Formation of wakes by chiral conducting cosmic strings

Chiral cosmic strings are naturally produced at the end of D-term inflation and they present very interesting cosmological consequences. In this work, we investigate the formation and evolution of wakes by a chiral string. We show that, for cold dark matter, the mechanism of forming wakes by a chiral string is similar to the mechanism by an ordinary string.

Polissacarídeos biodegradáveis úteis para a preparação de sistemas de liberação controlada de fármacos. Parte 1: Quitosana

Due to an increasing interest, a vast number of biodegradable polymers have been obtained recently. Polymers naturally produced, such as cellulose, starch, chitosan and alginate, represent biodegradable materials, with low toxicity and low cost. Among polysaccharides, chitosan has been of great interest of the industrial and academic research, due to its special qualities of biodegradability and biocompatibility and, on the other hand, to the versatility of its use in several physical forms and products. A significant growth in the development of new dosage forms capable to deliver the drug in a controlled and targeted way has been observed in these last years. Such pharmaceutical forms search, mainly, the reduction of the dose administered and of the administration frequency, the reduction of adverse side effects and, consequently, a better patient compliance. The present paper describes the use of chitosan in pharmaceutical products, especially in drug controlled delivery systems.

Wild rabies virus detection by plaque assay from naturally infected brains in different species

A simple, sensitive and specific plaque assay protocol for the detection of wild type rabies virus in different species is described using confluent monolayers of chicken embryo cells in 6-well plates. Plaques are produced after application of either agarose or Sephadex G-100 overlay onto cell monolayers and incubation for 96 h after virus infection at 37 degreesC. The parameters affecting plaque appearance include cell seeding concentration, overlay composition and time of incubation after infection. Optimal conditions are seeding at a concentration of 4 x 10(6) cell/cm(3), incubation at 37 degreesC in 5% CO2 atmosphere during 96 h, using either 1% agarose or 2% Sephadex G-100 overlays. The described plaque assay would be a new valuable too] in conducting various quantitative investigations, since the chicken embryo cells are susceptible to rabies virus infection from all species studied. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of transformation growth factor beta(1), interleukin-10, and interferon-gamma in male symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs naturally infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi

The aims of this study were to evaluate the immunomodulatory role of TGF-beta(1), 1L-10, and INF-gamma in spleen and liver extracts and supernatant cultures of white spleen cells from male symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs, naturally infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi. Thirty dogs from Aracatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, an endemic leishmaniosis area, were selected by positive ELISA serological reaction for Leishmania sp. and divided into two groups: asymptomatic (n=15) and symptomatic (n=15) consisting of animals with at least three characteristic signs (fever, dermatitis, lymphoadenopathy, onychogryphosis, weight loss, cachex a, locomotion problems, conjunctivitis, epistaxis, hepatosplenomegaly, edema, and apathy). After euthanasia, spleen and liver fragments were collected for ex vivo quantification of TGF-beta(1), IL-10, and INF-gamma. Naturally active in vitro produced TGF-beta(1) was also evaluated in spleen cell culture supernatant. Spleen and liver extract of asymptomatic dogs had higher mean TGF-beta(1) levels than symptomatic dogs. High concentrations of IL-10 were found in spleen, and mainly in liver extract of both groups. Higher INF-gamma concentrations were found in spleen extracts of symptomatic dogs, and in liver extracts of asymptomatic dogs. Extract of this cytokire was lower in spleen extract. Although INF-gamma is being produced in canine infection, mean levels of TGF-beta(1) and IL-10 from spleen and liver extracts were quantitatively much higher; suggesting that immune response in both asymptomatic and symptomatic dogs A as predominantly type Th2. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Shellac and hydroxyapatitte coatings on titanium niobium and AISI 316L steel surfaces produced by dip-coating

Shellac is a natural resin used for the preservation of fruits, bones and as a coating on drugs. The hydroxyapatite (HA), which is naturally found in human bones, is used as filler to substitute amputated bone or as a coating for prosthetics, promoting bone growth in implants of prostheses. The objective of this work is to immobilize HA from an alcoholic solution of shellac on plates of titanium, niobium and AISI 316L steel using the simple dip-coating method. The corrosion resistance of the uncoated films is compared with ones coated with shellac and shellac plus HA. The deterioration of the film composed of shellac with hydroxyapatite in saline solution follows the ascending order: AISI 316L steel, titanium, niobium. The elemental analysis of the shellac showed that it mainly consists of the elements C, H, N and O. We used the FT-IR spectrum to characterize the shellac and HA. ©The Electrochemical Society.

In vitro and in vivo acaricide action of juvenoid analogs produced from the chemical modification of Cymbopogon spp. and Corymbia citriodora essential oil on the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Plasma Steroid Dynamics in Late- and Near-term Naturally and Artificially Conceived Bovine Pregnancies as Elucidated by Multihormone High-resolution LC-MS/MS

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

Acute-phase protein behavior in dairy cattle herd naturally infected with Trypanosoma vivax

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

First record of molluscs naturally infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1935) (Nematoda: Metastrongylidae) in Brazil

Seeking the identification of Angiostrongylus cantonensis as a potential etiological agent of three clinical cases of eosinophilic meningitis, mollusc specimens were collected in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The snails were identified as Sarasinula marginata (45 specimens), Subulina octona (157), Achatina fulica (45) and Bradybaena similaris (23). Larvae obtained were submitted to polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism diagnosis. Their genetic profile were corresponded to A. cantonensis. Rattus norvegicus experimentally infected with third-stage larvae, developed menigoencephalitis, and parasites became sexually mature in the lungs. Additionally, larvae obtained from A. fulica snails, from São Vicente, state of São Paulo, also showed genetic profiles of this nematode. This is the first record of Brazilian molluscs infected with this nematode species.

Hematology and productive performance of nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) naturally infected with Flavobacterium columnare

Columnaris disease is one of the main causes of mortality in tilapia rearing and is responsible for large economic losses worldwide. Hematology is a tool that makes it possible to study organisms' physiological responses to pathogens. It may assist in making diagnoses and prognoses on diseases in fish populations. The hematological variables of nile tilapia were studied in specimens with a clinical diagnosis of columnaris disease and in specimens that were disease-free. The total erythrocyte count, hemoglobin rate, hematocrit percentage, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), organic defense blood cell percentages (leukocytes and thrombocytes) and hepatosomatic and splenosomatic index were determined. The results showed that there were changes in the erythrocytic series and in organic defense blood cells, in the fish infected with the bacterium, with reductions in erythrocytic variables and significant increases in the numbers of circulating lymphocytes and neutrophils.

Rhamnolipid produced from agroindustrial wastes enhances hydrocarbon biodegradation in contaminated soil

A crude biosurfactant solution was produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa growing on agroindustrial wastes as the substrate and used to study its effect on hydrocarbon biodegradation by the indigenous soil microflora under laboratory conditions. Two concentrations were studied at first and 1 mg of biosurfactant/g of soil showed to be the most efficient for the total petroleum hydrocarbon reduction, which reached 85% at the first 20 days in soil microcosms. Respirometric and microbial analyses showed that the biosurfactant added did not have toxic effects over the microbial population. The use of a biosurfactant for bioremediation has been limited because of its high cost production. Biosurfactants produced from cost-free by-products combines waste minimization with economic potential bioremediation process.

Critical periods of weed control in naturally green colored cotton BRS Verde

Cotton with naturally colored fiber is increasing as a commercial crop due specially to its textile processing with reduced environmental impact, as dying is not necessary. The critical period of weed control and the weed community were studied in a field with the naturally green colored fiber cv. BRS Verde cultivated in Missao Velha, Brazil. Without weed control during all the cycle, a reduction of 82.9% in yield was observed. The critical period of weed control was between 31 and 74 days after emergence for a reduction of 5% in yield. The weed community was composed of 21 species, with higher relative importance and dominance of monocotyledonous species. The beginning of the critical period was found to be more influential on yield than the ending. Thus, defining the right moment to start weed control can be more important to yield than determining the moment to cease it. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quali/quantitative characterization of biogas produced in batch digesters supplied with six distinct substrates

Com a finalidade de se analisar quali/quantitativamente o biogás produzido por 6 tipos de substratos, efetuou-se a presente pesquisa no DER/FCAV/UNESP- SP, Brasil. Os substratos utilizados na digestão anaeróbia foram caracterizados como: 1- Esterco de aves de postura (EAP); 2- Esterco de aves de postura triturado (EAPT); 3- Esterco de aves de corte com cama de maravalha (EACM); 4- Esterco de aves de corte com cama de maravalha triturado (EACMT); 5- Esterco de aves de corte com cama de casca de amendoim (EACA), e 6- Esterco de aves de corte com cama de casca de amendoim triturado (EACAT). Dos resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que, em relação à produção acumulada de biogás, o substrato EAPT foi superior aos demais, enquanto EACM apresentou produção acumulada inferior. em geral, os substratos triturados apresentaram maior quantidade de biogás acumulado em relação aos não triturados, exceto o EACAT, com 20,9 m³ inferior ao EACA. O período de produção máxima de biogás teve início entre 45 e 60 dias, começando a decair a partir dos 120 dias. Aos 57 dias após o enchimento dos biodigestores, o gás produzido possuía teores de CH4 superiores a 53%, e a partir dos 99 dias, todos produziram biogás com teores de CH4 superiores a 70%. Os substratos EAP e EAPT apresentaram maiores concentrações de metano no biogás.

Occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk produced in dairy farms in São Paulo state, Brazil

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