Machado de Assis & o constume retórico dos caracteres

O ensaio investiga o modo de construção da personagem em O alienista, de Machado de Assis. Para realizar essa investigação, levanta-se a hipótese de que a matriz técnica para o desenho das criaturas da novela tenham sido Os caracteres de Teofrasto. Por essa razão, apresentam-se um esboço histórico e uma análise crítica desse livro, com ênfase em seus desdobramentos na França, na Inglaterra e no Brasil. O ensaio procura, assim, filiar a prática artística de Machado de Assis ao costume retórico dos caracteres, entendidos como manifestação de uma espécie literária - o retrato satírico - com função, regras, características e história muito específicas

Sem sol nem tempestade: caracteres de Iaiá Garcia em ruína

O artigo discute o desvio, realizado por Machado de Assis em Iaiá Garcia, das expectativas da narrativa sentimental e a comparação estabelecida entre os dois triângulos amorosos: Jorge, Estela e Luís Garcia, de um lado, e Estela, Jorge e Iaiá Garcia, de outro. Considerando a ação das paixões e do sistema escravocrata na conduta das personagens, aborda o confronto entre a convenção do amor paixão e a instituição do casamento como instrumento de ascensão social.

Machado de Assis e Eça de Queirós: para além da polêmica...

Quando se pensa nas relações entre Machado de Assis e Eça de Queirós é comum referir-se à polêmica travada em torno da repercussão de O primo Basílio no Brasil. Obviamente, vários outros aspectos podem ser considerados quando se propõe uma reflexão sobre diálogos possíveis entre os dois grandes autores das literaturas de língua portuguesa no século XIX. O nosso objetivo aqui é discutir como a presença do clero e a relação com a religião são retratadas, sobretudo, em duas obras desses escritores: Dom Casmurro e A relíquia.

O Estado Novo e as críticas a Machado de Assis na primeira metade dos anos 1940

Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar o tratamento conferido pelo Estado Novo brasileiro (1937-1945) a Machado de Assis, depois das celebrações oficiais do centenário do autor de Dom Casmurro em 1939. Se, no ano da efeméride, o governo se empenhou em alçar o romancista à condição de maior escritor brasileiro, no início dos anos 1940, no âmbito do Departamento de Imprensa e Propaganda (DIP), o tom passa a ser outro: num contexto de prevalência de certo caráter social e documental da obra de arte, o próprio Getúlio Vargas, o ideólogo Cassiano Ricardo e os principais periódicos estadonovistas fazem menção ao suposto absenteísmo e à falta de "cor local" do fundador da Academia Brasileira de Letras.

Spermatogenesis in goats with and without scrotum bipartition

The objective of the present research was to quantify the seminiferous epithelium cells, spermatogenesis efficiency and characterize the ultrastrucure of Sertoli cells in goats. Eighteen goats were used and divided into three groups: Group I - goats without bipartition of the scrotum; Group II - animals with bipartition of the scrotum in up to 50% of the testicular length; Group III - goats with bipartition of the scrotum in more than 50% of the testicular length. The goat testes in Group III had a greater number of primary spermatocytes (25.37 +/- 4.55 cells per cross sections), spermatids (112 +/- 15.12 cells per cross sections), and Sertoli cells (9.46 +/- 1.74 cells per cross sections) than the animals in Groups land (P <0.05). The spermatogenic mitotic, meiotic, and general efficiency were greater in animals in Group III (1.25 +/- 0.28; 5.12 +/- 1.63; 6.44 +/- 1.96) when compared to those in Groups I and II. Sheet-like processes originated from the Sertoli cell body as simple and smooth structures which involved almost all the surface of germ cells. Slender cord-like processes originated from Sertoli cells and also from the sheet-like processes. The relative frequency of the cycle stages showed differences among the groups of goats studied, and the highest frequency was in Stage 3 (20.68% for goats in Group I, 21.15% for those in Group II, and 16.89% for the animals in Group III). In conclusion, goats with bipartition of the scrotum have a greater number of germ and Sertoli cells per cross section of seminiferous tubule, that indicated a greater sperm production when compared to the other groups, and the ultrastructure of the Sertoli cell process did not present any relationship with bipartition of the scrotum. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experimental hyperprolinemia induces mild oxidative stress, metabolic changes, and tissue adaptation in rat liver

The present study investigated the effects of chronic hyperprolinemia on oxidative and metabolic status in liver and serum of rats. Wistar rats received daily subcutaneous injections of proline from their 6th to 28th day of life. Twelve hours after the last injection the rats were sacrificed and liver and serum were collected. Results showed that hyperprolinemia induced a significant reduction in total antioxidant potential and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase were significantly increased after chronic proline administration, while glutathione (GSH) peroxidase activity, dichlorofluorescin oxidation, GSH, sulfhydryl, and carbonyl content remained unaltered. Histological analyses of the liver revealed that proline treatment induced changes of the hepatic microarchitecture and increased the number of inflammatory cells and the glycogen content. Biochemical determination also demonstrated an increase in glycogen concentration, as well as a higher synthesis of glycogen in liver of hyperprolinemic rats. Regarding to hepatic metabolism, it was observed an increase on glucose oxidation and a decrease on lipid synthesis from glucose. However, hepatic lipid content and serum glucose levels were not changed. Proline administration did not alter the aminotransferases activities and serum markers of hepatic injury. Our findings suggest that hyperprolinemia alters the liver homeostasis possibly by induction of a mild degree of oxidative stress and metabolic changes. The hepatic alterations caused by proline probably do not implicate in substantial hepatic tissue damage, but rather demonstrate a process of adaptation of this tissue to oxidative stress. However, the biological significance of these findings requires additional investigation. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 174183, 2012. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Taxonomic and distributional notes on Telebasis Selys, 1865, with a redescription of T. pallida Machado, 2010, and an evaluation of the T. racenisi Bick & Bick, 1995 "complex" of species (Odonata, Coenagrionidae)

A full checklist of the species of Telebasis Selys, 1865, housed in the Brazilian collections Colecao Entomologica Prof. Jose Alfredo Pinheiro Dutra, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio do Janeiro (DZRJ), and Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de Sao Paulo (MZSP) is presented. A total of 325 specimens representing 19 species were studied. Ten new records for Brazilian States were found for T. carmesina Calvert, 1909 (Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul), T. corallina (Selys, 1876) (Pernambuco), T. demarara (Williamson, 1917) (Maranhao), T. filiola (Perty, 1834) (Paraiba and Santa Catarina), T. gigantea Daigle, 2002 (Sao Paulo), T. inalata (Calvert, 1961) (Mato Grosso do Sul), T. pallida Machado, 2010 (Goias) and T. obsoleta (Selys, 1876) (Mato Grosso do Sul), as well as a new record of T. carminita Calvert, 1909 for Suriname. Telebasis pallida Machado, 2010 is redescribed and diagnosed based on 14 males collected near the type locality, and its genital ligula is described and illustrated for the first time. Furthermore, the status of the three species of the Telebasis racenisi Bick & Bick, 1995 complex is evaluated. Of these, Telebasis pareci Machado, 2010 syn. n. is proposed as junior subjective synonym of Telebasis lenkoi Machado, 2010, and a possible synonymy among the three species is discussed under T. racenisi. ((c) 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Genetic transformation of Citrus sinensis with Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) derived sequences and reaction of transgenic lines to CTV infection

Transgenic Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. plants, cvs. Valencia and Hamlin, expressing Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) derived sequences were obtained by genetic transformation. The gene constructs were pCTV-CP containing the 25 kDa major capsid protein gene (CTV-CP), pCTV-dsCP containing the same CTV-CP gene in an intron-spliced hairpin construct, and pCTV-CS containing a 559 nt conserved region of the CTV genome. The transgenic lines were identified by PCR and the transgene integration was confirmed by Southern blot. Transgene mRNA could be detected in most transgenic lines containing pCTV-CP or pCTV-CS transgene. The mRNA of pCTV-dsCP transgene was almost undetectable, with very light bands in most analyzed plants. The transgene transcription appears to be closely linked to the type of gene construct. The virus challenge assays reveals that all transgenic lines were infected. However, it was possible to identify propagated clones of transgenic plants of both cultivars studied with a low virus titer, with values similar to the non-inoculated plants (negative control). These results suggested that the transgenic plants present some level of resistance to virus replication. The higher number of clones with low virus titer and where mRNA could not be detected or was presented in a very light band was found for pCTV-dsCP-derived transgenic lines.

Immatures of Dicrepidius Eschscholtz, 1829 and Dipropus Germar, 1839 (Elateridae, Elaterinae, Ampedini: Dicrepidiina)

The larva of Dicrepidius ramicornis (Palisot de Beauvois) and pupa of Dipropus brasilianus (Germar) are described. The larva of D. brasilianus is redescribed. The immatures of both species are illustrated. Comparisons among the known larvae of Dipropus species and between the two genera are presented. A provisional key to Dicrepidiina genera with known larvae is provided.

"Ernesto de tal" e suas duas versões

Este artigo tem por objetivo analisar o conto "Ernesto de tal", de Machado de Assis, sob a perspectiva histórica e social. Será objeto de estudo também a comparação entre as duas versões do conto; a primeira, publicada no Jornal das Famílias, e a segunda, publicada no livro Histórias da meia-noite. Por meio da apreciação do cotejo entre as duas versões do conto em questão, procuraremos ainda refletir sobre como Machado criava e reescrevia seus textos.

Flashes intermitentes: a presença da fotografia em Dom Casmurro

O presente artigo parte do tema da fotografia para valer-se dele como modo de compreensão do narrador em Dom Casmurro, romance publicado por Machado de Assis em 1899. Através do levantamento de passagens do enredo centradas em algum retrato (englobando nessa categoria pinturas e fotografias), desenvolve-se a noção de "narração-fotográfica", que visa enfatizar a reiteração de hipóteses e rememorações realizadas pela personagem Bentinho a partir de instantes cristalizados no tempo. A necessidade de posse através do apego às imagens, assim como aos momentos vividos relembrados pela memória, destaca a luta interior da personagem contra o esquecimento de momentos, a solidão e a condição efêmera da vida.