Desenvolvimento da técnica de RT-PCR em tempo real para detecção e diferenciação de estirpes do vírus da bronquite infecciosa das galinhas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Detecção de Cryptosporidium serpentis em amostras fecais de serpentes utilizando PCR em tempo real

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Discovery of a new antiviral protein isolated Lonomia obliqua analysed by bioinformatics and real-time approaches

This study presents a new recombinant protein that acts as a powerful antiviral (rAVLO—recombinant Antiviral protein of Lonomia obliqua). It was able to reduce the replication by 106 fold for herpes virus and by 104 fold for rubella virus. RT-PCR of viral RNA rAVLO treated infected cells also showed similar rate of inhibition in replication. The analysis of this protein by bioinformatics suggests that this protein is globular, secreted with a signal peptide and has the ability to bind to MHC class I. It was found that there are several protein binding sites with various HLA and a prevalence of α-helices in the N-terminal region (overall classified as a α/β protein type). BLAST similarity sequence search for corresponding cDNA did not reveal a similar sequence in Genbank, suggesting that it is from a novel protein family. In this study we have observed that this recombinant protein and hemolymph has a potent antiviral action. This protein was produced in a baculovirus/Sf-9 system. Therefore, these analyses suggest that this novel polypeptide is a candidate as a broad spectrum antiviral.

Patógenos periodontais: comparação entre cultura bacteriana e PCR em tempo real para teste diagnóstico

The correct distinguishment of microorganisms involved in the periodontal disease pathogen, it is important in the understanding of its progression and adequate treatment planning. Considering this fact, some molecular methods of identification and quantification were developed and are extremely sensitive and precise in the characterization of different bacteria species. The present study aimed to realize a literature review, including studies that realized a comparative analysis between bacterial culture and real time PCR methods in the identification of pathogens. The bacterial culture method can possibly identify new microorganisms and realize antibiotics sensitivity tests. The real time PCR is a microbiologic test that identifies and quantifies bacterial species, through gene amplification of predetermined DNA fragments, with high sensitivity and specificity, and need a shorter operation time of the operator when compared to the bacterial culture method. In this way, to determine a specific diagnostic test, should be considered not only its precision in the identification of microorganisms, but the cost-benefit relationship as well.

Detecção do herpes vírus felino tipo 1 (HVF-1) pela técnica de PCR em tempo real e sua associação com sinais oculares em uma poipulação de gatos domésticos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Real time B-mode ultrasound in pacas pregnancy (Agouti paca, Linnaeus, 1766)

O objetivo deste estudo foi estabelecer o tempo de prenhez da paca por meio de ultra-sonografia. Nove pacas prenhes foram periodicamente acompanhadas com um transdutor eletrônico setorial bi-frequencial de 5,0 e 7,5 MHz, em modo B, desde a detecção ultra-sonográfica da vesícula embrionária ou do feto até o nascimento dos filhotes. Os animais foram colocados em uma gaiola de ferro de prensagem lateral e permaneceram em posição quadrupedal durante as sessões. Um pano escuro foi usado para cobrir a gaiola e frutas foram oferecidas durante o exame ultra-sonográfico para evitar reações agressivas. Quanto mais precocemente ocorreu a detecção de prenhez, maior foi o período de acompanhamento ultra-sonográfico até o nascimento dos filhotes. Apenas um filhote nasceu por parto, com 796,5 ± 74,36 gramas (valor médio ± desvio padrão da amostra) e 33,46 ± 0,60 centímetros (valor médio ± desvio padrão da amostra) de comprimento (entre a borda rostral do focinho e a extremidade distal da cauda). O período de prenhez da paca abrange 135 a 139 dias.

Genetic associations between carcass traits measured by real-time ultrasound and scrotal circumference and growth traits in Nelore cattle

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Neural network based estimation of torque in induction motors for real-time applications

Induction motors are largely used in several industry sectors. The selection of an induction motor has still been inaccurate because in most of the cases the load behavior in its shaft is completely unknown. The proposal of this article is to use artificial neural networks for torque estimation with the purpose of best selecting the induction motors rather than conventional methods, which use classical identification techniques and mechanical load modeling. Since proposed approach estimates the torque behavior from the transient to the steady state, one of its main contributions is the potential to also be implemented in control schemes for real-time applications. Simulation results are also presented to validate the proposed approach.

A New Approach for Real Time Fault Diagnosis in Induction Motors Based on Vibration Measurement

Condition monitoring is used to increase machinery availability and machinery performance, reducing consequential damage, increasing machine life, reducing spare parts inventories, and reducing breakdown maintenance. An efficient real time vibration measurement and analysis instruments is capable of providing warning and predicting faults at early stages. In this paper, a new methodology for the implementation of vibration measurement and analysis instruments in real time based on circuit architecture mapped from a MATLAB/Simulink model is presented. In this study, signal processing applications such as FIR filters and fast Fourier transform are treated as systems, which are implemented in hardware using a system generator toolbox, which translates a Simulink model in a hardware description language - HDL for FPGA implementations.

A new method for real time computation of power quality indices based on instantaneous space phasors

One of the important issues about using renewable energy is the integration of dispersed generation in the distribution networks. Previous experience has shown that the integration of dispersed generation can improve voltage profile in the network, decrease loss, etc. but can create safety and technical problems as well. This work report the application of the instantaneous space phasors and the instantaneous complex power in observing performances of the distribution networks with dispersed generators in steady state. New IEEE apparent power definition, the so-called Buchholz-Goodhue effective apparent power, as well as new proposed power quality (oscillation) index in the three-phase distribution systems with unbalanced loads and dispersed generators, are applied. Results obtained from several case studies using IEEE 34 nodes test network are presented and discussed. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Real-time multi-sensors measurement system with temperature effects compensation for impedance-based structural health monitoring

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Real-time ultrasound to predict rabbit carcass composition and volume of longissimus dorsi muscle

Real-time ultrasonography (RTU) was used to measure the longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) volume in vivo and to predict the carcass composition of rabbits. For this, 63 New Zealand White × Californian rabbits with 2093±63 g live weight were used. Animals were scanned between the 6th and 7th lumbar vertebrae using an RTU equipment with a 7.5 MHz probe. Measurements of LM volume were obtianed both in vivo and on carcass. Regression equations were used for the prediction of carcass composition and LM volume using the LM volume measured obtained with RTU (LMVU) as independent variable. Carcass meat, bone and total dissectible fat weights represented 780, 164 and 56 g/kg of the reference carcass weight, respectively. Regression equations showed a strong relationship between LMVU and the correspondent volume in carcass. Furthermore, LMVU was also useful in predicting the amounts of carcass tissues. It is possible to predict LM volume in the carcass using the LM volume measured in vivo by RTU. The amount of carcass tissues can be predicted by the LM volume measured in vivo by RTU.

Conversion of web texts into Braille characters for real time reading through arrays of electromechanical actuators

This paper describes an electronic device conceived to convert common web texts into sequences of corresponding Braille signals, which are immediately reproduced onto an array ( keyboard) of electromechanical actuators. These actuators are reconfigurable in real time, displaying the Braille characters as matrices of points composed by small stems which can be lowered or raised according to the Braille code. The device, together with its conversion software package, can provide direct access to web texts in any personal computer, thus avoiding the use of complicated Braille printers.

Stochastic quantization of real-time thermal field theory

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Quartz Crystal Microbalance monitoring the real-time binding of lectin with carbohydrate with high and low molecular mass

Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) was used to monitor the mass changes on a quartz crystal surface containing immobilized lectins that interacted with carbohydrates. The strategy for lectin immobilization was developed on the basis of a multilayer system composed of Au-cystamine-glutaraldehyde-lectin. Each step of the immobilization procedure was confirmed by FTIR analysis. The system was used to study the interactions of Concanavalin A (ConA) with maltose and Jacalin with Fetuin. The real-time binding of different concentrations of carbohydrate to the immobilized lectin was monitored by means of QCM measurements and the data obtained allowed for the construction of Langmuir isotherm curves. The association constants determined for the specific interactions analyzed here were (6.4 +/- 0.2) X 10(4) M-1 for Jacalin-Fetuin and (4.5 +/- 0.1) x 10(2) M-1 for ConA-maltose. These results indicate that the QCM constitutes a suitable method for the analysis of lectin-carbohydrate interactions, even when assaying low molecular mass ligands such as disaccharides. Published by Elsevier B.V.