Negative effects on family functioning from psychosocial treatments: A recommendation for expanded safety monitoring.

Whereas biomedical products are required to be tested for safety with respect to vulnerable organ systems, psychosocial treatments are not required to be tested for safety with respect to vulnerable social systems such as the family. This article provides some evidence for the need to document the potential negative effects of psychosocial treatments on family-level outcomes. Three randomized controlled trials are reviewed in which independent ratings or self-reports of family functioning were measured. Each of the 3 studies compared the efficacy of a family and a nonfamily treatment. Totally unexpectedly, the nonfamily treatment in each of the 3 trials demonstrated significant declines in family functioning. The authors suggest that psychosocial treatments with vulnerable populations have the potential to produce negative side effects on families. Therefore, it is important to conduct further research to determine whether safety studies should be required for psychosocial treatments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

2-Amino-3-substituted-6-[(E)-1-phenyl-2-(N-methylcarbamoyl)vinyl]imid azo[1,2-a]pyridines as a novel class of inhibitors of human rhinovirus: stereospecific synthesis and antiviral activity

A series of 2-amino-3-substituted-6-[(E)-1-phenyl-2-(N-methylcarbamoyl)vinyl]+ ++imid azo[1,2-a]pyridines 1a-i, structurally related to Enviroxime and its analogous benzimidazoles, was designed and prepared for testing as antirhinovirus agents. The imidazo ring in this class of compounds was constructed starting from the aminopyridine after tosylation and subsequent treatment with the appropriate acetamides. The key steps in the synthesis include the development and use of a new Horner-Emmons reagent for the direct incorporation of methyl vinylcarboxamide. The reaction was stereospecific in the substrates 5a-f leading exclusively to the desired E-isomer and avoiding the use of reverse-phase preparative HPLC for the separation of both possible isomers before antiviral activity evaluation. The isopropylsulfonyl group, known as the best substituent at the 1-position in the benzimidazole SAR in terms of activity, was introduced in this new series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via halogen-metal exchange and subsequent treatment with isopropyl isopropanethiolsulfonate. Compounds 1a-i were evaluated in plaque reduction assay and in a cytopathic effect assay. Compounds 1b-d,h exhibited a strong antirhinovirus activity, and no apparent cellular toxicity was visible. The substitution at the 3-position was required for activity. Surprisingly the isopropylsulfonyl in this family of compounds did not enhance the activity as in the case of benzimidazoles. Instead, compound 1i was 4 times less active than its phenyl and sulfide partners. The chemistry as well as the biological evaluation are discussed.     

Effect of solar UV‐B exclusion on the phytoplankton community in a sub‐tropical mountain reservoir: a mesocosm study

A mesocosm experiment was conducted over a 4 week period to investigate the response of a phytoplankton community in a mountain freshwater reservoir to solar UV‐B exclusion. The mesocosms were filled with water taken from the depth of 0.30 m in the reservoir, and exposed to near‐ambient solar UV‐B (+UV‐B) and solar UV‐B exclusion (?UV‐B). The resulting chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a), carotenoids, soluble sugars, algal composition and algal abundance were analysed. The study results indicated that carotenoids, carbohydrates and species distribution were affected under the ?UV‐B treatment. The carotenoid concentration was generally higher under the +UV‐B treatment than under the ?UV‐B treatment. The sucrose and glucose concentrations were affected differently by the UV‐B treatments, although both sugars strongly decreased under the +UV‐B treatment by the end of the experiment. The sucrose and glucose concentrations exhibited similar distribution patterns to those of carotenoids for the +UV‐B treatment, suggesting that these sugars could be directly involved in secondary metabolism. In contrast, the fructose content did not exhibit significant differences between UV‐B treatments. The Chl‐a concentration exhibited a progressive decrease during the experiment for both UV‐B treatments. Although no significant impact of UV‐B exclusion on the Chl‐a concentration was observed in this study, a slightly higher concentration was observed for the ?UV‐B treatment. The total phytoplankton biovolume (BV) exhibited a pattern similar to that of the Chl‐a concentration. Analysis of the phytoplankton composition revealed 52 species. However, because some species and classes were extremely difficult to identify, only 46 species from seven classes (Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Charophyceae, Dinophyceae, Xanthophyceae) were unambiguously identified and considered for the UV‐B treatments. Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Cyanophyceae comprised about 78% of the identified species. Aulacoseira granulata and Cyclotella meneghiniana, followed by Ceratium hirundinella, were the most abundant species. Principal component analysis, using sampling periods and algal densities (PCA‐1), indicated a heterogeneous phytoplankton assemblage, whereas PCA‐2, with algal densities and biochemical variables (soluble carbohydrates, Chl‐a and carotenoids), indicated that biochemical parameters could provide qualitative information about La Angostura phytoplankton community responses to quality of the sunlight.     

Natural occurrence of aflatoxins and zearalenone in maize in Brazil. Part II

The levels of aflatoxins and zearalenone were determined in 328 samples of corn from the States of Santa Catarina, Minas Gerais, S?o Paulo, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and Espírito Santo by thin-layer chromatography; the samples were obtained from April 1985 through to March 1986. In 12.3% of these samples aflatoxin B1 was detected in concentrations that varied from 10 to 900 micrograms/kg (ppb); 18 samples showed levels above those tolerated by Brazilian legislation. Zearalenone was found in 4.5% of the samples analysed in concentrations that varied from 653 to 9830 micrograms/kg (ppb). The limit of detection of the method for the determination of zearalenone was 260 micrograms/kg (ppb) and the recovery was 100%.     

Dilatometric study of isothermal phase tranformation in a C-Mn steel

A dilatometric study of the isothermal phase transformations in a low-alloy carbon steel is presented. The results show a TTT diagram consisting of three C shaped curves corresponding respectively to allotriomorphic ferrite-pearlite, Widmanstätten ferrite-pearlite and bainite transformations. These three temperature intervals are even better marked in a plot of total dilatation against temperature. A representation of log (ΔI/I) against logt, at each holding temperature, gives information about the transformations taking place. Hence, it is suggested that the bainitic reaction also occurs in two consecutive stages. Similarly to the other two transformations, ferrite formation in the initial stage is followed by the subsequent precipitation of cementite and further ferrite. It is concluded that the three transformations are of similar nature, controlled by carbon diffusion, the different C-curves being produced by changes either in the growth or nucleation mechanisms.     

Changes in actin and tubulin expression in osteogenic cells cultured on bioactive glass‐based surfaces

The present study evaluated whether the changes in the labeling pattern of cytoskeletal proteins in osteogenic cells cultured on bioactive glass‐based materials are due to altered mRNA and protein levels. Primary rat‐derived osteogenic cells were plated on Bioglass® 45S5, Biosilicate®, and borosilicate (bioinert control). The following parameters were assayed: (i) qualitative epifluorescence analysis of actin and tubulin; (ii) quantitative mRNA and protein expression for actin and tubulin by real‐time PCR and ELISA, respectively, and (iii) qualitative analysis of cell morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). At days 3 and 7, the cells grown on borosilicate showed typical actin and tubulin labeling patterns, whereas those on the bioactive materials showed roundish areas devoid of fluorescence signals. The cultures grown on bioactive materials showed significant changes in actin and tubulin mRNA expression that were not reflected in the corresponding protein levels. A positive correlation between the mRNA and protein as well as an association between epifluorescence imaging and quantitative data were only detected for the borosilicate. SEM imaging of the cultures on the bioactive surfaces revealed cells partly or totally coated with material aggregates, whose characteristics resembled the substrate topography. The culturing of osteogenic cells on Bioglass® 45S5 and Biosilicate® affect actin and tubulin mRNA expression but not the corresponding protein levels. Changes in the labeling pattern of these proteins should then be attributed, at least in part, to the presence of a physical barrier on the cell surface as a result of the material surface reactions, thus limiting fluorescence signals. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:1046–1053, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Detection of bovine DNA in raw and heat-processed foodstuffs, commercial foods and specific risk materials by a novel specific polymerase chain reaction method

The identification of beef in animal foods is a major concern not only for the prevention of commercial fraud, but also to avoid safety risks deriving from the presence of prohibited bovine material that might be harmful to both human and animal health. Here we report a novel set of bovine-specific primers, CYTbos1 (forward) and CYTbos2 (reverse), which allow the specific amplification of a 115 base pair fragment of the bovine cytochrome b gene (cytb) between nt 844 (mitochondrial site 15,590) and nt 958 (mitochondrial site 15,704), no cross-reaction being observed with DNA from another 12 frequent commercial meat species. The polymerase chain reaction product obtained is cleaved specifically by endonucleases ScaI and TspE1 to achieve further confirmation evidence. The sensitivity of the proposed method was 0.025%. The CYTbos primers successfully detected bovine DNA in meat samples processed for 20 min at 133 °C/300 kPa or for 2 h at 121 °C. CYTbos primers also detected bovine DNA in heat-processed commercial meat products exhibiting a complex nature, as well as in bovine specific risk materials. The proposed polymerase chain reaction method, aimed at detecting a small and specific fragment of the bovine mitochondrial DNA, may be especially useful for the direct identification of bovine DNA in foodstuffs subjected to severe heating under overpressure conditions.     

SWTRACK: An intelligent model for cargo tracking based on off-the-shelf mobile devices

Logistics represent the biggest cost for transportation companies. Companies are investing in monitoring and tracking systems aiming at improving services, reducing costs and ensuring the safety in cargos transports. This article presents an intelligent model to obtain the position of vehicles, using off-the-shelf mobile devices named SWTRACK. The proposal allows distributors companies to track loads and to have real-time information about their whereabouts during a travel. SWTRACK presents an automatic travel management to initialize and finish travels without user interaction. Furthermore, it provides a mechanism to monitor detours in planned routes and to send alarms notification through mobile devices. To build that mechanism, we studied the Geofence concept and existing techniques to prepare two solutions based on continuous monitoring. Those solutions were compared and discussed. We also conducted a model evaluation using off-the-shelf mobile devices. Moreover, we provide an impact analysis regarding GPS precision and battery power consumption. In the end, we show that the proposed model generates a reliable system for tracking vehicles.     

Relation between different inclusion-matrix interfaces in steels and the susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement

The susceptibility to hydrogen damage of different steels with several heat treatments was studied in specimens hydrogenated during tensile testing. The initiation of localized cracking in hydrogenated specimens was dependent on the possibility of development of a critical hydrogen concentration, in the cavities and/or microcracks associated with undeformable inclusions such as Al₂O₃. The induction time to reach the critical hydrogen concentration depends on the hydrogen charging conditions, the matrix strength level and the undeformable inclusion content. The effect of the sulphur content in the steel and the MnS inclusion content is not important to the susceptibility of the steel to hydrogen damage.