Social instability promotes hormone-behavior associated patterns in a cichlid fish

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A new heterologous fibrin sealant as a scaffold to cartilage repair - experimental study and preliminary results

Autologous fibrin gel is commonly used as a scaffold for filling defects in articular cartilage. This biomaterial can also be used as a sealant to control small hemorrhages and is especially helpful in situations where tissue reparation capacity is limited. In particular, fibrin can act as a scaffold for various cell types because it can accommodate cell migration, differentiation, and proliferation. Despite knowledge of the advantages of this biomaterial and mastery of the techniques required for its application, the durability of several types of sealant at the site of injury remains questionable. Due to the importance of such data for evaluating the quality and efficiency of fibrin gel formulations on its use as a scaffold, this study sought to analyze the heterologous fibrin sealant developed from the venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus using studies in ovine experimental models. The fibrin gel developed from the venom of this snake was shown to act as a safe, stable, and durable scaffold for up to seven days, without causing adverse side effects. Fibrin gel produced from the venom of the Crotalus durissus terrificus snake possesses many clinical and surgical uses. It presents the potential to be used as a biomaterial to help repair skin lesions or control bleeding, and it may also be used as a scaffold when applied together with various cell types. The intralesional use of the fibrin gel from the venom of this snake may improve surgical and clinical treatments in addition to being inexpensive and adequately consistent, durable, and stable. The new heterologous fibrin sealant is a scaffold candidate to cartilage repair in this study.

Influência de movimentos oculares sacádicos no equilíbrio postural de idosos praticantes de vôlei adaptado e idosos sedentários

Pós-graduação em Desenvolvimento Humano e Tecnologias - IBRC

Restructured products from tilapia industry by products: the effects of tapioca starch and washing cycles

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

Sistema de recirculação e rotina de manejo para larvicultura de camarões de água doce Macrobrachium rosenbergii em pequena escala

A recirculating system and a matching management schedule for small-scale freshwater prawn larviculture were described. The system comprised a 140 L larval culture tank in line with a 43 L biofilter filled with 24 L of calcareous substrate. Both the tank and biofilter were made of black colored fiberglass in a conical-cylindrical shape. The turnover rate of the water through the system was 24 times a day; water was pumped by airlift. Results of ten larvicultures showed that the system maintained temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, ammonium and nitrite stable and suitable to Macrobrachium rosenbergii larvae. Survival and productivity varied from 60.5 to 72.4% and 37 to 72 post-larvae/L, respectively; both were compatible with results of commercial hatcheries. Therefore, this system may be very useful for research purposes or adapted for small-scale post-larvae production.

Proteinograma sérico de veados-catingueiro (Mazama gouazoubira) criados em cativeiro obtido por eletroforese em gel de agarose e de poliacrilamida (SDS PAGE)

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

Improvement of electrical properties of Sr-modified (Pb,Ca)TiO3 thin films grown by soft chemistry route

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

A modified Hopfield model for solving the N-Queens problem

A neural network model for solving the N-Queens problem is presented in this paper. More specifically, a modified Hopfield network is developed and its internal parameters are computed using the valid-subspace technique. These parameters guarantee the convergence of the network to the equilibrium points. The network is shown to be completely stable and globally convergent to the solutions of the N-Queens problem. Simulation results are presented to validate the proposed approach.

A novel approach for solving constrained nonlinear optimization problems using neurofuzzy systems

A neural network model for solving constrained nonlinear optimization problems with bounded variables is presented in this paper. More specifically, a modified Hopfield network is developed and its internal parameters are completed using the valid-subspace technique. These parameters guarantee the convergence of the network to the equilibrium points. The network is shown to be completely stable and globally convergent to the solutions of constrained nonlinear optimization problems. A fuzzy logic controller is incorporated in the network to minimize convergence time. Simulation results are presented to validate the proposed approach.

PT-symmetric kinks

Some kinks for non-Hermitian quantum field theories in 1+1 dimensions are constructed. A class of models where the soliton energies are stable and real are found. Although these kinks are not Hermitian, they are symmetric under PT transformations.

Pressão arterial entre trabalhadores de curtume

INTRODUÇÃO: O grupo das doenças cardiovasculares tem sido apontado como a principal causa de óbito no Brasil desde os anos 70, sendo a hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS) o fator de risco mais importante para esse grupo. Entre os trabalhadores observa-se correlação negativa entre o status ocupacional e a pressão arterial. Tais fatos ressaltam a importância do conhecimento da distribuição da pressão arterial sistêmica entre os distintos grupos profissionais. Assim, foi realizado estudo para descrever o status pressórico de uma população homogênea e estável de trabalhadores do setor secundário da economia, pouco especializados e que ganham baixos salários, estabelecendo a prevalência da HAS nesse grupo específico, relacionando-a com algumas covariáveis biológicas e socioeconômicas, e comparando-a com a prevalência de HAS em outros grupos profissionais no Brasil. MÉTODO: Foram estudados 73 trabalhadores regularmente empregados em julho de 1993 em um curtume situado no Município de Botucatu, cidade de médio porte da região Centro-Oeste do Estado de São Paulo, os quais foram submetidos a exame antropométrico, aferição de pressão arterial, anamnese e exame clínico. Os resultados foram comparados com os obtidos em estudos semelhantes, controlando-se o confundimento da idade por intermédio de diferentes técnicas. RESULTADOS: A prevalência bruta da HAS encontrada foi de 56,1%, sendo 15,8% a prevalência de hipertensão sistólica isolada. Ambas se associaram ao etilismo e ao tabagismo na população estudada. DISCUSSÃO: A prevalência da hipertensão foi consideravelmente alta e significativamente maior do que a encontrada em outros grupos de trabalhadores estudados no Brasil. Tal achado ressalta a necessidade da continuidade da investigação, objetivando o isolamento dos fatores implicados na elevação pressórica do grupo estudado.

Biological Performance of Chemical Hydroxyapatite Coating Associated With Implant Surface Modification by Laser Beam: Biomechanical Study in Rabbit Tibias

Purpose: Considering the potential of the association between laser ablation and smaller scale hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings to create a stable and bioactive surface on titanium dental implants, the aim of the present study was to determine, by the removal torque test, the effects of a surface treatment created by laser-ablation (Nd:YAG) and, later, thin deposition of HA particles by a chemical process, compared to implants with only laser-ablation and implants with machined surfaces.Materials and Methods: Forty-eight rabbits received I implant by tibia of the following surfaces: machined surface (MS), laser-modified surface (LMS), and biomimetic hydroxiapatite coated surface (HA). After 4, 8, and 12 weeks of healing, the removal torque was measured by a torque gauge. The surfaces studied were analyzed according to their topography, chemical composition, and roughness.Results: Average removal torque in each period was 23.28, 24.0, and 33.85 Ncm to MS, 33.0, 39.87, and 54.57 Ncm to LMS, and 55.42, 63.71 and 64.0 Ncm to HA. The difference was statistically significant (P < .05) between the LMS-MS and HA-MS surfaces in all periods of evaluation, and between LMS-HA to 4 and 8 weeks of healing. The surface characterization showed a deep, rough, and regular topography provided by the laser conditioning, that was followed by the HA coating.Conclusions: Based on these results, it was possible to conclude that the implants with laser surface modification associated with HA biomimetic coating can shorten the implant healing period by the increase of bone implant interaction during the first 2 months after implant placement. (C) 2009 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons J Oral Maxillofac Surg 67:1706-1715, 2009

Cardiovascular responses to hydrogen peroxide into the nucleus tractus solitarius

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

Thermal behavior of Cu-Al alloys near the alpha-Cu-Al solubility limit

The thermal behavior of Cu-Al alloys with 17, 19 and 21 at.%Al was examined by differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The presence of the gamma phase (Al4Cu9) was clearly detected for the Cu-19 at.%Al alloy and caused the alpha (2) phase disordering process in two stages. The tendency to increase the alpha (2) dissolution precipitates with the increase in the Al content seems to be reverted for compositions at about 21 at.%Al and the heating/cooling ratio seems to influence the thermal response of this process. The presence of the endothermic peak corresponding to the beta (1)--> beta transformation depends on an incomplete beta decomposition reaction. The variation of the heating rate showed that the beta (1)-->(alpha+gamma (1)) decomposition is the dominant reaction for alloys containing 19 and 21 at.%Al.

Síntese de hidroxiapatita pelo método sol-gel utilizando precursores alternativos: nitrato de cálcio e ácido fosfórico

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