymptomatic hyperuricemia, with serum uric acid >5.7mg/dL; during the follow-up the highest value was 12mg/dL. Two patients had values >10mg/dL and received hallopurinol. At the 4th week, the urinary excretion of uric acid was 770±262mg. 33% of the patients excreted between 300-700mg, considered normal, and 67% excreted >700mg; therefore, none was considered hypoexcretor. It is suggested that besides serum uric acid control, total urinary uric acid excretion must be controlled in obese people during restrictive diet therapy. If hyperuricemia is detected introduction of an uric acid inhibitor is recommended.