Does orthognathic surgery have an incidentally beneficial effect on mild or asymptomatic sleep apnoea?

A prospective study was performed to assess the effect of orthognathic surgery on mild obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in patients with an underlying dentofacial deformity treated for occlusal and/or aesthetic reasons. As the main outcome variables, changes in upper airway volume and apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) were evaluated at 1 and 12 months of follow-up, in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery with widening movements of the maxillomandibular complex. Descriptive, bivariate, and correlation analyses were performed; significance was set at P < 0.05. Eighteen patients diagnosed with mild OSA were enroled (mean age 39.8 ± 10.0 years). An overall upper airway volume widening of 46.7% after orthognathic surgery was observed at 12 months of follow-up. The AHI decreased significantly from a median 7.7 events/hour preoperatively to 5.0 events/h at 12 months postoperative (P = 0.045), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale score decreased from a median 9.5 preoperatively to 7 at 12 months postoperative (P = 0.009). A cure rate of 50% was obtained at 12 months of follow-up (P = 0.009). Despite the limited sample size, this study provides evidence that in patients with an underlying retrusive dentofacial deformity and mild OSA, a slight decrease in AHI is obtained after orthognathic surgery due to upper airway enlargement, which could be added as a beneficial effect of orthognathic surgery.

The Influence of the Synthesis Method on the Characteristics of BaTiO3.

In this work, barium titanate powders were produced by sol-gel and sol-precipitation methods from metal alkoxides. In the sol-gel method, tetraisopropyl orthotitanate was mixed with 2-propanol, acetic acid and barium acetate, and the gel samples obtained were calcined at 600 °C, 800 °C and 1000 °C. Through the sol-precipitation method, tetraisopropyl orthotitanate was mixed with acetic acid and deionized water and precipitated by the addition of a concentrated solution of KOH. The products were calcined at various temperatures, and the microstructural and dielectric properties of the BaTiO3 prepared for the two processes were analyzed and compared. The results of these analyses allowed us to observe an increase in the tetragonal phase and the dielectric constant (15-50 at 20 kHz) with increasing temperatures in the samples produced by the sol-gel method, while the sample obtained by sol precipitation was cubic. The presence of BaCO3 is more evident in the sample produced by sol-precipitation, and the band gap of the products obtained did not show significant variation, changing the synthesis method (3.363-3.594 eV).

Apoptosis-modulatory miR-361-3p as a novel treatment target in endocrine-responsive and endocrine-resistant breast cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. In estrogen receptor (ER)-positive disease, anti-estrogens and aromatase inhibitors (AI) improve patient survival; however, many patients develop resistance. Dysregulation of apoptosis is a common resistance mechanism; thus, agents that can reinstate the activity of apoptotic pathways represent promising therapeutics for advanced drug-resistant disease. Emerging targets in this scenario include microRNAs (miRs). To identify miRs modulating apoptosis in drug-responsive and -resistant BC, a high-throughput miR inhibitor screen was performed, followed by high-content screening microscopy for apoptotic markers. Validation demonstrated that miR-361-3p inhibitor significantly increases early apoptosis and reduces proliferation of drug-responsive (MCF7), plus AI-/antiestrogen-resistant derivatives (LTED, TamR, FulvR), and ER- cells (MDA-MB-231). Importantly, proliferation-inhibitory effects were observed in vivo in a xenograft model, indicating the potential clinical application of miR-361-3p inhibition. RNA-seq of tumour xenografts identified FANCA as a direct miR-361-3p target, and validation suggested miR-361-3p inhibitor effects might be mediated in part through FANCA modulation. Moreover, miR-361-3p inhibition resulted in p53-mediated G1 cell cycle arrest through activation of p21 and reduced BC invasion. Analysis of publicly available datasets showed miR-361-3p expression is significantly higher in primary breast tumours vspaired normal tissue and is associated with decreased overall survival. In addition, miR-361-3p inhibitor treatment of BC patient explants decreased levels of miR-361-3p and proliferation marker, Ki67. Finally, miR-361-3p inhibitor showed synergistic effects on BC growth when combined with PARP inhibitor, Olaparib. Together, these studies identify miR-361-3p inhibitor as a potential new treatment for drug-responsive and -resistant advanced BC.

Therapeutic yoga reduces pro-tumorigenic cytokines in cancer survivors.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic inflammation can remain many years after the completion of cancer treatment and is associated with cancer recurrence. The purpose of this study was to examine how a 16-week therapeutic yoga program (TYP) modulates the cytokine profile in heterogeneous cancer survivors. METHODS: Eligible participants were 18 years of age or older and clinically diagnosed with cancer. Consenting participants were asked to attend three, 75-min sessions weekly of TYP with meditation. Seventeen patients provided blood samples at baseline and end of study. Eight cytokines (interferon (IFN)-γ; interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-1ra, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10; and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α), three receptors (sIL-6R, sTNFRI, sTNFRII), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were quantified. RESULTS: Patients were 59.6 ± 7.3 years old; over half (56%) were overweight or obese BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2); majority were female (71%) and breast cancer survivors (65%), of which 44% were Hispanic. Marked reductions were observed in all cytokines except IL-4, with significant reductions (p < 0.05) found in IL-1b (- 13%) and IL-1ra (- 13%). No significant changes were observed in soluble cytokine receptors or CRP. CONCLUSIONS: TYP led to significant reduction in circulating cytokines associated with chronic inflammation in a heterogeneous sample of cancer survivors.

Universal dynamical scaling laws in three-state quantum walks.

We perform a finite-time scaling analysis over the detrapping point of a three-state quantum walk on the line. The coin operator is parametrized by ρ that controls the wave packet spreading velocity. The input state prepared at the origin is set as a symmetric linear combination of two eigenstates of the coin operator with a characteristic mixing angle θ, one of them being the component that results in full spreading occurring at θ_{c}(ρ) for which no fraction of the wave packet remains trapped near the initial position. We show that relevant quantities, such as the survival probability and the participation ratio assume single parameter scaling forms at the vicinity of the detrapping angle θ_{c}. In particular, we show that the participation ratio grows linearly in time with a logarithmic correction, thus, shedding light on previous reports of sublinear behavior.

Addressing the COVID-19 transmission in inner Brazil by a mathematical model.

In 2020, the world experienced its very first pandemic of the globalized era. A novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is the causative agent of severe pneumonia and has rapidly spread through many nations, crashing health systems and leading a large number of people to death. In Brazil, the emergence of local epidemics in major metropolitan areas has always been a concern. In a vast and heterogeneous country, with regional disparities and climate diversity, several factors can modulate the dynamics of COVID-19. What should be the scenario for inner Brazil, and what can we do to control infection transmission in each of these locations? Here, a mathematical model is proposed to simulate disease transmission among individuals in several scenarios, differing by abiotic factors, social-economic factors, and effectiveness of mitigation strategies. The disease control relies on keeping all individuals' social distancing and detecting, followed by isolating, infected ones. The model reinforces social distancing as the most efficient method to control disease transmission. Moreover, it also shows that improving the detection and isolation of infected individuals can loosen this mitigation strategy. Finally, the effectiveness of control may be different across the country, and understanding it can help set up public health strategies.

Adaptive SIR model for propagation of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil.

We study the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil based on official data available since March 22, 2020. Calculations are done via an adaptive susceptible-infected-removed (SIR) model featuring dynamical recuperation and propagation rates. We are able reproduce the number of confirmed cases over time with less than 5% error and also provide with short- and long-term predictions. The model can also be used to account for the epidemic dynamics in other countries with great accuracy.

Spatial and sociodemographic factors associated with surgical site infection rates in hospitals in inner São Paulo State, Brazil.

Low-to-middle-income countries often have high incidence of surgical site infection (SSI). To assess spatial and sociodemographic predictors of SSI rates, this study analysed and georeferenced governmental surveillance data from 385 hospitals located in inner São Paulo State, Brazil. In multi-variate models, SSI rates were positively associated with distance from the state capital [incidence rate ratio (IRR) for each 100 km 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.32], and were lower for non-profit (IRR 0.95, 95% CI 0.37-0.85) and private (IRR 0.47, 95% CI 0.31-0.71) facilities compared with public hospitals. Georeferencing results reinforced the need to direct SSI-prevention policies to hospitals located in areas distant from the state capital.

Pickering emulsions based on food byproducts: A comprehensive study of soluble and insoluble contents.

HYPOTHESIS: Pickering emulsions can be produced using raw particles obtained from uncracked vegetal food byproducts as sole stabilizers. The complexity brought by these non-purified ingredients will be their strength since insoluble particles and soluble compounds shall display good complementary properties, at the interface and the continuous phase. EXPERIMENTS: Emulsions were monitored over a one-month storage as regards to oil droplet diameter as main indicator of stability. Then, two main studies were carried out: 1) on the whole powders (water binding capacity, dry matter and insoluble content, size and morphology); 2) on the soluble content (size, charge, pH, Brix degree, surface tension measurements). FINDINGS: All byproducts stabilized-emulsions were stable during storage. They display various oil droplet sizes with sugar beet < apple < oat. Direct observation of the oil-water interfaces showed adsorption of the solid particles, and some voids corresponding to soluble elements from the byproducts' powders. The latter displayed surface-active properties. The insoluble particles are driving the oil droplet size and protecting against coalescence while soluble compounds can also adsorb at the interface, lowering droplet size, and also act as thickening agents from the continuous phase (pectins). Vegetal byproducts are thus meta ingredients, able to stabilize clean-label emulsions.

Application of the "real options theory" method to the production systems used in dairy cattle farming / [Aplicação do método "Teoria das Opções Reais" nos sistemas de produção utilizados na bovinocultura leiteira]

The objective of this study was to analyze applications of real options theory for increasing the productivity of Mantiqueira ecotype dairy cows kept in guinea grass pastures with different sources of bulky supplementation (black oats, fodder cane, or sorghum silage), because the traditional methodologies do not consider the uncertainties related to this activity. Real options theory, an investment evaluation method, fills this gap as its most significant feature is its flexibility to act on uncertain events. Based on the results obtained for two economic indicators, the net present value and internal rate of return, and considering the production items identified in the sensitivity analysis, this study evaluated the expansion flexibility of each system using the real options theory methodology in discrete time as proposed by Copeland and Antikarov (2001). The analysis of the expansion options showed that the values of the production systems increased by 6.73%, 1.21%, and 19.49% for the systems supplemented with sorghum silage, black oats, and fodder cane, respectively. The expanded net present values were R$ 141,642.39, R$ 64,211.08, and R$ 58,013.07 for the systems that adopted bulky supplementation with black oats, fodder cane, and sorghum silage, respectively.(AU)

Objetivou-se analisar a aplicação da Teoria das Opções Reais para expansão da produtividade de vacas leiteiras do ecótipo Mantiqueira, mantidas em pastagem de capim-Mombaça com fornecimento de diferentes fontes de suplementação volumosa (aveia-preta, cana-forrageira ou silagem de sorgo), uma vez que as metodologias tradicionais não consideram as incertezas presentes na atividade. A Teoria de Opções Reais é um método de avaliação de investimento que possui como maior característica a valoração da flexibilidade de agir a eventos incertos, preenchendo, assim, a lacuna deixada pelo método tradicional. A partir dos resultados obtidos pelos indicadores econômicos valor presente líquido e taxa interna de retorno, em conjunto com os itens de produção identificados na análise de sensibilidade, foi possível avaliar o valor da flexibilidade de expansão que cada sistema apresentou. A flexibilidade de expansão foi avaliada utilizando-se a metodologia Teoria das Opções Reais, proposta por Copeland e Antikarov (2001), em tempo discreto. O resultado da análise da opção de expansão apresentou aumento nos valores dos sistemas de produção, na ordem de 6,73%, 1,21% e 19,49%, para os sistemas suplementados com silagem de sorgo, aveia-preta e cana-forrageira, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos para os valores presentes líquidos expandidos foram de R$ 141.642,39, R$ 64.211,08 e R$ 58.013,07, para os sistemas que adotaram a suplementação volumosa com aveia-preta, cana-forrageira e silagem de sorgo, respectivamente.(AU)

Taking the inner route: spatial and demographic factors affecting vulnerability to COVID-19 among 604 cities from inner São Paulo State, Brazil.

Even though the impact of COVID-19 in metropolitan areas has been extensively studied, the geographic spread to smaller cities is also of great concern. We conducted an ecological study aimed at identifying predictors of early introduction, incidence rates of COVID-19 and mortality (up to 8 May 2020) among 604 municipalities in inner São Paulo State, Brazil. Socio-demographic indexes, road distance to the state capital and a classification of regional relevance were included in predictive models for time to COVID-19 introduction (Cox regression), incidence and mortality rates (zero-inflated binomial negative regression). In multivariable analyses, greater demographic density and higher classification of regional relevance were associated with both early introduction and increased rates of COVID-19 incidence and mortality. Other predictive factors varied, but distance from the State Capital (São Paulo City) was negatively associated with time-to-introduction and with incidence rates of COVID-19. Our results reinforce the hypothesis of two patterns of geographical spread of SARS-Cov-2 infection: one that is spatial (from the metropolitan area into the inner state) and another which is hierarchical (from urban centres of regional relevance to smaller and less connected municipalities). Those findings may apply to other settings, especially in developing and highly heterogeneous countries, and point to a potential benefit from strengthening non-pharmaceutical control strategies in areas of greater risk.

Absolute basophil count is associated with time to recurrence in patients with high-grade T1 bladder cancer receiving bacillus Calmette-Guérin after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor.

BACKGROUND: Basophils, eosinophils and monocytes may be involved in BCG-induced immune responses and be associated with outcomes of bladder cancer patients receiving intravesical BCG. Our objective was to explore the association of baseline counts of basophils, eosinophils and monocytes with outcomes of patients with high-grade T1 bladder cancer receiving a standard course of intravesical BCG. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with primary T1 HG/G3 bladder cancer. After re-TURBT, patients were treated with a 6-week course of intravesical BCG induction followed by intravesical BCG every week for 3 weeks given at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months from initiation of therapy The analysis of potential risk factors for recurrence, muscle invasion and cancer-specific and overall survival was performed using univariable Cox regression models. Those factors that presented, at univariate analysis, an association with the event at a liberal p < 0.1, have been selected for the development of a multivariable model. RESULTS: A total of 1045 patients with primary T1 HG/G3 were included. A total of 678 (64.9%) recurrences, 303 (29.0%) progressions and 150 (14.3%) deaths were observed during follow-up. Multivariate analysis showed that logarithmic transformation of basophils count was associated with a 30% increment in the hazard of recurrence per unit increase of logarithmic basophils count (HR 1.30; 95% confidence interval 1.09-1.54; p = 0.0026). Basophil count modeled by quartiles was also significantly associated with time to recurrence [second vs. lower quartile HR 1.42 (1.12-1.79); p = 0.003, third vs. lower quartile HR 1.26 (1.01-1.57); p = 0.041; upper vs. lower quartile HR 1.36 (1.1-1.68); p = 0.005]. The limitations of a retrospective study are applicable. CONCLUSION: Baseline basophil count may predict recurrence in BCG-treated HG/G3 T1 bladder cancer patients. External validation is warranted.

Frailty Could Predict Death in Older Adults after Admissionat Emergency Department? A 6-month Prospective Study from a Middle-Income Country.

BACKGROUND: The number of older adults attending emergency department (ED) is increasing all over the world. Usually, those patients are potentially more complex due to their greater number of comorbidities, cognitive disorders, and functional or physical disabilities. Frailty is a vulnerable state that could predict adverse outcomes of those patients. There are very few studies that addressed this topic in the ED, and none of them used a simple instrument for frailty assessment. OBJECTIVES: The primary outcome was to evaluate the association between frailty identified through the FRAIL questionnaire at baseline and death after a 6-month follow-up period after hospital discharge from the ED. Secondary outcomes were readmission to the ED and disability after 6 months. METHODS: A 6-month follow-up prospective study (FASES study) was conducted at a university-based trauma-center ED in Jundiaí, southwestern of Brazil. A total of 316 older adults aged 60 or older were randomly included based on a lottery of their medical record admission number. Frailty was evaluated through the FRAIL questionnaire. The association between frailty and death was estimated through a binary logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, and cognitive performance. RESULTS: From the total sample, the mean age was 72.11±8.0 years, and 51.6% were women. Participants presented 2.28±1.4 comorbidities and 25.6% were frail. Mean hospital stay was 5.43±5.6 days. Death occurred in 52 participants, readmission to the emergency in 55, and new disability in 16 after 6 months. Frailty was associated with an odds ratio of 2.18 for death after 6 months (95% CI = 1.10-4.31; p = 0.024). This association lost significance after multivariate analysis taking into account cognitive performance. There was no association between frailty status at baseline and readmission to the ED or disability. CONCLUSION: The identification of frailty using the FRAIL at admission was not predictive of death after a 6-month period after discharge from the ED. Simple frailty assessment could identify patients at higher risk for death in the follow-up.

Torsional behaviour of Reciproc and Reciproc blue instruments associated with their martensitic transformation temperatures.

AIM: To compare the martensitic transformation temperatures and torsional resistance behaviour of classic M-Wire Reciproc and Reciproc blue files (VDW, Munich, Germany). METHODOLOGY: M-Wire classic Reciproc R25 and Reciproc blue R25 instruments were used. Transformation temperatures were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC-DSC 60, Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan). Three samples with approximately 20 mg of each system were cooled to -120 °C and then heated to 100 °C and then cooled to -100 °C at a rate of 10 °C min-1 . The maximum torque values and angular deflection until fracture of new instruments (n = 10) were measured according to ISO 3630-1. Results were analysed statistically using the Student's t-test at a significance level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: DSC results revealed the absence of martensitic transformation for Reciproc instruments in the temperature range analysed. In both systems, the instruments were composed of a mixture of R-phase and austenite at room temperature. After torsional tests, Reciproc blue had significantly lower values for mean maximum torque at rupture (P < 0.05), although the angular deflection values were significantly higher than the Reciproc classic group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both Reciproc and Reciproc blue instruments were composed of a mixture of R-phase and austenite. Reciproc Blue instruments had a greater angle of rotation to fracture but a lower torque to failure than M-Wire Reciproc instruments.

Localization-delocalization transition in discrete-time quantum walks with long-range correlated disorder.

We study the effects of spatially long-range correlated phase disorder on the Hadamard quantum walk on a line. The shift operator is built to exhibit an intrinsic disorder distribution featuring long-range correlations. To impose such, we resort to fractional Brownian motion with power-law spectrum 1/k^{2α} with α≥0 being the exponent that controls the degree of correlations. We discuss the scaling behavior of the walker's wave packet and report a localization-delocalization transition controlled by α. We unveil two intermediate dynamical regimes between exponential localization and full delocalization.

Heterologous expression of an alternative oxidase from Moniliophthora perniciosa in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Antioxidant function and in vivo platform for the study of new drugs against witches' broom disease.

The fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa is the causal agent of witches' broom disease (WBD), one of the most devastating diseases of cacao, the chocolate tree. Many strategies to control WBD have been tested so far, including the use of agrochemicals such as the strobilurins. Strobilurins are fungicides of the QoI family, and they are used in the control of a wide array of fungal diseases in many different crops, including cereals, field crops, fruits, tree nuts, and vegetables. These drugs act by specifically inhibiting fungal respiration at the Qo site of complex III, which is a component of the main mitochondrial respiratory chain. However, M. perniciosa is resistant to this family of chemicals. It has been postulated that this resistant phenotype is, at least in part, a result of the strong ability of this fungus to counteract the oxidative stress generated by the impairment of the main mitochondrial respiratory chain, through the activation of an alternative oxidase (Mp-AOX). To test this hypothesis, we expressed functional mitochondria-localized Mp-AOX in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We demonstrated that heterologous expression of Mp-AOX strongly inhibits hydrogen peroxide production by mitochondria. It also diminishes the total cell amount of oxidized glutathione (GSSG), resulting in a fifty-fold higher GSH/GSSG ratio in cells expressing Mp-AOX than in wild type cells. In addition, Mp-AOX activity decreases yeast growth rate and leads to low biomass production. Therefore, we propose the use of this heterologous expression system to direct the development of new inhibitors of fungal AOX by comparing the differences in optical density of Mp-AOX-expressing cells in the presence and absence of potential AOX inhibitors. Together, our results confirm the antioxidant role of Mp-AOX and provide an in vivo platform to be used in the screening of new fungicides based on Mp-AOX inhibition.

Nitinol versus non-Nitinol prostheses in otosclerosis surgery: a meta-analysis.

The aim of this study is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies in which hearing outcomes after primary stapes surgery have been reported. After the surgical procedure, the effectiveness of stapes surgery using nickel titanium (Nitinol) or other prostheses were systematically compared and evaluated using a meta-analytic method. A systematic search for articles before January 2017 in Embase, Medline and Cochrane Library databases was conducted. Only articles in English were included. Inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis consisted of a population of otosclerosis patients, intervention with primary stapes surgery using the Nitinol heat-crimping prosthesis compared with other type of stapes stapedotomy prostheses, and hearing outcome. Inclusion criteria for quantitative analysis consisted of application of audiometry guidelines of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium for evaluation of conductive hearing loss. A postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) ≤ 10 dB was considered effective. A bias assessment tool was developed according to Cochrane guidelines. To evaluate the mean age of the samples we used the chi-square test. Of the 4926 papers identified through the electronic database search (3695 in Pubmed/Cochrane and 1231 in Embase), 540 studies matched the selection criteria (436 in Pubmed/Cochrane and 104 in Embase) after application of filters and elimination of duplicate articles. After analysis of the title and abstract, 459 were excluded (396 in Pubmed/Cochrane and 63 in Embase). Of the remaining 81 papers, 74 were excluded according to the study selection criteria. A total of seven eligible studies with 1385 subjects, consisting of 637 in the Nitinol group and 748 in the non-Nitinol group, were included in our study. There were statistically significant differences in the effectiveness of stapes surgery between the Nitinol and non-Nitinol prostheses; the data showed a combined odds ratio (OR) of 2.56 (95% CI 1.38-4.76, p = 0.003). There were no statistically significant differences in the mean pre-operative age between Nitinol and non-Nitinol prostheses (p = 0.931). Our results suggest that the effectiveness of Nitinol was higher than non-Nitinol prostheses, with superiority of the number of patients with ABG ≤ 10 dB.

Polypharmacy but not Potential Inappropriate Prescription Was Associated with Frailty in Older Adults from a Middle-Income Country Outpatient Clinic.

OBJECTIVES: the aims of the present study were: (1) investigate the prevalence and association of polypharmacy and pre-frailty or frailty in a middle-income country sample of older adults; and (2) evaluate the prevalence of potential inappropriate prescription (PIP) and its association with pre-frailty or frailty. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Outpatient center at a university-based hospital in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 629 older adults from both sexes evaluated between June 2014 and July 2016. MEASUREMENTS: Frailty was identified through the FRAIL scale. All medications received were analyzed by research staff. Presence of PIP was evaluated according to the 2015 updated Beers list. Binary logistic regression tested the association between 4 definitions of polypharmacy (≥ 3, 4, 5, and 6 drugs), and presence of PIP, and the dependent variable pre-frailty and frailty. RESULTS: 15.7% of participants were frail. Polypharmacy was present in 219 (34.8%), and PIP was observed in 184 (29.3%) older adults. All definitions of polypharmacy were significantly associated with frailty (OR between 2.05 to 2.34, p < 0.001). Polypharmacy with 4 or 5 or more drugs were associated with pre-frailty (OR 1.53 and 1.47, respectively). PIP was not associated with frailty (OR 1.47, p = 0.149). CONCLUSIONS: Several definitions of polypharmacy were associated with frailty, but only two were associated with pre-frailty. The presence of PIP was not associated with pre-frailty or frailty.

In Situ Miniaturised Solid Phase Extraction (m-SPE) for Organic Pollutants in Seawater Samples.

Solid phase extraction (SPE) is a consolidated technique for determining pollutants in seawater samples. The current tendency is to miniaturise systems that extract and determine pollutants in the environment, reducing the use of organic solvents, while maintaining the quality in the extraction and preconcentration. On the other hand, there is a need to develop new extraction systems that can be fitted to in situ continual monitoring buoys, especially for the marine environment. This work has developed a first model of a low-pressure micro-SPE (m-SPE) for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that can be simply applied to in situ monitoring in the marine environment. This system reduces the volumes of sample and solvents required in the laboratory in comparison with conventional SPE. In the future, it could be used in automated or robotic systems in marine technologies such as marine gliders and oceanographic buoys. This system has been optimised and validated to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in seawater samples, but it could also be applied to other kinds of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and emerging pollutants.

Pouteria torta: a native species of the Brazilian Cerrado as a bioindicator of glyphosate action / Pouteria torta: espécie native do Cerrado Brasileiro como bioindicadora da ação do glyphosate

Abstract In Brazil, the expansion of agricultural activity and the associated indiscriminate use of herbicides such as glyphosate is directly related to the loss of biodiversity in the Cerrado. The identification of plant species as bioindicators of herbicide action, especially species native to the area, can help in monitoring the impacts of xenobiotics in the remaining Cerrado. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the possible use of the native Cerrado species Pouteria torta as a bioindicator of glyphosate action via changes in physiological performance. At 16 months after sowing, the effect of glyphosate was evaluated by applying the following doses: 0 (control), 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1200 g a.e. ha-1. In response to glyphosate, P. torta exhibited reductions in photosynthesis and chloroplastid pigment content, as well as accumulation of shikimic acid and the occurrence of chlorosis and necrosis. These changes demonstrate the high sensitivity of P. torta to glyphosate and its potential for use as a bioindicator of this herbicide.

Resumo No Brasil, a expansão da atividade agrícola, aliada a utilização indiscriminada de herbicidas como o glyphosate, possui relação direta com a perda da biodiversidade no Cerrado. A identificação de espécies vegetais bioindicadoras da ação de herbicidas, particularmente as nativas do Cerrado, pode auxiliar em processos de monitoramento dos impactos desse xenobiótico nas remanescentes do Cerrado. Assim, este estudo foi projetado para avaliar o possível uso de Pouteria torta, espécie nativa do cerrado, como bioindicadora da ação do glyphosate via mudanças na sua performance fisiológica. Após 16 meses de semeadura, o efeito do glyphosate foi avaliado quando aplicadas as seguintes doses: 0 (controle), 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 e 1200 g e. a. ha-1. Em reposta ao glyphosate, as plantas de P. torta apresentaram redução na sua performance do processo fotossintético e no conteúdo de pigmentos cloroplastídicos, além do acúmulo de ácido chiquímico e da ocorrência de cloroses e necroses. Essas alterações demonstram a alta sensibilidade de P. torta ao glyphosate, o que potencializa a sua utilização como bioindicadora da ação desse herbicida.