ABSTRACT The breathing pattern of Mouth Breathing (MB) implies the adaptation of body posture to facilitate the passage of airflow through the oral cavity, which can be prevented or reversed through physical exercise. However, there is no consensus on which is the best model of exercise program to minimise these postural adaptations. The purpose of the review was to investigate the effect of different physical exercise programs on the posture of mouth-breathing children and adolescents. The research was performed in Scopus, PubMed, Lilacs, Bireme, and Scielo databases in November 2022. The following descriptors were included: “mouth breather and exercise”, “mouth breathing and exercise”, “nasal obstruction and exercise”, “mouth breather and exercises”, “mouth breathing and exercises”, and “nasal obstruction and exercises”. Clinical trials related to the effect of physical exercise on the posture of MB children and adolescents were considered. Among 2796 identified studies, six were included. The mean score of the methodological quality scale of the selected studies was 5.5 points on a scale of 0 to 10. All studies showed an improvement in body posture after the exercise program. The exercise programs comprised muscle strengthening and stretching exercises, neuromuscular proprioceptive facilitation, and postural and diaphragmatic reeducation. The duration of the programs and the weekly frequency varied in the studies. Although it is difficult to compare studies and establish guidelines for formulating an exercise protocol, it was observed that upper limb strengthening and stretching exercises could effectively improve the body posture of MB children and adolescents.

Abstract Myocardial bypass (MB) is known to have scientific relevance and is present in several studies with great statistical significance regarding its clinical manifestations and complications. There are still questions about MB in its relationship with heart disease and repercussion in life-threatening conditions. We present a case report of a MB in the left anterior descending coronary artery, whose objective is to identify this rare congenital anomaly and to highlight the patient's clinical outcome in order to elicit greater contributions about the presence of this variant in the emergency room, its diagnosis by angiography and therapeutic management.

Resumo: A interação entre desgaste e corrosão, ou seja, a tribocorrosão, ocorre em diversas aplicações industriais e biomédicas e pode levar a uma degradação acentuada do material. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi comparar a resistência ao desgaste em meio aquoso de juntas similares de um aço martensítico (Hardox 500), e de juntas dissimilares entre o aço Hardox e um aço SAE 1010. As juntas foram obtidas empregando-se o processo de soldagem arco submerso, com energia de soldagem de 7,7 kJ/cm. Ensaios de microdesgaste por deslizamento linear recíproco foram realizados na presença de água artificial (0,05 M NaCl), em amostras de dois conjuntos soldados, um de materiais similares e outro de materiais dissimilares. As regiões ensaiadas foram os metais de solda (MS) e as zonas afetadas pelo calor (ZAC), estas últimas nas sub-regiões que apresentavam o menor valor de dureza, em cada conjunto. Para comparação, também foram ensaiados os metais-base (MB) do aço SAE 1010 e do aço Hardox. Como as chapas de aço Hardox possuíam um revestimento de silicato de zinco, condição na qual o aço era fornecido, para este aço os ensaios de corrosão-desgaste foram efetuados em amostras com o revestimento, e também sem ele. Dentre todas as condições estudadas, a maior resistência em tribocorrosão foi verificada para o aço Hardox com o revestimento. Das amostras ensaiadas sem revestimento, a degradação ocasionada pela tribocorrosão foi menor no MB do aço Hardox. Nos demais casos, foi observada a corrosão intensificada pelo desgaste, principalmente para o MB do SAE 1010, onde houve a dissolução acentuada do material adjacente à borda da trilha, fora da região de desgaste.

Abstract: Tribocorrosion is the interaction between wear and corrosion, which occur in several industrial and biomedical applications, resulting in a pronounced degradation of the material. The aim of this work was to compare the wear resistance in aqueous solution of similar joints of a martensitic (Hardox 500) steel, and of dissimilar joints between the steels Hardox and SAE 1010. The joints were carried out using submerged arc welding, with an energy input of 7.7 kJ/cm. Reciprocating sliding microwear tests were performed in a solution of 0.05M NaCl, in samples of similar and dissimilar joints. The regions analyzed in tribocorrosion were weld metals (WM) and heat affected zones (HAZ), these in the sub-regions which exhibited the lowest hardness value, in each welded joint. For comparison, tests in base materials (BM) of SAE 1010 and Hardox steels were also performed – in Hardox steels, in samples with and without a coating of zinc silicate. Among all tested conditions, the higher tribocorrosion resistance was observed for the coated Hardox. In the group of samples which were tested without any coating, degradation caused by tribocorrosion process was less significative in the BM of Hardox steel. In the other studied conditions, it was observed wear enhanced corrosion, mainly for the BM of SAE 1010 steel in which occurred an intense dissolution of the material in the area adjacent to the wear track, outside the track.

Abstract Paraburkholderia tropica (syn Burkholderia tropica) are nitrogen-fixing bacteria commonly found in sugarcane. The Paraburkholderia tropica strain Ppe8 is part of the sugarcane inoculant consortium that has a beneficial effect on yield. Here, we report a draft genome sequence of this strain elucidating the mechanisms involved in its interaction mainly with Poaceae. A genome size of approximately 8.75 Mb containing 7844 protein coding genes distributed in 526 subsystems was de novo assembled with ABySS and annotated by RAST. Genes related to the nitrogen fixation process, the secretion systems (I, II, III, IV, and VI), and related to a variety of metabolic traits, such as metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, vitamins, and proteins, were detected, suggesting a broad metabolic capacity and possible adaptation to plant association.

This article reports the synthesis and characterization of pure and N-, B-, and Ag-doped TiO2 and the ability of these oxides to photodegrade methylene blue (MB) under sunlight or UV-ABC radiation. The compounds were synthesized using the sol-gel method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Photocatalytic efficiency was significantly increased by N-doping, resulting in 98% MB decomposition under UV-ABC irradiation for 180 min. Ag- and B-doped TiO2 lowered MB degradation rates to 52 and 73%, respectively, compared with pure TiO2. The same behavior was observed with exposure to UV-Vis, with 88, 65, 60, and 42% MB removal with N-doped, pure, B-doped, and Ag-doped TiO2, respectively. Under visible light alone, N-doped TiO2 exhibited higher photocatalytic efficiency than commercial P25-type TiO2. Photocatalysis with N-doped TiO2 proved to be a promising alternative for MB degradation, given the potential of employing solar energy, thus minimizing operating costs.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO: Não está claro se os níveis séricos de troponina I (TI) e de creatinoquinase fração MB (CK-MB) estão alterados em recém-nascidos prematuros (RNP) sem indícios de isquemia miocárdica (IM). OBJETIVO: Investigar se os níveis de TI e CK-MB se alteram nos RNP sem IM quando em ventilação mecânica (VM). MÉTODOS: Coorte prospectiva com 165 RNP que, antes de serem divididos em grupo-controle ([CG]; n = 68), ventilado ([VG]; n = 21) e surfactante ([SG]; n = 76), tiveram seus níveis séricos de TI, creatinoquinase (CK) e CK-MB determinados. Após a divisão, dentro das primeiras 4 horas do início da VM e 1 hora após sua retirada, realizamos nova dosagem de TI, CK e CK-MB nos RNP dos VG e VS. Foram utilizados o teste do Qui-quadrado para avaliar a associação entre as variáveis qualitativas e o teste de Kruskall-Wallis para comparar os valores séricos de TI e CK-MB entre os grupos, antes, durante e depois da VM, usando o pacote estatístico SPSS 16.0. RESULTADOS: Os valores séricos de TI, CK e CK-MB antes dos grupos serem divididos foram considerados normais. As concentrações de TI entre os grupos antes e depois da VM não se alteraram (p > 0,05), entretanto as de CK-MB foram maiores nos ventilados em relação aos do CG (p = 0,009). CONCLUSÃO: A elevação dos níveis séricos de CK-MB nos VG e SG parece indicar aumento do trabalho da musculatura torácica e não um sinal de IM, o que inviabiliza o uso desta como um marcador.

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: It is not clear whether the levels of troponin I (TI) and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) are changed in premature infants (PI) without evidence of myocardial ischemia (MI). OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether TI and CK-MB change their levels in newborns without MI while on mechanical ventilation (MV). METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study in which 165 PI were divided into control group ([CG]; n = 68), mechanical ventilated group ([VG]; n = 21) and a surfactant therapy group ([SG]; n = 76), and had their TI, creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB levels were determined. After the division, within the first four hours after the introduction of the mechanical ventilation (MV) and one hour after the withdrawal of it, we performed a new measurement of TI, CK and CK-MB to all PI from VG and VS. We used the chi-square test to evaluate the association among qualitative variables and the Kruskall-Wallis test to compare the serum levels of TI, and CK-MB among the groups, before, during and after MV using the statistical package SPSS 16.0 software. RESULTS: TI, CK, and CK-MB serum values before the groups were divided were considered normal. The TI concentration among the groups before and after MV (p > 0.05) did not changed; however, the CK-MB levels were higher in VG when compared to the CG (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: The increase of CK-MB serum levels in VG and SG seems to indicate an increased work of thoracic skeletal muscle and do not represent a MI signal, which invalidate its use as a marker.

Leprosy inflammatory episodes [type 1 (T1R) and type 2 (T2R) reactions] represent the major cause of irreversible nerve damage. Leprosy serology is known to be influenced by the patient’s bacterial index (BI) with higher positivity in multibacillary patients (MB) and specific multidrug therapy (MDT) reduces antibody production. This study evaluated by ELISA antibody responses to leprosy Infectious Disease Research Institute diagnostic-1 (LID-1) fusion protein and phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I) in 100 paired serum samples of 50 MB patients collected in the presence/absence of reactions and in nonreactional patients before/after MDT. Patients who presented T2R had a median BI of 3+, while MB patients with T1R and nonreactional patients had median BI of 2.5+ (p > 0.05). Anti-LID-1 and anti-PGL-I antibodies declined in patients diagnosed during T1R (p < 0.05). Anti-LID-1 levels waned in MB with T2R at diagnosis and nonreactional MB patients (p < 0.05). Higher anti-LID-1 levels were seen in patients with T2R at diagnosis (vs. patients with T1R at diagnosis, p = 0.008; vs. nonreactional patients, p = 0.020) and in patients with T2R during MDT (vs. nonreactional MB, p = 0.020). In MB patients, high and persistent anti-LID-1 antibody levels might be a useful tool for clinicians to predict which patients are more susceptible to develop leprosy T2R.

The high occurrence of nosocomial multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms is considered a global health problem. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain isolated in Brazil that belongs to the endemic clone ST277. The genome encodes important resistance determinant genes and consists of 6.7 Mb with a G+C content of 66.86% and 6,347 predicted coding regions including 60 RNAs.

Fundamento: Os efeitos da terapêutica moderna na recuperação funcional após o infarto agudo do miocárdio não são conhecidos.Objetivos: Avaliar os fatores preditores da recuperação funcional sistólica após infarto agudo do miocárdio de parede anterior em pacientes submetidos à terapia moderna (reperfusão, antiagregação plaquetária agressiva, inibidores da enzima conversora da angiotensina e betabloqueadores).Métodos: Foram incluídos 94 pacientes consecutivos com infarto agudo do miocárdio com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST. Ecocardiogramas foram realizados na fase intra-hospitalar e após 6 meses. Disfunção sistólica foi definida pela presença de fração de ejeção de valor < 50%.Resultados: No ecocardiograma inicial, 64% dos pacientes apresentaram disfunção sistólica. Os pacientes com disfunção ventricular apresentaram tamanhos maiores de infarto, avaliados pelas enzimas creatinofosfoquinase total e isoenzima MB, que os pacientes sem disfunção. Adicionalmente, 24,5% dos pacientes inicialmente com disfunção sistólica apresentaram recuperação no período de 6 meses após o infarto agudo do miocárdio. Os pacientes que recuperaram a função ventricular apresentaram menores tamanhos de infarto, mas maiores valores da fração de ejeção e tempo de desaceleração da onda E que pacientes sem recuperação. Na análise multivariada, observa-se que o tamanho de infarto foi o único fator preditor independente de recuperação funcional após 6 meses de infarto, quando ajustado pela idade, sexo, fração de ejeção e tempo de desaceleração da onda E.Conclusão: Apesar do tratamento agressivo, a disfunção ventricular sistólica continua a ser um evento frequente após o infarto de parede anterior. Adicionalmente, 25% dos pacientes apresentam recuperação funcional. Finalmente, o tamanho do infarto foi o único fator preditor de recuperação funcional após seis meses do infarto agudo do miocárdio.

Background: The effects of modern therapy on functional recovery after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are unknown.Objectives:To evaluate the predictors of systolic functional recovery after anterior wall AMI in patients undergoing modern therapy (reperfusion, aggressive platelet antiaggregant therapy, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers).Methods:A total of 94 consecutive patients with AMI with ST-segment elevation were enrolled. Echocardiograms were performed during the in-hospital phase and after 6 months. Systolic dysfunction was defined as ejection fraction value < 50%.Results:In the initial echocardiogram, 64% of patients had systolic dysfunction. Patients with ventricular dysfunction had greater infarct size, assessed by the measurement of total and isoenzyme MB creatine kinase enzymes, than patients without dysfunction. Additionally, 24.5% of patients that initially had systolic dysfunction showed recovery within 6 months after AMI. Patients who recovered ventricular function had smaller infarct sizes, but larger values of ejection fraction and E-wave deceleration time than patients without recovery. At the multivariate analysis, it can be observed that infarct size was the only independent predictor of functional recovery after 6 months of AMI when adjusted for age, gender, ejection fraction and E-wave deceleration time.Conclusion: In spite of aggressive treatment, systolic ventricular dysfunction remains a frequent event after the anterior wall myocardial infarction. Additionally, 25% of patients show functional recovery. Finally, infarct size was the only significant predictor of functional recovery after six months of acute myocardial infarction.

Aderências intraperitoneais se formam frequentemente após cirurgias abdominais, podendo causar dificuldades técnicas durante intervenções cirúrgicas, dor abdominal crônica e obstrução grave do trato gastrintestinal. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a eficácia da solução de azul de metileno (MB) a 1% na prevenção da formação de aderências intraperitoneais em um modelo experimental de trauma cirúrgico abdominal em caninos. Vinte cadelas foram submetidas à ressecção do ligamento falciforme, omentectomia, ovário-histerectomia e escarificação da serosa de um segmento de cólon. Antes da síntese abdominal, 10 cadelas receberam 1mg kg-1 de MB a 1% via intraperitoneal (grupo MB) e 10 cadelas não receberam tratamento (grupo controle, CT). No 15o dia pós-operatório, as cadelas foram submetidas à laparoscopia para avaliação da formação de aderências. Os escores de formação de aderências foram 13,8 (±5,6) para o grupo MB e 20,5 (±6,4) para o grupo CT (P=0,043). A solução de azul de metileno a 1% foi eficaz na prevenção da formação de aderências intraperitoneais pós-cirúrgicas em cadelas, sobretudo nas relacionadas à serosa do cólon.

Intraperitoneal adhesions usually are formed after abdominal surgeries and may cause technical difficulties during surgical intervention, chronic abdominal pain and severe obstructions of the gastrointestinal tract. The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of methylene blue (MB) 1% solution on the prevention of intraperitoneal postsurgical adhesion formation in a canine surgical trauma model. Twenty bitches were submitted to falciform ligament resection, omentectomy, ovariohysterectomy and scarification of a colonic segment. Prior to abdominal closure, 10 bitches received 1mg kg-1 MB intraperitoneally (MB group) and 10 bitches received no treatment (control group, CT). On the 15th postoperative day the bitches were submitted to laparoscopy to assess adhesions. The mean adhesion scores were 13.9 (±5.6) for MB group and 20.5 (±6.4) for the CT group (P=0,043). In conclusion, the 1% MB solution was efficient on the prevention of intraperitoneal postoperative adhesion formation in bitches, especially those involving the colonic serosa.

Nas últimas décadas, vários trabalhos sobre respiração bucal (RB) têm surgido na literatura; em contrapartida, pouco se conhece sobre vários aspectos desta síndrome, incluindo gravidade, repercussões sobre o rendimento físico e escolar. OBJETIVO: Comparar o rendimento físico pelo teste de caminhada de seis minutos (TC6') e rendimento escolar de crianças e adolescentes com RB e respiradores nasais (RN). MÉTODO: Estudo de corte transversal descritivo e prospectivo em crianças RB e RN que foram submetidas ao TC6' e avaliação do rendimento escolar. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 156 escolares, 87 meninas (60 RN e 27 RB) e 69 meninos (44 RN e 25 RB). Foram analisadas variáveis durante o TC6': frequência cardíaca (FC), frequência respiratória, saturação periférica de oxigênio, distância percorrida em seis minutos e escala de Borg modificada. Todos os valores das variáveis estudadas foram estatisticamente diferentes entre os grupos RB e RN, com exceção do rendimento escolar e FC no TC6'. CONCLUSÃO: A RB afeta o rendimento físico e não o rendimento escolar, sendo observado padrão alterado no TC6' no grupo RB. Uma vez que os RB desse estudo foram classificados como não graves outros estudos comparando as variáveis de rendimento escolar e TC6' são necessários para o melhor entendimento do processo dos desempenhos físico e escolar em crianças com RB.

In recent decades, many studies on mouth breathing (MB) have been published; however, little is known about many aspects of this syndrome, including severity, impact on physical and academic performances. OBJECTIVE: Compare the physical performance in a six minutes walk test (6MWT) and the academic performance of MB and nasal-breathing (NB) children and adolescents. METHOD: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, and prospective study with MB and NB children submitted to the 6MWT and scholar performance assessment. RESULTS: We included 156 children, 87 girls (60 NB and 27 MB) and 69 boys (44 NB and 25 MB). Variables were analyzed during the 6MWT: heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, distance walked in six minutes and modified Borg scale. All the variables studied were statistically different between groups NB and MB, with the exception of school performance and HR in 6MWT. CONCLUSION: MB affects physical performance and not the academic performance, we noticed a changed pattern in the 6MWT in the MB group. Since the MBs in our study were classified as non-severe, other studies comparing the academic performance variables and 6MWT are needed to better understand the process of physical and academic performances in MB children.

Iron is essential for all organisms and its availability can control the growth of microorganisms; therefore, we examined the role of iron metabolism in multibacillary (MB) leprosy, focusing on the involvement of hepcidin. Erythrograms, iron metabolism parameters, pro-inflammatory cytokines and urinary hepcidin levels were evaluated in patients with MB and matched control subjects. Hepcidin expression in MB lesions was evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The expression of ferroportin and hepcidin was evaluated by immunofluorescence in paucibacillary and MB lesions. Analysis of hepcidin protein levels in urine and of hepcidin mRNA and protein levels in leprosy lesions and skin biopsies from healthy control subjects showed elevated hepcidin levels in MB patients. Decreases in haematologic parameters and total iron binding capacity were observed in patients with MB leprosy. Moreover, interleukin-1 beta, ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor and soluble transferrin receptor/log ferritin index values were increased in leprosy patients. Hepcidin was elevated in lepromatous lesions, whereas ferroportin was more abundant in tuberculoid lesions. In addition, hepcidin and ferroportin were not colocalised in the biopsies from leprosy lesions. Anaemia was not commonly observed in patients with MB; however, the observed changes in haematologic parameters indicating altered iron metabolism appeared to result from a mixture of anaemia of inflammation and iron deficiency. Thus, iron sequestration inside host cells might play a role in leprosy by providing an optimal environment for the bacillus.

Se caracterizaron veinte variedades de musáceas de diferente composición genética: AB, BB, AAA, AAB, ABB, AAAA y AAAB, del Banco de Germoplasma existente en la hacienda Las Vegas, de Fedeplátano, Chinchiná (1360 m.s.n.m., 4° 58' N y 75° 20' O), Colombia. La caracterización incluyó propiedades físicas como peso, diámetro, longitud, materia seca y porcentaje de cáscara del fruto y propiedades funcionales como harinas y almidones. El análisis de componentes principales (ACP) mostró que las variedades de plátano se diferencian por su mayor tamaño (peso, longitud y diámetro). M. B. Tani, ICAFHIA 110, Saba, y los plátanos del subgrupo Bluggoe tuvieron altos porcentajes de cáscara. Entre los demás clones no se observaron diferencian entre sí. Los plátanos de cocción del subgrupo Plantain presentaron el mayor contenido de materia seca. Bocadillo Chileno e híbridos postre (exceptuando FHIA-1), presentaron mayor contenido de fracción comestible frente a las demás variedades. La temperatura de inicio de gelatinización de las harinas en el RVA varió entre 66.58 °C para la variedad Bocadillo Chileno y 75.21 °C para Mbindi. La viscosidad máxima varió entre 441.57 y 1837.17 cP para las variedades Tafetán Rojo y Dwarf Cavendish, respectivamente. La facilidad de cocción varió entre 2.76 min en Bocadillo Chileno y 7.55 min en Gros Michel Guayabo. La temperatura de inicio de gelatinización de los almidones varió entre 65.58°C para Gros Michel Guayabo y 74.41°C en Tafetán Rojo. La variedad Yangambi Km3 presentó la viscosidad máxima a 483.24 cP e Indio a 1958.44cP. La variedad Mbindi presentó la mayor facilidad de cocción (1.91 min) mientras que FHIA-1 presentó el mayor tiempo (9.49 min).

Twenty varieties of Musa sp. from diverse genetic compositions were analyzed: AB, BB, AAA, AAB, ABB, AAAB and AAAA. The material was acquired from the Fedeplatano germplasm bank in Chinchiná, Colombia, located at 1360 masl. The varieties were physically and morphologically characterized, and their functional flour and starch properties were identified. The analysis of the principal components (PCA) showed that plantains are differentiated by their higher size (weight, length and diameter), when compared among varieties. MB Tani, ICAFHIA 110, Saba and Bluggoe plantain subgroups showed the larger peel percentages; the other clones did not differ from each other. Plantains for cooking from the Plantain subgroup (AAB), have more dry matter; Bocadillo Chileno and hybrid dessert (except FHIA 1) have more edible proportions than other varieties. The onset temperature for flour gelatinization in the RVA ranged from 66.58°C for Bocadillo Chileno, to 75.21 ° C for Mbindi. The maximum viscosity was between 441.57 and 1837.17 cP for Red Tafetan and Dwarf Cavendish; cooking facility were between 2.76 and 7.55 minutes for the Bocadillo Chileno and Gros Michel Guayabo varieties. The onset temperature for starch gelatinization ranged between 65.58°C for Gros Michel Guayabo, and 74.41°C for Red Tafetan. The maximum viscosity was between 483.24 cP and 1958.44 cP for the varieties Yangambi Km3 and Indio. The Mbindi variety cooked more easily (1.91 minutes), while FHIA 1 needed more time (9.49 minutes).

Neste trabalho, investigou-se o efeito da vermiculita e montmorilonita organicamente modificadas (OVMT e OMMT, respectivamente) em ligante asfáltico (AB) modificado por SBS (butadieno-estireno-butadieno). As propriedades físicas e reológicas foram avaliadas para AB, 4,0% SBS MB e nanocompósitos AB modificados por 2,5% SBS com 2,5% de organoargilas. Os ligantes modificados (MB) resultaram no aumento do módulo complexo (G*) e na redução do ângulo de fase (d), o que significa maior resistência destes à deformação permanente. A viscosidade, penetração e suscetibilidade térmica foram adequadas. Nos diagramas black, observou-se que o efeito da presença das nanoargilas OVMT e OMMT foi semelhante ao efeito da Cloisite®. As propriedades reológicas dos nanocompósitos foram comparáveis às do 4,0% SBS MB, identificando uma redução de custos, dado o potencial de substituição de polímero pela argila. A presença da OVMT melhorou a estabilidade à estocagem do SBS MB, um resultado importante, visto que a separação de fases é um dos maiores obstáculos ao uso do SBS na pavimentação

In this work, it was investigated the effect of organically modified vermiculite and montmorillonite (OVMT and OMMT, respectively) in asphalt binders (AB) modified by SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene). The physical and rheological properties were performed for AB, 4.0% SBS MB and nanocomposite AB modified by 2.5% SBS with 2.5% of organoclays. The modified binders (MB) result in the enhancement of complex modulus (G*) and reduction of phase angle (d), which means greater resistance to permanent deformation. The viscosity, penetration and thermal susceptibility were appropriate. The black diagrams show that the effect of nanoclays OVMT and OMMT was similar to the effect of Cloisite®. The rheological properties of the nanocomposite were comparable to the 4.0% SBS MB, identifying a cost reduction due to the potential of replacing polymer with clay. The presence of OVMT improved the storage stability of SBS MB, an important result, as the phase separation is a major obstacle to the use of SBS in paving.

This is the first record of Culex (Culex) brethesi (Dyar) in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The species was identified from specimens collected in a sand bar vegetation with the aid of a Nasci's trap, during an expedition for surveillance of the West Nile Virus in July of 2006, in the city of Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.