Dynamics at infinity and other global dynamical aspects of Shimizu-Morioka equations

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Agronomical and phytochemical aspects of fafia

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Morphoquantitative aspects of NADH-diaphorase myenteric neurons in the ileum of diabetic rats treated with acetyl-L-carnitine

In this work, we investigated the effect of the acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) supplementation (200 mg/kg/day) on the myenteric neurons of the ileum of rats made diabetic by streptozotocin (35 mg/kg, i.v.). Four groups were used: diabetic (D), diabetic supplemented with ALC (DC), control (C) and control supplemented with ALC (CC). After 15 weeks of diabetes induction the animals were killed and the ileum was collected and subjected to whole-mount preparation to evidence the myenteric neurons through the histochemical technique of the NADH-diaphorase. The density of neurons seen in 12.72 min(2) of ileum showed no difference among the groups, although in group D it was 22% smaller than in group C, while group DC was 9% smaller to group CC. The profiles of the cell bodies (PC) of 1000 neurons per group were analysed. The neurons PC in group D decreased (P < 0.0001) when compared with other groups and increased (P < 0.0001) when compared with group DC. The incidence of neurons with a PC inferior to 200 mu m(2) was larger in group D. The frequency of neurons with a PC higher than 200 mu m(2) in group DC was close to those seen in groups C and CC. We concluded that ALC eases the loss of neurons and makes the incidence of myenteric neurons with a PC higher than 200 mu m(2) similar to the control rats.

Ultrastructural Aspects of Spermatogenesis in Phalloceros caudimaculatus (Teleostei, Poeciliidae)

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

Clinical and histopathological aspects of the insect bite hypersensitivity in horses

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ultrastructural aspects of oogenesis and oocyte primary growth in Serrasalmus spilopleura (Teleostei, Characiformes, Characidae)

The ultrastructural characteristics of the organelles present in Serrasalmus spilopleura oogonia and oocytes undergoing primary growth were described in detail, considering its role in the nuclear and cytoplasmic metabolic processes that occur in these cell types. Even though these cells do not significantly differ from those similar to them that are found in other teleost groups, the analysis of their ultrastructure makes available new data on the reproductive biology of Characiformes. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

Population structure, feeding and reproductive aspects of Serrapinnus heterodon (Characidae, Cheirodontinae) in a Mogi Guaçu reservoir (SP), upper Paraná River basin

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Novel Aspects of the Purpose-Built Materials Strategy: Evidence of Topographic Template Effect and Oriented Attachment Growth Mechanism

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

Ecological aspects of helminth fauna of Magellanic penguins, Spheniscus magellanicus (aves: Spheniscidae), from the Northern Coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil

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

Aspects of gene regulation in the diploid and tetraploid Odontophrynus americanus (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae)

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

Epidemiological aspects of enteroparasitosis at daycare centers in the city of Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil

Estimou-se a prevalência e a incidência de parasitas intestinais em crianças e funcionários de 5 creches municipais em Botucatu/SP. Foram realizados dois estudos seccionais em 2002 (N=379) e 2003 (N=397) e um estudo longitudinal observacional, onde as crianças de 2002 e 2003 foram seguidas por um ano. Foram aplicados questionários nos funcionários e nos pais das crianças, onde foram coletadas as seguintes variáveis: nível sócio-econômico, hábitos sanitários, moradia, idade, sexo e presença de animais domésticos. Foram realizados exames coproparasitológicos nas crianças das creches. A prevalência de enteroparasitas em 2002 foi de 76,74% e 34% em 2003. As variáveis associadas à presença de enteroparasitas no ano de 2002 foram: localização das creches (OR=0,27 IC=0,15-0,47), renda familiar (OR=4,38 IC=1,91-10,04), sexo (OR=0,52 IC=0,32-0,85), faixa etária (OR=2,08 IC=1,06-4,08) e presença de animais domésticos na casa (OR=1,85 IC=1,10-3,11); em 2003, as variáveis foram: creche localizada em bairro periférico (OR=0,49 IC=0,31-0,78), renda familiar (OR=3,69 IC=2,19-6,24), nível educacional da mãe (OR=6,19 IC=1,81-21,21), sexo (OR=0,36 IC=0,36-0,93) e presença de animais domésticos (OR=1,68 IC=1,01-2,79). A coorte foi integrada por 253 crianças apresentando incidência de 23,22%. Os dados deste estudo evidenciam situações de risco em populações específicas (creches) e poderiam ser utilizados por Instituições que promovem o cuidado com as crianças.

Kinetic aspects of rat (Rattus-norvegicus albinus) submandibular glands lactic-dehydrogenase

Submandibular glands of male rats were homogenized with 33 mM sodium potassium phosphate buffer, pH 6.5, containing 1 mM MgCl2 and 0.1 mM DTT and purified with ammonium sulphate, phosphocellulose chromatography, eluted with KC1 0.5 M, followed by Blue Sepharose CL-6B chromatography, eluted with NADH 0.5 mM. The enzyme kepts stable for 60 days when stored at -15-degrees-C in 33 mM phosphate buffer. In other experiment the enzyme was purified by oxamate-agarose chromatography from a crude extract of submandibular gland and the results obtained were better than by phosphocellulose and Sepharose CL-6B chromatography. The Km values for pyruvate. NADH, lactate and NAD+ were established. Sodium oxamate at 0.1 and 0.9 mM concentrations inhibited the LDH activity by 40 and 85%, respectively (competitive); with sodium oxalate the inhibition was of 30% (uncompetitive) and with 3-acetyl pyridine adenine dinucleotide was 80%.

Morpho-anatomical aspects of Paepalanthus hilairei Koern (Eriocaulaceae) from Serra do Cipo MG

The morphological characteristics of seedlings and the anatomical characteristics of vegetative organs and floral scape of P. hilairei (Eriocaulaceae) were analyzed to investigate the ecological and taxonomic implications for the species. P. hilairei is a perennial plant with an aerial stem and it grows in recently decomposed stony, sandy soils of the Serra do Cipo, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is found both on wet and dry soils, exposed to constant winds, high light intensities and extreme daily fluctuations of temperature. The results show that the seeds have operculum and the initial seedling development stages are the same for other Eriocaulaceae. During the germination period, the undifferentiated axis of the embryo becomes apparent. The observation of the development of this axis, shows first, the growth of the leaves and later that of the adventitious root. Attention is focused on the apical stem region which presents sterelis lateral branching with adventitious roots in its base which will develop into paraclades (system of florescences). Both of them rise out of the pericycle and characterize its vegetative growth. The occurrence of a special leaf substomatal chamber may be related to an efficient protection for the gaseous exchange and may be considered an important characteristic of the Eriocaulaceae.

Blaming the victim: Aspects of the Brazilian case

This report describes the consequences and some aspects of the origin and development of victim blaming in accident analysis, and some methods for investigating such events, with particular emphasis on the situation in Brazil. In Brazil, the spread of this practice seems to have been helped by several factors. (1) the idea that occupational accidents are simple phenomena with a limited number of causal factors linked to unsafe actions and/or conditions. In the past, the theory of accident proneness had less influence than in other countries. (2) Government regulations that stipulate the hiring of health and safety officers, production of educational material, and preventive campaigns that emphasize the role of the victim's faulty behavior in the origin of an accident. (3) Mandatory implementation of standardized models for accident investigation directed toward searching for a single cause. Usually one conclusion, expressed in terms of unsafe acts or conditions, is formulated so that whoever performs an unsafe act is responsible for the accident. (4) Lack of knowledge, as shown in Brazilian publications on occupational accidents and in the evolution of studies on the nature of accident phenomena and of strategies adopted for their prevention.

Phylogenetic and evolutionary aspects of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis reveal a long coexistence with animal hosts that explain several biological features of the pathogen

The habitat of the mycelial saprobic form of Paracoccidio ides brasiliensis, which produces the infectious propagula, has not been determined and has proven difficult for mycologists to describe. The fungus has been rarely isolated from the environment, the disease has a prolonged latency period and no outbreaks have been reported. These facts have precluded the adoption of preventive measures to avoid infection. The confirmation of natural infections in nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) with P. brasiliensis, in high frequency and wide geographic distribution, has opened new avenues for the study and understanding of its ecology. Armadillos belong to the order Xenarthra, which has existed in South America ever since the Paleocene Era (65 million years ago), when the South American subcontinent was still a detached land, before the consolidation of what is now known as the American continent. on the other hand, strong molecular evidence suggests that P. brasiliensis and other dimorphic pathogenic fungi - such as Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis and Histoplasma capsulatum - belong to the family Onygenaceae sensu Into (order Onygenales, Ascomycota), which appeared around 150 million years ago.P. brasiliensis ecology and relation to its human host are probably linked to the fungal evolutionary past, especially its long coexistence with and adaptation to animal hosts other than Homo sapiens, of earlier origin. Instead of being a blind alley, the meaning of parasitism for dimorphic pathogenic fungi should be considered as an open two-way avenue, in which the fungus may return to the environment, therefore contributing to preserve its teleomorphic (sexual) and anamorphic (asexual) forms in a defined and protected natural habitat. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.