Showing papers by "Universidade Estadual de Londrina published in 2022"

Antiviral activity of plant juices and green tea against <scp>SARS‐CoV</scp> ‐2 and influenza virus

Abstract: Respiratory viruses pose a significant threat to global health. They initially infect the naso- and oropharyngeal regions, where they amplify, cause symptoms, and may also be transmitted to new hosts. Preventing initial infection or reducing viral loads upon infection might soothe symptoms, prevent dissemination into the lower airways, or transmission to the next individual. Several natural products have well-described direct antiviral activity or may ameliorate symptoms of respiratory infections. We thus analyzed the potential of plant-derived products to inactivate respiratory viral pathogens and determined the antiviral activity of black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpae [Michx.] Elliott), elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.), and pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice, as well as green tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] Kuntze) on the infectivity of the surrogate-modified vaccinia virus Ankara, and the respiratory viruses severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza A virus (IAV), and adenovirus Type 5. Black chokeberry and pomegranate juice, and green tea reduced SARS-CoV-2 and IAV titers by ≥80% or ≥99%. This suggests that oral rinsing with these products may reduce viral loads in the oral cavity which might prevent viral transmission.

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for tropical soil fertility analysis

Abstract: The Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a promising technique for soil fertility analysis in a rapid and environmentally friendly way. This application requires the selection of an optimal modelling procedure capable of handling the high spectral resolution of LIBS. This work aimed at comparing different modelling methods of LIBS data for the determination of key fertility attributes in Brazilian tropical soils. A benchtop LIBS system was used for the analysis of 102 soil samples, prepared in the form of pressed pellets. Models for the prediction of clay, organic matter, pH, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, and the extractable nutrients P, K, Ca, and Mg were developed using univariate linear regression (ULR), multiple linear regression (MLR) and partial least squares regression (PLS). The following input data for PLS were used: (i) the full spectra from 200 to 540 nm (38,880 variables), and (ii) variables selected by the interval successive projections algorithm (iSPA). The multivariate models achieved satisfactory predictions [residual prediction deviation (RPD) > 1.40] for eight out of nine fertility attributes. However, the best performances were obtained for the PLS with the variable ranges selected by the iSPA, which achieved satisfactory predictions (RPD ≥ 1.44) for seven out of the nine soil attributes studied. The MLR method obtained lower prediction performance than the iSPA-PLS using only 21 variables. The iSPA-PLS approach allowed a reduction from 3 to 160-fold in the total of variables compared to the full LIBS spectra, making it efficient and accurate modelling method that uses reduced number of variables. Although LIBS technique proved to be efficient for predicting fertility attributes in tropical soils, further research is encouraged in order to reduce the amount of sample preparation conducted in this study.

Does Varying Resistance Exercises Promote Superior Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength Gains? A Systematic Review

Abstract: Kassiano, W, Nunes, JP, Costa, B, Ribeiro, AS, Schoenfeld, BJ, and Cyrino, ES. Does varying resistance exercises promote superior muscle hypertrophy and strength gains? A systematic review. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1753-1762, 2022-Fitness professionals routinely employ a variety of resistance training exercises in program design as a strategy to enhance muscular adaptations. However, it remains uncertain whether such an approach offers advantages over a fixed-exercise selection. The objective of this review was to review the effects of exercise variation on muscle hypertrophy and strength. A search of the literature was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Eight studies were identified as meeting inclusion criteria. The combined total sample of the studies was N = 241, comprising all young men. The methodological quality of included studies was considered "good" and "excellent" based on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale. The available studies indicate that varying exercise selection can influence muscle hypertrophy and strength gains. Some degree of systematic variation seems to enhance regional hypertrophic adaptations and maximize dynamic strength, whereas excessive, random variation may compromise muscular gains. We conclude that exercise variation should be approached systematically with a focus on applied anatomical and biomechanical constructs; on the contrary, employing different exercises that provide a redundant stimulus, as well as excessive rotation of different exercises (i.e., high frequency of change), may actually hinder muscular adaptations.

Genomic insights of high-risk clones of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli isolated from community infections and commercial meat in southern Brazil

Abstract: During a microbiological and genomic surveillance study conducted to investigate the molecular epidemiology of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli from community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTI) and commercial meat samples, in a Brazilian city with a high occurrence of infections by ESBL-producing bacteria, we have identified the presence of CTX-M (-2, -14, -15, -24, -27 and -55)-producing E. coli of international clones ST38, ST117, ST131 and ST354. The ST131 was more prevalent in human samples, and worryingly the high-risk ST131-C1-M27 was identified in human infections for the first time. We also detected CTX-M-55-producing E. coli ST117 from meat samples (i.e., chicken and pork) and human infections. Moreover, the clinically relevant CTX-M-24-positive E. coli ST354 clone was detected for the first time in human samples. In summary, our results highlight a potential of commercialized meat as a reservoir of high-priority E. coli lineages in the community, whereas the identification of E. coli ST131-C1-M27 indicates that novel pandemic clones have emerged in Brazil, constituting a public health issue.

Mixture compatibility of Anticarsia gemmatalis nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) with pesticides used in soybean

Abstract: Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hubner: 1818) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is one of the main pests that affect soybean crops, causing defoliation. In the vegetative stages, defoliation occurs together with weeds, and in the reproductive stages with pathogens. In this sense, to maintain plant health, it is necessary to carry out the combined use of pesticides. Thus, this research determined the compatibility of the entomopathogenic virus AgMNPV with the main herbicides and fungicides used in soy at different times of the mixture. The artificial diet was immersed in the solutions of the pesticides and their mixtures and supplied to A. gemmatalis caterpillars, immediately and after one and two hours of mixing. The evaluation was performed by quantifying the number of dead caterpillars by mixing the AgMNPV virus with herbicides and fungicides, even after two hours of mixing if compatible. The observed scenarios showed a compatibility of the virus with the herbicides and fungicides, with mortality rates between 70 to 99% for A. gemmatalis.

Unsupervised online anomaly detection in Software Defined Network environments

Abstract: Software Defined Networking (SDN) simplifies network management and significantly reduces operational costs. SDN removes the control plane from forwarding devices (e.g., routers and switches) and centralizes this plane in a controller, enabling the management of the network forwarding decisions by programming the control plane with a high-level language. However, its centralized architecture may be compromised by flooding attacks, such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) and portscan. Facing this challenge, we propose an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) based on online clustering to detect attacks in an evolving SDN network taking advantage of the entropy of source and destination IP addresses and ports. Our proposal is focused on avoiding the demand for labeling and previous knowledge to provide a practical and accurate method to address real-life online scenarios. Moreover, our proposal paves the way for a comprehensive analysis by projecting the cluster’s structure over the feature space, providing insights on intensity, seasonality, and attack type. Our experiments were carried out with the DenStream algorithm in several databases attacked by DDoS and portscan with different intensities, durations, and overlapping patterns. When comparing DenStream performance to Half-Space-Trees, an accurate online one-class classification algorithm for anomaly detection, it was possible to expose the capacity of our unsupervised proposal, overcoming the one-class solution, and reaching f-measure rates above 99.60%.

Soil Treatment with Nitric Oxide-Releasing Chitosan Nanoparticles Protects the Root System and Promotes the Growth of Soybean Plants under Copper Stress

Abstract: The nanoencapsulation of nitric oxide (NO) donors is an attractive technique to protect these molecules from rapid degradation, expanding, and enabling their use in agriculture. Here, we evaluated the effect of the soil application of chitosan nanoparticles containing S-nitroso-MSA (a S-nitrosothiol) on the protection of soybeans (Glycine max cv. BRS 257) against copper (Cu) stress. Soybeans were grown in a greenhouse in soil supplemented with 164 and 244 mg kg-1 Cu and treated with a free or nanoencapsulated NO donor at 1 mM, as well as with nanoparticles without NO. There were also soybean plants treated with distilled water and maintained in soil without Cu addition (control), and with Cu addition (water). The exogenous application of the nanoencapsulated and free S-nitroso-MSA improved the growth and promoted the maintenance of the photosynthetic activity in Cu-stressed plants. However, only the nanoencapsulated S-nitroso-MSA increased the bioavailability of NO in the roots, providing a more significant induction of the antioxidant activity, the attenuation of oxidative damage, and a greater capacity to mitigate the root nutritional imbalance triggered by Cu stress. The results suggest that the nanoencapsulation of the NO donors enables a more efficient delivery of NO for the protection of soybean plants under Cu stress.

Throughput and latency in the distributed Q-learning random access mMTC networks

Abstract: In mMTC mode, where thousands of devices try to access network resources sporadically, the problem of random access (RA) and collisions between devices that select the same resources arise. A promising approach to solve the RA problem is the use of learning mechanisms, specially Q-learning (QL) algorithm, where the devices learn about the best time-slot periods to transmit through rewards sent by the central node. In this work, we propose a distributed packet-based learning method of varying the reward given by the central node that favors devices having a larger number of remaining packets to transmit. The numerical results indicated that the proposed distributed packet-based QL method attains a better throughput–latency trade-off than the independent and collaborative techniques in practical scenarios, while the number of payload bits of the packet-based technique is reduced regarding the collaborative QL RA technique for achieving the same normalized throughput.

Mensuração do complexo agroindustrial no mundo: comparativo entre países

Abstract: Resumo: Os objetivos do estudo foram estimar o Produto Interno Bruto (PIB) do Agronegocio para 63 paises e Restante do mundo no periodo de 1995 a 2015 e analisar comparativamente os resultados e relacoes com o Indice de Desenvolvimento Humano (IDH). A metodologia utiliza a matriz insumo-produto e as fontes dos dados foram a Organizacao para a Cooperacao e Desenvolvimento Economico (OCDE) e Organizacao das Nacoes Unidas (ONU). Os resultados mostraram que a participacao do agronegocio no PIB mundial diminuiu de 18,4% para 15,2% e a maior parte dos paises (59 em 63) apresentou a mesma tendencia no periodo simultaneamente com aumento do Indice de Desenvolvimento Humano. Os maiores valores absolutos do PIB do agronegocio em 2015 correspondem a China (2496 Bilhoes US$), Estados Unidos (1395 Bilhoes US$), India (637 Bilhoes US$), Japao (414 Bilhoes US$) e Brasil (316 Bilhoes US$). O Brasil passou da oitava para a quinta posicao do PIB do agronegocio no periodo e a participacao na economia diminuiu de 24,4% para 19%. Paises com maiores valores de IDH apresentaram maior participacao da industria e servicos na composicao do PIB do agronegocio.

Compulsory notification of paracoccidioidomycosis: A 14‐year retrospective study of the disease in the state of Paraná, Brazil

Abstract: Paracoccidioidomycosis, caused by fungi of the Paracoccidioides genus, is one of the most important endemic mycoses in Brazil. The disease is not of mandatory reporting in the country; however, some Brazilian states, such as Paraná, have included it on their local lists of public health-reportable diseases.Describe the epidemiology of the positive paracoccidioidomycosis cases in the state of Paraná based on analysis of reporting forms and mortality data.Data of positive cases of state residents 2007-2020 were obtained from public health databases and frequency, incidence, geographic distribution, mortality and trends were analysed. Mortality of the disease was also compared to other mycoses such as cryptococcosis, aspergillosis, histoplasmosis, candidiasis and sporotrichosis.670 patients were positive for the disease. The cumulative and average annual incidence was, respectively, 6.4 and 0.46 cases/100,000 inhabitants. The new cases of paracoccidioidomycosis were reported mainly by specialised health units, including tertiary centres, and 285 days was the mean from the beginning of the symptoms until the diagnosis. The western region showed the highest incidence and mortality by the disease over the other state mesoregions. During the period, a decreasing trend was observed in the confirmed cases and stability in the mortality rate with an average annual mortality of 1.17 per million/inhabitants in the state; however, paracoccidioidomycosis had the highest mortality when compared to other mycoses.Paracoccidioidomycosis is an important endemic mycosis in Paraná and this study provides an epidemiological baseline for future modifications of paracoccidioidomycosis surveillance.

Innovative actions developed by nurses in primary health care.

Abstract: Objectives: to understand the work process dimensions related to innovative actions developed by nurses in Primary Health Care. Methods: qualitative, descriptive study, developed in Primary Health Care in a city in the Southern Region of Brazil. Seventy-six nurses, who worked in management and assistance, participated in this study through semi-structured interviews. After data processing by IRAMUTEQ software, the textual analysis occurred by descending hierarchical classification. Results: forty-two innovative actions, considered by the participants as new ways of working, were identified. There was a predominance of innovative actions related to the Management and Assist dimensions; we noticed the fragility of the actions to contemplate all the nurse’s work process dimensions. Final Considerations: the predominance of innovative actions was related to users’ assistance and better conditions in the teamwork process, besides highlighting the role of nurses in the perspective of a new way of working in health services.

Eye Cosmeceutical Formulations with Roasted Coffee Oil in Free and Microencapsulated Forms: Development and Preliminary Stability Study

Abstract: This research aims to develop eye cosmeceutical formulations with roasted coffee oil. Oil is used in form and microencapsulated forms. A preliminary stability study is performed, and base formulation (BF) is used for comparison. All formulations are stable and firm. Formulations with oil in free (OF) or microencapsulated (MOF) form show color and aroma of coffee. Initially, MOF is the most acid, and BF shows the highest peroxide value (PV) and the lowest sun protection factor (SPF) values and no antioxidant activity (AA). OF and MOF show AA and high SPF ; these parameters are little affected by storage, and an increase in PV is observed only for BF. Cosmeceutical formulations with roasted coffee oil present stability and good potential for dermocosmetic products. Practical Applications: Coffee oil is known for its AA and protection against sunlight UV radiation, so it fits the interest of cosmetics and personal care producers for bioactive ingredients from natural sources. The cosmetics industry uses green coffee oil; however, roasted coffee oil is of more interest since it is a coproduct of the soluble coffee industry. The authors are unaware of studies proposing the use of microcapsules (produced by complex coacervation) of roasted coffee oil in cosmeceutical formulations.

Sarcopenia Related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Protective Effects of Exercise

Abstract: In Brief We discuss recent evidence supporting the hypothesis that sarcopenia is an emerging health concern among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) because of increasing life expectancy and HIV- and treatment-related comorbidities. We also hypothesize that combined exercise at higher intensity has a key role in managing sarcopenia in this population because it directly (increases muscle strength and stimulates hypertrophy) and indirectly (prevents mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and persistent inflammation) counteracts sarcopenia hallmarks. Sarcopenia is increasingly common among people with HIV, and combined exercise at higher intensity is a strategy to prevent its development.

Serological diagnosis of strongyloidiasis in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients based on an electrochemical immunoassay using a flexible device allied to PLS-DA and ROC statistical tools

Abstract: Strongyloidiasis is a tropical disease caused by the nematode called Strongyloides stercoralis. An electrochemical immunosensor was efficiently constructed for the diagnosis of this helminthiasis using the larvae epicuticle as the antigen electrostatically immobilized on the surface of a screen-printed electrode, modified with graphene/ZnOQDs composite. The mechanism of monitoring was based on the changes in the electrochemical parameters of the device due to the antigen-antibody binding on its interface. The immunosensor was characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry, evaluating the impedimetric/voltammetric biorecognition of the antigen-antibody complex using the redox group K4Fe(CN)6 as the electrochemical probe. This bioelectronic device detected antibodies in positive serum samples based on the voltammetric profile and electrochemical impedance monitoring. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis showed a coefficient of determination of 0.98, indicating that the model can correctly classify samples as positive or negative for strongyloidiasis, based on the voltammetric profile of samples from immunocompetent patients. The analysis of the root mean square error of cross-validation (0.126), the root mean square error of calibration (0.124), and the root mean square error of prediction (0.100) for the latent variable indicate the optimal precision of the model. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curves, the cutoff was determined for the electrochemical impedance measurements, obtaining a 100% correct classification for immunocompetent patients and just 1.25% false-negatives in cases of immunosuppressed patients. The immunosensor presented excellent specificity in the presence of other helminthiases, including ascaridiasis, diphyllobothriasis, himenolepiasis, cysticercosis, and trichuriasis.

Development of cervical intraepithelial lesions and cervical cancer is not influenced by SOD2 RS4880 polymorhism

Abstract: Some of the more than 200 known HPV types are essential for cervical cancer development, the third type of cancer most incident in the female population. However, for the malignant transformation occur, some cofactors are needed, as the reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can be neutralized by the antioxidant system. The SOD2 enzyme, encoded by the same name gene, is found in mitochondria and is part of the first line of defense against oxidative stress damage. Genetic polymorphisms can act by altering the efficiency of the enzyme, among which the most studied is the rs4880. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the association of this polymorphism with HPV infection and the development of low and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL and HSIL) and cervical cancer, in 407 women attended by the public health system in Brazil. HPV detection in cervical secretion samples was carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and blood samples were used for polymorphism genotyping through PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). PCR and restriction products were subjected to 10% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. HPV negative group (control) included 158 women and the HPV positive group (case) 249 women. The infected group was divided into No Lesion (n = 90), LSIL (n = 20), HSIL (n = 67) and cervical cancer (n = 72). The data found on socio-epidemiological characteristics and habits corroborated with data found in the literature. The distribution of genotypes in the control group was 51.9% women TC, 29.8% TT and 18.3% CC. In the case group, the distribution was 55.0% women TC, 26.1% TT and 18.9% CC. This is the first study evaluating the influence of SOD2 rs4880 polymorphism on HPV infection, the development of cervical intraepithelial lesions and cervical cancer in a Brazilian population, although additional studies are needed to corroborate the results.

New records of the occurrence of Megaleporinus macrocephalus () (Characiformes, Anostomidae) from the basins of the Itapecuru and Mearim rivers in Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil

Abstract: The “piaussu”, Megaleporinus macrocephalus is an anostomatid fish species native to the basin of the Paraguay River, in the Pantanal biome of western Brazil. However, this species has now been recorded in a number of other drainages, including those of the upper Parana, Uruguay, Jacui, Doce, Mucuri, and Paraiba do Sulrivers. This study presents two new records of the occurrence of M. macrocephalus, in the basins of the Itapecuru and Mearim rivers in the state of Maranhao, in the Brazilian Northeast. The piaussu is a large-bodied fish of commercial interest that is widely raised on fish farms, and its occurrence in the Itapecuru and Mearim rivers is likely the result of individuals escaping from fish tanks when they overflow during the rainy season. Morphological analyses and sequences of the Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I (COI) gene confirmed the taxonomic identification of the specimens as M. macrocephalus. The COI sequences were 99.66% similar to those of M. macrocephalus deposited in the BOLDSystems database. These records extend the known distribution of M. macrocephalus to the basins of the Itapecuru and Mearim rivers in the Brazilian Northeast, highlighting a new case of introduction of exotic fish species into Brazilian river basins.

Overview of nitric oxide homeostasis: strategies for altering the levels of this signaling molecule in plants

Abstract: In the last 20 years, nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as an important signaling molecule in plant growth and development and in the response to abiotic and biotic stresses. The control of NO homeostasis in plant cells is thereby essential to modulate the signaling functions of this radical. Endogenous NO levels are determined by the balance between routes of synthesis and degradation of this molecule. Nitrite and l -arginine are considered the main substrates for NO production in plants, although the involved molecular mechanisms are still under debate. NO degradation may occur through nonenzymatic reactions or mechanisms mediated by enzymes such as nonsymbiotic hemoglobins and S-nitrosoglutathione reductase. The manipulation of the expression of genes related to NO homeostasis is a biotechnological tool to obtain genotypes with altered NO content. In addition, NO levels in plant cells can be manipulated through the exogenous administration of molecules that alter NO homeostasis. The recent progresses in the design and applications of NO donors to increase NO content of plants under different abiotic and biotic stress conditions are reviewed. The application of other molecules that affect NO homeostasis, such as NO precursors, scavengers and inhibitors, is also summarized. Moreover, the recent use of polymeric nanoparticles for controlled NO supply in plants is discussed.