Isolation and characterization of ten novel microsatellite loci in the red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens, Tinamiformes, Aves) and cross-amplification in other tinamous

We describe the isolation and characterization of ten microsatellite loci from the red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens) and also evaluated the cross-amplification of these loci and other ten loci previously developed for the great tinamou (Tinamus major) in other tinamous. Genetic variability was assessed using 24 individuals. Six loci were polymorphic with moderate to high number of alleles per locus (2-12 alleles) and showed expected heterozygosity (HE) ranging from 0.267 to 0.860. All loci conformed to the Hardy-Weinberg expectation and linkage disequilibrium was not significant for any pair of loci. This battery of polymorphic loci showed high paternity exclusion probability (0.986) and low genetic identity probability (4.95 x 10(-5)), proving to be helpful for parentage tests and population analyses in the red-winged tinamou. The cross-amplification was moderate where of the 160 locus/taxon combinations, 46 (28.75%) successfully amplified.

Biology of Thaumastocoris peregrinus in different eucalyptus species and hybrids

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant and Antimycobacterial Activities of Bromelia balansae (Bromeliaceae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A Novel Diagnostic Target in the Hepatitis C Virus Genome

BackgroundDetection and quantification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA is integral to diagnostic and therapeutic regimens. All molecular assays target the viral 5'-noncoding region (59-NCR), and all show genotype-dependent variation of sensitivities and viral load results. Non-western HCV genotypes have been under-represented in evaluation studies. An alternative diagnostic target region within the HCV genome could facilitate a new generation of assays.Methods and FindingsIn this study we determined by de novo sequencing that the 3'-X-tail element, characterized significantly later than the rest of the genome, is highly conserved across genotypes. To prove its clinical utility as a molecular diagnostic target, a prototype qualitative and quantitative test was developed and evaluated multicentrically on a large and complete panel of 725 clinical plasma samples, covering HCV genotypes 1-6, from four continents (Germany, UK, Brazil, South Africa, Singapore). To our knowledge, this is the most diversified and comprehensive panel of clinical and genotype specimens used in HCV nucleic acid testing (NAT) validation to date. The lower limit of detection (LOD) was 18.4 IU/ml (95% confidence interval, 15.3-24.1 IU/ml), suggesting applicability in donor blood screening. The upper LOD exceeded 10(-9) IU/ml, facilitating viral load monitoring within a wide dynamic range. In 598 genotyped samples, quantified by Bayer VERSANT 3.0 branched DNA (bDNA), X-tail-based viral loads were highly concordant with bDNA for all genotypes. Correlation coefficients between bDNA and X-tail NAT, for genotypes 1-6, were: 0.92, 0.85, 0.95, 0.91, 0.95, and 0.96, respectively; X-tail-based viral loads deviated by more than 0.5 log10 from 5'-NCR-based viral loads in only 12% of samples (maximum deviation, 0.85 log10). The successful introduction of X-tail NAT in a Brazilian laboratory confirmed the practical stability and robustness of the X-tail-based protocol. The assay was implemented at low reaction costs (US$8.70 per sample), short turnover times (2.5 h for up to 96 samples), and without technical difficulties.ConclusionThis study indicates a way to fundamentally improve HCV viral load monitoring and infection screening. Our prototype assay can serve as a template for a new generation of viral load assays. Additionally, to our knowledge this study provides the first open protocol to permit industry-grade HCV detection and quantification in resource-limited settings.

Prevalence and risk factors for urinary incontinence in healthy pregnant Brazilian women

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Evaluation of pH and Calcium Ion Release of Calcium Hydroxide Pastes Containing Different Substances

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the pH and calcium ion release of calcium hydroxide pastes associated with different substances. Methods: Forty acrylic teeth with simulated root canals were divided into 4 groups according to the substance associated to the calcium hydroxide paste: chlorhexidine (CHX) in 2 formulations (1% solution and 2% gel), Casearia sylvestris Sw extract, and propylene glycol (control). The teeth with pastes and sealed coronal accesses were immersed in 10 mL deionized water. After 10 minutes, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7, 15, and 30 days, the teeth were removed to another container, and the liquid was analyzed. Calcium ion release was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and pH readings were made with a pH meter. Data were analyzed statistically by analysis of variance and Tukey test (alpha = 0.05). Results: Calcium analysis revealed significant differences (P < .05) for 1% CHX solution and 2% CHX gel at 10 minutes. After 24 hours, 2% CHX gel x Control and 2% CHX gel x 1% CHX solution differed significantly (P < .05). After 48 hours, there were significant differences (P < .05) for 2% CHX gel x Control and Extract x Control. No differences (P > .05) were observed among groups in the other periods. Regarding the pH, there were significant differences (P < .05) for 2% CHX gel x Control and 2% CHX gel x 1% CHX solution after 48 hours and for 2% CHX gel x Control after 15 days. In the other periods, no differences (P > .05) were observed among groups. Conclusions: All pastes behaved similarly in terms of pH and calcium ion release in the studied periods. (J Endod 2009;35:1274-1277)

Central nervous system of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae): an ultrastructural study

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

Peptídeos cíclicos de biomassa vegetal: características, diversidade, biossíntese e atividades biológicas

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

GC Fingerprints Coupled to Pattern-Recognition Multivariate SIMCA Chemometric Analysis for Brazilian Gasoline Quality Studies

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

An adapted thermal-gradient block for the germination of photoblastic seeds

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

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.

Synthesis and solid-state structural characterization of bis (thiocyanatemercury)tetracarbonyliron

The bis (thiocyanatemercury)tetracarbonyliron, [Fe(CO)4(HgSCN)2], was prepared from [Fe(CO) 5] and Hg(SCN)2, and studied by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the tetragonal space group I4,1/a. The unit cell, with dimensions of a = 13.778(3), c = 13.234(3) Å, V = 2512.3(9) Å3, contains four molecules. The iron atom is octahedrally coordinated by four carbonyl groups and two mercury atoms in cis positions. The coordination of the mercury atoms is distorted square-planar, since, besides mercury-iron and mercury-sulphur bonds, there are also mercury-mercury and mercury-nitrogen interactions. The FeHg distance is 2.506(5)Å and the HgFeHg angle is 78.0(1)°. © 1987.

The Role of the Korteweg-de Vries Hierarchy in the N-Soliton Dynamics of the Shallow Water Wave Equation

We apply a multiple-time version of the reductive perturbation method to study long waves as governed by the shallow water wave model equation. As a consequence of the requirement of a secularity-free perturbation theory, we show that the well known N-soliton dynamics of the shallow water wave equation, in the particular case of α = 2β, can be reduced to the N-soliton solution that satisfies simultaneously all equations of the Korteweg-de Vries hierarchy.

Nonlinear absorption spectrum in perylene derivatives

Knowledge about nonlinear absorption spectra of materials used in photonic devices is of paramount importance in determining their optimum operation wavelengths. In this work, we have investigated the two-photon absorption (2PA) degenerate cross-section spectrum for perylene derivatives using the Z-scan technique with femtosecond laser pulses. All perylene derivatives studied present large 2PA cross-sections, only comparable to the best ones reported in the literature. The results achieved in the present investigation indicate perylene derivatives as promising materials for two-photon applications. ©2005 Optical Society of America.

Antimicrobial activity of coffee-based solutions and their effects on Streptococcus mutans adherence

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of different coffee solutions and their effects on the adherence of Streptococcus mutans to glass surface. Coffee solutions were prepared with three commercial products (Pilao, Mellita and Café do Ponto) by two different methods (simple and boiled) (n=15). A control group was also included in the study. For antimicrobial activity testing, tubes containing coffee solution and culture medium were inoculated with a suspension of S. mutans ATCC 35688 and incubated for 1 min 1h, 2h and 4h. Serial dilutions and plating on BHI agar were performed. S, mutans adherence to glass in presence of different coffee solutions was also tested. The number of adhered bacteria (CFU/mL) was determined by plating method. The results were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Turkey's test. The tested coffee solutions did not reduce the number of colony forming units of S. mutans in relation to the control at all evaluation periods. All the solutions reduced significantly the adherence of S. mutans to the glass surface in relation to control. The tested coffee solutions did not present any antimicrobial effect on Streptococcus mutans, however, all the coffee solutions reduced significantly the adherence of S mutans to the glass surface.