The socio-environmental production of malaria in three municipalities in the Carajás region, Pará, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the environmental production of malaria in the municipalities of Marabá, Parauapebas, and Canaã dos Carajás, in Pará, from 2014 to 2018. METHODS: This ecological, cross-sectional study used epidemiological data in the Sistema de Informações de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Malária (Malaria Epidemiological Surveillance Information System) from the Secretaria de Saúde do Estado do Pará (State of Pará Health Department), cartographic data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), and environmental data in the Projeto TerraClass (TerraClass Project) from the National Institute of Space Research (INPE). Statistical analyses used the chi-square test, while the spatial ones, the kernel and Moran's (I) global bivariate techniques. RESULTS: We analyzed a total of 437 confirmed cases of malaria in the selected area and period. The highest percentage of cases occurred among male miners and farmers, living in rural areas; Plasmodium vivax was the most frequent species; and the most used diagnosis, the thick drop/smear. We also observed a heterogeneous distribution of the disease - with evidence of spatial dependence between incidence areas and different forms of land use, and spatial autocorrelations related to the high variability of anthropic activities in the municipalities. CONCLUSION: The environmental production of malaria relates mainly to cattle production and mining - anthropisms related to land use and occupation in the observed municipalities. Spatial data analysis technologies sufficed for the construction of the epidemiological scenario of the disease.

Wound opening in a thin incompressible viscoelastic tissue.

We develop a model to investigate analytically and numerically the mechanics of wound opening made in a viscoelastic, isotropic, homogeneous, and incompressive thin tissue. This process occurs just immediately after the wound infliction. Before any active biological action has taken place, the tissue relaxes, and the wound opens mostly due to the initial homeostatic tension of the tissue, its elastic and viscous properties, and the existing friction between the tissue and its substrate. We find that for a circular wound the regimes of deformation are defined by a single adimensional parameter λ, which characterizes the relative importance of viscosity over friction.

The socio-environmental production of malaria in three municipalities in the Carajás region, Pará, Brazil / A produção socioambiental da malária em três municípios da região de Carajás, Pará, Brasil

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze the environmental production of malaria in the municipalities of Marabá, Parauapebas, and Canaã dos Carajás, in Pará, from 2014 to 2018. METHODS This ecological, cross-sectional study used epidemiological data in the Sistema de Informações de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Malária (Malaria Epidemiological Surveillance Information System) from the Secretaria de Saúde do Estado do Pará (State of Pará Health Department), cartographic data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), and environmental data in the Projeto TerraClass (TerraClass Project) from the National Institute of Space Research (INPE). Statistical analyses used the chi-square test, while the spatial ones, the kernel and Moran's (I) global bivariate techniques. RESULTS We analyzed a total of 437 confirmed cases of malaria in the selected area and period. The highest percentage of cases occurred among male miners and farmers, living in rural areas; Plasmodium vivax was the most frequent species; and the most used diagnosis, the thick drop/smear. We also observed a heterogeneous distribution of the disease — with evidence of spatial dependence between incidence areas and different forms of land use, and spatial autocorrelations related to the high variability of anthropic activities in the municipalities. CONCLUSION The environmental production of malaria relates mainly to cattle production and mining — anthropisms related to land use and occupation in the observed municipalities. Spatial data analysis technologies sufficed for the construction of the epidemiological scenario of the disease.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Analisar a produção ambiental da malária nos municípios de Marabá, Parauapebas e Canaã dos Carajás, no Pará, entre 2014 e 2018. MÉTODOS Estudo ecológico e transversal a partir de dados epidemiológicos do Sistema de Informações de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Malária, da Secretaria de Saúde do Estado do Pará. Foram utilizados também dados cartográficos do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) e ambientais do projeto TerraClass, do Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). As análises estatísticas utilizaram o cálculo de percentuais e o teste qui-quadrado e as espaciais as técnicas de Kernel e de Moran global bivariado (I). RESULTADOS Foram analisados 437 casos confirmados de malária, na área e periodo de estudo. O maior percentual de casos ocorreu em indivíduos do sexo masculino, adultos, morador da zona rural, com atividades de garimpagem e agropecuária, sendo o Plasmodium vivax a espécie de maior frequência e o diagnóstico mais utilizado a gota espessa/esfregaço. A distribuição da malária não ocorreu de forma homogênea, com evidências de dependência espacial entre áreas com ocorrência de casos e diferentes tipos de uso da terra. Foram observadas também autocorrelações espaciais relacionadas à alta variabilidade dos tipos antropismos, ocorrida nos municípios. CONCLUSÃO A produção ambiental da malária está associada principalmente à pastagem e à mineração, antropismos relacionados às formas de uso e ocupação da terra nos municípios estudados. As tecnologias de análises de dados espaciais em saúde foram satisfatórias para a construção do cenário epidemiológico da doença.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and Antipain preserve acrosome integrity of bovine spermatozoa during cryopreservation / Inibidor do ativador do plasminogênio 1 e antipaína preservam a integridade do acrossoma de espermatozoides bovinos durante a criopreservação

Seminal plasma contains serine proteases and serine protease inhibitor, which are involved in mammalian fertilization, and the inhibitors can be applied to prevent cold-induced sperm capacitation. The effects of different concentrations of two serine protease inhibitors were analyzed, Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 - PAI-1 (70ƞg, 140ƞg and 210 ƞg) and Antipain (10µg, 50µg and 100µg) as supplementation to bovine semen cryopreservation extender. The effects of the inhibitors on the sperm parameters (sperm kinetics - CASA, acrosome integrity, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, sperm defects and acrosome reaction rate) were evaluated in the post-thaw semen. Cryopreservation of sperm with Antipain decreased post-thaw kinetic parameters of MP, VSL, LIN, SRT and the percentage of hyper-activated sperm while PAI-1 (210 ƞg) decreased VSL and LIN. Antipain and PAI-1 had no effect on the integrity parameters of the plasma membrane, mitochondrial membrane potential and sperm defects. Sperm cryopreserved in the presence of Antipain and PAI-1 (70 and 140 ƞg) preserved acrosome integrity, as they were able to complete the in vitro acrosome reaction. In conclusion, the serine protease inhibitors, Antipain and PAI-1 (70 and 140ƞg) are able to preserve the acrosome integrity of cryopreserved bovine sperm.(AU)

A criopreservação é parcialmente prejudicial à fertilidade do sêmen de bovinos e induz mudanças semelhantes à capacitação em espermatozoides. O plasma seminal contém serina-proteases e inibidores de serina-proteases que estão envolvidos na fertilização de mamíferos, e os inibidores podem ser aplicados para evitar uma capacitação espermática induzida pelo frio. Analisaram-se os efeitos de diferentes concentrações de dois inibidores de serina-proteases, inibidor do ativador do plasminogênio 1 - PAI-1 (70ƞg, 140ƞg e 210ƞg) e antipaína (10µg, 50µg e 100µg) na suplementação ao diluidor de criopreservação de sêmen bovino. Trinta e seis ejaculados de quatro bovinos Curraleiro Pé-Duro foram usados para criopreservação. Os efeitos dos inibidores sobre os parâmetros dos espermatozoides (cinética espermática - CASA, integridade acrossomal, integridade da membrana plasmática, potencial de membrana mitocondrial, defeitos espermáticos e taxa de reação acrossomal) foram avaliados no sêmen pós-descongelamento. A criopreservação de espermatozoides com antipaína diminuiu os parâmetros cinéticos pós-descongelamento de MP, VSL, LIN, SRT e a porcentagem de espermatozoides hiperativados, PAI-1 (210ƞg) diminuiu VSL e LIN. Antipaína e PAI-1 não tiveram efeitos nos parâmetros de integridade da membrana plasmática, no potencial de membrana mitocondrial e nos defeitos espermáticos. Espermatozoides criopreservados na presença de antipaína e PAI-1 (70 e 140ƞg) preservaram a integridade acrossomal, assim como foram capazes de completar a reação acrossômica in vitro. Em conclusão, os inibidores de serina-proteases, antipaína e PAI-1 (70 e 140ƞg) são capazes de preservar a integridade acrossomal de espermatozoides criopreservados de bovinos.(AU)

Proteomic analysis of seminal plasma from locally-adapted "Curraleiro Pé-Duro bulls" (Bos taurus): identifying biomarkers involved in sperm physiology in endangered animals for conservation of biodiversity.

The present study was aimed at evaluating the seminal plasma proteins and sperm parameters of Curraleiro Pé-Duro bulls. Semen was collected from 10 bulls by electroejaculation, and sperm parameters were evaluated in fresh and frozen-thawed semen. Seminal plasma proteins were analyzed by 2-D SDS-PAGE and mass spectrophotometry. Tools in computational biology were used to generate bioinformatic knowledge and evaluate gene ontology, protein-protein interactions, phylogenetic trees and multiple sequence alignments. Sperm motility in fresh and frozen-thawed semen was 78.8±1.8% and 21.2±1.6%, respectively. Pearson's correlations were evaluated (p<0.05). Sperm motility and vigor in fresh semen were correlated with clusterin, TIMP2 and cathepsin S (r=0.64-0.71) and sperm defects were related to inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase and BSP 5 (r=0.78-0.80). Clusterin, BSP 5, alpha-enolase, creatine kinase M-type, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, BSP 3, albumin, and 5'-nucleotidase and legumain were correlated with acrosome intact live sperm (r=0.80-0.64). Associations were detected between sperm vigor and spermadhesin 1 (r=-0.89), and between sperm defects in fresh semen and spermadhesin 1 and clusterin (r=-0.81). Sperm motility in frozen-thawed semen was associated with BSP 1, spermadhesin 1, clusterin and spermadhesin Z13 (r=0.64-0.85). The percent of motile sperm after freeze-thawing was negatively correlated (r=-0.64) with the amount of spermadhesin 1 in the seminal plasma. Based on in silico analysis, TIMP2 interacted with BSP1, BSP3, BSP5 and metalloproteinases. Molecular functions of proteins associated with sperm parameters were binding, catalytic activity and enzymatic regulation. Amino acid sequences of spermadhesin 1 and BSP 1 from Bos taurus, and other domestic species were similar. Phylogenetic tree analysis demonstrated that clusterin from Bos taurus was related to Ovis aries and domains of clusterin, spermadhesin 1, BSP 1 and inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase were conserved as well. In summary, specific seminal proteins are associated with sperm parameters of locally-adapted bulls. Use of the endangered mammalian as a model may assist in understanding aspects of evolutionary adaptations and could improve assisted reproductive biotechnologies.

Bloodmeal Identification in Field-Collected Sand Flies From Casa Branca, Brazil, Using the Cytochrome b PCR Method.

PCR-based identification of vertebrate host bloodmeals has been performed on several vectors species with success. In the present study, we used a previously published PCR protocol followed by DNA sequencing based on primers designed from multiple alignments of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene used to identify avian and mammalian hosts of various hematophagous vectors. The amplification of a fragment encoding a 359 bp sequence of the Cyt b gene yielded recognized amplification products in 192 female sand flies (53%), from a total of 362 females analyzed. In the study area of Casa Branca, Brazil, blood-engorged female sand flies such as Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912), Migonemyia migonei (França, 1924), and Nyssomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho, 1939) were analyzed for bloodmeal sources. The PCR-based method identified human, dog, chicken, and domestic rat blood sources.

Molecular Detection of Leishmania DNA in Wild-Caught Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) From a Cave in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Leishmania spp. are distributed throughout the world, and different species are associated with varying degrees of disease severity. In Brazil, Leishmania transmission involves several species of phlebotomine sand flies that are closely associated with different parasites and reservoirs, and thereby giving rise to different transmission cycles. Infection occurs during the bloodmeals of sand flies obtained from a variety of wild and domestic animals, and sometimes from humans. The present study focused on detection of Leishmania DNA in phlebotomine sand flies from a cave in the state of Minas Gerais. Detection of Leishmania in female sand flies was performed with ITS1 PCR-RFLP (internal transcribed spacer 1) using HaeIII enzyme and genetic sequencing for SSUrRNA target. The survey of Leishmania DNA was carried out on 232 pools and the parasite DNA was detected in four: one pool of Lutzomyia cavernicola (Costa Lima, 1932), infected with Le. infantum (ITS1 PCR-RFLP), two pools of Evandromyia sallesi (Galvão & Coutinho, 1939), both infected with Leishmania braziliensis complex (SSUrRNA genetic sequencing analysis), and one pool of Sciopemyia sordellii (Shannon & Del Ponte, 1927), infected with subgenus Leishmania (SSUrRNA genetic sequencing analysis). The present study identified the species for Leishmania DNA detected in four pools of sand flies, all of which were captured inside the cave. These results represent the first molecular detection of Lu cavernicola with Le infantum DNA, Sc sordellii with subgenus Leishmania DNA, and Ev sallesi with Leishmania braziliensis complex DNA. The infection rate in females captured for this study was 0.17%.

Genetic structure of goat breeds from Brazil and the United States: Implications for conservation and breeding programs.

The objective of this study was to assess genetic diversity among 5 Brazilian (155 animals) and 5 U.S. goat (120 animals) breeds using 23 microsatellite markers. Samples from the United States represented a broad geographic distribution whereas Brazilian samples were from the northeast region. Samples from Boer were common to each country's breed count. Expected and observed heterozygosity among breeds ranged from 0.55 to 0.72, suggesting ample genetic diversity in the breeds evaluated. United States Angora, U.S. Spanish, and Brazilian Nambi ranked highest for allelic richness, averaging 6.1, 7.1, and 6.5 alleles per locus, respectively. Angora and Spanish also ranked highest in private alleles (7 and 9, respectively). Using STRUCTURE, the U.S. Spanish were also found to share a common cluster assignment with Brazilian Nambi, suggesting that progenitor breeds may have been the same and passed through the Canary Islands or Cape Verde in route to the New World. When non-Boer breeds were pooled by country, the effect of the subpopulation compared with total population () = 0.05, suggesting minor genetic differences exist between countries. The lack of genetic structure among goat breeds when compared with other species (e.g., vs. ) suggests goat breeds may exhibit a plasticity that facilitates productivity across a wide range of countries and environments. Taken a step further, the concept of breed for meat goats may not be as relevant for goat production.

Physical and structural characterisation of starch/polyester blends with tartaric acid.

Starch/PBAT blends were produced by reactive extrusion with tartaric acid (TA) as an additive. The effects of TA, glycerol and starch+PBAT on the mechanical, optical and structural properties of the films were evaluated, with formulations based in a constrained mixture design. Tartaric acid acts as a compatibiliser and promotes the acid hydrolysis of starch chains. These two functions explain the observed film resistance and opacity. TA reduced the weight loss in water. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that TA reduces the interfacial tension between the polymeric phases, resulting in more homogeneous films. Nuclear magnetic resonance ((13)C CPMAS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) suggest that tartaric acid is able to react with the hydroxyl groups of the starch by esterification/transesterification reactions, confirming its role as a compatibiliser. The addition of TA results in materials with better properties that are suitable for use in food packaging.

Functional and structural parameters to assess the ecological status of a metal contaminated area in the tropics.

Ecological parameters (soil invertebrates, microbial activity, and plant community) were assessed in a metal contaminated site in an abandoned lead smelter and non-contaminated reference sites, as part of an ecological risk assessment (ERA). Vegetation cover inside the smelter area was lower and presented a more homogenous species composition than outside. A more simplified and less abundant vegetation community within the smelter area also simplified the habitat conditions, which in addition to metal toxicity, impaired the soil microbial and faunal communities. A significant reduction in the feeding activity was observed within the smelter area. Also a significant change in community composition of surface dwelling invertebrates was observed at those sites when compared to sites outside the smelter area. Moreover, basal respiration, microbial biomass C, dehydrogenase and phosphatase activity also decreased in several of these points under the smelter area. As a result, a significant impairment of organic material decomposition in the most contaminated sites was observed. Metal contamination affected the ecological status of the site, leading to a risk for ecosystem functioning and provisioning of ecosystem services like organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, even 17 years after the end of smelting activities. Regarding the sensitivity of the ecological parameters assessed, most were able to distinguish sites within the smelter area boundaries from those outside. However, only bait lamina (feeding activity), basal respiration and microbial biomass carbon presented high capacity to distinguish the level of soil contamination, since they were significantly correlated with metal loadings, and thus are promising candidates to be integrated in the Ecological Line of Evidence of an ERA.

Time-dependence of lung injury in mice acutely exposed to cylindrospermopsin.

Cylindrospermopsin is a cyanobacterial toxin of increasing environmental importance, as it can lead to disease if orally or intravenously absorbed. However, its in vivo lung impairment has not been documented. Thus, we aimed at verifying whether cylindrospermopsin can induce lung injury and establish its putative dependence on the time elapsed since exposure. BALB/c mice were intratracheally injected with either saline (NaCl 0.9%, 50 µL, SAL group, n = 12) or a sublethal dose (70 µg/kg) of semi-purified extract of cylindrospermopsin (CYN groups, n = 52). Lung mechanics, histological and biochemical analyses, and cylindrospermopsin presence in lungs and liver were determined in independent groups at 2, 8, 24, 48, and 96 h after cylindrospermopsin instillation. There was a significant increase in static elastance at 24 and 48 h after exposure to cylindrospermopsin, while viscoelastic component of elastance and viscoelastic pressure rose at 48 h. Alveolar collapse augmented in CYN groups at 8 h. A significant increase in polymorphonuclear influx into lung parenchyma, as well as a higher myeloperoxidase activity started off at 24 h. Exposure to cylindrospermopsin increased lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity and reduced catalase activity in CYN groups. The toxin was detected in lungs and liver of all CYN mice. In conclusion, cylindrospermopsin exposure impaired lung mechanics, which was preceded by lung parenchyma inflammation and oxidative stress.

The experience of repeated fatherhood during adolescence.

OBJECTIVE: to examine how adolescent fathers experience recurring parenthood. DESIGN: qualitative study with a social phenomenological focus. PARTICIPANTS: five fathers between 16 and 19 years of age, each with two children. FINDINGS: the participants perceived themselves as mature, responsible, worried about the care and education of their children, and desiring a secure future life. These factors made them seek employment, their own home, marital stability, construction of a family and return to school. They experienced the ambivalence of desiring one reality and living another, given that, as adolescent parents, they regretted the loss of their freedom. KEY CONCLUSIONS: recurring parenthood in adolescence is a complex phenomenon, with many possible perceptions. The diverse experiences depend on the social context that is defined by the wishes, plans, possibilities and meanings of each distinct social class. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: care delivery to these adolescents should consider not only theoretical and chronobiological aspects, but also the experiences of these young people and the psychosocial and cultural factors involved in their fatherhood.

L-DOPA production by immobilized tyrosinase.

The production of L-DOPA using L-tyrosine as substrate, the enzyme tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) as biocatalyst, and L-ascorbate as reducing agent for the o-quinones produced by the enzymatic oxidation of the substrates was studied. Tyrosinase immobilization was investigated on different supports and chemical agents: chitin flakes activated with hexamethylenediamine and glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent, chitosan gel beads, chitosan gel beads in the presence of glutaraldehyde, chitosan gel beads in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone, and chitosan flakes using glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent. The last support was considered the best using as performance indexes the following set of immobilization parameters: efficiency (90.52%), yield (11.65%), retention (12.87%), and instability factor (0.00). The conditions of immobilization on chitosan flakes were optimized using a two-level full factorial experimental design. The independent variables were enzyme-support contact time (t), glutaraldehyde concentration (G), and the amount of enzyme units initially offered (UC). The response variable was the total units of enzymatic activity shown by the immobilized enzyme (UIMO). The optimal conditions were t = 24 h, G = 2% (v/v), and UC = 163.7 U. Under these conditions the total units of enzymatic activity shown by the immobilized enzyme (UIMO) was 23.3 U and the rate of L-DOPA production rate was 53.97 mg/(L.h).

Relaçäo entre fatores sangüíneos de bovinos em bubalinos / Relationship between cattle blood factors in water buffaloes

Com o objetivo de verificar as relaçöes entre fatores sangüíneos de bovinos e bubalinos, foram tipificados 121 búfalos de rio (Bubalus bubalis bubalis), das raças Mediterrâneo, Murrah, Jafarabadi e também alguns animais sem raça definida (SRD). A tipagem foi realizada em placas de microtitulaçäo segundo técnicas usadas rotineiramente para tipagem de bovinos. Foram empregados 45 reagentes bovino-isoimunes, cobrindo dez sistemas de grupos sangüíneos. Ao final das leituras, os animais da raça Murrah apresentaram reaçöes positivas para os fatores A1, D, H, B, K, Q, T2, Y2, A', B', F', O', Q', C2, R2, X2, F, V, N', J, L e U1; os da raça Mediterrâneo para os fatores A1, D, H, I2, K, P, Q, A', B', F', O', P'2, C2, R2, X2, V, N', J, L e Z; os da raça Jafarabadi para os fatores A1, D, H, Z', K, P, Q, T1, Y2, A', D', E'2, K', O', Q', C2, R2, N', J, M1, S, U1 e R'; os SRD positivos para os fatores A1, D, H, Z', B, K, P, T2, Y2, A', B', D', E'2, F', I', O', Q', C2, R1, R2, N', J, M1, S, U1 e R'. Ressalte-se que os fatores sublinhados foram observados apenas naqueles respectivos grupamentos raciais. Os animais SRD mostraram 13 fatores comuns com os da raça Mediterrâneo, 21 com os da raça Jafarabadi e 15 com os da raça Murrah. Os resultados mostram relaçöes estreitas entre 35 fatores pertencentes a 10 sistemas. Tal fato é indicativo da possível utilizaçäo desses reagentes bovino-isoimunes com reaçöes positivas, em testes de parentesco de bubalinos. Ao mesmo tempo, mostram existir diferenças genéticas quanto aos fatores observados e suas freqüências nas subpopulaçöes analisadas, permitindo, ainda, a detecçäo de mestiçagem