Integrated analysis of halogenated organic pollutants in sub-millilitre volumes of venous and umbilical cord blood sera

A rapid, robust and economical method for the analysis of persistent halogenated organic compounds in small volumes of human serum and umbilical cord blood is described. The pollutants studied cover a broad range of molecules of contemporary epidemiological and legislative concern, including polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), polychlorobenzenes (CBs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), DDTs, polychlorostyrenes (PCSs) and polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Extraction and clean-up with n-hexane and concentrated sulphuric acid was followed with analysis by gas chromatography coupled to electron capture (GC-ECD) and GC coupled to negative ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (GC-NICI-MS). The advantages of this method rest in the broad range of analytes and its simplicity and robustness, while the use of concentrated sulphuric acid extraction/clean-up destroys viruses that may be present in the samples. Small volumes of reference serum between 50 and 1000 μL were extracted and the limits of detection/quantification and repeatability were determined. Recoveries of spiked compounds for the extraction of small volumes (≥300 μL) of the spiked reference serum were between 90% and 120%. The coefficients of variation of repeatability ranged from 0.1-14%, depending on the compound. Samples of 4-year-old serum and umbilical cord blood (n = 73 and 40, respectively) from a population inhabiting a village near a chloro-alkali plant were screened for the above-mentioned halogenated pollutants using this method and the results are briefly described. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.

Integrated analysis environment for the Movement Assessment Battery for Children

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), a chronic and usually permanent condition found in children, is characterized by motor impairment that interferes with a child's activities of daily living and with academic achievement. One of the most popular tests for the quantitative diagnosis of DCD is the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC). Based on the Battery's standardized scores, it is possible to identify children with typical development, children at risk of developing DCD, and children with DCD. This article describes a computational system we developed to assist with the analysis of results obtained in the MABC test. The tool was developed for the web environment and its database provides integration of MABC data. Thus, researchers around the world can share data and develop collaborative work in the DCD field. In order to help analysis processes, our system provides services for filtering data to show more specific sets of information and present the results in textual, table, and graphic formats, allowing easier and more comprehensive evaluation of the results.

Transcriptomics and systems biology analysis in identification of specific pathways involved in cacao resistance and susceptibility to witches' broom disease

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

An Integrative Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Potential Targets Associated with Cell Proliferation in Uterine Leiomyomas

Background: Uterine Leiomyomas (ULs) are the most common benign tumours affecting women of reproductive age. ULs represent a major problem in public health, as they are the main indication for hysterectomy. Approximately 40-50% of ULs have non-random cytogenetic abnormalities, and half of ULs may have copy number alterations (CNAs). Gene expression microarrays studies have demonstrated that cell proliferation genes act in response to growth factors and steroids. However, only a few genes mapping to CNAs regions were found to be associated with ULs. Methodology: We applied an integrative analysis using genomic and transcriptomic data to identify the pathways and molecular markers associated with ULs. Fifty-one fresh frozen specimens were evaluated by array CGH (JISTIC) and gene expression microarrays (SAM). The CONEXIC algorithm was applied to integrate the data. Principal Findings: The integrated analysis identified the top 30 significant genes (P<0.01), which comprised genes associated with cancer, whereas the protein-protein interaction analysis indicated a strong association between FANCA and BRCA1. Functional in silico analysis revealed target molecules for drugs involved in cell proliferation, including FGFR1 and IGFBP5. Transcriptional and protein analyses showed that FGFR1 (P = 0.006 and P<0.01, respectively) and IGFBP5 (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.006, respectively) were up-regulated in the tumours when compared with the adjacent normal myometrium. Conclusions: The integrative genomic and transcriptomic approach indicated that FGFR1 and IGFBP5 amplification, as well as the consequent up-regulation of the protein products, plays an important role in the aetiology of ULs and thus provides data for potential drug therapies development to target genes associated with cellular proliferation in ULs. © 2013 Cirilo et al.

Zoneamento geoambiental do município de Mongaguá - Baixada Santista

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Os desdobramentos e conflitos da criação do Parque Estadual Ilha do Cardoso sob a ótica do modelo GTP (Geossistema – Território- Paisagem)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Recurso natural, organização espacial e ordenamento territorial: mineração e degradação de terras na depressão interplanáltica semiárida do Alto Coreaú (CE)

Pós-graduação em Geografia - IGCE

Sucessão da comunidade de algas perifíticas em reservatório oligotrófico tropical (São Paulo, Brasil): comparação entre período seco e chuvoso

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

Natural Conditions and Environmental Impacts in a Coastal Hydrographic Basin in the Brazilian Amazon

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Nova contribuiçao ao conhecimento da formação Rio Claro (T) na Folha Rio Claro (SP)

The Rio Claro Formation mainly occurs in the county of Rio Claro (SP) lying unconformably on Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks. Its thickness is 30-40 m. It shows fine to coarse, regular to poor sorted, Triable sandstones and conglomerates with quartzite and quartz clasts in the base. Thin layers of mudstone occur interbeded. Stratigraphic maps had been elaborated in recent analyses allowing to improve the knowledge about the formation. The biggest thicknesses occur on the east part of the studied area. The coarse/fine clastic ratio map demonstrates that fine sediments are concentrated in the east side, and suggests the existence of barriers which conditioned perennial water body (or bodies) where decantation took place (east, south and southeast sides). The structural contour map of the Rio Claro Formation base indicates a NW/SE trough which was the main depositional axis. The integrated analysis demonstrates that the formation is formed by lacustrine, fluvial and debris flows deposits whose source area was located on NW side, with coalescent alluvial fans from where braided to psamitic meandering fluvial channels came. The location of the source area suggests no link with the Corumbataf River paleo-terraces.

Polarização induzida aplicada no estudo de ocorrencia de cobre localizada a nordeste de Caçapava do Sul (RS)

Mineral research works are fundamentals for recognition and incorporation of new reserves. This paper present an integrated analysis of geologic and metallogenetics data, with results gotten from the application of the Induced Polarization geophysical method, in an copper ore occurrence, inserted in Camaquã sedimentary basin, situated in northeast of Caçapava do Sul city (RS). In area ocurr arkosean arenites average coarse, the intensely silicified and recrystallized, pertaining to Passo da Promessa Formation. The presence of azurita and malachite in breakings and high porosity zones of the host rock characterizes the mineral occurrence in surface, located in the crossing two fault families. The inversion models indicate the predominance of high chargeability in vulcanics tuff, rock of high porosity in relation to the andesites and metaconglomerates gifts in the area. The strong structural control of the mineral occurrence associated the high chargeability in volcanic tuff is indications of the hydrothermal fluid access by means of faults, until rocks with great porosity, where it occurred disseminations of copper sulfides in depth and carbonates in surface.

Zoneamento geoambiental como subsídio na determinação de áreas de instabilidade em faixas de intervenção de dutos

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Análise integrada aplicada ao mapeamento geológico-geotécnico na escala de 1:20.000 da estrada de Castelhanos, Ilhabela - SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Alterações ambientais decorrentes da presença de depósitos tecnogênicos na bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão Anicuns em Goiânia, GO

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caracterização geoambiental como subsídio ao planejamento urbano e turístico em Amparo (SP)

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE