Association between JY-1 gene polymorphisms and reproductive traits in beef cattle

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

Um Enigma e sua Esfinge

This essay is targeted to ransom some aspects in General Miguel Costas´political trajectory; and also, the controversial debate concerning the Coluna Prestes. Here the attention is focused on his (the General’s) lack of knowledge even in the university matters, as also about the very Policia Militar (Military Police) institution. Considering a hypothesis, this came to happen on account of too few study material on the institution originated by the scholars efforts, but it happened also because the own Policia Militar were afraid that him would be sight like a leftish policeman.

Image-Guided Cryoablation of the Spine in a Swine Model: Clinical, Radiological, and Pathological Findings with Light and Electron Microscopy

This study was designed to present the feasibility of an in vivo image-guided percutaneous cryoablation of the porcine vertebral body. Methods The institutional animal care committee approved this study. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-guided vertebral cryoablations (n = 22) were performed in eight pigs with short, 2-min, single or double-freezing protocols. Protective measures to nerves included dioxide carbon (CO2) epidural injections and spinal canal temperature monitoring. Clinical, radiological, and pathological data with light (n = 20) or transmission electron (n = 2) microscopic analyses were evaluated after 6 days of clinical follow-up and euthanasia. Results CBCT/fluoroscopic-guided transpedicular vertebral body cryoprobe positioning and CO2 epidural injection were successful in all procedures. No major complications were observed in seven animals (87.5 %, n = 8). A minor complication was observed in one pig (12.5 %, n = 1). Logistic regression model analysis showed the cryoprobe-spinal canal (Cp-Sc) distance as the most efficient parameter to categorize spinal canal temperatures lower than 19 °C (p<0.004), with a significant Pearson’s correlation test (p < 0.041) between the Cp-Sc distance and the lowest spinal canal temperatures. Ablation zones encompassed pedicles and the posterior wall of the vertebral bodies with an inflammatory rim, although no inflammatory infiltrate was depicted in the surrounding neural structures at light microscopy. Ultrastructural analyses evidenced myelin sheath disruption in some large nerve fibers, although neurological deficits were not observed. Conclusions CBCT-guided vertebral cryoablation of the porcine spine is feasible under a combination of a short freezing protocol and protective measures to the surrounding nerves. Ultrastructural analyses may be helpful assess the early modifications of the nerve fibers.

Microbialitos da formação Codó (Aptiano Superior) às margens do rio Tocantins em São Miguel do Tocantins (TO)

The southwestern region of the São Luís-Grajaú Basin has a rare outcrop of the Codó Formation (upper Aptian) with seven outstanding microbialite bioherms along the left margin of the Tocantins river, near Imperatriz (MA). Resting on sandstones of the Grajaú Formation, the Codó Formation presents: 1) a 20 cm thick basal calcilutite with gypsite pseudomorphs and some fossil tree stems; 2) metric dark shales with carbonate nodules and thin intercalated carbonate layers, enclosing some microbial laminites; 3) a 2 cm thick upper breccia composed of microbialite fragments and other carbonate clasts, with halite hoppers on the top; 4) the carbonate bioherms, which partially overlie the extensive shales and interrupt them laterally, as well as the breccia. The bioherms in the northern part of the outcrop are thicker (<2 m) and have interbedded dark shales, whereas the southern are thinner and continuous in the vertical direction. In general, they are composed of irregular gently to strongly wavy microbial laminites, sometimes with pseudocolumnar to conical lamination. All microbialites with highest synoptic relief (<20 cm) look like columnar stromatolites on weathered lateral expositions. In plan view, the horizontal sections of these microbialites are circular to slightly elliptic, sometimes forming very small channels (N60W) filled with fine breccia. The highest bed of the northern bioherm has mixed microbial laminites and columnar stromatolites, where intercolumnar spaces were filled with microbialite clasts, fish bones, plant fragments and very small probable crustacean coprolites. Several fractures and deformation in this upper bed indicate an initial brecciation process probably caused by subaerial exposure. In microscopic scale, the lamination is smooth, diffuse, defined by subtle granulation differences of very fine granular calcite crystals within micrite, but oxide levels, dissolution surfaces or thin precipitated calcite veneers...