Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) in the Era of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) Modulators.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a hypersensitivity disease caused by Aspergillus fumigatus (Af), prevalent in persons with cystic fibrosis (CF) or asthma. In ABPA, Af proteases drive a T-helper cell-2 (Th2)-mediated allergic immune response leading to inflammation that contributes to permanent lung damage. Corticosteroids and antifungals are the mainstays of therapies for ABPA. However, their long-term use has negative sequelae. The treatment of patients with CF (pwCF) has been revolutionized by the efficacy of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapy. Pharmacological improvement in CFTR function with highly effective elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) provides unprecedented improvements in lung function and other clinical outcomes of pwCF. The mechanism behind the improvement in patient outcomes is a continued topic of investigation as our understanding of the role of CFTR function evolves. As ETI therapy gains traction in CF management, understanding its potential impact on ABPA, especially on the allergic immune response pathways and Af infection becomes increasingly crucial for optimizing patient outcomes. This literature review aims to examine the extent of these findings and expand our understanding of the already published research focusing on the intersection between ABPA therapeutic approaches in CF and the rapid impact of the evolving CFTR modulator landscape. While our literature search yielded limited reports specifically focusing on the role of CFTR modulator therapy on CF-ABPA, findings from epidemiologic and retrospective studies suggest the potential for CFTR modulator therapies to positively influence pulmonary outcomes by addressing the underlying pathophysiology of CF-ABPA, especially by decreasing inflammatory response and Af colonization. Thus, this review highlights the promising scope of CFTR modulator therapy in decreasing the overall prevalence and incidence of CF-ABPA.

CT strain metrics allow for earlier diagnosis of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after hematopoietic cell transplant.

ABSTRACT: Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Quantitative computed tomography (qCT) can help diagnose advanced BOS meeting National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria (NIH-BOS) but has not been used to diagnose early, often asymptomatic BOS (early BOS), limiting the potential for early intervention and improved outcomes. Using pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to define NIH-BOS, early BOS, and mixed BOS (NIH-BOS with restrictive lung disease) in patients from 2 large cancer centers, we applied qCT to identify early BOS and distinguish between types of BOS. Patients with transient impairment or healthy lungs were included for comparison. PFTs were done at month 0, 6, and 12. Analysis was performed with association statistics, principal component analysis, conditional inference trees (CITs), and machine learning (ML) classifier models. Our cohort included 84 allogeneic HCT recipients, 66 with BOS (NIH-defined, early, or mixed) and 18 without BOS. All qCT metrics had moderate correlation with forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and each qCT metric differentiated BOS from those without BOS (non-BOS; P < .0001). CITs distinguished 94% of participants with BOS vs non-BOS, 85% of early BOS vs non-BOS, 92% of early BOS vs NIH-BOS. ML models diagnosed BOS with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-0.94) and early BOS with AUC of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.69-0.97). qCT metrics can identify individuals with early BOS, paving the way for closer monitoring and earlier treatment in this vulnerable population.

Long-term trends (1986-2019) in the physicochemical properties of the Sado Estuary (Portugal) driven primarily by changes in river flow and influenced by marine upwelling.

Estuaries are among the most sensitive systems to climate change. Previous studies have suggested that the Sado Estuary (Portugal) has decreasing trends for water temperature, which is uncommon in a global warming scenario. However, no long-term analysis regarding water column conditions has been conducted on this estuary to date. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to understand if and how the properties of this estuary have changed, considering a 34-year trend analysis and an assessment of their main drivers. Water temperature significantly decreased (up to 0.04 °C/year) along with chlorophyll a. Salinity increased and nutrients displayed an overall decrease. These trends were potentially driven by higher influence of upwelled water combined with a reduction of the river flow. Sado appears to have a lower vulnerability to climate change than other estuaries as it does not show a high sensitivity to changes in its water column physicochemical properties.

Method to link medicines to diseases using multiplex networks.

The reuse of well-established medicines using computational modeling has gained a lot of attention due to its tremendous benefits. Based on this perspective, a new method for linking known medicines to diseases is proposed. The creation of a new treatment or medicine can be financially and temporally costly and the reuse of medicines is one possibility to accelerate this process efficiently. The main purpose of the reuse of medicines is to reduce some stages of the development of new medicines, motivating the proposition of several methods nowadays. In this work, a new method is developed aiming to connect known medicines to diseases based on available networks of protein interactions and available lists of medicines that affect protein action. The concepts of multiplex networks are used to connect subgraphs of vertices that represent medicines and proteins. The core of the procedure is determined by a weighting strategy constructed to define precisely the more relevant connections. The method was compared to other network link methods in the literature and a case study was presented and evaluated by the proposed method.

Exploring the Benefits of Nutritional and Chemical Characteristics of Touriga Nacional and Arinto Varieties (Vitis vinifera L.).

Environmental degradation leads to an unsustainable food system. In addition to this issue, the consumption of foods that improve people's health and well-being is recommended. One of the alternatives is undoubtedly the use of by-products of winemaking, namely in the form of grape pomace flour (GPF). To verify the benefits of using the Touriga Nacional and Arinto (Vitis vinifera L.) flour varieties, analytical determinations were made to identify and quantify different components. In terms of nutritional characterization, the Touriga Nacional GPF showed results that indicate better nutritional quality than the Arinto GPF. The Touriga Nacional and Arinto samples had protein contents of 10.13% and 8.38%, polyunsaturated fatty acids of 6.66% and 5.18%, soluble dietary fiber of 14.3% and 1.7%, and insoluble dietary fiber of 55.1% and 46.4%, respectively. The anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and flavonols presented in samples were detected by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS. Atomic absorption spectrometry revealed elevated concentrations of certain elements in Touriga Nacional compared to Arinto, with the former showing higher levels of aluminum (130 mg/kg) and iron (146 mg/kg) against the latter's Al (120 mg/kg) and Fe (112 mg/kg) content. GPF could become a valuable ingredient due to its nutritional quality and high content of various polyphenols.

Development of a Multispecies Double-Antigen Sandwich ELISA Using N and RBD Proteins to Detect Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 infects humans and a broad spectrum of animal species, such as pets, zoo animals, and nondomestic animals. Monitoring infection in animals is important in terms of the risk of interspecies transmission and the emergence of new viral variants. Economical, fast, efficient, and sensitive diagnostic tests are needed to analyze animal infection. Double-antigen sandwich ELISA has the advantage of being multispecies and can be used for detecting infections caused by pathogens that infect several animal hosts. This study aimed to develop a double-antigen sandwich ELISA using two SARS-CoV-2 proteins, N and RBD. We compared its performance, when using these proteins separately, with an indirect ELISA and with a surrogate virus neutralization test. Positive and negative controls from a cat population (n = 31) were evaluated to compare all of the tests. After confirming that double-antigen sandwich ELISA with both RBD and N proteins had the best performance (AUC= 88%), the cutoff was adjusted using positive and negative samples from cats, humans (n = 32) and guinea pigs (n = 3). The use of samples from tigers (n = 2) and rats (n = 51) showed good agreement with the results previously obtained using the microneutralization test. Additionally, a cohort of samples from dogs with unknown infection status was evaluated. These results show that using two SARS-CoV-2 proteins in the double-antigen sandwich ELISA increases its performance and turns it into a valuable assay with which to monitor previous infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 in different animal species.

Increased oyster aquaculture in the Sado Estuary (Portugal): How to ensure ecosystem sustainability?

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. However, this may come with a cost, as increasing aquatic production is likely to impose changes in the environment. To ensure ecosystem sustainability, it is essential to think on this larger scale. This study aims to use the Delft3D model suite to evaluate the ecological carrying capacity for bivalve production in the Sado Estuary (Portugal), under present and future conditions (2050). Scenarios for increased oyster production resulted in reductions of chlorophyll a associated with increased nutrient concentrations. In the most extreme production scenario, which considered an increase of 100 ha in production area, a predicted decrease of 90 % in phytoplankton biomass was observed. Climate change (CC) was incorporated as an increase in sea level and water temperature, as well as a reduction in river flow. Under present oyster production conditions, CC revealed contrasting patterns, i.e. an increase in chlorophyll a concentrations and a reduction in nutrients. These results suggest that CC has a positive effect in counteracting the impacts of increased oyster production, however further research is necessary. All scenarios point to reduced dissolved oxygen concentrations, highlighting the need to monitor this parameter. Given the difficulty in defining what are unacceptable impacts to the ecosystem it would be prudent to include a socio-ecological framework in the future, in order to integrate ecosystem services and the perception of local stakeholders.

Evaluation of temporal trends and correlations of physical-chemical parameters in vast oceanic areas robust to information uncertainty.

The physical-chemical monitoring of vast oceanic areas aims at assessing the status and evolution of the environmental resource for its exploration, protection and/or better understanding. However, the interpretation of monitoring data is affected by ocean seasonality and heterogeneity, and by the quality of sampling and characterization tools used to study the environment. All these factors contribute to the uncertainty of collected information that should be expressed in determined parameter values or trends. A trend of a studied parameter quantified by values difference is significant if the observed absolute value of the difference is larger than their expanded uncertainty. The correlation of studied parameters, useful for their interpretation, is equality affected by the mentioned sources of uncertainty. This work describes the metrologically sound evaluation of trends and correlations of physicochemical parameters of vast oceanic areas where all uncertainty sources affecting the information are considered by simulating their complex impact by the Monte Carlo Method. The described methodology was successfully used to study the impact of summer upwelling in an 800 km2 coastal area offshore two large cities in Portugal. Nutrients, conductivity, salinity and temperature trends and correlations are distinguished from system heterogeneity, sampling and sample analysis uncertainty for a 99% confidence level.

A luta marajoara na atualidade: percepções de atletas e ex-atletas da modalidade / The marajoara wrestling today: perceptions of athletes and former athletes of the modality / La lucha marajoara hoy: percepciones de atletas y ex atletas de la modalidad

Resumo A Luta Marajoara (LM) vem aos poucos sendo conhecida nacional e internacionalmente como uma prática de combate corporal de expressiva efetividade e com elementos culturais importantes. O presente texto resulta de investigação exploratória que objetivou compreender, a partir das percepções de atletas e ex-atletas da LM, as tensões que envolvem essa prática corporal no âmbito de suas dimensões cultural, educacional e esportiva. A amostra é composta por 13 participantes masculinos, com idade entre 30 a 60 anos, residentes no Arquipélago do Marajó. Para a coleta de dados, foi utilizado um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturado com sete perguntas abertas. Os resultados demonstraram que a LM atravessa um processo de esportivização, de escolarização e de busca pela preservação de suas tradições. Percebe-se, ainda, a crença de que o ensino das tradições da LM para crianças pode resgatar o interesse pela modalidade, destacando o aspecto da identidade cultural do povo marajoara. (AU)

Abstract Marajoara Wrestling (MW) is being recognized, nationally and internationally, as a practice of corporal combat of expressive effectivity and with important cultural elements. The following text is the product of exploratory investigation that had the objective of identifying the perspective of athletes and former athletes of the modality about MW. The sample is composed of 13 male participants, from 30 to 60 years old, residents of the Marajó Archipelago. For the data collection a semi-structured interview script with seven open questions was utilized. The results show that MW is undergoing a process of sportification, schooling and of longing for the preservation of its traditions. It is perceptible, furthermore, that the schooling of traditions of MW to children can retrieve the interest for the modality, giving emphasis to the cultural identity of the marajoara people. (AU)

Resumen La Lucha Marajoara (LM) viene siendo, poco a poco, conocida nacional e internacionalmente, como una práctica de combate corporal de expresiva efectividad y con elementos culturales importantes. El siguiente texto resulta de la investigación exploratoria que tuvo como objetivo la identificación de perspectivas de atletas y ex atletas de LM. La muestra está compuesta por 13 participantes masculinos, con edad entre 30 y 60 años, residentes del Archipiélago de Marajó. Para la recolección de datos fue utilizado un plan de preguntas semiestructuradas con siete cuestiones abiertas. Los resultados demuestran que la LM pasa por un proceso de deportificación, de escolarización y de búsqueda por la preservación de sus tradiciones. Es nítido, además, que la enseñanza de las tradiciones de la LM a niños puede rescatar el interés de ellas por la modalidad, destacando el aspecto de la identidad cultural del pueblo marajoara. (AU)

Impacts of postpartum length at the initiation of the fixed-time artificial insemination protocol on pregnancy rates of Bos indicus beef cows.

The shortest interval between calving and initiation of fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocols recommended in Brazilian cow-calf systems is 30 d, based on research that characterized uterine involution and incidence of uterine disorders in Bos taurus females. Prevalence of uterine disorders such as subclinical endometritis is limited in Nelore (B. indicus) cows as early as 28 d after calving. We hypothesized that Nelore cows can receive an FTAI protocol as early as 20 d postpartum (DPP) and still experience satisfactory reproductive results. This study evaluated pregnancy rates in 5,258 Nelore cows (n = 1,703 primiparous and 3,555 multiparous) according to DPP at the initiation of the FTAI protocol. Cow body condition score (BCS) was recorded at FTAI, and pregnancy diagnosis was performed ~30 d after FTAI. Cows were ranked within parity by DPP at the initiation of the FTAI protocol and classified according to 5-d intervals (e.g., ≤15 DPP, 16 to 20 DPP, 21 to 26 DPP, until cows with ≥76 DPP). Data were analyzed within parity, using cow as experimental unit and orthogonal polynomial contrasts (linear, quadratic, or cubic) generated using the mean DPP of each DPP class. In both parities, cow BCS at FTAI decreased linearly (P ≤ 0.01) with the advance of DPP (e.g., 4.79, 4.00, and 3.73 in primiparous, and 4.95, 3.70, and 3.23 in multiparous cows classified as ≤15 DPP, 36 to 40 DPP, ≥76 DPP, respectively). The pregnancy rate to FTAI was affected quadratically (P < 0.01) by DPP for both parities. In primiparous cows, the pregnancy rate increased until 36 to 40 DPP (60%), remained near this level until 51 to 60 DPP, and then decreased with the advance of DPP, whereas cows classified as 21 to 25 DPP expressed satisfactory results (41.5%). In multiparous cows, the pregnancy rate increased until 46 to 50 DPP (70.8%), remained near this level until 56 to 60 DPP, and then decreased with the advance of DPP, whereas cows classified as 21 to 25 DPP also expressed satisfactory results (63.6%). Collectively, primiparous and multiparous Nelore cows evaluated herein experienced optimal pregnancy rates when the FTAI protocol was initiated within 30 to 60 DPP, although reasonable outcomes were observed when the FTAI protocol was initiated as early as 21 DPP. Hence, the interval between calving and initiation of the FTAI protocol can be shortened by 10 d in Nelore females and still yield acceptable pregnancy rates, which can be of great value to cows that calve immediately prior to or during the annual breeding season.

Tidal variability of water quality parameters in a mesotidal estuary (Sado Estuary, Portugal).

To establish effective water quality monitoring strategies in estuaries, it is imperative to identify and understand the main drivers for the variation of water quality parameters. The tidal effect is an important factor of the daily and fortnightly variability in several estuaries. However, the extent of that influence on the different physicochemical and biological parameters is still overlooked in some estuarine systems, such as the Sado Estuary, a mesotidal estuary located on the west coast of Portugal. The main objective of this study was to determine how the water quality parameters of the Sado Estuary varied with the fortnightly and the semidiurnal tidal variation. To achieve this goal, sampling campaigns were conducted in May/18, Nov/18 and Jun/19, under neap and spring tidal conditions, with data collection over the tidal cycle. Results were observed to be significantly influenced by the tidal variation, in a large area of the estuary. Flood seemed to mitigate possible effects of nutrient enrichment in the water column. Additionally, significant differences were also observed when considering the different sampling stations. Temperature, Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and nutrients showed the highest values at low water. Lastly, the implications of the tidal variability in the evaluation of the water quality according to Water Framework Directive were also discussed, highlighting the importance of studying short-time scale variations and the worst-case scenario to ensure water quality is maintained. These findings are relevant for the implementation of regional management plans and to promote sustainable development.

Evaluation of seawater composition in a vast area from the Monte Carlo simulation of georeferenced information in a Bayesian framework.

The detection of composition or pollution trends of vast environmental water areas, from a river, lake or sea, requires the determination of the mean concentration of the studied component in the studied area at defined depth in, at least, two occasions. Mean concentration estimates of a large area are robust to system heterogeneity and, if expressed with uncertainty, allow assessing if observed trends are meaningful or can be attributed to the measurement process. Mean concentration values and respective uncertainty are more accurately determined if various samples are collected from the studied area and if samples coordinates are considered. The spatial representation of concentration variation and the subsequent randomization of this model, given coordinates and samples analysis uncertainty, allows an improved characterization of studied area and the optimization of the sampling process. Recently, this evaluation methodology was described and implemented in a user-friendly MS-Excel file. This tool was upgraded to allow determinations close to zero concentration and "bottom-up" uncertainty evaluations of collected samples analysis. Since concentrations cannot be negative, this prior knowledge is merged with the original measurements in a Bayesian uncertainty evaluation that improves studied area description and sampling modelling. The Bayesian assessment avoids the underestimation of concentrations distribution by assuming that negative concentrations are impossible. This tool was successfully applied to the determination of reactive phosphate concentration in a vast ocean area of the Portuguese coast. The new version of the developed tool is made available as Supplementary Material.

Produção de significados para o esporte: uma contribuição / Production of meanings for sport: a contribution / Producción de significados para el deporte: una contribución

Objetivos: O estudo objetiva compreender o esporte enquanto fenômeno, tomando recortes no debate acadêmico em âmbito nacional, utilizando contribuições do Modelo Teórico dos Campos Semânticos (MTCS). Método: Para alcançar tal objetivo utilizou-se uma ferramenta de citação da Plataforma Lattes (CNPq) para localizar referências para o esporte, como Bracht (1997), Kunz (1994), Tubino (2003), Assis de Oliveira (2010) e Borges e Furtado (2019). Resultados: Em seguida, foram utilizados os elementos do MTCS como categorias de análise, resultando em significados similares como reformulação e reinvenção, além de significados antagônicos como continuidade e ruptura. Conclusão: Deste modo, a discussão foi construída em torno das divergências e convergências presentes nos significados analisados, inferindo-se que esse Modelo possibilita uma nova forma de análise que permite uma compreensão diferenciada do fenômeno esportivo.

Objective: The study aims to understand sport as a phenomenon, taking cuts in the academic debate at national level, using contributions from the Theoretical Model of the Semantic Fields (MTCS).Method:To achieve this goal, a citation tool from the Lattes Platform (CNPq) was used to locate references for the sport, such as Bracht (1997), Kunz (1994), Tubino (2003), Assis de Oliveira (2010) and Borges and Furtado (2019).Results: Then, the elements of the MTCS were used as categories of analysis, resulting in similar meanings such as reformulation and reinvention, in addition to antagonistic meanings such as continuity and rupture. Conclusion: In this way, the discussion was built around the divergences and convergences present in the meanings analyzed, inferring that this Model enablesa new form of analysis that allows a differentiated understanding of the sports phenomenon.

Objetivo: El estudio tiene como objetivo entender el deporte como un fenómeno, tomando recortes en el debate académico a nivel nacional, utilizando las contribuciones del Modelo Teórico de los Campos Semánticos (MTCS). Metodología: Para lograr este objetivo, se utilizó una herramienta de citas de la Plataforma Lattes (CNPq) para localizar referencias para el deporte, como Bracht (1997), Kunz (1994), Tubino (2003), Assis de Oliveira (2010) y Borges y Furtado (2019). Resultados: Luego, los elementos del MTCS se usaron como categorías de análisis, lo que resultó en significados similares como lareformulación y la reinvención, además de significados antagónicos como la continuidad y la ruptura. Conclusión: De esta manera, la discusión se construyó alrededor de las divergencias y convergencias presentes en los significados analizados, inferiendo que este modelo permite una nueva forma de análisis que permite una comprensión diferenciada del fenómeno deportivo.

Determination of river water composition trends with uncertainty: Seasonal variation of nutrients concentration in Tagus river estuary in the dry 2017 year.

The assessment of long-term trends in river water composition is hampered by river composition heterogeneity, and sampling and sample analysis uncertainty. This work describes a novel methodology for the reliable detection of small river composition trends by taking all relevant uncertainty components into account. The methodology was applied to study the variation of nutrients concentration of Tagus river estuary in the extremely dry 2017 year. Mean nutrient concentrations were determined with an uncertainty that combines sampling and sample analysis uncertainty by the Monte Carlo Method. The nutrient concentration variation observed in two occasions is meaningful if the difference of mean concentrations is metrologically different from zero for a 95% confidence level. The observed meaningful NO2 increase, and SiO2 and NOx variations is justified by dissolved oxygen reduction, decreased freshwater input and algal productivity variations. The developed tool can be applied to the assessment of other composition trends in rivers.

A DOMAIN DECOMPOSITION PRECONDITIONING FOR AN INVERSE VOLUME SCATTERING PROBLEM.

We propose domain decomposition preconditioners for the solution of an integral equation formulation of the acoustic forward and inverse scattering problems. We study both forward and inverse volume problems and propose preconditioning techniques to accelerate the iterative solvers. For the forward scattering problem, we extend the domain decomposition based preconditioning techniques presented for partial differential equations in "A restricted additive Schwarz preconditioner for general sparse linear systems", SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing, 21 (1999), pp. 792-797, to integral equations. We combine this domain decomposition preconditioner with a low-rank correction, which is easy to construct, forming a new preconditioner. For the inverse scattering problem, we use the forward problem preconditioner as a building block for constructing a preconditioner for the Gauss-Newton Hessian. We present numerical results that demonstrate the performance of both preconditioning strategies.

Usos de espaços públicos de esporte e lazer: um estudo na região metropolitana de Belém / Uses of public sports and leisure spaces: a study in the metropolitan region of Belém

O texto analisa os usos dos espaços e equipamentos públicos de esporte e lazer na Região Metropolitana de Belém/PA, com características de não localização à margem do mar, grande concentração urbana e insuficiência de equipamentos e espaços adequados às práticas. A questão problema surge das dificuldades enfrentadas pela demanda crescente por práticas corporais e como o Estado se comporta enquanto agente regulador dos espaços para suas práticas. A metodologia se dá por um protocolo de coleta de dados que envolvem mapeamentos, aplicação de questionários, entrevistas e inserção etnográfica, sendo a análise dos dados operada pela técnica de Análise de conteúdo. Os resultados apontam para reprodução do fenômeno já observado em outros locais alcançados pelo projeto de pesquisa original, no entanto, com comportamento diferenciado dos usos operados pela iniciativa privada. Entre as principais explicações, atribuímos à própria constituição dos espaços e equipamentos, frequentemente inadequados às práticas, mas sem que se exijam políticas públicas em nível primário.

This paper analyzes the uses of public spaces and equipment for sports and leisure in the Belém Metropolitan Region / PA, with characteristics of non-location by the sea, large urban concentration and insufficient equipment and spaces adequate to the practices. The problem issue arises from the difficulties faced by the growing demand for bodily practices and how the State behaves as a space regulator for its practices. The methodology is based on a data collection protocol that involves mappings, questionnaires, interviews and ethnographic insertion. Data analysis was performed using the Content Analysis technique. The results point to the reproduction of the phenomenon already observed in other places reached by the original research project, however, with differentiated behavior from the uses operated by the private initiative. Among the main explanations, we attribute to the very constitution of spaces and equipment, often inadequate to practice, but without requiring public policies at the primary level.

Optimization of River Sampling: Application to Nutrients Distribution in Tagus River Estuary.

The assessment of river water pollution trends is affected by the seasonal variation of river conditions, the variability of pollution sources, the heterogeneity of pollutants distribution, the representativeness/uncertainty of sampling, and the uncertainty of sample analysis. This work presents a methodology to model the uncertainty of river water sampling based on available information about the spatial distribution of the studied parameter in the river. The uncertainty from "single sampling" (SS) or by production of a composite sample by mixing m subsamples collected randomly (RS) or in a line that crosses the sampling circle (LS) was studied. This methodology was applied to the determination of nutrients (NO x, NO2, PO4, and SiO2) in an area of the Tagus River estuary with a range of about 350 m. This methodology can be applied to the determination of the mean value of other parameters in other river areas requiring a previous study of system heterogeneity. The spatial distribution of nutrients in the studied river area was characterized from the analysis of 10 samples collected at known geographical coordinates. The system heterogeneity was described by a three-dimensional ( x, y, z) surface with x and y variables for samples positions and z variable representing the measured nutrient levels. The randomization of this surface for the uncertainty of coordinates and repeatability of nutrient concentration measurement, using Monte Carlo simulations, allowed estimation of the uncertainty of the three sampling strategies: SS, RS, and LS. The uncertainty from RS and LS is equivalent and significantly smaller than that from SS when at least three subsamples are mixed in the composite sample. The sampling relative standard uncertainty ranged from 0.31% to 4.4%, producing nutrient concentration estimates in the river area with a relative expanded uncertainty from 5.9% to 10% with approximately 95% confidence level (coverage factor of 2). The used spreadsheet is available as Supporting Information.

Bioactivities of decoctions from Plectranthus species related to their traditional use on the treatment of digestive problems and alcohol intoxication.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Decoctions of Plectranthus species are traditionally ingested after large meals for treatment of food digestion and alcohol abuse. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims at associating the digestion-related ethno-uses of Plectranthus species decoctions to molecular mechanism that might explain them: easing digestion (AChE inhibition) and treating hangover (ADH inhibition) MATERIAL AND METHODS: Decoctions from Plectranthus species were analysed for their alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) inhibition and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, related with alcohol metabolism and intestinal motility, respectively. Identification of the active components was carried out by LC-MS/MS and the docking studies were performed with AChE and the bioactive molecules detected. RESULTS: All decoctions inhibited ADH activity. This inhibition was correlated with their rosmarinic acid (RA) content, which showed an IC50 value of 19 µg/mL, similar to the reference inhibitor CuCl2. The presence of RA also leads to most decoctions showing AChE inhibiting capacity. P. zuluensis decoction with an IC50 of 80 µg/mL presented also medioresinol, an even better inhibitor of AChE, as indicated by molecular docking studies. Furthermore, all decoctions tested showed no toxicity towards two human cell lines, and a high capacity to quench free radicals (DPPH), which also play a helpful in the digestive process, related with their RA content. CONCLUSIONS: All activities presented by the RA-rich Plectranthus decoctions support their use in treating digestion disorders and P. barbatus could explain its use also for alleviating hangover symptoms. Medioresinol, which is present in P. zuluensis, exhibited a significant AChE inhibition and may provide, in the future, a new lead for bioactive compounds.

Relação público-privado nos usos das orlas dos municípios de Serra e Vitória ­ ES / Public-private relationship in the uses of the borders of the municipalities of Serra and Vitória ­ ES

Este estudo é uma discussão a partir do subprojeto de uma pesquisa que tem a intenção de investigar a relação público-privado a partir dos usos que a iniciativa privada estabelece sobre os espaços públicos. Analisaram-se os usos das orlas em projetos de intervenção com esporte e lazer e de como opera a política, de tal forma a identificar como estas ações incidem sobre os direitos constitucionalmente previstos de acesso ao esporte e ao lazer. Nos procedimentos metodológicos, utilizamos como planos de pesquisa os estudos descritivo e explicativo; mapeamentos e questionários com os responsáveis pelas intervenções. Os resultados apontam para concepções sobre espaço público como espaço para todos, mas, ocupado de acordo com interesses pessoais; concepção unívoca de benefícios nas parceiras e; oferta de serviços sem institucionalização e regulamentação, mostrando ausência de responsabilidades do Estado.

This study is a discussion from the subproject of a research that intends to investigate the public-private relationship of the uses of the private sector on public spaces. It was analyzed the uses of waterfront beaches in intervention projects with sports and leisure and how politics operates in such a way to identify how these actions affect the rights constitutionally previewed to this access to sport and leisure. In the methodological procedures, it was used as research plans the descriptive and explanatory studies; mapping and questionnaires with those responsible for interventions. The results indicate conceptions of public space as a space for everyone, but, used according to personal interests; univocal conception of the partner benefits and; offer without institutionalization and regulation services, showing the absence of responsibilities of the State.

Educação cidadã pelo lazer: a contribuição das políticas públicas de esporte e lazer / Citizenship education for leisure: the contribution of public policy of sport and leisure

O texto é um ensaio construído a partir de uma revisão de literatura no qual se discute a hipótese de que é possível a experiência do exercício de cidadania pela vivência concreta e completa em ações de políticas públicas de esporte e lazer. Segundo se poderá descobrir ao longo do desenvolvimento, o exercício de cidadania poderá ocorrer se a experiência for vivenciada como direito social perspectivado tanto na redistribuição como no reconhecimento como critérios de justiça. Como argumentos, o texto desenvolve a discussão de conceitos-chave que contribuem para o debate, entre os quais: política pública, direito, cidadania, esporte e lazer.

The text is an essay constructed from a literature review in which he discusses the hypothesis that it is possible to experience the exercise of citizenship by concrete experience and full public policy actions in sport and leisure. Second if you can find throughout the development, the exercise of citizenship can occur if the experience is experienced as social law as envisaged in both the redistribution and recognition criteria of justice. As arguments, the text develops the discussion of key concepts that contribute to the debate, including: public policy, law, citizenship, sport and leisure.