Objective: To analyze aspects related to positivity for schistosomiasis in an area of ​​low prevalence in Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional study, carried out in the first half of 2020, where proportion of positivity was analyzed according to the number of Kato-Katz slides, the diagnostic performance of the test and the creation of a positivity estimation factor from the data of the Information from the Schistosomiasis Surveillance and Control Program (SISPCE). Results: 2,088 slides from 348 individuals were analyzed, with proportion of positivity of 11.8%, 26.7% and 31.0% for 1, 4 and 6 slides analyzed, respectively. There was excellent agreement (Kappa = 0.91) between the reading of 4 and 6 slides. An underreporting of 2.1 times was estimated in the SISPCE data. Conclusion: Increasing the number of blades increased the positivity of Kato-Katz, which can contribute to maximize the control of the disease as a public health problem.

Objetivo: Analisar aspectos relacionados com a positividade para esquistossomose em área de baixa prevalência, no Brasil. Métodos: Estudo transversal, realizado no primeiro semestre de 2020, quando foram analisadas a proporção de positividade, em função do número de lâminas de Kato-Katz, o desempenho diagnóstico do teste e a estimação da positividade a partir dos dados do Sistema de Informação do Programa de Vigilância e Controle da Esquistossomose (SISPCE). Resultados: Foram analisadas 2.088 lâminas de 348 indivíduos, sendo a proporção de positividade de 11,8%, 26,7% e 31,0% para 1, 4 e 6 lâminas analisadas, respectivamente. Houve concordância excelente (índice Kappa = 0,91) na comparação entre as leituras de 4 e 6 lâminas. Foi estimada subnotificação de 2,1 vezes nos dados do SISPCE. Conclusão: Ampliar o número de lâminas aumentou a positividade do Kato-Katz, o que pode contribuir para maximizar o controle da doença enquanto problema de Saúde Pública.

Resumo Objetivo: Analisar aspectos relacionados com a positividade para esquistossomose em área de baixa prevalência, no Brasil. Métodos: Estudo transversal, realizado no primeiro semestre de 2020, quando foram analisadas a proporção de positividade, em função do número de lâminas de Kato-Katz, o desempenho diagnóstico do teste e a estimação da positividade a partir dos dados do Sistema de Informação do Programa de Vigilância e Controle da Esquistossomose (SISPCE). Resultados: Foram analisadas 2.088 lâminas de 348 indivíduos, sendo a proporção de positividade de 11,8%, 26,7% e 31,0% para 1, 4 e 6 lâminas analisadas, respectivamente. Houve concordância excelente (índice Kappa = 0,91) na comparação entre as leituras de 4 e 6 lâminas. Foi estimada subnotificação de 2,1 vezes nos dados do SISPCE. Conclusão: Ampliar o número de lâminas aumentou a positividade do Kato-Katz, o que pode contribuir para maximizar o controle da doença enquanto problema de Saúde Pública.

Abstract Objective: To analyze aspects related to schistosomiasis positivity in an area of low prevalence in Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, carried out in the first half of 2020, where we analyzed the proportion of positivity, according to the number of Kato-Katz slides, the diagnostic performance of the test and positivity estimates based on data from the Schistosomiasis Surveillance and Control Program Information System (SISPCE). Results: 2,088 slides from 348 individuals were analyzed, with proportion of positivity of 11.8%, 26.7% and 31.0% for 1, 4 and 6 slides analyzed, respectively. There was excellent agreement (Kappa = 0.91) between the readings of 4 and 6 slides. The SISPCE data was estimated to be underreported by up to 2.1 times. Conclusion: Increasing the number of slides increased Kato-Katz positivity, which can contribute to maximizing the control of the disease as a Public Health problem.

Resumen Objetivo: Analizar aspectos relacionados con la positividad para esquistosomiasis en área de baja prevalencia en Brasil. Métodos: Estudio transversal, realizado en el primer semestre de 2020, donde se analizó la proporción de positividad según el número de portaobjetos de Kato-Katz, el rendimiento diagnóstico de la prueba y la creación de un factor de estimación de positividad a partir de los datos del Sistema de Información del Programa de Vigilancia y Control de la Esquistosomiasis (SISPCE). Resultados: Se analizaron 2.088 láminas de 348 individuos, con proporción de positividad del 11,8%, 26,7% y 31,0% para 1, 4 y 6 láminas analizadas, respectivamente. Hubo una excelente concordancia (Kappa = 0,91) en la comparación entre la lectura de 4 y 6 láminas. Se estimó un subregistro de 2,1 veces en los datos del SISPCE. Conclusión: Aumentar el número de muestras aumentó la positividad de Kato-Katz, lo que puede contribuir a maximizar el control de la enfermedad como problema de Salud Pública.

Resumo Objetivo: Analisar aspectos relacionados com a positividade para esquistossomose em área de baixa prevalência, no Brasil. Métodos: Estudo transversal, realizado no primeiro semestre de 2020, quando foram analisadas a proporção de positividade, em função do número de lâminas de Kato-Katz, o desempenho diagnóstico do teste e a estimação da positividade a partir dos dados do Sistema de Informação do Programa de Vigilância e Controle da Esquistossomose (SISPCE). Resultados: Foram analisadas 2.088 lâminas de 348 indivíduos, sendo a proporção de positividade de 11,8%, 26,7% e 31,0% para 1, 4 e 6 lâminas analisadas, respectivamente. Houve concordância excelente (índice Kappa = 0,91) na comparação entre as leituras de 4 e 6 lâminas. Foi estimada subnotificação de 2,1 vezes nos dados do SISPCE. Conclusão: Ampliar o número de lâminas aumentou a positividade do Kato-Katz, o que pode contribuir para maximizar o controle da doença enquanto problema de Saúde Pública.

Abstract Objective: To analyze aspects related to schistosomiasis positivity in an area of low prevalence in Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, carried out in the first half of 2020, where we analyzed the proportion of positivity, according to the number of Kato-Katz slides, the diagnostic performance of the test and positivity estimates based on data from the Schistosomiasis Surveillance and Control Program Information System (SISPCE). Results: 2,088 slides from 348 individuals were analyzed, with proportion of positivity of 11.8%, 26.7% and 31.0% for 1, 4 and 6 slides analyzed, respectively. There was excellent agreement (Kappa = 0.91) between the readings of 4 and 6 slides. The SISPCE data was estimated to be underreported by up to 2.1 times. Conclusion: Increasing the number of slides increased Kato-Katz positivity, which can contribute to maximizing the control of the disease as a Public Health problem.

Resumen Objetivo: Analizar aspectos relacionados con la positividad para esquistosomiasis en área de baja prevalencia en Brasil. Métodos: Estudio transversal, realizado en el primer semestre de 2020, donde se analizó la proporción de positividad según el número de portaobjetos de Kato-Katz, el rendimiento diagnóstico de la prueba y la creación de un factor de estimación de positividad a partir de los datos del Sistema de Información del Programa de Vigilancia y Control de la Esquistosomiasis (SISPCE). Resultados: Se analizaron 2.088 láminas de 348 individuos, con proporción de positividad del 11,8%, 26,7% y 31,0% para 1, 4 y 6 láminas analizadas, respectivamente. Hubo una excelente concordancia (Kappa = 0,91) en la comparación entre la lectura de 4 y 6 láminas. Se estimó un subregistro de 2,1 veces en los datos del SISPCE. Conclusión: Aumentar el número de muestras aumentó la positividad de Kato-Katz, lo que puede contribuir a maximizar el control de la enfermedad como problema de Salud Pública.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Schistosomiasis, caused by infection from Schistosoma mansoni, is a disease that represents an important public health problem for Brazil, especially for states in the Northeast region. Thus, the aim of this study is to present a new epidemiological profile for the disease in a municipality with low prevalence in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted through a coproparasitological and malacological survey. A structured questionnaire was applied to the study participants to survey possible risk factors and a spatial analysis (kernel density) was used to measure the risk of infection. RESULTS: Of the 347 participants, 106 (30.5%) were infected by Schistosoma mansoni, most of them from the urban area of the municipality (68.9%; 73/106). A 3-fold risk of infection was found for individuals living in the urban area and a risk of 2.15 times for self-declared farmers. Biomphalaria glabrata and B. straminea were the species found in the municipality, but no animals were diagnosed as infected by the parasite. Spatial analysis showed a random distribution of vectors and human cases of the disease, and the formation of two clusters of human cases in the urban area was seen. CONCLUSIONS: A new epidemiological profile for schistosomiasis from S. mansoni infection was presented in a municipality of low endemicity: a high proportion of positive individuals in the urban area; presence of snails without positive diagnosis for S. mansoni infection; random distribution of vectors and human cases; and absence of association between classical risk factors and human infection.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the surface physicochemical properties of Ti6Al4V alloy after etching with a piranha’s solution at temperatures of 25 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C for 30 min. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, optical profilometry, X-ray diffraction, and wettability analyses were used to characterize the surface of the samples. In addition, corrosion tests were performed using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The proposed surface treatment did not alter the wettability and surface chemistry (crystallinity), but the texture, surface roughness, superficial area, and corrosion resistance of the alloy could be changed by varying the etching temperature. Considering that these properties are indirect indicators of the alloy’s potential success in the osseointegration of a dental implant, the surface treatment of the Ti6Al4V alloy using a piranha solution while controlling the etching temperature has attractive biomedical applications.

Ni-Co ferrites, especially the ones with lower cobalt fractions, are candidate materials for applications in magnetomechanical sensors and electromagnetic wave absorbers. This work studied the microstructure, magnetostriction, flexural strength, and complex magnetic permeability of Ni0.9Co0.1Fe2O4, presenting data that weren't covered by previous literature on this composition. It was found that sieving the calcined powder before the forming operation increased the flexural strength of the ceramic. The Ni-Co ferrite had a saturation magnetostriction of 36ppm. The real part of the complex magnetic permeability varied between 2.2-2.3 in frequencies from 100MHz to 1GHz. In frequencies higher than 1GHz, µ' decreased sharply and reached 1 at 3.9GHz. It was found that the grinding media provided a small fraction of Al to the ferrite composition, which apparently affected the complex magnetic permeability of the material but the magnetostriction results were very close to Al-free Ni-Co ferrites with similar composition.

Abstract Due to the limited coding capacity of viral genomes, plant viruses depend extensively on the host cell machinery to support the viral life cycle and, thereby, interact with a large number of host proteins during infection. Within this context, as plant viruses do not harbor translation-required components, they have developed several strategies to subvert the host protein synthesis machinery to produce rapidly and efficiently the viral proteins. As a countermeasure against infection, plants have evolved defense mechanisms that impair viral infections. Among them, the host-mediated translational suppression has been characterized as an efficient mean to restrict infection. To specifically suppress translation of viral mRNAs, plants can deploy susceptible recessive resistance genes, which encode translation initiation factors from the eIF4E and eIF4G family and are required for viral mRNA translation and multiplication. Additionally, recent evidence has demonstrated that, alternatively to the cleavage of viral RNA targets, host cells can suppress viral protein translation to silence viral RNA. Finally, a novel strategy of plant antiviral defense based on suppression of host global translation, which is mediated by the transmembrane immune receptor NIK1 (nuclear shuttle protein (NSP)-Interacting Kinase1), is discussed in this review.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Mycobaterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) tem atraído o interesse de pesquisadores devido às semelhanças entre a paratuberculose e a doença de Crohn (CD). Este estudo objetivou avaliar a frequência de MAP por meio de cultura, histologia e reação da polimerase em cadeia (PCR), em biópsias intestinais de pacientes brasileiros com CD. PCR quantitativa em tempo real (qRT-PCR) foi realizada nas amostras positivas. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo transversal analítico com grupo controle realizado em duas universidades federais. MÉTODOS: Amostras frescas foram coletadas de 25 pacientes; cinco com CD, oito com colite ulcerativa (UC) e 12 controles sem doença inflamatória intestinal (nIBD). Também foram coletadas 149 amostras fixadas em parafina (FFPE): 44 CD, 49 UC e 56 nIBD. RESULTADOS: Nenhuma das amostras frescas foi positiva para MAP. Cinco amostras FFPE (uma CD, duas UC e duas nIBD) e três amostras frescas (uma de cada grupo) foram positivas por IS900-PCR. qRT-PCR foi realizada nessas oito amostras. Nas amostras FFPE, havia 192,12 cópias/μl no grupo CD, 72,28 cópias/μl no UC e 81,43 cópias/μl no nIBD. Nas amostras frescas, havia 432,99 cópias/μl, 167,92 cópias/μl e 249,73 cópias/μl nos grupos CD, UC e nIBD, respectivamente. A maior carga bacteriana foi encontrada no grupo CD. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo não fornece evidências do papel de MAP na etiologia da CD, embora DNA de MAP tenha sido detectado em pacientes dos três grupos. Este é o primeiro relato da presença de MAP em biópsias intestinais humanas no Brasil.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) has attracted the interest of researchers because of similarities between paratuberculosis and Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of MAP through cultures, histology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on intestinal biopsies from Brazilian CD patients. Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed on positive samples. DESIGN AND SETTING: Analytical cross-sectional study with control group at two federal universities. METHODS: Fresh samples were collected from 25 patients; five with CD, eight with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 12 controls with non-inflammatory bowel disease (nIBD). Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples from 143 patients were also collected: 44 CD, 49 UC and 56 nIBD. RESULTS: None of the fresh samples was positive for MAP. Five FFPE samples (one CD, two UC and two nIBD) and three fresh samples (one in each group) were positive through IS900-PCR. qRT-PCR was performed on these eight samples. Among the FFPE samples, there were 192.12 copies/μl in the CD group, 72.28 copies/μl in UC and 81.43 copies/μl in nIBD. Among the fresh samples, there were 432.99 copies/μl, 167.92 copies/μl and 249.73 copies/μl in the CD, UC and nIBD groups, respectively. The highest bacterial load was in the CD group. CONCLUSION: This study does not provide evidence for a role of MAP in the etiology of CD, although MAP DNA was detected in all three patient groups. This is the first report of MAP presence in human intestinal biopsies in Brazil.

Titanium and its alloys have been used in dentistry to due their excellent corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. However, titanium coating is bioinert material and it cannot chemically bond to bone tissue. The purpose of this work was evaluating the bioactivity of Ti-7,5Mo alloy after chemical treatment using H2SO4 / H2O2 and soaking in SBF. Samples were chemically treated at room temperature for 4 h with a solution consisting of equal volumes of concentrated H2SO4 (200 ml) and 30% aqueous solution H2O2 (200 ml). The oxidized samples were rinsed with distilled water and were heat treated at 600°C for 1h in a electrical furnace in air. Then, all samples were immersed in SBF (Simulated Body Fluid) for 7 and 14 days to form a calcium phosphate (Ca/P) coating on the surface. Surfaces were characterized by using SEM, AFM and contact angle. The results indicated that calcium phosphate (Ca/P) was formed on surface of Ti-7.5Mo experimental alloy.

ABSTRACT: Mullite is an excellent structural material due to its high temperature stability, high electrical insulation capabilities and creep resistance. This material has a number of technological applications, such as rocket nozzles used in the aerospace industry. In this work, mullite was obtained by sol-gel process, using silicic sol, aluminum nitrate and ethylene glycol, besides the following volume ratios of silica sol dispersion to ethylene glycol: 1/0; 1/1; 1/2; and 1/3. After drying, the samples were thermal treated at temperatures of 1,000; 1,100; 1,200 and 1,250°C. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and specific surface area (Bruner-Emmett-Teller - BET). SEM showed that mullite particles are fine and nearly equiaxed. The sample without ethylene glycol showed 3/2 mullite after heat treatment at 1,250°C. The sample with intermediate ethylene glycol concentration presented two crystallization processes: the first at 1,000°C forming mullite and spinel phases, and the second at 1,250°C forming only 3/2 mullite. However, the sample with the highest ethylene glycol concentration crystallized directly to mullite at 1,000°C with the highest yield. There is a strong dependence on the specific surface area with temperature. The Rietveld refinement showed that the a cell lattice of mullite and the Al/Si molar ratio in the mullite formula depend on the ethylene glycol presence and on the calcination temperature. The lattice parameters b and c are not dependent on the alumina content, but the parameter a increases with the increase in the alumina content. Samples prepared with higher ethylene glycol concentrations reached higher mullite yields at lower temperatures.

Dentre os tratamentos propostos para a doença articular degenerativa (DAD), os nutracêuticos condroprotetores à base de sulfato de condroitina constituem uma terapia não invasiva que favorece a manuteção da saúde da cartilagem. Além de utilizados em humanos, foram também disponibilizados para uso veterinário administrados na forma de suplemento nutricional independentemente de prescrição, uma vez que possuem somente o registro do Serviço de Inspeção Federal, que não exige testes de eficácia e segurança. A falta desses testes pelo Ministério da Agricultura para comprovação da eficácia e segurança de medicamentos veterinários e a carência de estudos científicos que comprovem seus benefícios geram dúvidas quanto à eficiência de tais substâncias ativas. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia de um nutracêutico condroprotetor veterinário à base de sulfato de condroitina e glucosamina, na reparação de defeitos osteocondrais no côndilo femoral lateral de 48 cães, por meio de análises clínica e radiográfica. Os animais foram distribuídos em grupos tratado (GT) e controle (GC), de forma que somente o GT recebeu o nutracêutico a cada 24 horas na posologia recomendada pelo fabricante. Os resultados dos quatro tempos de tratamento utilizados (15, 30, 60 e 90 dias) mostraram que o produto na dose, formulação e no período de administração utilizados não proporcionou melhora dos sinais clínicos e não influenciou radiograficamente o processo de reparação dos defeitos, visto que os grupos tratado e controle apresentaram aspectos radiográficos idênticos ao término dos tratamentos.

Among the proposed treatments to repair lesions of degenerative joint disease (DJD), chondroprotective nutraceuticals composed by glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are a non-invasive theraphy with properties that favors the health of the cartilage. Although used in human, it is also available for veterinary use with administration in the form of nutritional supplement independent of prescription, since they have registry only in the Inspection Service, which does not require safety and efficacy testing. The lack of such tests to prove efficacy and safety of veterinary medicines required by the Ministry of Agriculture and the lack of scientific studies proving its benefits raises doubts about the efficiency of the concentrations of such active substances. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a veterinary chondroprotective nutraceutical based on chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine in the repair of osteochondral defects in lateral femoral condyle of 48 dogs, through clinical and radiographic analysis. The animals were divided into treatment group (TG) and control group (CG), so that only the TG received the nutraceutical every 24 hours at the rate recommended by the manufacturer. The results of the four treatment times (15, 30, 60 and 90 days) showed that the chondroprotective nutraceutical, in the rate, formulation and administration at the times used, did not improve clinical signs and radiologically did not influence in the repair process of the defects, since the treated and control groups showed similar radiographic findings at the end of the treatments.

Ceramic cutting tools are showing a growing market perspective in terms of application on machining operations due to their high hardness, wear resistance, and machining without a cutting fluid, therefore are good candidates for cast iron and Nickel superalloys machining. The objective of the present paper was the development of Si3N4 based ceramic cutting insert, characterization of its physical and mechanical properties, and subsequent coating with AlCrN using a PVD method. The characterization of the coating was made using an optical profiler, XRD, AFM and microhardness tester. The results showed that the tool presented a fracture toughness of 6.43 MPa.m½ and hardness of 16 GPa. The hardness reached 31 GPa after coating. The machining tests showed a decrease on workpiece roughness when machining with coated insert, in comparison with the uncoated cutting tool. Probably this fact is related to hardness, roughness and topography of AlCrN.

This work presents a study on the influence of national heavy petroleum in the corrosion of the AISI 444 and AISI 304 stainless steels in simulated refining operation conditions. The petroleum was first characterized through physicochemical analysis (density, fluidity point, viscosity, sulfur concentration). In an attempt to understand the corrosion effect of temperature and of the type of heating the referred types of steel thermal treatments were carried out at three levels of temperature (200, 300 and 400 °C). The procedure was done in conditions close to those in the distillation column. Heat was gradually increased from room temperature, and directly heated to working temperature. Each treatment took 4 hours to be completed. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and the analysis of X rays dispersive energy (EDX) were used after the trials to characterize the samples. The results show that treatment temperature, as well as the type of heating, has distinct influences on each type of steel.

The optimization of the energy generated by a MagnetoHydroDynamic (MHD) channel using a superconducting magnet demands the optimization of the magnetic field of the system and of the critical points on the magnet winding. This work must include the development of a high performance superconductor wire suitable for this system. Aiming to the construction of improved performance MHD channel, it was developed a low cost superconductor wire, with the required characteristics. The wire was made using a technology compatible with the assembling steps and heat treatment conditions of the MHD superconducting magnets fabrication. It was used the internal Sn method in Nb-7.5wt%Ta tube to fabricate a 271-filament wire with a diameter of 0.81 mm and a Cu/nonCu ratio of 2.3. The wire was heat treated at 200 °C to diffuse the Sn into the Cu shell, producing bronze, followed by the final reaction at temperatures ranging from 670 °C to 730 °C during 25 to 150 h, to produce (Nb,Ta)3Sn. The superconducting wire characterization was made measuring the critical current Ic versus the applied magnetic field in the range of 5 to 20 T, the critical temperature Tc and the residual resistivity ratio (RRR). The wire transported critical currents above those available in commercial superconducting wires. These values of Ic are higher than the expected values for the optimization of the MHD channel.