Universidade Estadual de Londrina

About: Universidade Estadual de Londrina is a education organization based out in Londrina, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Toxoplasma gondii. The organization has 13052 authors who have published 19291 publications receiving 212123 citations.

Adsorption of cysteine on hematite, magnetite and ferrihydrite: FT-IR, Mössbauer, EPR spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry studies

Abstract: In the present paper, the adsorption of cysteine on hematite, magnetite and ferrihydrite was studied using FT-IR, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), Mossbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry. Cysteine was dissolved in artificial seawater (two different pHs) which contains the major constituents. There were two main findings described in this paper. First, after the cysteine adsorption, the FT-IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry data showed the formation of cystine. Second, the Mossbauer spectroscopy did not show any increase in the amount of Fe2+ as expected due the oxidation of cysteine to cystine. An explanation could be that Fe2+ was oxidized by the oxygen present in the seawater or there occurred a reduction of cystine by Fe2+ generating cysteine and Fe3+. The specific surface area and pH at point of zero charge of the iron oxides were influenced by adsorption of cysteine. When compared to other iron oxides, ferrihydrite adsorbed significantly (p < 0.05) more cysteine. The pH has a significant (p < 0.05) effect only on cysteine adsorption on hematite. The FT-IR spectroscopy results showed that cystine remains adsorbed on the surface of the iron oxides even after being mixed with KCl and the amine and carboxylic groups are involved in this interaction. X-ray diffractometry showed no changes on iron oxides mineralogy and the following precipitated substances were found along with the iron oxides after drying the samples: cysteine, cystine and seawater salts. The EPR spectroscopy showed that cysteine interacts with iron oxides, changing the relative amounts of iron oxides and hydroxide.

First report of Porcine teschovirus (PTV), Porcine sapelovirus (PSV) and Enterovirus G (EV-G) in pig herds of Brazil.

Abstract: Porcine teschovirus (PTV), Porcine sapelovirus (PSV) and Enterovirus G (EV-G) have been associated with enteric, respiratory, reproductive and neurological disorders. Although Brazil is the world’s fourth largest producer and exporter of pork, no information on the occurrence of PTV, PSV and EV-G infections is available for Brazilian pig herds. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of Porcine enteric picornavirus infections in pig farms located in three distinct geographical regions of Brazil. Forty randomly selected diarrhoeic and normal consistency faeces of suckling (n = 22) and nursery (n = 18) pigs from farms located in 21 distinct cities of the Southern, Southeast, and Midwest regions of Brazil were evaluated by nested-RT-PCR assays. Suckling piglets presented the expected amplicon size for PTV (158 bp) and EV-G (313 bp) in single and mixed infections in 40.9 % (9/22) of the faecal samples. PSV amplicon (212 bp) was not detected in this age group. For nursery pigs, Porcine enteric picornaviruses amplicons were present in 77.8 % (14/18) of the faecal samples. PTV and EV-G were detected in single and mixed infections, while PSV was detected only in two samples in co-infection with PTV and EV-G in this age group. The Brazilian regions evaluated presented at least two of the tested viruses. Sequencing analysis revealed high similarities to the related viruses (95.3 to 99.2 % for PTV, 94.2 to 98.5 % for PSV and 86 to 100 % for EV-G). For the first time PTV, PSV and EV-G have been molecularly detected and characterised in pig faecal samples in Brazil.

Molecular, anatomical and physiological properties of a genetically modified soybean line transformed with rd29A:AtDREB1A for the improvement of drought tolerance.

Abstract: We evaluated the molecular, anatomical and physiological properties of a soybean line transformed to improve drought tolerance with an rd29A:AtDREB1A construct. This construct expressed dehydration- responsive element binding protein DREB1A from the stress-inducible rd29A promoter. The greenhouse growth test included four randomized blocks of soybean plants, with each treatment performed in triplicate. Seeds from the non-transformed soybean cultivar BR16 and from the genetically modified soybean P58 line (T 2 generation) were grown at 15% gravimetric humidity for 31 days. To induce water deficit, the humidity was reduced to 5% gravimetric humidity (moderate stress) for 29 days

Ultrasound effects on invertase from Aspergillus niger

Abstract: Ultrasound effects on the release and activity of invertase from Aspergillus niger cultivated in a medium containing sucrose and peptone and in another with sugar-cane molasses and peptone were investigated. Irradiation was conducted for periods of 2–10 min. with waves of amplitude 20 and 40 using an ultrasound processor of 20 kHz. Product formation was determined as reducing equivalents formed by time units using 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid. Total and specific activities of the culture supernatants were compared in the presence and absence of sonication. Both amplitudes promoted a significant increase of total invertase activity in the time periods investigated and the highest values were obtained with an amplitude of 20. Ultrasound irradiation caused cell disruption, thus releasing invertase and, after 4 min, activation of the enzyme also occurred. The best conditions for production, extraction and activation of invertase were in molasses medium containing peptone and irradiation with ultrasound waves at 20 for 8 min. This method showed high efficiency for the extraction and activation of invertase from A. niger as well as a great potential for use in industrial processes.

CRIB score, birth weight and gestational age in neonatal mortality risk evaluation

Abstract: OBJETIVO: Avaliar a mortalidade dos recem-nascidos de muito baixo peso em uma UTI neonatal conforme as variacoes do escore CRIB (Clinical Risk Index for Babies), do peso de nascimento e da idade gestacional em determinado periodo. METODOS: O escore CRIB foi aplicado sequencial e prospectivamente em todos os recem-nascidos com peso de nascimento 10 (79,4%). A curva ROC (Receiver Operator Characteristic) para os valores de CRIB, peso de nascimento e idade gestacional gerou areas sob a curva de 0,88, 0,76 e 0,81, respectivamente. Na analise bivariada, o CRIB, peso e idade gestacional mostraram-se preditores de mortalidade, sendo o escore CRIB>4 o de melhor resultado com sensibilidade de 75,8%, especificidade de 86,7%, valor preditivo positivo de 63,3% e valor preditivo negativo de 92,2%. CONCLUSOES: Os recem-nascidos com peso de nascimento 10 tiveram maiores taxas de mortalidade, sendo o escore CRIB>4 o que representou melhor poder preditivo quando comparado com peso ao nascer e idade gestacional.