Effects of Ethanol on Synthesis of Prostaglandin F2 alpha in Bovine Females

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

Peanut genes identified during initial phase of Cercosporidium personatum infection

Late leaf spot (LLS), caused by the fun.-us Cercosporidium personatum, is one of the most severe diseases in peanut (Arachis hypogaea). The vast majority of commercial cultivars do not exhibit satisfactory levels of resistance to the pathogen, whereas non-commercial genotypes cv. 850 and cv. 909 are resistant to LLS and show symptoms similar to hypersensitive response (HR) lesions. In the present study, we investigated the molecular components of the initial stages of the resistance by gene expression profiling using suppression subtractive hybridization and differential screening of cDNA macroarray techniques. Gene expression analyses have allowed us to identify more than 700 peanut unique expressed sequence taus (EST) involved in several aspects of the early stages of C. personatum pathogenesis, such as components of defense signaling pathways, gene expression regulators, cell cycle controlling genes and components of the biosynthesis of transducer and antimicrobial compounds. The most significantly induced gene corresponds to a novel O'-methyltranferase, suggesting its involvement in the production of local lesions in C. personatum-resistant A. hypogea genotypes. Taken together, our results contribute to elucidate the defense strategies of peanut and provide the framework for the generation of pathogen-resistant peanut cultivars. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

V(2)O(5)/TiO(2) catalytic xerogels raman and EPR studies

Raman spectroscopy and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) studies were performed on a series of V(2)O(5)/TiO(2) catalysts prepared by a modified sol-gel method in order to identify the vanadium species. Two species of surface vanadium were identified by Raman measurements, monomeric vanadyls and polymeric vanadates. Monomeric vanadyls are characterized by a narrow Raman band at 1030 cm(-1) and polymeric vanadates by two broad bands in the region from 900 to 960 cm(-1) and 770 to 850 cm(-1). The Raman spectra do not exhibit characteristic peaks of crystalline V(2)O(5). These results are in agreement with those of X-ray Diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) previously reported (C.B. Rodella et al., J. Sol-Gel Sci. Techn., submitted). At least three families of V(4+) ions were identified by EPR investigations. The analysis of the EPR spectra suggests that isolated V(4+) ions are located in sites with octahedral symmetry substituting for Ti(4+) ions in the rutile structure. Magnetically interacting V(4+) ions are also present as pairs or clusters giving rise to a broad and structureless EPR line. At higher concentration of V(2)O(5), a partial oxidation of V(4+) to V(5+) is apparent from the EPR results.

Study on the K3Li2Nb5O15 formation during the production of (Na0.5K0.5)((1-x))LixNbO3 lead-free piezoceramics at the morphotropic phase boundary

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

Lanthanum doped BiFeO3 powders: Syntheses and characterization

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

Structural and optical properties of GdAlO3:RE3+ (RE = Eu or Tb) prepared by the Pechini method for application as X-ray phosphors

In this work, GdAlO3:RE3+ (RE = Eu or Tb) was successfully prepared by the Pechini method at lower temperatures when compared to others methods as solid-state synthesis and sol-gel process. In accordance to the XRD data, the fully crystalline single-phase GdAlO3 could be obtained at 900 degrees C. The differential thermal analysis (DTA) shows a crystallization peak at 850 degrees C. The samples are composed by monocrystalline particles (50-120 nm) exhibiting the formation of aggregates among them, which indicates the beginning of the sinterization process. This feature indicates a strong tendency to the formation of aggregates, which is a suitable ability for the close-packing of particles, and hence a potential application in X-ray intensifying screens. Luminescence measurements indicate Gd3+ -> RE3+ energy transfer. The Eu3+ emission spectra exhibit all the characteristics D-5(0) -> F-7(j) transitions and the observed profile suggests that RE3+ ions occupy at least one site without center of symmetry. For terbium-doped samples, the D-5(3) -> F-7(j) (blue emission) and D-5(4) -> F-7(j) (green emission) transitions were observed and the ratio between them may depend on the Tb3+ content due to cross-relaxation processes. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Refractive index changes in photochromic SbPO4-WO3 glass by exposure to band-gap radiation

We report photoinduced photo-darkening in SbPO4-WO3 glass by exposure to 532 nm light with a power density of 143 mW/cm(2). The time of exposure was varied between 0 and 256 min following which visible photo-darkening, peaking at 850 nm was observed. Spectrophotometer measurement of absorption was performed for both treated and untreated regions of the sample. Time exposure to below band-gap light results in a single exponent Gaussian absorption function over an exceptionally wide range of wavelengths (500 nm-1600 nm), with a 1/e width of 647.5 nm. Kramers-Kronig transform of the change in the absorption indicates a negative local change in the refractive index. The dispersed refractive index change at 1550 nm, Delta n, is calculated to be similar to -5 x 10(-8). The peak absorption increases with time of exposure and the photo-darkening remains irreversible at room temperature. Crown Copyright (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Foam nest in Scinax rizibilis (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ação de Polistes (Aphanilopterus) simillimus Zikán (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) no controle de Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)

The corn is a plantation attacked by a lot of pests, mainly by Caterpillar Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), producing serious damages in the plants, occasioning unproductiveness. Thus, the goal of this research was to verify the predation of Polistes simillimus (Zikán, 1951) wasps on this pest of a corn plantation using the wasps colonies as a efficient form of this pest management. The present research was developed in a area in the Piracicaba county, São Paulo (22º43'S, 47º38'W), during the period of november/1995-march/1996, introducing 20 P. simillimus colonies in artificial wood shelters around of 5 plots of com, to accompany the foraging activity of the wasps and the development of the wasps colonies. Spodoptera frugiperda (23,07%) was the main prey captured by the wasps and the average rate of capture was 1,54 preys/h. These data gave an estimation of reduction in the occurrence of S. frugiperda (77,16%), due mainly to the wasps action.

Efeito do intervalo entre recrutamentos foliculares na superovulação de vacas da raça Holandesa não-lactantes

Vacas da raça Holandesa não-lactantes, distribuídas em dois grupos, foram sincronizadas com o protocolo Ovsynch modificado. No dia sete (dia 0 = dia do segundo GnRH), o grupo 7 (G-7; n=19) recebeu CIDR usado previamente por cinco dias e 100mcg de GnRH, e o grupo 14 (G-14; n=21), CIDR e 25mg de PGF2alfa. No dia 14 foi aspirado o folículo dominante (FD), trocado o CIDR usado por um novo e foram aplicados 25mg de PGF2alfa. Iniciou-se o tratamento com FSH 36h depois, removeu-se o CIDR com o sétimo FSH e aplicou-se GnRH 36h depois. As inseminações foram feitas 12 e 24h depois. Recuperaram-se os embriões sete dias depois da inseminação artificial. O diâmetro do FD no G-7 foi 13,1±0,57mm no dia sete e 11,2±0,57mm no dia 14. O diâmetro FD persistente no G-14 aumentou de 12,6±0,55mm no dia sete para 16,4±0,55mm no dia 14 (P<0,001). O número de folículos >8mm, 48h após o início do tratamento com FSH, foi maior (P<0,05) no G-7 (15,6±0,05) que no G-14 (12,5±0,05). Não foi detectado efeito de tratamento sobre o número de corpos lúteos e de embriões. O menor intervalo entre recrutamentos foliculares aumentou o número de folículos recrutados, porém não alterou a quantidade e a qualidade dos embriões produzidos.

Efeito da pulverização com turboatomizadores em diferentes condições operacionais no controle de ácaros em citros

Estudou-se o efeito das pulverizações de azocyclotin por turboatomizadores Jacto Arbus 2000/Export e Arbus 2000/850, sob diferentes condições operacionais, no controle do ácaro purpúreo, Panonychus citri (McGregor), e da leprose, Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes); e de Arbus 2000/Export contra o ácaro da falsa ferrugem, Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead). Foram instalados três experimentos em pomares de citros (var. Valência) no período de 1994/95. O acaricida azocyclotin na dose 25 g i.a. / 100 litros d'água foi eficiente por 52 dias no controle de B. phoenicis e por 28 dias contra P. oleivora. Variações nas condições operacionais dos turboatomizadores não influenciaram no controle dos ácaros pragas. O produto azocyclotin pulverizado a 75% da dosagem comercial com 35 bicos do tipo JA-2 (Jacto), a 3,6 km/h e na pressão de 2070 kPa proporcionaram níveis de controle equivalentes aos obtidos com 100% da dosagem comercialmente recomendada desse acaricida, até 16 dias, quando aplicado com o turboatomizador Jacto Arbus 2000/Export no controle de P. citri.

CIRCADIAN OSCILLATORY PATTERNS OF OXYGEN-UPTAKE IN INDIVIDUAL WORKERS OF THE ANT CAMPONOTUS-RUFIPES

Respiratory rates of individual workers of Camponotus rufipes Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were measured at 25-degrees-C and LD 12:12 h (lights on 06.00 hours), DL 12:12 h (lights on 18.00 hours), LL (850 lux) and DD (red light, 20-30 lux), using the micro-Warburg technique. Worker ants were collected from natural nest during the winter of 1987 in a woodland park in the region of Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil. The respiration of ants showed a circadian rhythm with acrophase ranging from 20 h 41 min to 01 h 18 min and from 10 h 32 min to 12 h 22 min at LD and DD, respectively. In constant darkness the rhythmometric variables were similar to those presented by ants kept at LD 12:12 h. Under constant light no circadian rhythm in the respiration rates was found. A reduction in the amplitude was observed, indicating an inhibitory effect of this light regime on the respiration process.

BACTERIAL LEACHING OF URANIUM ORE FROM FIGUEIRA-PR, BRAZIL, AT LABORATORY AND PILOT-SCALE

A bacterial leaching program was carried out in order to evaluate the potential of applying this process to leach uranium from the ore of Figueira-PR, Brazil. The experiments were carried out in shake flasks, column percolation (laboratory and semipilot scale) and in heap leaching. In shake flasks and in column percolation experiments at laboratory scale, bacterial activity on the ore was confirmed: approximately 60% of uranium was leached, against around 30% in sterilized controls. Column percolation experiments at semipilot scale and heap leaching (850 tons of ore) showed uranium extractions of approximately 50%. In both experiments, a complementary sulfuric acid attack, after the bacterial leaching phase, was necessary to reach this level of uranium extraction.

TRICUT: a program to clip triangle meshes using the rapid and triangle libraries and the visualization toolkit

An efficient technique to cut polygonal meshes as a step in the geometric modeling of topographic and geological data has been developed. In boundary represented models of outcropping strata and faulted horizons polygonal meshes often intersect each other. TRICUT determines the line of intersection and re-triangulates the area of contact. Along this line the mesh is split in two or more parts which can be selected for removal. The user interaction takes place in the 3D-model space. The intersection, selection and removal are under graphic control. The visualization of outcropping geological structures in digital terrain models is improved by determining intersections against a slightly shifted terrain model. Thus, the outcrop line becomes a surface which overlaps the terrain in its initial position. The area of this overlapping surface changes with respect to the strike and dip of the structure, the morphology and the offset. Some applications of TRICUT on different real datasets are shown. TRICUT is implemented in C+ + using the Visualization Toolkit in conjunction with the RAPID and TRIANGLE libraries. The program runs under LINUX and UNIX using the MESA OpenGL library. This work gives an example of solving a complex 3D geometric problem by integrating available robust public domain software. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electrical properties of screen printed BaTiO3 thick films

The deposition of thick film pastes by screen-printing is a relatively simple and convenient method to produce thicker layers with thickness up to 100 mum. In the present work, the barium titanate thick films were prepared from mechanically activated powders based on BaC03 and TiO2. After mixing, the powders were calcined at low temperature by slow heating and cooling rates. The thick films were deposited on to Al2O3 substrates through hybrid technology. The obtained films were fired at 850 degreesC together with electrode material (silver/palladium). The electrical properties of thick films: dielectric permittivity, dielectric losses, Curie temperature, hysteresis loop were reported. The obtained BT thick films can be applied in as multilayer capacitors or in gas sensor application. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.