Vagal afferent control of abdominal expiratory activity in response to hypoxia and hypercapnia in rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sympatho-excitation during chemoreflex active expiration is mediated by L-glutamate in the RVLM/Bötzinger complex of rats

The involvement of glutamatergic neurotransmission in the rostral ventrolateral medulla/Bötzinger/pre-Bötzinger complexes (RVLM/BötC/pre-BötC) on the respiratory modulation of sympathoexcitatory response to peripheral chemoreflex activation (chemoreflex) was evaluated in the working heart-brain stem preparation of juvenile rats. We identified different types of baro- and chemosensitive presympathetic and respiratory neurons intermingled within the RVLM/BötC/pre-BötC. Bilateral microinjections of kynurenic acid (KYN) into the rostral aspect of RVLM (RVLM/BötC) produced an additional increase in frequency of the phrenic nerve (PN: 0.38 ± 0.02 vs. 1 ± 0.08 Hz; P < 0.05; n = 18) and hypoglossal (HN) inspiratory response (41 ± 2 vs. 82 ± 2%; P < 0.05; n = 8), but decreased postinspiratory (35 ± 3 vs. 12 ± 2%; P < 0.05) and late-expiratory (24 ± 4 vs. 2 ±1%; P < 0.05; n = 5) abdominal (AbN) responses to chemoreflex. Likewise, expiratory vagal (cVN; 67 ± 6 vs. 40 ± 2%; P < 0.05; n = 5) and expiratory component of sympathoexcitatory (77 ± 8 vs. 26 ± 5%; P < 0.05; n = 18) responses to chemoreflex were reduced after KYN microinjections into RVLM/BötC. KYN microinjected into the caudal aspect of the RVLM (RVLM/pre-BötC; n = 16) abolished inspiratory responses [PN (n = 16) and HN (n = 6)], and no changes in magnitude of sympathoexcitatory (n = 16) and expiratory (AbN and cVN; n = 10) responses to chemoreflex, producing similar and phase-locked vagal, abdominal, and sympathetic responses. We conclude that in relation to chemoreflex activation 1) ionotropic glutamate receptors in RVLM/BötC and RVLM/pre-BötC are pivotal to expiratory and inspiratory responses, respectively; and 2) activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors in RVLM/BötC is essential to the coupling of active expiration and sympathoexcitatory response.

Técnicas de parametrização para o fluxo de carga continuado desenvolvidas a partir da análise das trajetórias de soluções do fluxo de carga

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Multi-task control strategy for grid-tied inverters based on conservative power theory

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

Adaptation of sensorimotor coupling in postural control Is impaired by sleep deprivation

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

Chemical composition and antiproliferative activity of Acalypha californica

Acalypha californica Benth., is a plant in the northwestern region from Mexico, commonly known as "cancer herb" and used in traditional medicine for treating cancer. In the present study we have investigated the antiproliferative activity of methanolic extract of A. californica and its fractions in cancer cell lines and phytochemical analysis and mechanism of apoptosis of the fractions with antiproliferative activity. The antiproliferative activity of methanol extract and its fractions of solvents were evaluated by MTT assay against the M12.A(k).C3.F6, RAW 264.7, HeLa and L929 cell lines. Active fractions were fractionated by molecular exclusion chromatography, HPLC and MPLC. The identification of compounds was performed by NMR and FIA-ESI-IT-MS/MS analysis. Apoptotic mechanism was analyzed by flow cytometry, determining the reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1) and the activity of caspases 3,8 and 9. Cell viability assays showed that the hexane fraction of the methanol extract of the plant has significant effects against cancer lines RAW 264.7 (IC50 = 52.08 +/- 1.06 mu g/mL) and HeLa (IC50 = 46.77 +/- 1.09 mu g/mL), the residual fraction showed a selective effect on cell lines M12.A(k).C3.F6 (IC50 = 59.90 +/- 1.05 mu g/mL), RAW 264.7 (IC50 = 58.93 +/- 1.26 mu g/mL) and HeLa (IC50 = 50.11 +/- 1.135 mu g/mL) compared to the control cell line L929 (IC50 = 100.00 +/- 1.09 mu g/mL). The chemical characterization of the active fractions allowed the identification of p-sitosterol and stigmasterol in hexane fraction and some phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins and flavonoids in the residual fraction. The methanol extract and hexane fraction reduces mitochondrial membrane potential significantly and activates caspases 3, 8 and 9. Because of the antiproliferative activity observed, our results provide a rational basis for the use of extracts of A. californica in treating various types of cancer in traditional medicine from Mexico. The extracts induce apoptosis via activation of caspases. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Systemic blood flow relations in conscious South American rattlesnakes

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

Simple and clean determination of tetracyclines by flow injection analysis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Resposta da resistência insulínica de mulheres menopausadas ao protocolo de exercício intervalado em esteira ergométrica

Pós-graduação em Ginecologia, Obstetrícia e Mastologia - FMB

Quality control of cosmetics containing Calendula officinalis, Melampodium divaricatum, Matricaria chamomila linné and Acchilea millefolium extracts

The use of medicinal plants occurs since the Antiquity, but has become more popular in the present time. In the United States, 50% of the population uses the phytotherapy. Calendula officinalis and Melampodium divaricatum have components called flavonoids. Matricaria chamomila Linn and Acchilea millefolium, popularly known as camomila and mil folhas, respectively, have sesquiterpenic components called azulens. These substances present many effects; some of them offer benefits to the human health. Thus, these plants had their extract incorporated in cosmetic-dermatological formulations. This study aimed to prove the presence of the active substances, sesquiterpenes and flavonoids, in cosmetic creams with Matricaria chamomila Linn, Acchilea millefolium, Calendula officinalis and Melampodium divaricatum extracts. Also, aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of the products. Flavonoids and sesquiterpernes were detected in the emulsions and the microbiological quality was verified. Thus, the products are safe to the users in relation to the microbiological aspects and should present beneficial effects due to the presence of flavonoids and sesquiterpenes.

On nonlinear dynamics behavior and control of a new model of a magnetically levitated vibrating system, excited by an unbalanced DC motor of limited power supply

We analyze new results on a magnetically levitated body (a block including a magnet whose bottom pole is set in such a way as to repel the upper pole of a magnetic base) excited by a non-ideal energy source (an unbalanced electric motor of limited power supply). These new results are related to the jump phenomena and increase of power required of such sources near resonance are manifestations of a non-ideal system and they are referred as the Sommerfeld effect, which emulates an energy sink. In this work, we also discuss control strategies to be applied to this system, in resonance conditions, in order to decrease its vibration amplitude and avoiding this apparent energy sink.

Does diatomaceous earth control leaf-cutter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Eucalyptus plantations?

Genus Atta includes some of the most important Formicidae leaf cutter ants which cause extensive damage to the eucalyptus plantations. Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, one of the chief pests in Brazilian reforestation, can restrict and reduce forest productivity by its intense and constant leaf-cutting activities on plants at all stages. Therefore, the demand for new products to control A. sexdens rubropilosa indicates the study of the utilization of the dry powder formulation of diatomaceous earth (DE) against this pest in the eucalyptus cultivars. The study was conducted using 120 colonies of A. sexdens rubropilosa in Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex. Maiden x Eucalyptus urophylla Blake (Myrtaceae) (urograndis) stand. The randomized block experimental design was used with six treatments (1, 10, 25, and 50 g/m2 of DE, 6.0 g/m2 sulfluramid bait per square meter of loose soil, and the control) with five replications, each with four colonies of this ant. Diatomaceous earth was applied to the active A. sexdens rubropilosa ant holes, and the sulfluramid bait was applied in bulk in a localized manner. The control efficacy of A. sexdens rubropilosa with DE was low, showing values similar to that of the control, and, for this reason, it cannot be used to control this ant. The bait with sulfluramid showed higher efficacy than those of the other treatments.

Resolução do problema de fluxo de potência ótimo pela meta-heurística algoritmo dos fogos de artifício de busca dinâmica com mutação de covariância

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Funções penalidade para o tratamento das variáveis discretas do problema de fluxo de potência ótimo reativo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)