A comparative analysis of the chemical nature of defensive secretions of Gonyleptidae (Arachnida : Opiliones : Laniatores)

The arachnids of the order Opiliones (harvestmen) produce substances used in defense. In the present paper, we analyzed 22 species of Gonyleptidae to explore the use of defensive substances in taxonomy and evolutionary biology. Thirty-seven different compounds were detected, 18 of which were preliminarily identified. These compounds were mapped onto a phylogenetic tree showing the relationships within the Gonyleptidae. Data from Cosmetidae were used as an outgroup. Five ketones and six alkyl phenols were reported for the first time in harvestmen. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of the ethidium bromide bound to DNA by photoacoustic and FTIR spectroscopy

Under physiological conditions B-form DNA is an exceedingly stable structure. However, experimental evidences obtained through nuclear magnetic resonance and fluorescence anisotropy suggest that the structure of the double helix fluctuates substantially. We describe photoacoustic phase modulation frequency measurements of ethidium bromide (Eb) with calf thymus, DNA. As in fluorescence phase modulation measurements, we used an intercalating dye as a probe; however, we monitored the triplet excited state lifetime at different ionic strengths. The triplet lifetime of Eb varied from about 0.30 ms, with no DNA present, to 20 ms, (at a DNA:Eb molar ratio of 5). With salt titration, this value falls, to about 2.0 ms. This result suggests, a strong coupling between the phenantridinium ring of the ethidium and the base pairs because of the stacking movement of the DNA molecule under salt effect. This, effect may be understood considering DNA as a polyelectrolyte. The counterions, in the solution shield the phosphate groups, reducing the electrostatic repulsion force between them, hence compacting the DNA molecule. The results from Fourier transform infrared demonstrated two important bands: 3187 cm(-1) corresponding to the symmetric stretching of the NH group of the bases, and 1225 cm(-1) corresponding to the asymmetric stretching of phosphate groups shifted toward higher wavenumbers, suggesting a proximity between the intercalant and base pairs and a modification of the DNA backbone state, both induced by salt accretion.

Diferentes resposta de cutivares de soja e potássio

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is known to have a high ability as a potassium extractor, and different cultivars show different potassium requirements. An experiment was run to study the potassium nutrition of soybean as related to plant characteristics. Six soybean cultivars (FT-2, Bossier, IAC-11, IAC-17, IAC-18 and IAC-19) were grown in 6 kg pots filled with the topsoil of a Dark Red Latosol (sandy loam), either with and without K fertilization. The plants were harvested 70 days after emergence. Soybean response to potassium was not related to growth habit or group of maturation. There was a different response to K. The cultivars IAC-18 and FT-2 were less tolerant to K deficiency. Potassium deficiency in the leaves was not related to top dry matter production. With K fertilization soybean plants showed small root volume and higher ratio canopy/root. With high K in soil, all of the cultivars showed higher nodulation.

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of new metal(II) complexes with methionine sulfoxide

Methionine sulfoxide complexes of iron(II) and copper(II) were synthesized and characterized by chemical and spectroscopic techniques. Elemental and atomic absorption analyses fit the compositions K2[Fe(metSO) 2]SO4 · H2O and [Cu(metSO)2] · H2O. Electronic absorption spectra of the complexes are typical of octahedral geometries. Infrared spectroscopy suggests coordination of the ligand to the metal through the carboxylate and sulfoxide groups. An EPR spectrum of the Cu(II) complex indicates tetragonal distortion of its octahedral symmetry. 57Fe Mössbauer parameters are also consistent with octahedral stereochemistry for the iron(II) complex. The complexes are very soluble in water.

Production of saccharogenic and dextrinogenic amylases by Rhizomucor pusillus A 13.36

A newly-isolated thermophilic strain of the zygomycete fungus Rhizomucor pusillus 13.36 produced highly active dextrinogenic and saccharogenic enzymes. Cassava pulp was a good alternative substrate for amylase production. Dextrinogenic and saccharogenic amylases exhibited optimum activities at a pH of 4.0-4.5 and 5.0 respectively and at a temperature of 75°C. The enzymes were highly thermostable, with no detectable loss of saccharogenic or dextrinogenic activity after 1 h and 6 h at 60°C, respectively. The saccharogenic activity was inhibited by Ca2+ while the dextrinogenic was indifferent to this ion. Both activities were inhibited by Fe2+ and Cu2+ Hydrolysis of soluble starch by the crude enzyme yielded 66% glucose, 19.5% maltose, 7.7% maltotriose and 6.6% oligosaccharides. Copyright © 2005, The Microbiological Society of Korea.

Solubilization of proteins from human lymph node tissue and two-dimensional gel storage.

In the present study, we compared six different solubilization buffers and optimized two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) conditions for human lymph node proteins. In addition, we developed a simple protocol for 2-D gel storage. Efficient solubilization was obtained with lysis buffers containing (a) 8 M urea, 4% CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate), 40 mM Tris base, 65 mM DTT (dithiothreitol) and 0.2% carrier ampholytes; (b) 5 M urea, 2 M thiourea, 2% CHAPS, 2% SB 3-10 (N-decyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate), 40 mM Tris base, 65 mM DTT and 0.2% carrier ampholytes or (c) 7 M urea, 2 M thiourea, 4% CHAPS, 65 mM DTT and 0.2% carrier ampholytes. The optimal protocol for isoelectric focusing (IEF) was accumulated voltage of 16,500 Vh and 0.6% DTT in the rehydration solution. In the experiments conducted for the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), best results were obtained with a doubled concentration (50 mM Tris, 384 mM glycine, 0.2% SDS) of the SDS electrophoresis buffer in the cathodic reservoir as compared to the concentration in the anodic reservoir (25 mM Tris, 192 mM glycine, 0.1% SDS). Among the five protocols tested for gel storing, success was attained when the gels were stored in plastic bags with 50% glycerol. This is the first report describing the successful solubilization and 2D-electrophoresis of proteins from human lymph node tissue and a 2-D gel storage protocol for easy gel handling before mass spectrometry (MS) analysis.

A specific short dextrin-hydrolyzing extracellular glucosidase from the thermophilic fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus 179-5

The thermophilic fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus 179-5 produced large quantities of a glucosidase which preferentially hydrolyzed maltose over starch. Enzyme production was high in submerged fermentation, with a maximal activity of 30 U/ml after 336 h of fermentation. In solid-state fermentation, the activity of the enzyme was 22 U/ml at 144 h in medium containing wheat bran and 5.8 U/ml at 48 h when cassava pulp was used as the culture medium. The enzyme was specific for maltose, very slowly hydrolyzed starch, dextrins (2-7G) and the synthetic substrate (α-PNPG), and did not hydrolyze sucrose. These properties suggest that the enzyme is a type II α-glucosidase. The optimum temperature of the enzyme was 70°C. In addition, the enzyme was highly thermostable (100% stability for 10 h at 60°C and a half-life of 15 min at 80°C), and stable within a wide pH range. Copyright © 2006, The Microbiological Society of Korea.

Estimativa da área e capacidade de retenção foliar de calda em citros

This work was done to determine the maximum amount of liquid that the citrus leaves can hold back and compare alternative methods for estimating leaf area with the standard method of integrating electronic image. The alternative methods were leaf mirroring on paper and leaf digitalization and imagine analyzes. The spray retention capacity was evaluated with mitecide sprayed with cyhexatin (Sipcatin 500 CS) plus the treatments: combination of two adjuvants (mineral oil - Assist and vegetable oil - Veget'Oil) and two concentrations (10 and 15 mL of adjuvant L-1). The methods for estimating leaf area assessed do not differ between them. The maximum retention of liquids for the leaf occurred when vegetable oil in the application was used.

O educando como protagonista na filosofia da educação de Tomás de Aquino

Pós-graduação em Educação - FFC

Seleção de isolados de fungos entomopatogênicos para o controle de Leptopharsa heveae Drake & Poor (Hemíptera: Heteroptera, Tingidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Função Pulmonar de pacientes submetidos a Cirurgia Bariátrica

Introduction: Obesity is a risk factor for postoperative pulmonary complications. Overweight can alter respiratory mechanics and decrease lung volumes and capacities. Bariatric surgery (BS) has been used as treatment for morbid obesity, but this surgery can lead to respiratory complications. Objective: To evaluate pulmonary function in morbid obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Methods: The patients were submitted to pulmonary function testing, including slow and forced vital capacity (SVC and FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), Tiffenau index (FEV1/FVC), forced expiratory flow 25-75% (FEF25-75%) and maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure (MIP and MEP). Descriptive analysis was performed. Results: We evaluated 18 patients, mean age of 37.33 ± 11.23 years, height 1.65 ± 0.09 m, weight 125.92 ± 25.24 kg and BMI 46.34 ± 9 20 kg/m2 , SVC 100.64 ± 22.91%, FVC 102.04 ± 21.82%, FEV1 104.85 ± 22.16%, FEV1 /FVC 83.54 ± 6.63% and FEF25-75% 84.47 ± 25.74%, 99.75 ± 24.55 for MIP and MEP 102.12 ± 25.06 cmH2O. Conclusion: The bariatric surgery candidates had normal values for manovacuometry and spirometry.

Períodos de interferência de Mucuna aterrima (Piper & Tracy) em cana-de-açúcar e seu controle químico

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Two-and tridimensional analysis of periapical repair after endodontic surgery

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate repair after endodontic surgery using two- and tridimensional imaging methods. Materials and methods Periapical radiographs and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) were performed before the surgeries and after 48 h (baseline), 4 months, and 8 months. The area (square millimeters) of periapical lesions in CBCT and in radiographs was compared regarding the percentage of repair. In the CBCT, multiple areas were converted to volume. Repeated-measures analyses and paired t tests (α=0.05) were used to compare the methods. Correlation coefficients were calculated between the periods of evaluation within the CBCT volumetric analysis. Bland-Altman plots were used to compare the methods, based on the 95 % limits of agreement for the difference of the means. Results Baseline showed a larger lesion volume (192.54 mm3 ) than 4-month (79.79 mm3 ) and 8-month (47.51 mm3 ) periods. No differences were found in the percentage of repair in the first 4 months and after 8 months. The volumetric analysis showed a higher percentage of repair when the first and last 4 months were compared. No differences were found in the percentage of repair by area in the CBCTs. Repair of 73 % was obtained after 8 months. Similar results were observed by the Bland-Altman agreement analyses. Conclusions The percentage of repair varied after 8 months, when lower values were obtained by volumetric evaluation. Clinical relevance Considering the outcome at follow-up periods over 4 months, tridimensional evaluation by CBCT is more capable of determining the absence of periapical bone repair than conventional two-dimensional radiographs. Therefore, the use of CBCT would be suggested only for more complex cases with slower evolution of repair or for the association of factors that make prognosis difficult after surgery.