Avaliações ultrassonográfica e radiográfica dos efeitos da suplementação com dois tipos de probióticos sobre o intestino de cães filhotes

Avaliaram-se os efeitos da suplementação de dois tipos de probióticos para cães filhotes da raça Beagle, que receberam dois tipos de dieta de alta e baixa qualidade, sobre os achados em exames de diagnóstico por imagem. Foram utilizados 18 cães filhotes da raça Beagle, distribuídos em três tratamentos inteiramente ao acaso: tratamento 1, controle (ração); tratamento 2, ração com probiótico 1 (Bifidobacterium); e tratamento 3, ração com probiótico 2 (Lactobacillus). O experimento foi dividido em duas fases, cada uma caracterizada pela mudança da dieta de qualidades diferentes. Ao exame ultrassonográfico, foi avaliada a espessura da parede gastrintestinal, e ao radiográfico, a presença de gás em alças intestinais e o espessamento da parede. Observou-se aumento da espessura da parede das alças intestinais (P<0,05), nos animais dos grupos tratados com probiótico 1 e 2 (5,74mm e 6,01mm, respectivamente) em relação aos do grupo-controle (5,03mm). O uso de probióticos não influenciou a produção de gás intestinal. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos quanto ao escore de gás intestinal. A avaliação quantitativa permitiu a determinação de um escore de gás intestinal, de forma não invasiva, por meio do software Image J®. Concluiu-se que o diagnóstico por imagem sustenta a recomendação dessa metodologia como ferramenta auxiliar na avaliação nutricional de dietas para cães.

Ambientes educativos e conhecimento social: um estudo sobre as representações de escola

Este artigo apresenta parte de uma pesquisa sobre a construção do conhecimento social fundamentada na teoria piagetiana. Os dados analisados referem-se às ideias de crianças entre 7 e 8 anos a respeito da escola. Os sujeitos foram alunos de duas classes de primeira série: uma considerada ambiente tradicional e a outra considerada ambiente sócio-moral construtivista. Os dados obtidos sofreram análise qualitativa e quantitativa e as respostas dos sujeitos foram comparadas, com a finalidade de descobrir possíveis diferenças naquilo que as crianças pensam em função do ambiente escolar do qual participam. Os resultados demonstraram que as crianças não possuem compreensão real da função da escola e que houve diferença significativa em função do ambiente escolar pesquisado, especificamente em relação à compreensão que os sujeitos apresentam das razões para a existência de uma escola e das caracterizações de uma escola boa e uma escola ruim. Dessa forma, as crianças inseridas no ambiente tradicional consideram que para a existência de uma escola é necessário somente aspectos materiais; já aquelas inseridas no ambiente sócio-moral construtivista consideram a necessidade de outros elementos, tais como as pessoas. As crianças inseridas no ambiente considerado construtivista também apontam aspectos subjetivos e referentes a comportamentos considerados adequados para a caracterização de uma boa escola, o que não ocorre com os alunos do ambiente tradicional.

Influência do cetoprofeno na consolidação óssea de ulnas osteotomizadas de coelhos: estudo qualitativo e quantitativo através de programas computacionais

OBJETIVO: Acompanhar o processo de consolidação óssea de ulnas osteotomizadas de coelhos tratados com cetoprofeno, por meio de programas computacionais. MÉTODOS: Os coelhos foram submetidos a osteotomia da ulna e divididos em dois grupos. No grupo A (n=10) os animais foram tratados com cetoprofeno (2mg.kg-1) durante cinco dias. O grupo B (n=5) serviu como controle. Os animais foram radiografados um dia após a operação e a cada 7 dias até perfazer 28 dias. No ato da tomada radiográfica, junto à região a ser estudada, foram colocadas uma escada e uma cunha de alumínio que serviram como referencial de densidade óptica. As imagens radiográficas foram digitalizadas através de um scanner. O programa ODR forneceu imagens tridimensionais e coloridas. Outro programa, CROMOX, avaliou a densidade mineral óssea da região da ostetotomia. RESULTADOS: As imagens fornecidas pelo ODR proporcionaram melhor visualização da lesão e do processo de consolidação óssea. O programa CROMOX forneceu uma análise quantitativa ao calcular a densidade mineral do calo ósseo formado ao longo dos 28 dias de observação. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os valores de densidade mineral óssea das ulnas osteotomizadas dos coelhos tratados com cetoprofeno e do grupo controle, nas radiografias realizadas ao longo de 28 dias de pós-operatório. CONCLUSÃO: O cetoprofeno não interferiu no processo de formação do calo ósseo de ulnas osteotomizadas de coelhos.

Rapid determination of furanocoumarins in creams and pomades using SPE and GC

A solid-phase extraction and chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) method has been developed for the routine analysis of psoralen, bergapten, isopimpinellin and pimpinellin in creams and pomades employed in Brazil for the treatment of vitiligo. The calibration curve for psoralen was linear in the range 10-100 mu g ml(-1), for bergapten 5-90 mu g ml(-1), for pimpinellin 10-90 mu g ml(-1) and for isopimpinellin 5-100 mu g ml(-1). The best recoveries of the furanocoumarins in the creams analysed were 94-97%, whereas in the pomades, recoveries were 94-96%. The R.S.D. of the quantitative analysis of the furanocoumarins in the products analyses were within 5%. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous determination of zinc, copper, lead, and cadmium in fuel ethanol by anodic stripping voltammetry using a glassy carbon-mercury-film electrode

A new, versatile, and simple method for quantitative analysis of zinc, copper, lead, and cadmium in fuel ethanol by anodic stripping voltammetry is described. These metals can be quantified by direct dissolution of fuel ethanol in water and subsequent voltammetric measurement after the accumulation step. A maximum limit of 20% (v/v) ethanol in water solution was obtained for voltammetric measurements without loss of sensitivity for metal species. Chemical and operational optimum conditions were analyzed in this study; the values obtained were pH 2.9, a 4.7-mum thickness mercury film, a 1,000-rpm rotation frequency of the working electrode, and a 600-s pre-concentration time. Voltammetric measurements were obtained using linear scan (LSV), differential pulse (DPV), and square wave (SWV) modes and detection limits were in the range 10(-9)-10(-8) mol L-1 for these metal species. The proposed method was compared with a traditional analytical technique, flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), for quantification of these metal species in commercial fuel ethanol samples.

Hepatocyte lesions and cellular immune response in yellow fever infection

The study of the in-situ cellular immune response is very important for the understanding of different liver infections. In the present study, 53 liver samples obtained by viscerotomy from patients who died during the course of jungle yellow fever were analyzed. The diagnosis was confirmed by serology, viral isolation and virus-specific immunohistochemistry. The specimens were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies for apoptosis, CD45RO, CD4, CD8, CD20, S100, CD57 and CD68. Quantitative analysis of the labeling pattern showed a clear predominance of the different phenotypes in the portal tract and midzone region of the acini. There was a predominance of T CD4+ lymphocytes, accompanied by the presence of T CD8+ lymphocytes, natural killer cells (CD57), macrophages and antigen-presenting cells (S100). The disproportion between the intensity of inflammation and the degree of hepatic injury was probably due to the intense apoptotic component, which classically does not induce an inflammatory response. The present study demonstrates that, despite the disproportion between injury and inflammation, the cellular immune response plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the hepatocytic injury observed in yellow fever, probably as a result of cytolytic actions through mechanisms involving MHC II and the activation of Fas receptors and granzymes/perforins. (C) 2006 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Metodologia rápida e eficiente para análise de pesticidas organoclorados em fubá

A rapid and efficient analytical method is presented for the quantitative analysis of 10 organochlorine pesticides in corn meal. The extraction and clean up steps are combined into one step by transferring the sample to a chromatographic column prepacked with alumina and silica gel. The pesticides are eluted with n-hexane-dichloromethane 9:1 (v/v) and the extracts analized by gas-liquid chromatography with electron capture detection, the average recoveries were between 78% and 98% and the detection limits were between 1 and 5 ng/g.

Lignoids in seedlings of Virola sebifera

Quantitative analysis carried out by high performance liquid chromatography indicated the accumulation of a major secondary compound in seedlings of Virola sebifera which was isolated and identified as the lignan hydroxy-otobain. This lignan occurs only in trace amounts in the seeds, where cyclolignans (aryltetralones) are by far the major components. In addition to hydroxy-otobain, only hydroxy-aryltetralones were detected in the seedlings, indicating a selective process in the translocation of secondary compounds. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Molecular phylogeny of the green lacewings (Neuroptera : Chrysopidae)

The first quantitative analysis of phylogenetic relationships of green lacewings (Chrysopidae) is presented based on DNA sequence data. A single nuclear and two mitochondrial genes are used in the analysis: carbomoylphosphate synthase (CPS) domain of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase-aspartate transcarbamoylase-dihydroorotase (CAD) (i.e. rudimentary locus), large subunit ribosomal gene (16S) and cytochrome oxidase I (COI). This study represents the first use of the CAD gene to investigate phylogenetic relationships of the lacewings. DNA sequences for 33 chrysopid species from 18 genera, representing all subfamilies and tribes, were compared with outgroups sampled from families Hemerobiidae, Osmylidae and Polystoechotidae. Parsimony analyses of the combined data set recovered all of the previously established subfamilial and tribal groups as monophyletic clades (although relatively weakly supported) except Apochrysinae sensu lato. The enigmatic Nothancyla verreauxi Navas has historically been difficult to place in a subfamily group based on morphological characteristics; molecular data presented herein do not adequately resolve this problem.

Flavonoids and isoflavonoids from Gynerium sagittatum

Four flavonoids namely (2R,3R)-2,3-trans-7,4 '-dimethoxydihydroflavonol, (2R,3S,4S)-2,3-trans-3,4-cis-7,4'-dimethoxy-3,4-flavandiol, 6-hydroxy-7,4 '-dimethoxyflavone, 6,7,4 '-trimethoxyflavone, along with the known isoflavonoids ferreirin, dihydrocajanin, dalbergioidin, dihydrobiochanin A and biochanin A and other I I known compounds were isolated from the roots of Gynerium sagittatum. The structural characterization of these compounds was carried out via one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments in combination with ESI-MS. Finally a quantitative analysis of the isoflavones of the methanolic extract was performed by LC-ESI-MS. The high quantity of isoflavonoids found in G. sagittatum makes this plant a good natural source of isoflavonoids. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The influence of oxygen in the photoexpansion of GaGeS glasses

Irreversible photoexpansion and photobleaching effect has been observed in amorphous Ga10Ge25S65 glass when its surface was exposed to light with energy greater than the band gap, 3.52 eV. The magnitude of the expansion of GaGeS glasses depends on the exposure conditions. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) have been used to identify the chemical nature of the glass samples before and after illumination. The quantitative analysis of the EXAFS data leads to a two-shell model of 0.5 oxygen atoms at 2.01 Angstrom and 3.6 sulfur atoms at a 2.20 Angstrom. RBS technique demonstrated that chemical composition of the glass surface after irradiation is oxygen rich. The existence of Ge-O bonds in the glass after illumination was also confirmed by infrared measurements. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Genetic parameters by Bayesian inference for dual purpose Jaffarabadi buffaloes

Knowledge of genetic parameters is essential for improved reproductive management and increased yield. Quantitative analysis of genetic parameters is lacking for many breeds of buffaloes. This article provides the first estimate of genetic parameters for dual purpose (meat and milk) Brazilian Jaffarabadi buffaloes, using Bayesian inference. Data on milk yield (MY), lactation length (LL), weight at 205 days (W205) and 365 (W365) days of age, and average daily gain (ADG) from 205 to 365 days of age were collected in two herds. Bivariate analyses (using the program MTGSAM) were performed with the Gibbs sampler to obtain estimates of variance and covariance. Average lactation milk yield and lactation length were 1 620.2 +/- 450.9 kg and 257.6 +/- 46.8 days, respectively, and the mean values for weight traits (kg) were 181.6 +/- 63.3 (W205), 298.04 +/- 116.1 (W365), and 0.73 +/- 0.35 (ADG). Heritability estimates (modes) were 0.16 for MY, 0.10 for LL, 0.43 for W205, 0.48 for W365 and 0.32 for ADG. There was a high genetic correlation (0.96) between milk yield and lactation length and very high genetic correlations (0.99) between the three growth traits. Our data suggest that both milk production and growth traits have clear potential for yield improvement through direct selection in this dual purpose breed. The selection for weight at an early age would be successful and selection for MY can be performed in the first lactation.

Cluster identification and characterization in the riser of a circulating fluidized bed from numerical simulation results

A methodology of identification and characterization of coherent structures mostly known as clusters is applied to hydrodynamic results of numerical simulation generated for the riser of a circulating fluidized bed. The numerical simulation is performed using the MICEFLOW code, which includes the two-fluids IIT's hydrodynamic model B. The methodology for cluster characterization that is used is based in the determination of four characteristics, related to average life time, average volumetric fraction of solid, existing time fraction and frequency of occurrence. The identification of clusters is performed by applying a criterion related to the time average value of the volumetric solid fraction. A qualitative rather than quantitative analysis is performed mainly owing to the unavailability of operational data used in the considered experiments. Concerning qualitative analysis, the simulation results are in good agreement with literature. Some quantitative comparisons between predictions and experiment were also presented to emphasize the capability of the modeling procedure regarding the analysis of macroscopic scale coherent structures. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Desenvolvimento da quantificacao em geografia

Considering the textbooks, papers and articles published during the last decades, this paper deals with the development of the quantitative analysis in Geography. The comments are grouped into the following thematic questions: contributions aiming to introduce concepts and techniques in the geographical issues, focusing statistical and mathematical background and specific techniques about spatial and temporal distributions; contributions evaluating the potentialities of the quantification; contributions showing the character and applicability of the quantificative techniques, and the state of the use of these techniques in Brazilian literature and teaching. -English summary