Heritability Estimate and Genetic Correlations of Reproductive Features in Nellore Bulls, Offspring of Super Precocious, Precocious and Normal Cows Under Extensive Farming Conditions

The present work aimed to estimate heritability and genetic correlations of reproductive features of Nellore bulls, offspring of mothers classified as superprecocious (M1), precocious (M2) and normal (M3). Twenty one thousand hundred and eighty-six animals with average age of 21.29 months were used, evaluated through the breeding soundness evaluation from 1999 to 2008. The breeding soundness features included physical semen evaluation (progressive sperm motility and sperm vigour), semen morphology (major, minor and total sperm defects), scrotal circumference (SC), testicular volume (TV) and SC at 18 months of age (SC18). The components of variance, heritability and genetic correlations for and between the features were estimated simultaneously by restricted maximum likelihood, with the use of the vce software system vs 6. The heritability estimates were high for SC18, SC and TV (0.43, 0.63 and 0.54; 0.45, 0.45 and 0.44; 0.42, 0.45 and 0.41, respectively for the categories of mothers M1, M2 and M3) and low for physical and morphological semen aspects. The genetic correlations between SC18 and SC were high, as well as between these variables with TV. High and positive genetic correlations were recorded among SC18, SC and TV with the physical aspects of the semen, although no favourable association was verified with the morphological aspects, for the three categories of mothers. It can be concluded that the mothers sexual precocity did not affect the heritability of their offspring reproduction features.

Comparison of clinical features and drug therapies among European and Latin American patients with juvenile dermatomyositis

ObjectiveTo compare the demographic features, presenting manifestations, diagnostic investigations, disease course, and drug therapies of children with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) followed in Europe and Latin America.MethodsPatients were inception cohorts seen between 1980 and 2004 in 27 paediatric rheumatology centres. The following information was collected through the review of patient charts: sex; age at disease onset; date of disease onset and diagnosis; onset type; presenting clinical features; diagnostic investigations; course type; and medications received during disease course.ResultsFour hundred and ninety patients (65.5% females, mean onset age 7.0 years, mean disease duration 7.7 years) were included. Disease presentation was acute or insidious in 57.1% and 42.9% of the patients, respectively. The course type was monophasic in 41.3% of patients and chronic polycyclic or continuous in 58.6% of patients. The more common presenting manifestations were muscle weakness (84.9%), Gottron's papules (72.9%), heliotrope rash (62%), and malar rash (56.7%). Overall, the demographic and clinical features of the 2 continental cohorts were comparable. European patients received more frequently high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, and azathioprine, while methotrexate and antimalarials medications were used more commonly by Latin American physicians.ConclusionThe demographic and clinical characteristics of JDM are similar in European and Latin American patients. We found, however, several differences in the use of medications between European and Latin American paediatric rheumatologists.

Use of radiographic measurements in the evaluation of dogs with medial patellar luxation

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

Enhanced photoluminescence features of Eu3+-modified di-ureasil-zirconium oxocluster organic-inorganic hybrids

In this work, a series of transparent di-ureasil hybrids containing different amounts of methacrylic acid modified zirconium tetrapropoxide (ZrMcOH) nanoclusters (5-85 mol%) and incorporating EuCl3 and [Eu(tta)(3)(H2O)(2)](tta = thenoyltrifluoroacetonate) complex were prepared. These hybrids are multi-wave-length emitters due to the convolution of the host intrinsic emission (electron-hole recombinations occurring in siliceous and urea cross-linkages) Eu3+ intra-4f(6) transitions. The ZrMcOH incorporation deviates the maximum excitation wavelength of the hybrid host intrinsic emission from the UV (365 nm) to the blue (420 nm) and enhances the absolute emission quantum yield from 6.0 +/- 0.6% to 9.0 +/- 0.9%, and contributes to an increase in the D-5(0) lifetime values, quantum efficiency due to a decrease in the non-radiative transition probability and OH groups coordinated to the Eu3+ ions. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

From tin oxalate to (Fe, Co, Nb)-doped SnO(2): Sintering behavior, microstructural and electrical features

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

Groundwater geochemical evolution in the northern portion of the Guarani Aquifer System (Brazil) and its relationship to diagenetic features

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Anatomical features of species of Cyperaceae from northeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

In Vitro Evaluation of ICDAS and Radiographic Examination of Occlusal Surfaces and Their Association With Treatment Decisions

This in vitro study evaluated the performance of visual (International Caries Detection and Assessment System [ICDAS]) and radiographic (bitewing [BW]) examinations for occlusal caries detection and their associations with treatment decision (TD). Permanent teeth (n=104) with occlusal surfaces varying from sound to cavitated were selected. Sites were identified from 10x occlusal surface photographs. Standardized bitewing (BW) radiographs were taken. Four dentists with at least five years of experience scored all teeth twice (one-week interval) for ICDAS (0-6), BW (0=sound, 1=caries restricted to enamel, 2=caries in outer third dentin, 3=caries in inner third dentin), and TD (0=no treatment, 1=sealant, 2=microabrasion and sealant, 3=round bur sealant, 4a=resin, 4b=amalgam). Histological validation was performed by observation under a light microscope, with lesions classified on a five-point scale. Intraexaminer and inter-examiner repeatability were assessed using two-way tables and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Comparisons between percentage correct, specificity, sensitivity, and area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve were performed using bootstrap analyses. ICCs for intraexaminer and interexaminer repeatability indicated good repeatability for each examiner, ranging from 0.78 to 0.88, and among examiners, ranging from 0.74 to 0.81. Correlation between ICDAS and TD was 0.85 and between BW and TD was 0.78. Correlation between the methods and histological scores was moderate (0.63 for ICDAS and 0.61 for BW). The area under the ROC curve was significantly greater for ICDAS than for BW (p<0.0001). ICDAS had significantly lower specificity than BW did (p=0.0269, 79% vs 94%); however, sensitivity was much higher for ICDAS than for BW (p<0.0001, 83% vs 44%). Data from this investigation suggested that the visual examination (ICDAS) showed better performance than radiographic examination for occlusal caries detection. The ICDAS was strongly associated with TD. Although the correlation between the ICDAS and BW was lower, it is still valuable in the clinical decision-making process.

Radiographic and histomorphometric analysis of bone healing using autogenous graft associated with platelet-rich plasma obtained by 2 different methods

The aim of this study was to conduct radiographic and histomorphometric analysis of bone healing in the calvaria of rabbits, using an autogenous graft associated with PRP obtained by 2 different methods. Thirty rabbits were divided into control and experimental groups. Lesions were produced in the calvaria and filled with autogenous graft ( control) or autogenous graft and PRP obtained by the Anitua or modified Sonnleitner methods. The animals were humanely killed 15 days after surgery and the calvarias were radiographed. The radiographs were digitized to assess the radiographic density. By histologic images of the lesion, the bone matrix was quantified. There were no significant differences in the radiographic density and the bone matrix area between the groups. The association of PRP with autogenous bone did not improve the healing process, irrespective of the method used early during healing.