Photoluminescence of SrTiO3: Influence of Particle Size and Morphology

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

Physical Vapor Deposited Thin Films of Lignins Extracted from Sugar Cane Bagasse: Morphology, Electrical Properties, and Sensing Applications

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

Order-disorder degree of self-assembled clusters: Influence on photoluminescence emission and morphology of BaxSr1-xTiO3 nanocrystals

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

Morphology of the eggs of the genus Belminus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) by optical and scanning electron microscopy

The external morphology of eggs of the species Belminus corredori Galvao & Angulo, 2006, Belminus herreri Lent & Wygodzinsky, 1979 and Belminus ferroae Sandoval, Pabon, Jurberg & Galvao, 2007 is described for the first time using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Females lay one egg at a time; the shape of the egg is oval with lateral flattening, a rounded caudal area and a true and simple convex operculum. The average size of the egg among these species is 0.51-0.58 mm in length and 0.36-0.4 mm in width. As a generic character we highlight the discovery of a chorion rim with one to four grooves always joined to the micropyles. All species present a clear polygonal pattern only in the operculum and in the egg's cephalic region, while the median and caudal regions show a smooth appearance, features that are shared only with the eggs of the genus Alberprosenia. A discriminant analysis of the polygonal design of the operculum proved to be useful for the identification of the species.

Head morphology of 1st and 5th instar nymphs of Triatoma circummaculata and Triatoma rubrovaria (Hemiptera, Reduviidae)

Morphological structures of the head of 1st and 5th instar nymphs of Triatoma circummaculata and Triatoma rubrovaria were revealed by analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Differences between Ist and 5th instar nymphs of these two species were observed in the postocular callosity, the number of ommatidia and tapered hair, the small segment between antennal segments, the rostrum third segment and slit lines. These slit lines were different only in the 5th instar. Similarities observed were the presence of tapered hairs in the joints, and the type of sensilla in the antennal segments. Only the Ist instar shows anteclypeus and gena sensilla. The antennal segments comprise the following types of sensilla: basiconica, bristles type I, bristles type II, bristles type III, campaniformia, coeloconica, chemosensilla, placodea, trichobothria and trichoidea. We describe here for the first time six (3+3) sensilla basiconica on the dorsal portion of the first segment of the rostrum. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Morphometry and morphology of the antennae of Panstrongylus megistus Burmeister, Rhodnius neglectus Lent, Rhodnius prolixus Stal and Triatoma vitticeps Stal (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Morphology variation as a function of composition for blends of PVDF and a polyaniline derivative

Blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, and poly(o-methoxyaniline), POMA doped with toluene sulfonic acid, TSA, were prepared by casting at various compositions and studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The blend composition has a great influence on the morphology obtained. As the concentration of POMA-TSA is increased in the blend an interconnecting fibrillar-like morphology is formed and the spherulites characteristic of pure PVDF are destroyed. The variation of blend morphology is further discussed based on X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous canine transmissible venereal tumor: cell morphology and influence on P-glycoprotein expression

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

Effect of unsaturated fatty acids on myocardial performance, metabolism and morphology

Diets rich in saturated fatty acids are one of the most important causes of atherosclerosis in men, and have been replaced with diets rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) for the prevention of this disorder. However, the effect of UFA on myocardial performance, metabolism and morphology has not been completely characterized. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of a UFA-rich diet on cardiac muscle function, oxidative stress, and morphology. Sixty-day-old male Wistar rats were fed a control (N = 8) or a UFA-rich diet (N = 8) for 60 days. Myocardial performance was studied in isolated papillary muscle by isometric and isotonic contractions under basal conditions after calcium chloride (5.2 mM) and ss-adrenergic stimulation with 1.0 mu M isoproterenol. Fragments of the left ventricle free wall were used to study oxidative stress and were analyzed by light microscopy, and the myocardial ultrastructure was examined in left ventricle papillary muscle. After 60 days the UFA-rich diet did not change myocardial function. However, it caused high lipid hydroperoxide (176 +/- 5 vs 158 +/- 5, P < 0.0005) and low catalase (7 +/- 1 vs 9 +/- 1, P < 0.005) and superoxide-dismutase (18 +/- 2 vs 27 +/- 5, P < 0.005) levels, and discrete morphological changes in UFA-rich diet hearts such as lipid deposits and mitochondrial membrane alterations compared to control rats. These data show that a UFA-rich diet caused myocardial oxidative stress and mild structural alterations, but did not change mechanical function.

Follow-up study of morphology and cardiac function in rats undergoing induction of supravalvular aortic stenosis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Rotavirus gastroenteritis in a children's hospital specialized in craniofacial malformations

This study aimed to verify the relationship between acute diarrhea provoked by rotavirus and different indicators of craniofacial malformations. In the Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, 8,724 children with cleft lip and cleft palate were divided into the following groups: acute diarrhea and infection due to rotavirus (C1, n = 62), acute diarrhea (C2, n = 153) and without acute diarrhea (C3, n = 8,509). In C1, 29.03% of the cases consisted of hospital infections associated with the hospitalization period while 38.71% of the patients were aged less than six months. The percentage of children not having breastfed was significantly higher in acute diarrhea groups. Additionally, there was a seasonal prevalence of rotavirus infection between May and October. Finally, the present findings indicate that rotavirus is a predominant etiological agent for gastroenteritis in children with craniofacial malformations. Moreover, among infants younger than six months of age, type of craniofacial malformation, breastfeeding difficulty, socioeconomic level and longer hospitalization period appear to contribute to higher infection morbidity.

O significado do trabalho em equipe na reabilitação de pessoas com malformação craniofacial congênita

Este estudo objetivou compreender o significado do trabalho em equipe dos profissionais de reabilitação em anomalias craniofaciais. Realizou-se análise fenomenológica por contemplar a compreensão e interpretação do sentido considerando o sujeito. Entrevistou-se 12 profissionais de diferentes áreas, norteadas pela questão: O que significa para você trabalhar em equipe na reabilitação de anomalias craniofaciais? Resgatando-se os temas: Capacitação para o trabalho, Dificuldade para trabalho em equipe, Relação com paciente e família, Condições de trabalho e A inserção do profissional na equipe. A análise visou refletir o fenômeno engendrando convergências e divergências destacando a explicitação das diferenças e aprendizado contínuo.

Motile sperm organelle morphology examination is stricter than Tygerberg criteria

The present study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME) and a well-known sperm morphology classification (Tygerberg criteria). For MSOME, spermatozoa were analysed at x8400 magnification by inverted microscope equipped with Nomarski differential interference contrast optics, Uplan Apo x 100 oil/1.35 objective lens and variable zoom lens. By Tygerberg criteria, the semen underwent morphological evaluation as described in the literature. Regression analysis demonstrated significant positive correlation between percentage of normal sperm forms by Tygerberg criteria and by MSOME (r = 0.83, P < 0.0001). However, the incidence of normal spermatozoa by Tygerberg criteria (9.4%) was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than under MSOME (3.3%). Despite the highly positive correlation, MSOME is a much stricter criterion of sperm morphology classification, since it identifies vacuoles and chromatin abnormalities that are not evaluated with the same precision by the analysis of Tygerberg criteria. MSOME should be included among the routine criteria for semen analysis. In addition, MSOME should be used for selection of spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection based on the already published literature, as this is a good selection tool.