Estudos sobre estrutura, ciclo de vida e comportamento de Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1879), na área entre 22ºs e 28ºs, Brasil: 1. morfologia dos otólitos

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

Expressão dos genes que codificam as proteínas anexina-1 e galectina-1 nos pólipos rinossinusais e sua modulação pelo glicocorticoide

A fisiopatologia da polipose rinossinusal não é totalmente compreendida, apesar de várias hipóteses em relação ao seu processo inflamatório. OBJETIVOS: Estudo prospectivo da expressão dos genes das proteínas, anexina-1 e a galectina-1, que têm ação anti-inflamatória, e sua modulação pelo glicocorticoide. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Onze pacientes portadores de polipose rinossinusal tiveram biopsiados seus pólipos em dois momentos: na ausência de glicocorticoide sistêmico, e na sua presença. Nas duas amostras, foi avaliada a expressão desses genes e comparada com a expressão na mucosa nasal normal do meato médio. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se que a média de expressão dos genes que codifica a anexina-1 e galectina-1 estava predominantemente aumentada, independente do uso do glicocorticoide em relação à mucosa nasal controle. Entretanto, nos pólipos sem uso de corticoide, a média de expressão do gene da anexina-1 foi significativamente maior do que nos pólipos que estavam sob uso de glicocorticoide. Com relação à galectina-1 não houve diferença significativa entre as médias de expressão antes e após o uso de glicocorticoide sistêmico. CONCLUSÃO: Os genes apresentaram um aumento da expressão na mucosa nasal polipoide, independente do uso do glicocorticoide, porém a relação destes dois genes das proteínas anti-inflamatórias com o glicocorticoide não ocorreu da mesma maneira.

Quasispecies of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 and treatment outcome with Peginterferon and Ribavirin

The majority of patients with chronic hepatitis C fail to respond to antiviral therapy. The genetic basis of this resistance is unknown. The quasispecies nature of HCV may have an important implication concerning viral persistence and response to therapy. The HCV nonstructural 5A (NS5A) protein has been controversially implicated in the inherent resistance of HCV to interferon (IFN) antiviral therapy. To evaluate whether the NS5A quasispecies pre-treatment composition of HCV 1a/1b is related to responsiveness to combined pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and Ribavirin therapy, detailed analyses of the complete NS5A were performed. Fifteen full-length NS5A clones were sequenced from 11 pretreatment samples of patients infected with genotype 1 HCV (3 virological sustained responders, 4 non-responders, and 4 end-of-treatment responders). Our study could not show a significant correlation between the mean number of mutations in HCV NS5A before treatment and treatment outcome, and the phylogenetic construction of complete NS5A sequences obtained from all patients failed to show any clustering associated with a specific response pattern. No single amino acid position was associated with different responses to therapy in any of the NS5A regions analyzed, and mutations were clustered downstream the ISDR, primarily in the V3 region. We observed that the CRS and NLS regions of the NS5A protein were conflicting for some variables analyzed, although no significant differences were found. If these two regions can have antagonistic functions, it seems viable that they present different mutation profiles when compared with treatment response. The patient sample that presented the lowest genetic distance values also presented the smallest number of variants, and the most heterogeneous pattern was seen in the end-of-treatment patients. These results suggest that a detailed molecular analysis of the NS5A region on a larger sample size may be necessary for understanding its role in the therapy outcome of HCV 1a/1b infection. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the Naturally Acquired Antibody Immune Response to the Pv200L N-terminal Fragment of Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein-1 in Four Areas of the Amazon Region of Brazil

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

pK determination. A mean field, Poisson-Boltzmann approach

A model describing dissociation of monoprotonic acid and a method for the determination of its pK value are presented. The model is based on a mean field approximation. The Poisson-Boltzmann equation, adopting spherical symmetry, is numerically solved, and the solution of its linearized form is written. By use of the pH values of a dilution experiment of galacturonic acid as the entry data, the proposed method allowed estimation of the value of pK = 3.25 at a temperature of 25 degrees C. Values for the complex dimensions and dissociation degree are calculated using experimental pH values for solution concentration values ranging from 0.1 to 60 mM. The present analysis leads to the conclusion that the Poisson-Boltzmann equation or its linear form is equally suited for the description of such systems.

Limits of validity for a semiclassical mean-field two-fluid model for Bose-Einstein condensation thermodynamics

We reinvestigate the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) thermodynamics of a weakly interacting dilute Bose gas under the action of a trap using a semi-classical two-fluid mean-field model in order to find the domain of applicability of the model. Such a model is expected to break down once the condition of diluteness and weak interaction is violated. We find that this breakdown happens for values of coupling and density near the present experimental scenario of BEG. With the increase of the interaction coupling and density the model may lead to unphysical results for thermodynamic observables. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier B.V. B.V, All rights reserved.

Magnetic Field Line Escape: Comparison with Mean Free Path

In the present work, we determine the fraction of magnetic field lines that reach the tokamak wall leaving the plasma surrounded by a chaotic layer created by resonant perturbations at the plasma edge. The chaotic layer arises in a scenario where an integrable magnetic field with reversed magnetic shear is perturbed by an ergodic magnetic limiter. For each considered line, we calculate its connection length, i.e. the number of toroidal turns that the field lines complete before reaching the wall. We represent the results in the poloidal section in which the initial coordinates are chosen. We also estimate the radial profile of the fraction of field lines, for different temperatures, whose connection lengths are smaller than the electron collisional mean free path.

U-ages in soils and groundwater evidencing wet periods 400-600 kyr ago in southeast Brazil

U-238 and its radiogenic daughter U-234 have been utilized for dating soil formation and groundwater residence time during the last 1.5 million years, in this case based on the U-clissolution/precipitation occurring during modifications of the oxidation-reduction conditions. In this paper, we report a 400-600 kyr proxy of wet periods from sediments occurring in a soil profile developed over rocks outcropping at the Parana sedimentary basin in Brazil, and from groundwater exploited of Guarani aquifer at the same basin. The approaches indicated successful use of the U-modeled ages for suggesting wet periods exceeding the past 116-210 kyr from previous studies. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Indexes of power and aerobic capacity obtained in cycle ergometry and treadmill running: comparisons between sedentary, runners, cyclists and triathletes

The objectives of this study were: a) to determine, in a cross-sectional manner, the effect of aerobic training on the peak oxygen uptake, the intensity at O2peak and the anaerobic threshold (AnT) during running and cycling; and b) to verify if the transference of the training effects are dependent on the analized type of exercise or physiological index. Eleven untrained males (UN), nine endurance cyclists (EC), seven endurance runners (ER), and nine triathletes (TR) were submitted, on separate days, to incremental tests until voluntary exhaustion on a mechanical braked cycle ergometer and on a treadmill. The values of O2peak (ml.kg-1.min-1) obtained in running and cycle ergometer (ER = 68.8 ± 6.3 and 62.0 ± 5.0; EC = 60.5 ± 8.0 and 67.6 ± 7.6; TR = 64.5 ± 4.8 and 61.0 ± 4.1; UN = 43.5 ± 7.0 and 36.7 ± 5.6; respectively) were higher in the group that presented specific training in the modality. The UN group presented the lower values of O2peak, regardless of the type of exercise. This same behavior was observed for the AnT (ml.kg-1.min-1) determined in running and cycle ergometer (ER = 56.8 ± 6.9 and 44.8 ± 5.7; EC = 51.2 ± 5.2 and 57.6 ± 7.1; TR = 56.5 ± 5.1 and 49.0 ± 4.8; UN = 33.2 ± 4.2 and 22.6 ± 3.7; respectively). It can be concluded that the transference of the training effects seems to be only partial, independently of the index (O2peak, IO2peak or AnT) or exercise type (running or cycling). In relation to the indices, the specificity of training seems to be less present in the O2peak than in the IO2peak and the AnT.

Comparação da potência anaeróbia mensurada pelo teste de RAST em diferentes condições de calçado e superfícies

INTRODUÇÃO: O Running Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) tem sido considerado um teste válido para avaliação anaeróbia. Entretanto, como a superfície e o calçado podem afetar alguns parâmetros mensurados durante o exercício, isso pode modificar os parâmetros do RAST. OBJETIVO: Comparar as variáveis do RAST mensuradas utilizando chuteiras na grama (RAST CG) e tênis na pista (RAST TP). MÉTODOS: Oito jogadores de futebol (da categoria sub-17) participaram do estudo. Os participantes realizaram dois RAST (intervalo > 24 h). O RAST consistiu em seis corridas máximas de 35m com 10s de intervalo passivo entre cada corrida. O tempo de cada esforço foi registrado para determinação da potência pico (PP), potência média (PM) e índice de fadiga (IF). Após o sexto esforço, amostras sanguíneas foram coletadas para determinação da lactacidemia ([Lac]). RESULTADOS: Durante o RAST TP, a PP (763,1 ± 87,2 W) e PM (621,6 ± 68,1 W) foram significativamente superiores às PP e PM mensuradas em RAST CG (PP = 667,3 ± 67,0 W e PM = 555,9 ± 74,7 W), enquanto que as [Lac] observadas em RAST TP (7,3 ± 1,8 mmol.L-1) foram significativamente inferiores às mensuradas em RAST CG (9,9 ± 3,2 mmol.L-1). No entanto, o IF não foi significativamente diferente (RAST TP = 32,5 ± 8,3%; RAST CG = 34,1 ± 6,6%). Significativas correlações foram observadas entre as PM (r = 0,90) e as [Lac] (r = 0,72). CONCLUSÃO: Podemos concluir que as variáveis do RAST são influenciadas pela superfície e calçado utilizados, com valores superiores observados em RAST TP.

Antiretroviral resistance mutations in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infected patients enrolled in genotype testing at the Central Public Health Laboratory, São Paulo, Brazil: preliminary results

Antiretroviral resistance mutations (ARM) are one of the major obstacles for pharmacological human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) suppression. Plasma HIV-1 RNA from 306 patients on antiretroviral therapy with virological failure was analyzed, most of them (60%) exposed to three or more regimens, and 28% of them have started therapy before 1997. The most common regimens in use at the time of genotype testing were AZT/3TC/nelfinavir, 3TC/D4T/nelfinavir and AZT/3TC/efavirenz. The majority of ARM occurred at protease (PR) gene at residue L90 (41%) and V82 (25%); at reverse transcriptase (RT) gene, mutations at residue M184 (V/I) were observed in 64%. One or more thymidine analogue mutations were detected in 73%. The number of ARM at PR gene increased from a mean of four mutations per patient who showed virological failure at the first ARV regimens to six mutations per patient exposed to six or more regimens; similar trend in RT was also observed. No differences in ARM at principal codon to the three drug classes for HIV-1 clades B or F were observed, but some polymorphisms in secondary codons showed significant differences. Strategies to improve the cost effectiveness of drug therapy and to optimize the sequencing and the rescue therapy are the major health priorities.

Monitoring a wandering mean with an np chart

Este artigo considera um gráfico np x proposto por Wu et al. (2009) para controle de média de processo como uma alternativa ao uso do gráfico de. O que distingue do gráfico de controle np x é o fato das unidades amostrais serem classificadas como unidades de primeiro ou de segunda classe de acordo com seus limites discriminantes. O gráfico tradicional np é um caso particular do gráfico np x quando os limites discriminantes coincidem com os limites de especificação e unidade de primeira (segunda) classe é um item conforme (não conforme). Estendendo o trabalho de Reynolds Junior, Arnold e Baik (1996), consideramos que a média de processo oscila mesmo na ausência de alguma causa especial. As propriedades de Cadeia de Markov foram adotadas para avaliar o desempenho do gráfico np x no monitoramento de média de processos que oscila. de modo geral, o gráfico np x requer amostras duas vezes maior para superar desempenho do gráfico (enquanto que o gráfico tradicional np necessita tamanho de amostras cinco ou seis vezes maior).

Bone mineral density of rat femurs after hindlimb unloading and different physical rehabilitation programs

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The effect of bulk light absorption on running photorefractive holograms

The influence of bulk light absorption on running photorefractive holograms is investigated. By solving the coupled wave equations we prove that the beam intensities, but not the beam phases, can be calculated by averaging the coupling constant over the crystal thickness. We show the importance of the effect by calculating the dielectric relaxation time at the crystal front, and from that the quantum efficiency from a feedback-controlled experiment with a 2.05 mm thick BTO crystal.We propose to simulate the effect of bulk light absorption by a rude estimate of the average dielectric relaxation time which is related in a simple way to the dielectric relaxation time at the crystal front, in doing so an error of less than 10% is introduced.

Dichloro(cyclohexilidene-1-methylene)(phenyl)Te(IV). Looking for the theoretical treatment

C(13)H(16)Cl(2)Te,M(r)=370.76,P2(1)/a, a = 8.1833(8), b = 8.4163(8), c = 20.787(2) A, beta = 99.52(1)degrees, Z = 4, R(1) = 0,0275. The primary coordination around the Te(IV) atom is consistent with a pseudo-trigonal bipyramidal bond configuration with two Cl atoms occupying axial positions while the C atoms and the lone pair of electrons occupy the equatorial positions. The Te(IV) atom is involved in an intermolecular secondary interaction resulting in the self assembly of zigzag-chains supramolecular array. In order to determine the theoretical basis set for the Te atom which leads to the best agreement with the experimental data, a large series of geometry optimizations were performed on dichloro dimethyl Te(IV), as a model compound, and the results compared with the mean distances and angles obtained from 45 X-ray structures. The Ahlrichs basis set plus the Hay & Wadt ECP was selected and used for a series of calculations performed on the title compound.