Monitoring chronic physical stress using biomarkers, performance protocols and mathematical functions to identify physiological adaptations in rats

This study was undertaken to characterize the effects of monotonous training at lactate minimum (LM) intensity on aerobic and anaerobic performances; glycogen concentrationsin the soleus muscle, the gastrocnemius muscle and the liver; and creatine kinase (CK), free fatty acids and glucose concentrations in rats. The rats were separated into trained (n =10), baseline (n = 10) and sedentary (n=10) groups. The trained group was submitted to the following: 60 min/day, 6 day/week and intensity equivalent to LM during the 12-week training period. The training volume was reduced after four weeks according to a sigmoid function. The total CK (U/L) increased in the trained group after 12 weeks (742.0±158.5) in comparison with the baseline (319.6±40.2) and the sedentary (261.6+42.2) groups. Free fatty acids and glycogen stores (liver, soleus muscle and gastrocnemius muscle) increased after 12 weeks of monotonous training but aerobic and anaerobic performances were unchanged in relation to the sedentary group. The monotonous training at LM increased the level of energy substrates, unchanged aerobic performance, reduced anaerobic capacity and increased the serum CK concentration; however, the rats did not achieve the predicted training volume.

Yeast proteins originated from the production of brazilian bioethanol quantification and content

The purpose of this work was to determine the levels of protein and the amino acid distribution in the cell mass of yeast strains (Saccharomyces sensu stricto) originated from Brazilian bioethanol industries. The protein was analyzed with the Kjeldahl method and the amino acids, by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The percentages of the protein found ranged from 39 to 49%. The results show that in spite of some variation in numbers between the different yeast strains, all of them presented an amino acid profile similar to the one in the literature for S. cerevisae. The amino acids that have occurred in the largest amounts were: aspartic, glutamic acids and lysine, and those in the lowest amounts were: cysteine and methionine. Although the characteristics of the feedstock used and the process conditions are determinant of the protein values obtained in dry mass, this work elucidates that the intrinsic properties of the yeast strain influence these values.

Brazilian propolis antileishmanial and immunomodulatory effects

The antileishmanial and immunomodulatory effects of propolis collected in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, were evaluated in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis experimental infection. The antileishmanial effect of propolis on promastigote forms was verified by reducing growth and by promoting morphologic alterations observed by scanning electron microscopy. In in vitro immunomodulatory assays, macrophages were pretreated with propolis and then infected with L. (V.) braziliensis. In vivo, supernatants from liver cells and peritoneal exudate of BALB/c mice pretreated with propolis and infected with Leishmania (107/mL promastigotes) were collected, and TNF- α and IL-12 were measured by ELISA. Macrophages incubated with propolis showed a significant increase in interiorization and further killing of parasites. An increased TNF- α production was seen in mice pretreated with propolis, whereas IL-12 was downregulated during the infection. In conclusion, Brazilian propolis showed a direct action on the parasite and displayed immunomodulatory effects on murine macrophages, even though the parasite has been reported to affect the activation pathways of the cell. The observed effects could be associated with the presence of phenolic compounds (flavonoids, aromatic acids, and benzopyranes), di- and triterpenes, and essential oils found in our propolis sample. © 2013 Suelen Santos da Silva et al.

Nursing regimens: Effects on body condition, return to postpartum ovarian cyclicity in Santa Ines ewes, and performance of lambs

The effects of nursing regimens on the body condition, onset of ovarian cyclicity postpartum and weaning weight of lambs were assessed in Santa Ines ewes. Thirty-two ewes were blocked according to parity, number of lambs, and body weight at lambing and within each block randomly allocated to treatments: continuous nursing (CN), controlled nursing (CN2) with two daily feedings for an hour after the 10th day postpartum, or early weaning (EW) with total separation from the lambs after the 10th day. The animals were evaluated from the 12th day postpartum until the first estrus or until 60th day. The dry matter and nutrients intake did not differ among treatments ( P>. 0.05) but did differ over time ( P<. 0.01). The weight, body condition score, serum concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and prolactin, the percentages of ewes in estrus, of ewes that ovulated within 60th day and had ovulation silent, the period from lambing to estrus, ovulation and follicle with a diameter ≥5. mm and the maximum follicular diameter did not differ ( P>. 0.05) among the treatments. The percentage of ovulation until 30th day was greater ( P<. 0.05) in the EW group. The percentage of short luteal phases was higher in the CN2 and EW groups ( P=0.07) and normal luteal phases were higher in the CN group ( P=0.01). Lamb weight weaning was lower in the EW group ( P<. 0.05). It is possible to use CN to obtain lambing periods less than eight months in Santa Ines ewes, with the advantages of simpler management and higher lamb weaning weights. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Avaliação do uso de radiação micro-ondas e ultrassom combinados com agentes químicos como pré-tratamentos de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar para posterior sacarificação enzimática

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo das propriedades óticas e fotoluminescentes das nanopartículas do CeO2 modificadas com La pelo método hidrotermal assistido por microondas

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Impactos de sistemas de cultivo, extrato húmico e adubos orgânico e mineral sobre alguns atributos físicos e químicos de um latossolo, cultivado com cana-de-açúcar

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

Fractionation of aquatic humic substances and dynamic of chromium species in an aquatic body influenced by sugarcane cultivation

This study had as main objectiveto evaluate the influence of AHS obtained from an area under sugarcane cultivation on the dynamics of chromium species (Cr(III) and Cr(VI)). Was studied complexing capacity (CC) with the AHS of chromium species and these were characterized using UV/Vis spectrophotometry, molecular fluorescence, elemental analysis and infrared. AHS with and without fractionation showed a greater aromaticity degree and a predominance of humic acids, and the E4/E6 and E2/E4 ratios suggested aromatic rings and a greater contribution from plants, which indicates lignin structures. The highest CCs were observed for the AHS fractionated, being fraction with molecular-size < 10 kDa and 10-30 kDa showed the highest ability to complex Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions, respectively. These results are corroborating with C/H/N and UV/Vis data, where we can conclude that the AHS without fractionation had the greatest aromaticity and a predominance of humic acids in their structure.

Intraspecific variability of Holostylis reniformis: concentration of lignans, as determined by maceration and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE-CO2), as a function of plant provenance and plant parts

Maceration and supercritical fluid extraction were used to prepare extracts from parts of plants (Holostylis reniformis) collected in two different regions of Brazil. ¹H NMR, HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS, HPLC-DAD, GC-MS, and chemometric techniques were used to analyse lignans in the extracts and showed that yields of SFE-CO2 were less than or equal to those of hexane maceration extracts. These analyses, in conjunction with the concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons, fatty acids and their methyl and ethyl derivatives in the extracts, also allowed the chemical composition of parts and provenance of the plant to be differentiated.

Thermoplastic polyesters and Co-polyesters derived from vegetable oil: synthesis and optimization of melt polycondensation for medium and long chain poly(omega-hydroxyfatty acid)s and their ester derivatives

The synthesis of a series of omega-hydroxyfatty acid (omega-OHFA) monomers and their methyl ester derivatives (Me-omega-OHFA) from mono-unsaturated fatty acids and alcohols via ozonolysis-reduction/crossmetathesis reactions is described. Melt polycondensation of the monomers yielded thermoplastic poly(omega-hydroxyfatty acid)s [-(CH2)(n)-COO-](x) with medium (n = 8 and 12) and long (n = 17) repeating monomer units. The omega-OHFAs and Me-omega-OHFAs were all obtained in good yield (>= 80%) and purity (>= 97%) as established by H-1 NMR, Fourier Transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses. The average molecular size (M-n) and distribution (PDI) of the poly(omega-hydroxyfatty acid)s (P(omega-OHFA)s) and poly(omega-hydroxyfatty ester) s (P(Me-omega-OHFA) s) as determined by GPC varied with organo-metallic Ti(IV) isopropoxide [Ti(OiPr)(4)] polycondensation catalyst amount, reaction time and temperature. An optimization of the polymerization process provided P(omega-OHFA) s and P(Me-omega-OHFA) s with M-n and PDI values desirable for high end applications. Co-polymerization of the long chain (n = 12) and medium chain (n = 8) Me-omega-OHFAs by melt polycondensation yielded poly(omega-hydroxy tridecanoate/omega-hydroxy nonanoate) random co-polyesters (M-n = 11000- 18500 g mol(-1)) with varying molar compositions.

Seasonal variability of a conditional stability constant and the characterization of sedimentary humic substances from typical agricultural and urban areas

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

Leishmanicidal activity of Brosimum glaziovii (Moraceae) and chemical composition of the bioactive fractions by using high-resolution gas chromatography and GC-MS

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

Caracterização do gene chi_l555 e propriedades bioquímicas da quitinase de Bacillus thuringiensis

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Genética e Melhoramento de Plantas) - FCAV

Eugenia calycina Cambess extracts and their fractions: Their antimicrobial activity and the identification of major polar compounds using electrospray ionization FT-ICR mass spectrometry

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Higher Insulin Sensitivity and Impaired Insulin Secretion in Cachetic Solid Ehrlich Tumour-Bearing Mice

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