After three decades since the founding of DOCOMOMO, education continues to be an essential matter... more After three decades since the founding of DOCOMOMO, education continues to be an essential matter when thinking about the future of modern heritage, but today it requires a critical reflection on the conceptual and methodological changes we need to face in the present context of complexity. Modern Architecture is now crossing a paradigmatic time not only because of its inevitable degradation but because of the impact of these new scenarios that force us to rethink their conservation and reuse, considering both their special constructive condition and specific functionality and the role in the collective memory as recent heritage. Architectural design education must address these critical issues as a strategic content that anticipates a more appropriate practice. The conservation and the reuse of modern buildings are still out of most schools of architecture. This paper presents three different and complementary didactic experiences developed in Europe and South-America: Mindful design for updating mass housing neighbourhoods (Politecnico di Milano, Italy), Experimental redesign to integrate modern single housing to contemporary life (University of Belgrano, Argentina) and Participatory design to open up a modern school building to the neighbourhood (University of Coimbra, Portugal). They highlight the relevance of confronting the students with issues like history and memory, and their importance even for apparently ordinary buildings, not only for modern iconic monuments. The results also prove the relevance of an interdisciplinary approach and the relevance of the social dimension of conservation, because it implies to deal with the value of modernity for the memory of the community that can be involved in keeping the values of the modernity they are inhabiting.
This paper presents interdisciplinary research focused on the collaborative redesign in schools, ... more This paper presents interdisciplinary research focused on the collaborative redesign in schools, in which an inclusive design tool was created for assessing student feedback on their school spaces and considering it as input for creating a better learning environment. It was developed by a research team using a participatory approach in schools drawn from architecture, geography, and educational sciences, to provide a comprehensive and intertwined approach to school spaces, communities and learning activities. The “Survey on Student School Spaces” (S3S) tool and its methodology are described here, which is a combination of two procedures: a questionnaire and a walkthrough. The first engages a far-reaching sample of participants and makes use of an online platform, while the latter details and justifies those outputs and involves visiting the school with the participants. The S3S pilot study was implemented in two partner schools, which act as the first project case studies. The data...
In recent decades, many city authorities have been implementing strategies for the development of... more In recent decades, many city authorities have been implementing strategies for the development of urban regeneration in their central areas. Most of these processes aim to improve the use of public space, and are often to be found in historic areas and waterfronts. The aim of this text is to put forward an alternative urban regeneration plan which focuses on the peripheral areas of cities, areas which were often built as neighbourhoods of social housing, and which now face environmental challenges as well as social and economic ones. To this end, the URBiNAT H2020 project is promoting inclusive urban regeneration that engages citizens and stakeholders in all the stages of the co-creation process. The overall objective is to implement a cluster of human-centred, nature-based solutions (NBS) in order to create Healthy Corridors that bring together both material and immaterial solutions that will impact the environment and the wellbeing of the community. The activation of Living Labs i...
Abstract: Drug development is a high cost and laborious process, requiring a number of tests unti... more Abstract: Drug development is a high cost and laborious process, requiring a number of tests until a drug is made avail-able in the market. Therefore, the use of methods to screen large number of molecules with less cost is crucial for faster identification of hits and leads. One strategy to identify drug-like molecules is the search for molecules able to interfere with a protein function, since protein interactions control most biological processes. Ideally the use of in silico screenings would make drug development faster and less expensive. Currently, however, the confirmation of biological activity is still needed. Due to the complexity of the task of drug discovery, an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach is ulti-mately required. Here we discuss examples of drugs developed through a combination of in silico and in vitro strategies. The potential use of these methodologies for the identification of active compounds as well as for early toxicity and bioavailability is also ...
Hemoglobinopathies are hereditary disorders of the hemoglobin molecule with a high preva-lence wo... more Hemoglobinopathies are hereditary disorders of the hemoglobin molecule with a high preva-lence worldwide. Brazil has a prevalence of 0.1 to 0.3 % of newborns with sickle cell anemia and 20.0 to 25.0 % of heterozygous α2 thalassemia among African Brazilians. In the present study, we investigated the presence of variant hemo-globins and α23.7 Kb and α24.2 Kb thalassemia in newborns from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Samples of umbilical cord blood from a total of 590 new-borns were analyzed, of which 57 (9.8%) were FAS; 36 (6.5%) FAC; one (0.2%) SF; and five (0.9%) FSC. One hundred fourteen (22.2%) new-borns had α23.7 Kb thalassemia, of whom 101 (19.7%) were heterozygous and 13 (2.5%) ho-mozygous, showing statistical significance for hematological data between newborns with normal α genes and α23.7 Kb thalassemia carri-ers. The α24.2 Kb thalassemia was not found. Fre-quencies found in the present study confirm that hemoglobinopathies are a public health problem in Brazil, emphasizing the n...
We consider some random series parametrised by complex binary strings. The simplest case is that ... more We consider some random series parametrised by complex binary strings. The simplest case is that of Rademacher series, independent of a time parameter. This is then extended to the case of Fourier series on the circle with Rademacher coefficients. Finally, a specific Fourier series which has coefficients determined by a computable function is shown to converge to an algorithmically random Brownian motion.
Title: Clinical and Molecular Study in a Cohort of Growth Hormone Deficient Patients in Bahia The... more Title: Clinical and Molecular Study in a Cohort of Growth Hormone Deficient Patients in Bahia The estimated incidence of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is between 1/4.000 and 1/10.000 among live births. It may be isolated or associated with other hormone deficiencies. As there is no gold standard test, the diagnosis of GHD relies on anthropometric criteria associated with decreased GH peak after pharmacological stimulation tests. More recently, the description of ectopic posterior pituitary lobe (EPPL) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been considered a marker of GHD and mutations in genes involved in pituitary gland organogenesis have been described in these patients. The aim of this study was to describe clinical, molecular and radiological characteristics of a cohort of GHD patients followed, in a single reference center (Diabetes and Endocrinology Center or Bahia), between December 1998 and December 2009. Methods: all patients underwent pituitary function evaluation and M...
The article presents an interview with three student defectors from North Korea, namely, Gwang Se... more The article presents an interview with three student defectors from North Korea, namely, Gwang Seong Jung, Eunju Kim, and Se Jun Park. Topics covered include the comparison between the cultural customs in North Korea and South Korea, social and political developments in North Korea in 2015, and the accounts of how the three defectors escaped from North Korea. Difference between the standards of living in South and North Korea is also mentioned
The study of markers associated with the fetal hemoglobin (HbF) synthesis is of great scientific ... more The study of markers associated with the fetal hemoglobin (HbF) synthesis is of great scientific interest, since it can contribute to understanding regulatory mechanisms of genes involved in the synthesis of globin chains, once that HbF participate in the genetic modulation of sickle cell anemia (HbSS). The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of changes in genes involved in the synthesis of HbF and their associations with clinical and laboratory markers in HbSS and characterize the phenotype and genotype of individuals with the profile suggestive of hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). Thus, we performed a cross-sectional study, followed by a case-control, in a group of 43 HbSS individuals with HbF> 3.0% and 3 individuals with a suggestive profile of HPFH. Polymorphisms HBG2 -396/-391del, the HBG2 SNP -369 C> G, HBG2 -309 A> G, HBG2 157 T> C, HBG1 -499 T> A, HBG1 -369 C> G HBG1 the -271 C> T and HBG1-225/-222del were investigated by ...
Proceedings of the 2016 International Conference on Energy, Power and Electrical Engineering, 2016
This paper mainly discussed the system reliability with the new isolated circuit breaker and the ... more This paper mainly discussed the system reliability with the new isolated circuit breaker and the traditional equipment in operation process. Firstly, we established the Poisson marked point process model of the outage time and derived their mathematical expectations. And we used the expectations as the index to evaluate the reliability of transmission system. Then we used the censored data to get the Bayesian estimation of the parameters. Finally we decomposed the system outage time to calculate the result of the reliability model. By the analysis, we provided a reference for the reliability evaluation of transmission system.
Visceral leishmaniasis is a disease caused by Leishmania chagasi. Dogs are the main reservoir of ... more Visceral leishmaniasis is a disease caused by Leishmania chagasi. Dogs are the main reservoir of the parasite. A canine vaccine may contribute to the desease control in humans and dogs. In a previous study, recombinant antigens were selected from a cDNA library of Leishmania chagasi amastigotes in order to be evaluated as components of a vaccine against canine visceral leishmaniasis. In this study, five immunization protocols were assessed in mice with some of these antigens. BALB/c mice were injected with either rLci4A-NH6 or rLci2B-NH6 proteins, associated or not with the adjuvants saponin, ODN 1826 and different doses of a plasmid encoding murine IL-12 (pIL-12). Moreover, animals were primed with a plasmid encoding Lci2B (pLci2B) and boosted with rLci2B combined with saponin. Finally, all mice were primed with new antigens, Lci2-NT-5R-CT or Lci2-NT-CT, and they were boosted with the following recombinant proteins rLci2-NT-5R-CT-NH6 or rLci2-NT-CT-NH6 associated with saponin. In this late experiment, the used plasmids had an insert of a lisossome associated membrane protein, LAMP, to produce in vivo chimeras composed of LAMP with the antigens and to direct the presentation of the peptides to CD4+ T cell through MHC-II molecules. The humoral immune response was assessed by antibodies production (IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a) in animal serum samples and the cellular immune response by cellular proliferation and cytokine production (IFN-γ and IL-5). The results showed that animals that were injected with rLci4A-NH6 alone or combined with pIL-12 generated IgG and IgG1 specific antibodies, while others that received saponin and ODN 1826 as adjuvants produced IgG, IgG2a and IgG1. Furthermore, IL-5 was detected in rLci4A-NH6/saponin group, but only in one of two experiments. Animals that were injected with rLci2B-NH6, alone or associated with pIL-12, presented IgG and IgG1 antibodies but no cellular immune response. The saponin used as adjuvant induced IgG, IgG2a and IgG1 antibodies, as well as IFN-γ. The use of ODN 1826 induced IgG and IgG1, and favored IgG2a production, but failed in inducing IFN-γ. On the other hand, animals that were primed with pLci2B and boosted with the protein associated with saponin produced IgG IgG1 and more intensively IgG2a, and only some animals produced IFN-γ. Nevertheless, such immune response did not protect the animals against the parasite infection. At last, LAMP/Lci2-NT-5R-CT or LAMP/Lci2-5R-CT chimeras induced a weak humoral immune response, in which IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies were detected in only a few animals. However, mice that were injected with LAMP/Lci2-NT-CT presented cellular proliferation and some animals produced IFN-γ. In conclusion, in spite of the fact that the antigens are immunogenic in a murine model, none of the used protocols elicited an intense Th1 cellular immune response or a protective one.
INTRODUCTION: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a systemic zooantroponose of public health relevance... more INTRODUCTION: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a systemic zooantroponose of public health relevance, 90% of cases in the new world are from Brazil. Domestic dogs and foxes are considered the main reservoirs. The persistence of Leishmania in endemic areas and the failure of preventive measures, directed exclusively to the canine reservoir, suggest that other animals may be important in maintaining the transmission cycle of Leishmania. OBJECTIVE: To investigate potential reservoirs for VL in an endemic area, using molecular biology quantitative method (real-time PCR). METHODS: We studied domestic animals (cattle, horses, goats and sheeps) and wildlife (marsupial), in the city of Salinas da Margarida, Bahia, from 2007 to 2009. All livestock animals maintained and/or staying overnight in the urban areas of the municipality were included. The marsupials were captured with Tomahawk model animal traps placed outside the home of homes where there were human and/or dog VL cases in the locality of the Encarnação. In livestock animals, we collected only a sample of peripheral blood and in marsupials, in addition to blood we also collected a sample of ear skin biopsy. In all samples we carried out real-time PCR to detect the presence of parasite DNA and to estimate the parasite load. The primers and probes used were selected on SSU rRNA gene, which appears 160 times in the genome of Leishmania spp. and is highly conserved among species of Leishmania. RESULTS: In total, 80 livestock animals were evaluated (20 cattle, 33 horses, 20 goats and 7 sheep), and 103 marsupials, all Didelphis albiventris. Five cattle were positive by real-time PCR with parasite load ranging from 12.7 to 183.5 parasites/mL. Only one marsupial had a positive blood sample (6.0 parasites/mL). All other animals tested negative. CONCLUSION: The real-time PCR technique can be a useful tool for assessing the potential role of domestic and wild reservoir for LV. The implementation of real-time PCR is less laborious and more practical than the test of xenodiagnosis, in addition, it can be automated, allowing for the analysis of large number of samples in epidemiological studies. Detection of Leishmania parasite load in the blood of cattle, in an amount comparable to that found in dogs, suggests that they may be reservoirs for VL. The relative abundance of cattle in endemic areas for VL, as well as evidence of vector feeding preference for these animals, highlight the important role that cattle may exert in the transmission of VL. More research is needed to clarify these issues.
Leishmaniasis affects approximately 12 million people worldwide with approximately 60,000 deaths ... more Leishmaniasis affects approximately 12 million people worldwide with approximately 60,000 deaths per year. The drugs used are ineffective and have severe side effects, creating to need of the search for new drugs. The search for bioactive principles becomes more effective when directed by fractionation guided by specific bioassays. A promising target to search for new drugs is the enzyme arginase, because a arginase deficient Leishmania is unable to produce polyamines, which are essential for the proliferation, differentiation and synthesis of macromolecules, thus becoming the target used to direct fractionation of the extract of Cecropia pachyatachya, as it has been reported on the inhibition of arginase L. (L.) amazonensis. The ethyl acetate extract showed a strong inhibition of arginase L. (L.) amazonensis, a low inhibition of arginase Rattus novergicus and didn't show toxicity to splenocytes. By ultrastructural analysis was possible to infer that the inhibition of arginase could be causing an oxidative stress, visible with the formation of electrondense deposits in the mitochondrial matrix and disorganization of k-DNA, possibly due to inhibition of arginase and consequent decrease of polyamines and trypanothione biosynthesis. In computer analysis, the possible compounds present in the ethyl acetate extract (catechin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, isoorientin, isoquercetrin, isovitexin, orientin and procyanidin B 2) interact with the amino acids surrounding the active site of L. (L.) amazonensis arginase preventing the entry of the substrate or the release of the reaction products which would result in a decrease in of velocity reaction. The fractions of CLC03 seem to interfere with another mechanism that promotes the death of the parasite besides the arginase inhibition. After the fractionations performed, the samples were still mixtures when as determined by HPLC and 1 H NMR. The reduced growth of promastigotes of L. (L.) amazonensis may be associated to the reduction of infection in macrophages, mediated by NO production.
The HTLV-1 was first described retroviruses associated with human diseases, such as leukemia adul... more The HTLV-1 was first described retroviruses associated with human diseases, such as leukemia adult T cell (ATLL), tropical spastic paraparesis / HTLV-associated myelopathy (TSP / HAM), infective dermatitis, among others. This retrovirus has a genome of single-stranded RNA, with the genes gag (group antigen), env (envelope), pol (polymerase), and a region near the 3 'end known as pX. At each end of the genome are sequences of long terminal repeat (LTR) that are essential for the integration of the proviral DNA in the host DNA and also for the transcriptional regulation of the virus genome. It is estimated that about 5-10 million people are infected with HTLV-1 worldwide. In Brazil, it is assumed that 2.5 million people are infected. Despite the HTLV-1 is endemic in different geographic regions of the world still remains without an effective method of prophylaxis. Research conducted in squirrel monkeys at the Pasteur Institute in France and the National Cancer Institute in the USA evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of a vaccine containing the env gene or env and gag of HTLV-1. After vaccination and transfusion of infected cells with HTLV-1 all animals were shown to be protected. Prior to this study, researchers from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, USA, evaluated the efficacy of a vector vaccine derived from attenuated smallpox virus containing the env gene of HTLV-1 (R-ALVAC) and after challenge all animals were shown to be protected. However, the protection of these two studies was not permanent. At the same time, these results suggest that a vaccine anti-HTLV-1 may be feasible and we believe that the production of this vaccine as a vector having one persistent virus as HTLV-2 can protect against HTLV-1 infection. Thus, we developed in collaboration with the NIH, a vector vaccine containing the two LTR of HTLV-2, that will be inserted the env and gag genes of HTLV-1. To use this recombinant vector is necessary characterize the promoter region of HTLV-2, evaluating nucleotide signatures present in different subtypes, as well as the presence of motifs important for the expression vector vaccine. For these reasons, the aim of this study was to evaluate in silico the ability of recombinant vector of HTLV-2 be able to be used as a vector vaccine anti-HTLV-1. Our results reveal that there are small differences in the promoter region of HTLV-2a, HTLV-2b, HTLV-2c and HTLV-2d. Some changes results in loss or gain of motifs important for regulation of gene transcription, such as the E box motif present in the sequences of the different subtypes of HTLV-2 and absent in the promoter region of the vector. However, studies suggest that this motif can be responsible for the repression of gene transcription, and therefore this difference found between the recombinant vector of HTLV-2 and different sequences suggested that the analyzed gene transcription vector vaccine without this motif can be more efficient. Therefore, the recombinant vector HTLV-2 can be used in preclinical trials as a vaccine vector for HTLV-1.
After three decades since the founding of DOCOMOMO, education continues to be an essential matter... more After three decades since the founding of DOCOMOMO, education continues to be an essential matter when thinking about the future of modern heritage, but today it requires a critical reflection on the conceptual and methodological changes we need to face in the present context of complexity. Modern Architecture is now crossing a paradigmatic time not only because of its inevitable degradation but because of the impact of these new scenarios that force us to rethink their conservation and reuse, considering both their special constructive condition and specific functionality and the role in the collective memory as recent heritage. Architectural design education must address these critical issues as a strategic content that anticipates a more appropriate practice. The conservation and the reuse of modern buildings are still out of most schools of architecture. This paper presents three different and complementary didactic experiences developed in Europe and South-America: Mindful design for updating mass housing neighbourhoods (Politecnico di Milano, Italy), Experimental redesign to integrate modern single housing to contemporary life (University of Belgrano, Argentina) and Participatory design to open up a modern school building to the neighbourhood (University of Coimbra, Portugal). They highlight the relevance of confronting the students with issues like history and memory, and their importance even for apparently ordinary buildings, not only for modern iconic monuments. The results also prove the relevance of an interdisciplinary approach and the relevance of the social dimension of conservation, because it implies to deal with the value of modernity for the memory of the community that can be involved in keeping the values of the modernity they are inhabiting.
This paper presents interdisciplinary research focused on the collaborative redesign in schools, ... more This paper presents interdisciplinary research focused on the collaborative redesign in schools, in which an inclusive design tool was created for assessing student feedback on their school spaces and considering it as input for creating a better learning environment. It was developed by a research team using a participatory approach in schools drawn from architecture, geography, and educational sciences, to provide a comprehensive and intertwined approach to school spaces, communities and learning activities. The “Survey on Student School Spaces” (S3S) tool and its methodology are described here, which is a combination of two procedures: a questionnaire and a walkthrough. The first engages a far-reaching sample of participants and makes use of an online platform, while the latter details and justifies those outputs and involves visiting the school with the participants. The S3S pilot study was implemented in two partner schools, which act as the first project case studies. The data...
In recent decades, many city authorities have been implementing strategies for the development of... more In recent decades, many city authorities have been implementing strategies for the development of urban regeneration in their central areas. Most of these processes aim to improve the use of public space, and are often to be found in historic areas and waterfronts. The aim of this text is to put forward an alternative urban regeneration plan which focuses on the peripheral areas of cities, areas which were often built as neighbourhoods of social housing, and which now face environmental challenges as well as social and economic ones. To this end, the URBiNAT H2020 project is promoting inclusive urban regeneration that engages citizens and stakeholders in all the stages of the co-creation process. The overall objective is to implement a cluster of human-centred, nature-based solutions (NBS) in order to create Healthy Corridors that bring together both material and immaterial solutions that will impact the environment and the wellbeing of the community. The activation of Living Labs i...
Abstract: Drug development is a high cost and laborious process, requiring a number of tests unti... more Abstract: Drug development is a high cost and laborious process, requiring a number of tests until a drug is made avail-able in the market. Therefore, the use of methods to screen large number of molecules with less cost is crucial for faster identification of hits and leads. One strategy to identify drug-like molecules is the search for molecules able to interfere with a protein function, since protein interactions control most biological processes. Ideally the use of in silico screenings would make drug development faster and less expensive. Currently, however, the confirmation of biological activity is still needed. Due to the complexity of the task of drug discovery, an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach is ulti-mately required. Here we discuss examples of drugs developed through a combination of in silico and in vitro strategies. The potential use of these methodologies for the identification of active compounds as well as for early toxicity and bioavailability is also ...
Hemoglobinopathies are hereditary disorders of the hemoglobin molecule with a high preva-lence wo... more Hemoglobinopathies are hereditary disorders of the hemoglobin molecule with a high preva-lence worldwide. Brazil has a prevalence of 0.1 to 0.3 % of newborns with sickle cell anemia and 20.0 to 25.0 % of heterozygous α2 thalassemia among African Brazilians. In the present study, we investigated the presence of variant hemo-globins and α23.7 Kb and α24.2 Kb thalassemia in newborns from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Samples of umbilical cord blood from a total of 590 new-borns were analyzed, of which 57 (9.8%) were FAS; 36 (6.5%) FAC; one (0.2%) SF; and five (0.9%) FSC. One hundred fourteen (22.2%) new-borns had α23.7 Kb thalassemia, of whom 101 (19.7%) were heterozygous and 13 (2.5%) ho-mozygous, showing statistical significance for hematological data between newborns with normal α genes and α23.7 Kb thalassemia carri-ers. The α24.2 Kb thalassemia was not found. Fre-quencies found in the present study confirm that hemoglobinopathies are a public health problem in Brazil, emphasizing the n...
We consider some random series parametrised by complex binary strings. The simplest case is that ... more We consider some random series parametrised by complex binary strings. The simplest case is that of Rademacher series, independent of a time parameter. This is then extended to the case of Fourier series on the circle with Rademacher coefficients. Finally, a specific Fourier series which has coefficients determined by a computable function is shown to converge to an algorithmically random Brownian motion.
Title: Clinical and Molecular Study in a Cohort of Growth Hormone Deficient Patients in Bahia The... more Title: Clinical and Molecular Study in a Cohort of Growth Hormone Deficient Patients in Bahia The estimated incidence of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is between 1/4.000 and 1/10.000 among live births. It may be isolated or associated with other hormone deficiencies. As there is no gold standard test, the diagnosis of GHD relies on anthropometric criteria associated with decreased GH peak after pharmacological stimulation tests. More recently, the description of ectopic posterior pituitary lobe (EPPL) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been considered a marker of GHD and mutations in genes involved in pituitary gland organogenesis have been described in these patients. The aim of this study was to describe clinical, molecular and radiological characteristics of a cohort of GHD patients followed, in a single reference center (Diabetes and Endocrinology Center or Bahia), between December 1998 and December 2009. Methods: all patients underwent pituitary function evaluation and M...
The article presents an interview with three student defectors from North Korea, namely, Gwang Se... more The article presents an interview with three student defectors from North Korea, namely, Gwang Seong Jung, Eunju Kim, and Se Jun Park. Topics covered include the comparison between the cultural customs in North Korea and South Korea, social and political developments in North Korea in 2015, and the accounts of how the three defectors escaped from North Korea. Difference between the standards of living in South and North Korea is also mentioned
The study of markers associated with the fetal hemoglobin (HbF) synthesis is of great scientific ... more The study of markers associated with the fetal hemoglobin (HbF) synthesis is of great scientific interest, since it can contribute to understanding regulatory mechanisms of genes involved in the synthesis of globin chains, once that HbF participate in the genetic modulation of sickle cell anemia (HbSS). The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of changes in genes involved in the synthesis of HbF and their associations with clinical and laboratory markers in HbSS and characterize the phenotype and genotype of individuals with the profile suggestive of hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). Thus, we performed a cross-sectional study, followed by a case-control, in a group of 43 HbSS individuals with HbF> 3.0% and 3 individuals with a suggestive profile of HPFH. Polymorphisms HBG2 -396/-391del, the HBG2 SNP -369 C> G, HBG2 -309 A> G, HBG2 157 T> C, HBG1 -499 T> A, HBG1 -369 C> G HBG1 the -271 C> T and HBG1-225/-222del were investigated by ...
Proceedings of the 2016 International Conference on Energy, Power and Electrical Engineering, 2016
This paper mainly discussed the system reliability with the new isolated circuit breaker and the ... more This paper mainly discussed the system reliability with the new isolated circuit breaker and the traditional equipment in operation process. Firstly, we established the Poisson marked point process model of the outage time and derived their mathematical expectations. And we used the expectations as the index to evaluate the reliability of transmission system. Then we used the censored data to get the Bayesian estimation of the parameters. Finally we decomposed the system outage time to calculate the result of the reliability model. By the analysis, we provided a reference for the reliability evaluation of transmission system.
Visceral leishmaniasis is a disease caused by Leishmania chagasi. Dogs are the main reservoir of ... more Visceral leishmaniasis is a disease caused by Leishmania chagasi. Dogs are the main reservoir of the parasite. A canine vaccine may contribute to the desease control in humans and dogs. In a previous study, recombinant antigens were selected from a cDNA library of Leishmania chagasi amastigotes in order to be evaluated as components of a vaccine against canine visceral leishmaniasis. In this study, five immunization protocols were assessed in mice with some of these antigens. BALB/c mice were injected with either rLci4A-NH6 or rLci2B-NH6 proteins, associated or not with the adjuvants saponin, ODN 1826 and different doses of a plasmid encoding murine IL-12 (pIL-12). Moreover, animals were primed with a plasmid encoding Lci2B (pLci2B) and boosted with rLci2B combined with saponin. Finally, all mice were primed with new antigens, Lci2-NT-5R-CT or Lci2-NT-CT, and they were boosted with the following recombinant proteins rLci2-NT-5R-CT-NH6 or rLci2-NT-CT-NH6 associated with saponin. In this late experiment, the used plasmids had an insert of a lisossome associated membrane protein, LAMP, to produce in vivo chimeras composed of LAMP with the antigens and to direct the presentation of the peptides to CD4+ T cell through MHC-II molecules. The humoral immune response was assessed by antibodies production (IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a) in animal serum samples and the cellular immune response by cellular proliferation and cytokine production (IFN-γ and IL-5). The results showed that animals that were injected with rLci4A-NH6 alone or combined with pIL-12 generated IgG and IgG1 specific antibodies, while others that received saponin and ODN 1826 as adjuvants produced IgG, IgG2a and IgG1. Furthermore, IL-5 was detected in rLci4A-NH6/saponin group, but only in one of two experiments. Animals that were injected with rLci2B-NH6, alone or associated with pIL-12, presented IgG and IgG1 antibodies but no cellular immune response. The saponin used as adjuvant induced IgG, IgG2a and IgG1 antibodies, as well as IFN-γ. The use of ODN 1826 induced IgG and IgG1, and favored IgG2a production, but failed in inducing IFN-γ. On the other hand, animals that were primed with pLci2B and boosted with the protein associated with saponin produced IgG IgG1 and more intensively IgG2a, and only some animals produced IFN-γ. Nevertheless, such immune response did not protect the animals against the parasite infection. At last, LAMP/Lci2-NT-5R-CT or LAMP/Lci2-5R-CT chimeras induced a weak humoral immune response, in which IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies were detected in only a few animals. However, mice that were injected with LAMP/Lci2-NT-CT presented cellular proliferation and some animals produced IFN-γ. In conclusion, in spite of the fact that the antigens are immunogenic in a murine model, none of the used protocols elicited an intense Th1 cellular immune response or a protective one.
INTRODUCTION: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a systemic zooantroponose of public health relevance... more INTRODUCTION: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a systemic zooantroponose of public health relevance, 90% of cases in the new world are from Brazil. Domestic dogs and foxes are considered the main reservoirs. The persistence of Leishmania in endemic areas and the failure of preventive measures, directed exclusively to the canine reservoir, suggest that other animals may be important in maintaining the transmission cycle of Leishmania. OBJECTIVE: To investigate potential reservoirs for VL in an endemic area, using molecular biology quantitative method (real-time PCR). METHODS: We studied domestic animals (cattle, horses, goats and sheeps) and wildlife (marsupial), in the city of Salinas da Margarida, Bahia, from 2007 to 2009. All livestock animals maintained and/or staying overnight in the urban areas of the municipality were included. The marsupials were captured with Tomahawk model animal traps placed outside the home of homes where there were human and/or dog VL cases in the locality of the Encarnação. In livestock animals, we collected only a sample of peripheral blood and in marsupials, in addition to blood we also collected a sample of ear skin biopsy. In all samples we carried out real-time PCR to detect the presence of parasite DNA and to estimate the parasite load. The primers and probes used were selected on SSU rRNA gene, which appears 160 times in the genome of Leishmania spp. and is highly conserved among species of Leishmania. RESULTS: In total, 80 livestock animals were evaluated (20 cattle, 33 horses, 20 goats and 7 sheep), and 103 marsupials, all Didelphis albiventris. Five cattle were positive by real-time PCR with parasite load ranging from 12.7 to 183.5 parasites/mL. Only one marsupial had a positive blood sample (6.0 parasites/mL). All other animals tested negative. CONCLUSION: The real-time PCR technique can be a useful tool for assessing the potential role of domestic and wild reservoir for LV. The implementation of real-time PCR is less laborious and more practical than the test of xenodiagnosis, in addition, it can be automated, allowing for the analysis of large number of samples in epidemiological studies. Detection of Leishmania parasite load in the blood of cattle, in an amount comparable to that found in dogs, suggests that they may be reservoirs for VL. The relative abundance of cattle in endemic areas for VL, as well as evidence of vector feeding preference for these animals, highlight the important role that cattle may exert in the transmission of VL. More research is needed to clarify these issues.
Leishmaniasis affects approximately 12 million people worldwide with approximately 60,000 deaths ... more Leishmaniasis affects approximately 12 million people worldwide with approximately 60,000 deaths per year. The drugs used are ineffective and have severe side effects, creating to need of the search for new drugs. The search for bioactive principles becomes more effective when directed by fractionation guided by specific bioassays. A promising target to search for new drugs is the enzyme arginase, because a arginase deficient Leishmania is unable to produce polyamines, which are essential for the proliferation, differentiation and synthesis of macromolecules, thus becoming the target used to direct fractionation of the extract of Cecropia pachyatachya, as it has been reported on the inhibition of arginase L. (L.) amazonensis. The ethyl acetate extract showed a strong inhibition of arginase L. (L.) amazonensis, a low inhibition of arginase Rattus novergicus and didn't show toxicity to splenocytes. By ultrastructural analysis was possible to infer that the inhibition of arginase could be causing an oxidative stress, visible with the formation of electrondense deposits in the mitochondrial matrix and disorganization of k-DNA, possibly due to inhibition of arginase and consequent decrease of polyamines and trypanothione biosynthesis. In computer analysis, the possible compounds present in the ethyl acetate extract (catechin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, isoorientin, isoquercetrin, isovitexin, orientin and procyanidin B 2) interact with the amino acids surrounding the active site of L. (L.) amazonensis arginase preventing the entry of the substrate or the release of the reaction products which would result in a decrease in of velocity reaction. The fractions of CLC03 seem to interfere with another mechanism that promotes the death of the parasite besides the arginase inhibition. After the fractionations performed, the samples were still mixtures when as determined by HPLC and 1 H NMR. The reduced growth of promastigotes of L. (L.) amazonensis may be associated to the reduction of infection in macrophages, mediated by NO production.
The HTLV-1 was first described retroviruses associated with human diseases, such as leukemia adul... more The HTLV-1 was first described retroviruses associated with human diseases, such as leukemia adult T cell (ATLL), tropical spastic paraparesis / HTLV-associated myelopathy (TSP / HAM), infective dermatitis, among others. This retrovirus has a genome of single-stranded RNA, with the genes gag (group antigen), env (envelope), pol (polymerase), and a region near the 3 'end known as pX. At each end of the genome are sequences of long terminal repeat (LTR) that are essential for the integration of the proviral DNA in the host DNA and also for the transcriptional regulation of the virus genome. It is estimated that about 5-10 million people are infected with HTLV-1 worldwide. In Brazil, it is assumed that 2.5 million people are infected. Despite the HTLV-1 is endemic in different geographic regions of the world still remains without an effective method of prophylaxis. Research conducted in squirrel monkeys at the Pasteur Institute in France and the National Cancer Institute in the USA evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of a vaccine containing the env gene or env and gag of HTLV-1. After vaccination and transfusion of infected cells with HTLV-1 all animals were shown to be protected. Prior to this study, researchers from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, USA, evaluated the efficacy of a vector vaccine derived from attenuated smallpox virus containing the env gene of HTLV-1 (R-ALVAC) and after challenge all animals were shown to be protected. However, the protection of these two studies was not permanent. At the same time, these results suggest that a vaccine anti-HTLV-1 may be feasible and we believe that the production of this vaccine as a vector having one persistent virus as HTLV-2 can protect against HTLV-1 infection. Thus, we developed in collaboration with the NIH, a vector vaccine containing the two LTR of HTLV-2, that will be inserted the env and gag genes of HTLV-1. To use this recombinant vector is necessary characterize the promoter region of HTLV-2, evaluating nucleotide signatures present in different subtypes, as well as the presence of motifs important for the expression vector vaccine. For these reasons, the aim of this study was to evaluate in silico the ability of recombinant vector of HTLV-2 be able to be used as a vector vaccine anti-HTLV-1. Our results reveal that there are small differences in the promoter region of HTLV-2a, HTLV-2b, HTLV-2c and HTLV-2d. Some changes results in loss or gain of motifs important for regulation of gene transcription, such as the E box motif present in the sequences of the different subtypes of HTLV-2 and absent in the promoter region of the vector. However, studies suggest that this motif can be responsible for the repression of gene transcription, and therefore this difference found between the recombinant vector of HTLV-2 and different sequences suggested that the analyzed gene transcription vector vaccine without this motif can be more efficient. Therefore, the recombinant vector HTLV-2 can be used in preclinical trials as a vaccine vector for HTLV-1.
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