Digital tools for prevention through design application: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Prevention through Design (PtD) is a safety initiative that increases the ability of eliminating risks before construction. Implementing digital tools for PtD is an innovative way to help identify embedded risk in design phase by automating a process that is currently time consuming and extensively dependent on designers' experience. However, there is a lack of known digital safety tools available to professionals. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to systematically review published research on the development of digital tools for PtD in order to point out existing processes and limitations. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA) guidelines were used to search publications in Scopus database. Initially, 148 publications were found, but after applying the filters, thirteen publications were read and included in this review. RESULTS: Quantitative results showed few publications and quantitative results detailed the studied digital tools workings and what limitations prevent their full implementation by designers. CONCLUSION: Although 53.84% of methods are automatic, existing barriers such as the inability to consider schedule, and to provide a complete database challenge the validity of these tools. Therefore, PtD still poses a research gap for future research on safety matters.

Repositioning Lopinavir, an HIV Protease Inhibitor, as a Promising Antifungal Drug: Lessons Learned from Candida albicans-In Silico, In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches.

The repurposing strategy was applied herein to evaluate the effects of lopinavir, an aspartic protease inhibitor currently used in the treatment of HIV-infected individuals, on the globally widespread opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans by using in silico, in vitro and in vivo approaches in order to decipher its targets on fungal cells and its antifungal mechanisms of action. Secreted aspartic proteases (Saps) are the obviously main target of lopinavir. To confirm this hypothesis, molecular docking assays revealed that lopinavir bound to the Sap2 catalytic site of C. albicans as well as inhibited the Sap hydrolytic activity in a typically dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of Saps culminated in the inability of C. albicans yeasts to assimilate the unique nitrogen source (albumin) available in the culture medium, culminating with fungal growth inhibition (IC50 = 39.8 µM). The antifungal action of lopinavir was corroborated by distinct microscopy analyses, which evidenced drastic and irreversible changes in the morphology that justified the fungal death. Furthermore, our results revealed that lopinavir was able to (i) arrest the yeasts-into-hyphae transformation, (ii) disturb the synthesis of neutral lipids, including ergosterol, (iii) modulate the surface-located molecules, such as Saps and mannose-, sialic acid- and N-acetylglucosamine-containing glycoconjugates, (iv) diminish the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, such as Saps and esterase, (v) negatively influence the biofilm formation on polystyrene surface, (vi) block the in vitro adhesion to epithelial cells, (vii) contain the in vivo infection in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice and (viii) reduce the Sap production by yeasts recovered from kidneys of infected animals. Conclusively, the exposed results highlight that lopinavir may be used as a promising repurposing drug against C. albicans infection as well as may be used as a lead compound for the development of novel antifungal drugs.

Potentially probiotic or postbiotic pre-converted nitrite from celery produced by an axenic culture system with probiotic lacticaseibacilli strain.

The present study evaluated the use of the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus paracasei DTA-83 as a nitrite-reducing agent to produce potentially probiotic or postbiotic pre-converted nitrite from celery. The results obtained were compared to those achieved by direct addition of sodium nitrite for the typical reddish color formation in cooked pork sausages and the inhibitory potential against the growth of target microorganisms, including the clostridia group. Regarding the sausages color, similar findings were observed when comparing the use of pre-converted nitrite from celery produced by L. paracasei DTA-83 and the direct addition of sodium nitrite. Additionally, it presented an inhibitory effect against Salmonella spp., which was not observed with the direct addition of nitrite, revealing a potential strategy to control salmonellosis in the matrix. However, a non-equivalent preservative effect against Clostridium perfringens (INCQS 215) was determined. The results highlight a promising alternative to produce probiotic or postbiotic meat ingredients; however, further studies should be conducted to investigate doses that achieve microbial control.

The enzyme 3-hydroxykynurenine transaminase as potential target for 1,2,4-oxadiazoles with larvicide activity against the dengue vector Aedes aegypti.

The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the vector agent responsible for the transmission of yellow fever and dengue fever viruses to over 80 million people in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Exhaustive efforts have lead to a vaccine candidate with only 30% effectiveness against the dengue virus and failure to protect patients against the serotype 2. Hence, vector control remains the most viable route to dengue fever control programs. We have synthesized a class of 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives whose most biologically active compounds exhibit potent activity against Aedes aegypti larvae (ca. of 15 ppm) and low toxicity in mammals. Exposure to these larvicides results in larvae pigmentation in a manner correlated with the LC50 measurements. Structural comparisons of the 1,2,4-oxadiazole nucleus against known inhibitors of insect enzymes allowed the identification of 3-hydroxykynurenine transaminase as a potential target for these synthetic larvicides. Molecular docking calculations indicate that 1,2,4-oxadiazole compounds can bind to 3-hydroxykynurenine transaminase with similar conformation and binding energies as its crystallographic inhibitor 4-(2-aminophenyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid.

Estudo eletromiográfico dos músculos deltoide, peitoral maior e tríceps braquial de nadadores durante contrações bilaterais realizadas em exercício multiarticular com cargas variadas / Electromyographic study of the deltoid, pectoralis major and triceps brachial muscles in swimmers during bilateral contractions performed in multi-joint exercise with different loads

O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a atividade elétrica do músculo deltoide (porção média), peitoral maior (porção clavicular) e tríceps braquial (cabeça longa) durante contração bilateral realizada num aparelho multiarticular de desenvolvimento articulado convergente, com 40% e 80% da carga voluntária máxima (CVM), em 11 nadadores do gênero masculino (idades entre 15 e 23 anos, peso 70 ± 4kg, estatura 183 ± 6cm e tempo de prática do esporte de 10 ± 4 anos) treinados em exercícios resistidos. Os sinais eletromiográficos (EMG) foram captados através da colocação de eletrodos ativos de superfície diferenciais de ganho de 20 vezes, composto por duas barras retangulares paralelas da EMG System do Brasil, um eletrodo de referência (terra), e um módulo condicionador de sinais (eletromiógrafo), com aquisição simultânea de até oito canais diferenciais, filtro com faixa de passagem de 20Hz a 5Hz, estágio amplificador ajustável, possibilitando ganhos entre 100 e 4.960 vezes, impedância de entrada de canais de 10GΩ em módulos diferencial e CMRR de 93db a 60Hz, e um sistema de aquisição de dados (Alc-EMG) que forneceu dados numéricos em RMS (raiz quadrada da média) para análise dos resultados. Cada sinal coletado captou apenas a fase concêntrica do movimento e o mesmo teve duração de três segundos. Diante dos resultados (teste U de Mann-Whitney, Friedman e Wilcoxon) conclui-se que, em termos práticos de prescrição e periodização do treinamento neuromuscular, as contrações bilaterais realizadas no aparelho desenvolvimento articulado convergente são eficientes visando recrutamento (80% > 40%) dos músculos deltoide médio, peitoral maior (porção clavicular) e tríceps braquial (cabeça longa), sendo evidenciadas diferenças entre o membro dominante e o não dominante apenas para o tríceps braquial dominante com a carga de 80% da CVM nestes atletas nadadores com histórico de treinamento com pesos.

The objective of this study was to compare the electrical activity of the deltoid (middle portion), pectoralis major (clavicular portion) and triceps (long head) muscles during bilateral contraction performed in a multi-articulated joint shoulder-press convergent machine with 40% and 80% maximum voluntary load (MVL) in 11 male swimmers (15 to 23 years, 70 ± 4 kg, 183 ± 6 cm and 10 ± 4 years time practice in sport), trained in resistance exercise. Electromyographic signals (EMG) were obtained by placing surface active differential electrodes (20x gain), composed of two parallel rectangular bars (EMG System, Brazil®). A data acquisition system (EMG-Alc) which provided numerical data in RMS (Root Mean Square) to analyze the signals composed by a reference electrode (ground) and a signal conditioning module (EMG) with simultaneous acquisition of up to 8 differential channels (band-pass filter 5-20 Hz), adjustable amplifier stage, allowing gains between 100 and 4960 times, channel input impedance 10GΩ in differential modules and CMRR of 93 dB/60 Hz was used. Only the concentric phase (3 seconds duration) in each EMG signal collected was recorded. After the tests (Mann-Whitney U test, Friedman and Wilcoxon) were applied, it was concluded that for prescription and periodization of the neuromuscular training, bilateral contractions performed in the shoulder-press apparatus are efficient at aiming muscular recruitment (80%> 40% ) of middle portion of the deltoid, pectoralis major (clavicular portion), and triceps brachii (long head) muscles, evidencing differences between dominant and non-dominant limbs only for the dominant brachial triceps in 80% of MVL in swimmers trained in resistance exercises.

Could preference for palatable foods in neonatally handled rats alter metabolic patterns in adult life?

Previous studies indicate that, in adulthood, neonatally handled rats consume more sweet food than nonhandled rats. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of the chronic exposure to a palatable diet (chocolate) in adult neonatally handled rats. We measured the consumption of foods (standard lab chow and chocolate), body weight gain, abdominal fat deposition, and levels of plasma lipids, glucose, insulin, and corticosterone in adult neonatally handled (10 min/d, first 10 d of life) and nonhandled rats. We found an increased intake of chocolate in handled rats, but this consumption decreased over time. Handled male animals exhibited higher body weight, higher caloric efficiency, and lower triglyceride levels. Nonhandled females that were exposed long-term to the highly caloric diet had increased abdominal fat deposition compared with handled females. Overall female rats had increased abdominal fat deposition, higher total cholesterol and glucose levels, and lower insulin in comparison with males. Interestingly, chocolate consumption diminished the weight of the adrenal glands in both handled and nonhandled animals. These findings suggest that neonatal handling induces a particular metabolic pattern that is sex specific.