Use of crude, FML and rK39 antigens in ELISA to detect anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies in Felis catus

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

Análise isotópica (δ¹³C) e legalidade em néctares de uva

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ontogenesis of the fruit pulp layer of Hymenaea stigonocarpa (Fabaceae : Caesalpinioideae)

Hymenaea, a genus of major economic importance, has been the subject of several botanical studies. However, there is disagreement over the origin of the edible fruit pulp of Hymenaea, as there are no ontogenetic studies on this organ. According to some authors, the edible layer results from transformations of the mesocarp and endocarp, while according to others, it is considered a seed aril. There are still others who regard this layer as originating from an undefined region of the pericarp. To understand the nature and origin of the pulp layer, Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne ovaries and fruit were processed according to standard techniques. The production of the fruit pulp layer starts immediately after anthesis. During anthesis, the inner epidermal cells of the ovary show periclinal division and form a new layer of cells towards the mesocarp; this remains meristematic and initiates cell production by predominantly periclinal divisions, producing a compact tissue towards the locule. This tissue will become the fruit pulp layer, the inner endocarp. The seed coat shows typical testal structure without evidence of aril formation. This allows us to conclude that the fruit pulp layers are exclusively made from part of the endocarp. We also observed resin cavities on outer mesocarp and outer endocarp.

Mathematical models of generalized diffusion

We discuss in this paper equations describing processes involving non-linear and higher-order diffusion. We focus on a particular case (u(t) = 2 lambda (2)(uu(x))(x) + lambda (2)u(xxxx)), which is put into analogy with the KdV equation. A balance of nonlinearity and higher-order diffusion enables the existence of self-similar solutions, describing diffusive shocks. These shocks are continuous solutions with a discontinuous higher-order derivative at the shock front. We argue that they play a role analogous to the soliton solutions in the dispersive case. We also discuss several physical instances where such equations are relevant.

Theory of optical dispersive shock waves in photorefractive media

The theory of optical dispersive shocks generated in the propagation of light beams through photorefractive media is developed. A full one-dimensional analytical theory based on the Whitham modulation approach is given for the simplest case of a sharp steplike initial discontinuity in a beam with one-dimensional striplike geometry. This approach is confirmed by numerical simulations, which are extended also to beams with cylindrical symmetry. The theory explains recent experiments where such dispersive shock waves have been observed.

Asymmetry parameter for the nonmesonic decay of 5LHe

We report the preliminary result of an exact calculation of the asymmetry parameter, alambda, in the nonmesonic hypernuclear decay, based on a one-meson-exchange (OME) model. For the case of He and including one-pion-exchange only, the result is shown not to differ considerably from the one obtained with the approximate formula widely used in the literature. In particular, the sign of alambda remains negative, in disagreement with its most recent experimental determination. Whether these facts remain true for heavier hypernuclei and in a more complete OME model is still under investigation.

Parâmetros da marcha em portadores de diabetes mellitus

O Diabetes mellitus é uma enfermidade crônica que leva a alterações sensitivas e motoras. Tais alterações comprometem o equilíbrio e a deambulação, predispondo seus portadores à ocorrência de quedas. Esta revisão teve por objetivo levantar, na literatura recente, estudos que visassem avaliar parâmetros da marcha e aspectos envolvidos com a deambulação. Para isso, foi realizada uma busca nas bases de dados MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS e PEDro, cruzando as palavras-chave: Neuropatias Diabéticas x Marcha; Diabetes Mellitus x Marcha e Pé Diabético x Marcha. Após passarem pelos critérios de seleção, foram obtidos 15 artigos, os quais foram sintetizados e discutidos, sendo, portanto, incluídos nesta revisão. Ficou claro que a neuropatia diabética leva a déficits na amplitude do passo, velocidade e cadência da marcha em superfícies planas, sem mudanças bruscas de direção ou paradas, e déficits de equilíbrio e coordenação em aclives, declives e terrenos irregulares. Acarreta, também, aumento dos índices de pressão plantar e, devido à alteração de ativação do tríceps sural, dificuldade na fase de apoio terminal e pré-balanço. Assim, o próximo contato inicial ocorrerá de maneira inadequada, com o antepé e sem absorção de choques.

The debt crisis: a re-appraisal

The 1980s' debt crisis is a landmark in developing economies' growth and stabilization. According to the most quoted empirical articles, external shocks and vicissitudes gave rise to crisis just because of delays in stabilization policies, engendered by internal conflicts and institutional immaturity. I review some of these papers, and find out some problems - in the measurement of shocks and foreign indebtedness, namely - whose corrections lead to opposite results: external shocks and foreign indebtedness explain that crisis regardless of domestic policies. At the same time, the strong correlation of income distribution to terms of trade changes and foreign indebtedness suggest that inequality may have contributed differently to that crisis: either through an economic channel, or through a political channel based on delays in reforms.

Correlation between maxillary central incisor form and face form in 4 racial groups

Objectives: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between central incisor form and face form in 4 racial groups and to investigate if there was agreement among experts in categorizing the central incisor forms. Method and Materials: A total of 160 subjects (40 whites, 40 mulattos, 40 blacks, and 40 Asians) ranging from 18 to 33 years of age were selected. Digital photographic records were made, 1 full-face and 1 intraoral view of the maxillary right central incisor. The outline tracings of the tooth and face images were obtained using Adobe Photoshop 5.0 software. The outline tracings were printed in distinct transparencies, and 3 prosthodontists determined if there was correspondence between the tooth and the face forms by superimposition of the transparencies. If there was disagreement among the prosthodontists' evaluations, the prevalent decision was considered. The experts also classified the central incisor forms into square, ovoid, tapering, or combination at 2 different sessions. At the first session, no instructions were given. At the second session, the prosthodontists were instructed to follow Williams' method of classification. Results: A correspondence between tooth and face forms was found in 23.75% of all cases. Agreement on the tooth form classifications among the prosthodontists occurred in 30.62% of all cases at the first session and 24.37% at the second session. Conclusion: There is not a highly defined correlation between central incisor form and face form in any racial group studied. In addition, the experts were not in fair agreement in categorizing tooth forms.

Purification and properties of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) erythrocyte hexokinase

Buffalo erythrocytes contain one isozyme of hexokinase that apparently lacks microheterogeneity as shown by chromatographic properties. A single protein band was detected by means of Western blotting using an antibody raised in rabbits against homogeneous rat brain hexokinase I. The native protein has a molecular weight of 200,000 +/- 2880 by gel filtration. Partial purification of erythrocyte hexokinase by a combination of several procedures, including affinity chromatography, which was previously applied successfully to the purifica tion of other mammalian type I hexokinases, produced a partially purified enzyme that showed several contami nants after SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The affinity of buffalo erythrocyte hexokinase for glucose (K-m = 0.012 +/- 0.001 mM) is lower than most other mammal hexokinases type I. It phosphorylates other sugars, with considerably higher K-m values. This isozyme is able to use MgATP but does not use MgGTP, MgCTP or MgUTP. We used inhibition patterns, obtained with products to elucidate enzyme sequential mechanisms. Our results are clearly in agreement with a random sequential mechanism and in disagreement with an ordered sequential mechanism with either glucose or ATP as the obligatory first substrates. The ADP inhibition was of mixed type with both ATP and glucose as substrates. (C) 1997 Elsevier B.V.

Regulation of contextual conditioning by the median raphe nucleus

The median raphe nucleus (MRN) has been suggested as the origin of a behavioral inhibition system that projects to the septum and hippocampus. Electrical stimulation of this mesencephalic area causes behavioral and autonomic manifestations characteristic of fear such as, freezing, defecation and micturition. In this study we extend these observations by analyzing the behavioral and autonomic responses of rats with lesions in the MRN submitted to a contextual conditioning paradigm. The animals underwent electrolytic or sham lesions of the median raphe nucleus. One day (acute) or 7 days (chronic) later they were tested in an experimental chamber where they received 10 foot-shocks (0.7 mA, 1 s with 20-s interval). The next day, sham and MRN-lesioned animals were tested again either in the same or in a different experimental chamber. During this, the duration of freezing, rearings, bouts of micturition and number of fecal boli were recorded. Sham-operated rats placed in the same chamber showed more freezing than rats exposed to a different context. This freezing behavior was clearly suppressed in rats with acute or chronic lesions in the MRN. MRN lesions also reduced the bouts of micturition and number of fecal boli. These rats showed a reduced number of rearings than sham-lesioned rats. This effect is probably the result of the displacement effect provoked by freezing since no significant differences in the number of rearings could be observed between these animals and the NMR-lesioned rats tested in an open field. This lesion produced higher horizontal locomotor activity in this test than the controls (sham-lesioned rats). These results point to the importance of the median raphe nucleus in the processing of fear conditioning with freezing being the most salient feature of it. Behavioral inhibition is also under control of MRN but its neural substrate seems to be dissociated from that of contextual fear. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. B.V.

Influence of exercise mode and maximal lactate-steady-state concentration on the validity of OBLA to predict maximal lactate-steady-state in active individuals

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of exercise mode on the validity of onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA-3.5-mM fixed blood lactate concentration) to predict the work-rate at maximal lactate steady state (MLSSwork-rate). Eleven recreationally active mates (21.3 +/- 2.9 years, 72.8 +/- 6.7 kg, 1.78 +/- 0.1 m) performed randomly incremental tests to determine OBLA (stage duration of 3 min), and 2 to 4 constants work-rate exercise tests to directly determine maximal lactate steady state parameters on a cycle-ergometer and treadmill. For both exercise modes, the OBLA was significantly correlated to MLSSwork-rate, (cycling: r = 0.81 p = 0.002; running: r = 0.94, p < 0.001). OBLA (156.2 +/- 41.3 W) was lower than MLSSwork-rate (179.6 +/- 26.4 W) during cycling exercise (p = 0.007). However, for running exercise, there was no difference between OBLA (3.2 +/- 0.6 m s(-1)) and MLSSwork-rate (3.1 +/- 0.4 m s(-1)). The difference between OBLA and MLSSworkrate on the cycle-ergometer (r = 0.86; p < 0.001) and treadmill (r = 0.64; p = 0.048) was significantly related to the specific MLSS. We can conclude that the validity of OBLA on predicting MLSSwork-rate is dependent on exercise mode and that its disagreement is related to individual variations in MLSS. (C) 2007 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of proton energy loss in thick absorbers in terms of a reduced calibration curve

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The reliability of experts' opinions in constructing a composite environmental index: The case of ESI 2005

The complexity of the environment demands a well-constructed composite environmental index (CEI) to provide a useful tool to draw attention to environmental conditions and trends for policy purposes. Among the common difficulties in constructing a proper CEI are uncertainties due to the selection of the most representative underlying variables or indicators. A degree of uncertainty accompanies experts' judgments, and to deal with vague, subjective or inconsistent information, logic other than classic is required. This study analyzes a procedure that uses different experts' opinions in constructing a CEI. with the use of paraconsistent annotated logic. For this, a sensitivity analysis of the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI 2005) was used as an example to assess the reliability of experts' opinions. The uncertainty due to the disagreement in experts' opinions clearly indicates that the forms we presently use to measure and monitor the actual environment are insufficient, that is, there is a lack of a "science of sustainability". (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Problems related to the employment of thin uranium films as neutron dosimeters

Thin uranium films built on muscovite mica basis and obsidian samples having known ages were irradiated with thermal neutrons at the IPEN/CNEN reactor, São Paulo. Comparing thin film performance with the obsidian one, it was observed that the latter feel a greater neutron fluence. Nominal fluences at the used facility are in agreement with the results obtained analysing the obsidian samples. A probable hypothesis to explain this disagreement, namely, the uranium loss from the thin films, was ruled out. © 1995.