CERN to Gran Sasso; an ideal distance for superbeam?

We use the CP trajectory diagram as a tool for pictorial representation of the genuine CP and the matter effects to explore the possibility of an in situ simultaneous measurement of δ and the sign of Δℳ13 2. We end up with a low-energy conventional superbeam experiment with a megaton-class water Cherenkov detector and baseline length of about 700 km. A picturesque description of the combined ambiguity which may arise in simultaneous determination of θ13 and the above two quantities is given in terms of CP trajectory diagram.

Root instrumentation with an erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser: Effect on the morphology of fibroblasts

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser instrumentation of root surfaces on the morphology of fibroblasts from continuous lineage. Method and materials: Dentinal slices with 4 mm2 of surface area were obtained from teeth extracted for severe periodontal involvement. Specimens were assigned to one of three treatment groups: group 1, application of the laser with an energy level of 250 mJ at 103 pulses per second; group 2, application of the laser with an energy level of 80 mJ at 166 pulses per second; and group 3, similar to group 2, but with concomitant water irrigation of the device. The specimens were incubated in multiwell plates containing cell culture media. After 24 hours, the specimens were submitted to routine preparation for scanning electron microscopy. Three independent and blind examiners used photomicrographs to evaluate the morphology of the fibroblasts: 0 = without cells; 1 = flat cells; 2 = round cells; and 3 = combination of round and flat cells. Results: Statistical analysis indicated that there were significant differences among treatment groups and that group 3 was significantly different from groups 1 and 2. Conclusion: There was no difference between groups 1 and 2 in the morphology of fibroblasts. Laser instrumentation with concomitant irrigation impaired the adhesion of fibroblasts to dentinal surfaces.

Comment on 'Relativistic extension of shape-invariant potentials'

This comment criticizes the recently published approach of Alhaidari for solving relativistic problems. It is shown that his gauge considerations are inaccurate and that the class of exactly solvable relativistic problems is not as large as the author claims.

Vertical migration during tidal transport of megalopae of Necora puber in coastal shallow waters during daytime

For meroplanktonic larvae that must settle in coastal areas, their successful return to the shore is determined largely by physical transport processes; however, many organisms perform vertical movements to aid successful recruitment. In this study, daytime tidal vertical migration of megalopae of the velvet swimming crab Necora puber was investigated across two different exposures in the shallow waters of Plymouth Sound. Crabs were collected using a plankton net at the surface and near the bottom during flood and ebb tides. Distribution of the pelagic postlarvae was patchy and the abundance varied spatially in tens and thousands of metres. In temporal scales, the annual pattern was dominated by low occurrence of megalopae, punctuated by episodic peaks of high abundance. Most megalopae were collected at the surface irrespective of the tidal phase. The effect of wave exposure on the vertical migration of megalopae was not clear, although there was a general higher abundance of megalopae on exposed shores. Daytime abundance in the water column appears to be regulated by the tidal cycle, as megalopae were more abundant during flood than ebb tides. Although the megalopae do not appear to make large vertical migrations, this behaviour should produce a net shoreward transport. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Antibiótico antifungico produzido por um estreptomiceto da região de Araraquara

With the significant increase in the incidence of invasive fungal infections during the last decade, mainly in patients with cancer, AIDS and other hospitalized patients who stay for long periods in intensive care units, there is an urgent need to screen for new antifungal agents possessing some advantages over known ones. This article reports a search in the field for a microorganism producing antibacterial and antifungal substances. Strains from soil samples collected in the region of Araraquara, Brazil, were isolated and analyzed for their antimicrobial potential against standard microorganisms (fungi Candida albicans and Aspergillus oryzae and bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli). Out of the 64 strains isolated, 34 produced detectable antimicrobial activity. The streptomycete strain Ar4014 was chosen for further study, owing to its good antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans. Two of the fermentation media tested, 608-K and 602-B, were found to be best for the production and extraction of the antibiotic from Ar4014. After chromatographic separation of the crude extract on a silica column, the active fractions obtained showed UV-VIS absorption peaks characteristic of normal pentaenic antibiotics. The antibiotic was provisionally designated Ara 4014-75.

Ethylcelullose microspheres containing sodium diclofenac: Development and characterization

The objective of the present study was the development and characterization of ethylcellulose microspheres containing diclofenac and the determination of the in vitro drug release profile. Microspheres were prepared by emulsification/solvent evaporation method using ethyl acetate as solvent for the polymer and water as non solvent. The microspheres were characterized by morphologic and granulometric analyses. The amount of encapsulated drug as well as its release profile in vitro were also determined. The product obtained was microparticles with smooth surface and narrow size distribution, about 50% of the particles being smaller than 5 μm. The methodology used allowed drug encapsulation with a good yield and the system provided a controlled release of diclofenac.

Developing new radiotherapy techniques using linac based gamma radiation sources

A major challenge in cancer radiotherapy is to deliver a lethal dose of radiation to the target volume while minimizing damage to the surrounding normal tissue. We have proposed a model on how treatment efficacy might be improved by interfering with biological responses to DNA damage using exogenous electric fields as a strategy to drastically reduce radiation doses in cancer therapy. This approach is demonstrated at this Laboratory through case studies with prokaryotes (bacteria) and eukaryotes (yeast) cells, in which cellkilling rates induced by both gamma radiation and exogenous electric fields were measured. It was found that when cells exposed to gamma radiation are immediately submitted to a weak electric field, cell death increases more than an order of magnitude compared to the effect of radiation alone. This finding suggests, although does not prove, that DNA damage sites are reached and recognized by means of long-range electric DNA-protein interaction, and that exogenous electric fields could destructively interfere with this process. As a consequence, DNA repair is avoided leading to massive cell death. Here we are proposing the use this new technique for the design and construction of novel radiotherapy facilities associated with linac generated gamma beams under controlled conditions of dose and beam intensity.

Cytotoxic effects of different concentrations of chlorhexidine

Purpose: To evaluate the cytotoxic effects of different concentrations of Chlorhexidine (Chx) to the odontoblast cell line MDPC-23. Methods: The odontoblast-like cells were seeded (30,000 cells/cm 2) in 60 wells of 24-well dishes and then incubated in contact with the following experimental and control solutions: Group 1: 0.0024% Chx; Group 2: 0.004% Chx; Group 3: 0.02% Chx; Group 4: Phosphate buffer saline solution (PBS, negative control); and Group 5: 0.06% H 2O 2 (positive control). Cell metabolic activity was measured by MTT assay and the cell morphology was analyzed by SEM. Results: The cytotoxic effects of Chx are dose-dependent. The reduction in the cell metabolism for Groups 1, 2, and 3 was 24.8%, 29.9% and 70.8%, respectively. No statistical difference was observed between the Groups 1 and 2 in which no significant cell morphology changes occurred. Consequently, it was concluded that 0.02% Chx solution presents high cytotoxicity to the odontoblast-like cells MDPC-23. On theother hand, 0.0024% and 0.004% Chx causes slight cytopathic effects to the cultured cells.

Thermoelectric effects in quantum dots

We report a numerical renormalization-group study of the thermoelectric effect in the single-electron transistor (SET) and side-coupled geometries. As expected, the computed thermal conductance and thermopower curves show signatures of the Kondo effect and of Fano interference. The thermopower curves are also affected by particle-hole asymmetry. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Morphological evolution in the graminid clade: Comparative floral anatomy of the grass relatives Flagellariaceae and Joinvilleaceae

New comparative data are presented on the reproductive morphology and anatomy of two genera closely related to grasses, Flagellaria and Joinvillea, in which the flowers are superficially similar, especially in stamen morphology. This investigation demonstrates some anatomical differences between the two genera. For example, both genera depart from the 'typical' condition of tepal vasculature (three-traced outer tepals and one-traced inner tepals): in Flagellaria, each tepal receives a single vascular bundle and, in Joinvillea, each tepal is supplied by three vascular bundles. Joinvillea possesses supernumerary carpel bundles, as also found in the related family Ecdeiocoleaceae, but not in Flagellaria or grasses. In the anther, the tapetum degenerates early in Flagellaria, and is relatively persistent in Joinvillea, in which the pollen grains remain closely associated with the tapetum inside the anther locule, indicating a correlation between peripheral pollen (a feature that is common in grasses) and a persistent tapetum. This study highlights the presence of a pollen-tube transmitting tissue (PTTT) or solid style in the gynoecium of Flagellaria, as also in many Poaceae, but not in Joinvillea or Ecdeiocoleaceae. We speculate that the presence of a PTTT could represent one of the factors that facilitated the subsequent evolution of the intimately connected gynoecia that characterize grasses. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London.

Alterações eletromiográficas e histopatológicas da musculatura de cães naturalmente infectados por Leishmania infantum

The aim of this study was to evaluate the electromyographic and histopathological changes in skeletal muscles of dogs naturally infected by L. infantum. Twenty five mixed breed adult dogs with parasitological, molecular and serological diagnosis were selected. The evaluated muscles were: triceps brachial, extensor carpi radialis, biceps femoris and gastrocnemius. One dog had locomotor clinical signs with hind limbs paresis associated with severe muscle atrophy. Twenty-three (92%) had some type of muscular change, and in 22 (88%) such changes were directly identified by electromyography. Even without any clinical signs of the disease, 10 (40%) dogs had electromyographic and histopathological changes. Leishmania antigens were detected in muscles of four (16%) dogs. The electromyographic evaluation indicated the occurrence of chronic polymyositis in 13 (52%) dogs, the presence of both acute and chronic muscle inflammation four (16%), acute myopathy in two (8%) and absence of electromyographic abnormalities in three (12%) dogs. The most frequently observed histopathological changes were degeneration and necrosis of myofibers and inflammatory infiltration observed in 12 (48%) dogs. Other changes were decreased diameter of muscle fibers in 15 (60%) and peri or endomysial fibrosis in 14 (56%) animals. The changes observed in the present study showed that even in the absence of clinical signs, most dogs infected by Leishmania infantum have chronic polymyositis.

Analysis of HCV quasispecies dynamic under selective pressure of combined therapy

Background: The quasispecies composition of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) could have important implications with regard to viral persistence and response to interferon-based therapy. The complete NS5A was analyzed to evaluate whether the composition of NS5A quasispecies of HCV 1a/1b is related to responsiveness to combined interferon pegylated (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin therapy.Methods: Viral RNA was isolated from serum samples collected before, during and after treatment from virological sustained responder (SVR), non-responder (NR) and the end-of-treatment responder patients (ETR). NS5A region was amplified, cloned and sequenced. Six hundred and ninety full-length NS5A sequences were analyzed.Results: This study provides evidence that lower nucleotide diversity of the NS5A region pre-therapy is associated with viral clearance. Analysis of samples of NRs and the ETRs time points showed that genetic diversity of populations tend to decrease over time. Post-therapy population of ETRs presented higher genetic distance from baseline probably due to the bottleneck phenomenon observed for those patients in the end of treatment. The viral effective population of those patients also showed a strong decrease after therapy. Otherwise, NRs demonstrated a continuous variation or stability of effective populations and genetic diversity over time that did not seem to be related to therapy. Phylogenetic relationships concerning complete NS5A sequences obtained from patients did not demonstrate clustering associated with specific response patterns. However, distinctive clustering of pre/post-therapy sequences was observed. In addition, the evolution of quasispecies over time was subjected to purifying or relaxed purifying selection. Codons 157 (P03), 182 and 440 (P42), 62 and 404 (P44) were found to be under positive selective pressure but it failed to be related to the therapy.Conclusion: These results confirm the hypothesis that a relationship exists between NS5A heterogeneity and response to therapy in patients infected with chronic hepatitis C. © 2013 Jardim et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Estimation of the metabolic equivalent (MET) of an exercise protocol based on indirect calorimetry

Objective: This study aimed to determine the energy expenditure (EE) in terms of caloric cost and metabolic equivalents (METs) of two sessions of an exercise protocol. Methods: Fifteen subjects (51.0 ± 5.5years) performed the exercise sessions (80min), which were composed by (warming, walking and flexibility exercises; Session A) and (warming, walking and local muscular endurance exercises; Session B). Heart hate (HR) was measured during each part of the sessions. In laboratory environment, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and oxygen uptake in rest and exercise conditions (using mean HR obtained in classes) were measured on different days, using indirect calorimetry. Exercise METs were obtained by dividing VO2 in exercise (mL.kg-1.min-1) by VO2 in rest (mL.kg-1.min-1). The EE of the exercises was calculated by the formula: MET x Weight(kg) x Time(min)/60. The results were analyzed by ANOVA with Tuckey post hoc test (p < 0.05). Results: One MET for this group was 2.7 ± 0.1mL.kg-1.min-1. The mean METs of exercises were 4,7 ± 0,8 (warming), 5,8 ± 0,9 (walking) and 3,6 ± 0,7 (flexibility) on session A, and 4,6 ± 1,2 (warming), 5,6 ± 1,0 (walking) and 4.8 ± 1,0 (local muscular endurance exercises) on Session B. The training sessions showed similar energy cost (A: 398 ± 86.72 kcal and B: 404 ± 38.85 kcal; p > 0,05). None of activities were classified into vigorous intensity (> 7 METs). There were no differences on VO2 between walking (15,6 ± 2,8 or 15,4 ± 2,6 mL.kg-1.min-1) and local muscular endurance exercises (13,2 ± 2,9 mL.kg-1.min-1), although both were higher (p > 0.05) than flexibility exercises (10.1 ± 2.2 mL.kg-1.min-1). Conclusion: The proposed protocol achieves the physical activity needed by healthy adults to improve and maintain health, by their structure, moderate intensity, duration, frequency and caloric expenditure.

Micro-raman spectroscopic characterization of a CR-39 detector

Characterization by micro-Raman spectroscopy of polymeric materials used as nuclear track detectors reveals physico-chemical and morphological information on the material's molecular structure. In this work, the nuclear track detector poly(allyl diglycol carbonate), or Columbia Resin 39 (CR-39), was characterized according to the fluence of alpha particles produced by a 226Ra source and chemical etching time. Therefore, damage of the CR-39 chemical structure due to the alpha-particle interaction with the detector was analyzed at the molecular level. It was observed that the ionization and molecular excitation of the CR-39 after the irradiation process entail cleavage of chemical bonds and formation of latent track. In addition, after the chemical etching, there is also loss of polymer structure, leading to the decrease of the group density C-O-C (∼888 cm-1), CH=CH (∼960 cm -1), C-O (∼1110 cm-1), C-O-C (∼1240 cm -1), C-O (∼1290 cm-1), C-O (∼1741 cm -1), -CH2- (∼2910 cm-1), and the main band -CH2- (∼2950 cm-1). The analyses performed after irradiation and chemical etching led to a better understanding of the CR-39 molecular structure and better comprehension of the process of the formation of the track, which is related to chemical etching kinetics. Copyright © 2013 Society for Applied Spectroscopy.

In vitro activity of pineapple extracts (Ananas comosus, Bromeliaceae) on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Measures to control the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, based only on chemical products are becoming unsustainable, mainly because of the development of resistance. The objective of this study was to test the effect of the aqueous extract of pineapple skin (AEPS) and bromelain extracted from the stem (Sigma-Aldrich®, B4882) on engorged females and larvae of R. (B.) microplus in vitro. These substances were diluted in water and evaluated at eight concentrations. Engorged females were collected and distributed in groups of 10, with three repetitions for each treatment. After immersion in the solutions, the females were placed in an incubator for observation of survival, oviposition and larval hatching. The larval packet method was used, also with three repetitions with about 100 larvae each. The packets were incubated and the readings were performed after 24h. The estimated reproduction and efficacy of the solutions were calculated. The LC50 and LC90 were estimated using the Probit procedure of the SAS program. The eight concentrations were compared within each treatment by the Tukey test. For the experiment with engorged females, the most effective concentrations were 125, 250 and 500mg/mL: 33%, 48% and 59% for the AEPS and 27%, 51% and 55% for the bromelain. The LC50 and LC90 values were, respectively, 276 and 8691mg/mL for AEPS and 373 and 5172mg/mL for bromelain. None of the dilutions tested was effective against the larvae of R. (B.) microplus. This is the first report of the action of pineapple extracts or their constituents on cattle ticks. The results demonstrate that further studies regarding composition of tick cuticle, with evaluation of other solvents and formulations, should be conducted seeking to enhance the effect of pineapple extracts and compounds against this ectoparasite. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.