Abstract: SUMMARY The use of nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors (N-Prot factors) is the most practical way of determining protein content. The accuracy of protein determination by this method depends on the establishment of N-Prot factors specific to individual species. Experimental data are needed to allow the use of this methodology with seaweeds. The present study was designed to characterize the amino acid composition and to establish specific N-Prot factors for six green, four brown and nine red marine algae. Mean values for individual amino acids tended to be similar among the three groups, but some differences were found. Green algae tended to show lower percentages of both aspartic acid and glutamic acid than the other two groups of algae. The percentages of both lysine and arginine were higher in red algae, while brown algae tended to show more methionine than green and red algae. The actual protein content of the species, based on the sum of amino acid residues, varied from 10.8% (Chnoospora minima, brown algae) to 23.1% (Aglaothamnion uruguayense, red algae) of the dry weight. Nitrogen-toprotein conversion factors were established for the species studied, based on the ratio of amino acid residues to total nitrogen, with values ranging from 3.75 (Cryptonemia seminervis, red algae) to 5.72 (Padina gymnospora, brown algae). The relative importance of non-protein nitrogen is greater in red algae, and consequently lower N-Prot factors were calculated for these species (average value 4.59). Conversely, protein nitrogen content in both green and brown algae tends to be higher, and average N-Prot factors were 5.13 and 5.38, respectively. An overall average N-Prot factor for all species studied of 4.92 ± 0.59 (n = 57) was established. This study confirms that the use of the traditional factor 6.25 is unsuitable for seaweeds, and the use of the N-Prot factors proposed here is recommended.

Abstract: This article offers an overview on the historical facts and the recent state of art of Chemistry of Natural Products which, in the course of 25 years of SBQ, have led to the present development of this area in Brazil. In addition, this article deals with the last trends on Natural Products in Brazil and also in developed countries.

Abstract: After 40 years of intensive research, chemistry of marine natural products has become a mature field. Since 1995, there are signals of decreased interest in the search of new metabolites from traditional sources such as macroalgae and octocorals, and the number of annual reports on marine sponges stabilized. On the contrary, metabolites from microorganisms is a rapidly growing field, due, at least in part, to the suspicion that a number of metabolites obtained from algae and invertebrates may be produced by associated microorganisms. Studies are concerned with bacteria and fungi, isolated from seawater, sediments, algae, fish and mainly from marine invertebrates such as sponges, mollusks, tunicates, coelenterates and crustaceans. Although it is still to early to define tendencies, it may be stated that the metabolites from microorganisms are in most cases quite different from those produced by the invertebrate hosts. Nitrogenated metabolites predominate over acetate derivatives, and terpenes are uncommon. Among the latter, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes and carotenes have been isolated; among nitrogenated metabolites, amides, cyclic peptides and indole alkaloids predominate.

Abstract: Perfect fluid Friedmann-Robertson-Walker quantum cosmological models for an arbitrary barotropic equation of state p = αρ are constructed using Schutz's variational formalism. In this approach the notion of time can be recovered. By superposition of stationary states, finite-norm wave-packet solutions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation are found. The behaviour of the scale factor is studied by applying the many-worlds and the ontological interpretations of quantum mechanics. Singularity-free models are obtained for α α > − 1.

Abstract: Antifouling activity is one poorly investigated property of seaweed natural products. To determine, in the field, whether seaweeds contain chemicals able to influence the settlement of fouling organisms, crude organic extracts from Stypopodium zonale, Dictyota menstrualis (Phaeophyceae) and Laurencia obtusa (Rhodophyceae) were incorporated at natural volumetric concentrations, into hard stable gels that served as substrata for fouling in the experiments. Fouling organisms settled at a significantly higher rate on plates treated with S. zonale extracts than on control gels, while settlement was strongly inhibited on gels containing L. obtusa extracts. Fouling on gels treated with the D. menstrualis extract was not significantly different from the fouling found on control gels. The findings suggest that the broad antifouling properties of the crude extract of L. obtusa inhibit the settlement of fouling as well as hinder the development of settled fouling species, thereby reducing the richness of species. Th...

Abstract: Spirulina (Arthrospira), a filamentous, unicellular alga, is a cyanobacterium grown in certain countries as food for human and animal consumption. It is also used to derive additives in pharmaceuticals and foods. This alga is a rich source of proteins, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and other nutrients. Its main use, therefore, is as a food supplement. Over the last few years, however, it has been found to have many additional pharmacological properties. Thus, it has been experimentally proven, in vivo and in vitro that it is effective to treat certain allergies, anemia, cancer, hepatotoxicity, viral and cardiovascular diseases, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, immunodeficiency, and inflammatory processes, among others. Several of these activities are attributed to Spirulina itself or to some of its components including fatty acids omega-3 or omega-6, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, phycocyanin, phenol compounds, and a recently isolated complex, Ca-Spirulan (Ca-SP). This paper aims to update and critically review the results published over the last few years with regards to these properties. The conclusion is that even if this cyanobacterium has been one of the most extensively studied from the chemical, pharmacological and toxicological points of view, it is still necessary to expand the research in order to have more consistent data for its possible use in human beings.

Abstract: Four cases of severe pulmonary form of leptospirosis (SPFL) are described. In all four of these blood culture proven cases, there was severe pulmonary injury characterized by alveolar hemorrhage and acute respiratory failure. Three patients died in less than 48 hours after onset of the first respiratory signs. Leptospiral antigen detection in lung tissues was positive by immunoperoxidase in all three of these cases, suggesting that the microorganism exerts a local direct destructive action. Patients with SPFL should be carefully monitored, as the abrupt onset of severe alveolar hemorrhage can lead to respiratory insufficiency and death. The authors emphasize the importance of radiological findings and blood gas analysis for prompt clinical diagnosis, and suggest that corticosteroids, associated with antibiotics, early respiratory support, and platelet transfusions are useful as an attempt to prevent further development of SPFL.

Abstract: The multiple injection of carbonaceous materials and oxygen enrichment in the blast furnace has received especial attention in the recent years due to its possibility of considerably decrease in coke rate and increase of the productivity. This paper introduces a modeling of the co-injection of pulverized coal and natural gas into the blast furnace through the tuyere. This model treats the blast furnace as a multi-phase reactor and five phases are treated simultaneously: gas, lump solids (iron ore, sinter, pellets and coke), pig iron, molten slag and pulverized coal. Conservation equations for mass, momentum, energy and chemical species are solved simultaneously based on the finite volume method. Firstly pulverized coal is simulated and afterwards only natural gas is investigated and compared with the all coke operation. Finally, the combined practice is suggested in order to improve the actual blast furnace operation. The simulation results have contributed to better understanding the blast furnace phenomena with multiple injectants, and supported new improvements in the furnace operation. The results obtained in this investigation have shown the possibility of considerable advances in the actual blast furnace operation such as increase in productivity, lower silicon content in hot metal and decrease of the coke and slag rates. In addition, the total amount of the greenhouses in the off gas is decreased, which contributes to make the blast furnace process cleaner.

Abstract: Fusion cross sections were measured for the ${}^{6,7}\mathrm{Li}{+}^{27}\mathrm{Al},$ ${}^{64}\mathrm{Zn}$ systems, at energies above the Coulomb barrier, in order to study the influence of the breakup of stable weakly bound nuclei on the fusion process. The analysis was completed by the inclusion of the data of fusion induced by ${}^{9}\mathrm{Be}$ and the strongly bound ${}^{16}\mathrm{O}$ and ${}^{11}\mathrm{B}$ projectiles on the same targets. The fusion excitation functions have similar behavior for all projectiles incident on both targets and they show no indication of fusion hindrance.

Abstract: We investigated the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in subjects living in the community of Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and assisted at the Health Unit of Escola Nacional de Saude Publica, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz. After formal consent, individuals were submitted to an interview using a standardized questionnaire. Anti-HAV and anti-HEV antibodies were detected by ELISA. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Epi-Info 6.04b software, to investigate possible associations between serological markers and risk factors. Results were regarded as significant when p value < 0.05. Although a high prevalence of anti-HAV was observed (87%), almost 50% of subjects under the age of 10 were susceptible to HAV infection, an unexpected rate in endemic areas. This fact could be attributed to improvements in environmental sanitation, occurring in this area in the last years. The increasing proportion of susceptible people may result in outbreaks of HAV infection, since the virus still circulates in this area, as verified by the detection of anti-HAV IgM in some individuals. No statistical association was met between HAV infection and the risk factors here assessed. The anti-HEV IgG prevalence found in this population was 2.4%, consistent with the one found in non-endemic areas.

Abstract: Summary The Atlantic coast of the North and South American continents, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, measures 37,000 km on a map of scale 1:5,000,000 (Figure 1). Portions of this coast are characterized by extensive regional mud deposits, especially where one or more rivers discharge significant quantities of suspended sediments to deltas and adjacent marginal estuaries, lagoons, chenier plains, and tidal flats. The delivery of terrigenous sediments by rivers is the main factor responsible for coastal mud deposits. Secondary factors favoring the development of muddy coastal deposits are a broad gently sloping coastal plain and adjacent shelf topography, macrotidal conditions, and the absence of energetic oceanic wind waves. Muddy coasts can equally well develop where relative sea level is rising or falling. Whereas large portions of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the USA and Mexico are subject to rapidly rising relative sea level, the Atlantic coast of South America experiences falling relative sea level. We describe five major muddy coasts along the American Atlantic in terms of their morphodynamics. These systems include (i) the mesotidal lagoon-salt marsh coast of the South Atlantic Bight (southeastern USA), (ii) the microtidal Mississippi River delta and chenier plains (USA), (iii) the macrotidal Amazon chenier plain coast of the Guyanas, (iv) the macrotidal mangrove coast of Para and Maranhao (Brazil); and (v) the microtidal la Plata estuarine system (Argentina and Uruguay).

Abstract: Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the susceptibility of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates to antimicrobial agents and to investigate the presence of plasmid DNA. Methods and Results: A total of 15 clinical isolates from children faeces, and 29 animal isolates of Campylobacter jejuni (n=22) and Campylobacter coli (n=22) were tested for susceptibility to 9 antimicrobial agents using a disc diffusion method, and screened for the presence of plasmid DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis. Of the 44 isolates, 56·8% were resistant to sulphonamide, 25% to norfloxacin, 18·2% to erythromicin, ciprofloxacin and ampicillin, and 13·6% to tetracycline. All isolates were susceptible to gentamicin, chloramphenicol and cefotaxime. Plasmids were detected in one Camp. jejuni (4·54%) strain isolated from sheep and in six (27·27%) Camp. coli strains isolated from rhesus monkey(3), swine(2), and poultry(1) with sizes ranging from 3·4 to 50 kb. Conclusions: The majority of the human isolates were susceptible to antibiotics commonly used for the treatment of campylobacteriosis. Significance and Impact of the Study: The origin and spread of Campylobacter resistance to antibiotics are discussed, with particular respect to the current situation in Brazil.

Abstract: The successful maintenance of crestal bone surrounding dental implants is imperative for long-term implant success. Crestal bone loss is reportedly related to stress. However, early perforation and partial exposure of the implant’s covering device are a focus for plaque accumulation, which, if left untreated, may result in inflammation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the crestal bone levels adjacent to submerged and exposed unloaded dental implants during the initial healing phase. In addition, the microbiota around exposed implants were studied. Bilateral implants were placed in the mandible of 10 patients. In one quadrant, the implants were covered by the flap. In the other quadrant, the flap was sutured, leaving the cover screws completely exposed. Standardized periapical radiographs were obtained at implant placement and 4 months later. Radiographs were digitalized, aligned, and analyzed with a computer-assisted method. Cultures were obtained from exposed implant sites. All patients showed more crestal bone loss around exposed dental implants compared to submerged implants. Prevotella sp., Streptococcus beta-hemoliticus, and Fusobacterium sp. were the microorganisms identified in most of the sites. The exposure of the implant covering device created foci for bacterial plaque accumulation, which may have facilitated periimplant crestal bone loss. The initial healing phase follow-up may be critical for implant success.

Abstract: Frequent, severe and long-lasting migraine attacks require prophylaxis. Established drugs used for the prevention of migraine such as β-adrenoceptor antagonists (β-blockers), calcium channel antagonists, antidepressants and others have an unknown mode of action in migraine. Their prophylactic effect in migraine was discovered by chance in clinical practice when these drugs were used for other purposes. Recently, research into the mechanisms of migraine and the progressive recognition that cortical hyperexcitability and an imbalance between neuronal inhibition [mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)] and excitation (mediated by excitatory amino acids) may play an important role in migraine pathophysiology have lead to the identification of potential new agents for the prevention of migraine attacks. This paper reviews the recent literature on these new agents. A search was conducted using MEDLINE from 1998 to November 2001 with the following search terms: migraine, preventive, prophylactic and treatment. Headache textbooks edited in 2000 and 2001 were also used. After analysing the available controlled and uncontrolled clinical studies as well as abstracts, divalproex sodium (valproate semisodium) can be recommended for the prevention of migraine. Lamotrigine may be useful for preventing aura associated with migraine, and topiramate seems a promising option pending trials with more patients, which are currently underway. Riboflavin (which is possibly involved in improving neuronal energy production) appears to be a promising agent, although comparisons with established prophylactic medications are needed. Gabapentin, magnesium, lisinopril and botulinum toxin A have recently been suggested to be effective; however, at present, there are insufficient rigorous and reliable controlled data on these drugs for them to be indicated for such use. Emerging options such as tiagabine, levetiracetam, zonisamide and petasites may all be useful, but controlled data are required to confirm their efficacy. The anti-asthma medication montelukast was found to be effective in an open trial, but ineffective in a recently completed controlled trial. There is an expectation that modern neuroscience will soon provide more efficacious and better tolerated prophylactic medications for migraine.

Abstract: In the 80’s D. Eisenbud and J. Harris considered the following problem: “What are the limits of Weierstrass points in families of curves degenerating to stable curves?” But for the case of stable curves of compact type, treated by them, this problem remained wide open since then. In the present article, we propose a concrete approach to this problem, and give a quite explicit solution for stable curves with just two irreducible components meeting at points in general position.

Abstract: We employ a real-space renormalization-group (RSRG) approach to study a mixed-spin (spin- 1 2 and spin-1) antiferromagnetic Ising model on the square lattice. The model incorporates next-nearest-neighbor interactions which are relevant to describe ferrimagnetism. We present an RSRG calculation of the spontaneous magnetization and compensation temperatures of the mixed-spin model. The influence of crystal-field and next-nearest-neighbor interactions on compensation temperatures is studied; the important physical ingredient that leads to the presence of these temperatures is the next-nearest-neighbor coupling between spins 1 2 .

Abstract: It is known that the DEA multipliers model does not allow a unique solution for the weights. This is due to the absence of unique derivatives in the extreme-efficient points, which is a consequence of the piecewise linear nature of the frontier. In this paper we propose a method to solve this problem, consisting of changing the original DEA frontier for a new one, smooth (with continuous derivatives at every point) and closest to the original frontier. We present the theoretical development for the general case, exemplified with the particular case of the BCC model with one input and one output. The 3-dimensional problem is briefly discussed. Some uses of the model are summarised, and one of them, a new Cross-Evaluation model, is presented.

Abstract: Este artigo discute as politicas publicas no setor de saude como parte da reforma do Estado brasileiro nos anos 90. A descentralizacao do Sistema Unico de Saude (SUS) e a busca de alternativas de financiamento diante de um cenario de crise economica sao os principais pontos da agenda desse periodo, no qual tambem destacou-se a forca politica adquirida pelo Ministerio da Saude a partir de 1998, na gestao de Jose Serra. Abstract This article discusses public policies for the health sector as part of the reform of the Brazilian State that was carried out during the nineties. The decentralizing of the public health system (Sistema Unico de Saude ¾ SUS) and the search for financing alternatives in the face of economic crisis are the main points on the agenda of that period, also characterized by the political force that the Ministry of Health acquired from 1998 on, with Jose Serra at its head. Resume Cet article discute de politiques publiques du secteur de la sante integrant la reforme de l'Etat bresilien dans les annees 90. La decentralisation du Systeme Unique de Sante (SUS) et la quete d'autres moyens de financement face a la crise economique sont les composantes principales de l'agenda de cette periode, ou domine egalement la force politique acquise par le Ministere de la Sante a partir de 1998, sous la gestion du ministre Jose Serra.

Abstract: Trypanosoma cruzi proteinases are involved in host cell invasion in human patients and in mouse models. In mice, murine α2-macroglobulin (MAM) and murinoglobulin are circulating plasma proteinase inhibitors that also have important roles in inflammation and immune modulation. To define their role in experimental Chagas disease, we investigated the susceptibility to T. cruzi infection of mice that are deficient only in α2-macroglobulins (AM-KO) or in both MAM and monomeric murinoglobulin-1 (MM-KO), relative to the wild type (WT). Despite the high parasite load, parasitemia was lower in AM-KO and MM-KO mice than in WT mice. Nevertheless, we observed a significantly higher parasite load in the hearts of AM-KO and MM-KO mice, i.e., more amastigote nests and inflammatory infiltrates than in WT mice. This result demonstrates a protective role for MAM in the acute phase of murine T. cruzi infection. We further demonstrated in vitro that human α2-macroglobulins altered the trypomastigote morphology and motility in a dose-dependent way, and that also impaired T. cruzi invasion in cardiomyocytes. Finally, we demonstrated that the levels of transforming growth factor β in AM-KO mice increased significantly in the third week postinfection, concomitant with high amastigote burden and important fibrosis. Combined, these in vivo and in vitro findings demonstrate that the MAM contribute to the resistance of mice to acute myocarditis induced by experimental T. cruzi infection.

Abstract: The nucleoside adenosine plays an important role as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in the central nervous system, including the retina. In the present paper we review compelling evidence showing that adenosine is a signaling molecule in the developing retina. In the chick retina, adenosine transporters are present since early stages of development before the appearance of adenosine A1 receptors modulating dopamine-dependent adenylate cyclase activity or A2 receptors that directly activate the enzyme. Experiments using retinal cell cultures revealed that adenosine is taken up by specific cell populations that when stimulated by depolarization or neurotransmitters such as dopamine or glutamate, release the nucleoside through calcium-dependent transporter-mediated mechanisms. The presence of adenosine in the extracellular medium and the long-term activation of adenosine receptors is able to regulate the survival of retinal neurons and blocks glutamate excitoxicity. Thus, adenosine besides working as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in the mature retina, is considered as an important signaling molecule during retinal development having important functions such as regulation of neuronal survival and differentiation.