Structure of human uropepsin at 2.45 angstrom resolution

The molecular structure of human uropepsin, an aspartic proteinase from the urine produced in the form of pepsinogen A in the gastric mucosa, has been determined by molecular replacement using human pepsin as the search model. Crystals belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 50.99, b = 75.56, c = 89.90 Angstrom. Crystallographic refinement led to an R factor of 0.161 at 2.45 Angstrom resolution. The positions of 2437 non-H protein atoms in 326 residues have been determined and the model contains 143 water molecules. The structure is bilobal, consisting of two predominantly beta -sheet lobes which, as observed in other aspartic proteinases, are related by a pseudo-twofold axis. A model of the uropepsin-pepstatin complex has been constructed based on the high-resolution crystal structure of pepsin complexed with pepstatin.

GDP 4.0 transfer to SGP 3.0 for SCIAMACHY no2 column processing: Verification with SDOAS / GDOAS prototype algorithms and delta-validation with NDACC / UV-visible network data

Until mid 2006, SCIAMACHY data processors for the operational retrieval of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) column data were based on the historical version 2 of the GOME Data Processor (GDP). On top of known problems inherent to GDP 2, ground-based validations of SCIAMACHY NO2 data revealed issues specific to SCIAMACHY, like a large cloud-dependent offset occurring at Northern latitudes. In 2006, the GDOAS prototype algorithm of the improved GDP version 4 was transferred to the off-line SCIAMACHY Ground Processor (SGP) version 3.0. In parallel, the calibration of SCIAMACHY radiometric data was upgraded. Before operational switch-on of SGP 3.0 and public release of upgraded SCIAMACHY NO2 data, we have investigated the accuracy of the algorithm transfer: (a) by checking the consistency of SGP 3.0 with prototype algorithms; and (b) by comparing SGP 3.0 NO2 data with ground-based observations reported by the WMO/GAW NDACC network of UV-visible DOAS/SAOZ spectrometers. This delta-validation study concludes that SGP 3.0 is a significant improvement with respect to the previous processor IPF 5.04. For three particular SCIAMACHY states, the study reveals unexplained features in the slant columns and air mass factors, although the quantitative impact on SGP 3.0 vertical columns is not significant.

Measurement of the relative branching ratio of B-s(0) -> J/psi f(0)(980) to B-s(0) -> J/psi phi

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Thermal treatment of superconductor thin film of the BSCCO system using domestic microwave oven

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

Electrical and microstructural properties of microwave sintered SnO2-based varistors

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of Ta2O5 doping on the electrical properties of 0.99SnO(2)center dot 0.01CoO ceramic

The effect of Ta2O5 doping in 0.99SnO(2). 0.01CoO on the microstructure and electrical properties of this ceramic were analyzed in this study. The grain size was found to decrease from 6.87 mu m to 5.68 mu m when the Ta2O5 concentration increased from 0.050 to 0.075 mol%. DC electrical characterization showed a dramatic increase in the current loss and decrease in the non-linear coefficient with the increase of the Ta2O5 concentration. The conduction mechanism is by thermionic emission and the potential barriers are of Schottky type, separated by a thin film. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Sol-gel Er-doped SiO(2)-HfO(2) planar waveguides: A viable system for 1.5 mu m application

70SiO(2)-30HfO(2) planar waveguides, doped with Er(3+) concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 1 mol %, were prepared by sol-gel route, using dip-coating deposition on silica glass substrates. The waveguides show high densification degree, effective intermingling of the two components of the film, and uniform surface morphology. Propagation losses of about 1 dB/cm were measured at 632.8 nm. When pumped with 987 or 514.5 nm continuous-wave laser light, the waveguides show the (4)I(13/2)-->(4)I(15/2) emission band with a bandwidth of 48 nm. The spectral features are found independent both on erbium content and excitation wavelength. The (4)I(13/2) level decay curves presented a single-exponential profile, with a lifetime between 2.9 and 5.0 ms, depending on the erbium concentration. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.

CdMoO 4 synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and their photoluminescence and photocatality properties

In this work CdMoO 4 nanoparticles were obtained under hydrothermal conditions using microwave radiation (2.45 GHz) (MH) at 100°C for different times. These powders were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field-emisson gum scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. XRD pattern confirmed that the pure CdMoO 4 phases were obtained. FEG-SEM powders present large-scale and homogeneous particles with microspheres-like morphology. UV-vis results were employed to determine the optical band gap these materials. Also, it showed existence of photoluminescence (PL) emission in the green wavelength range of 540-546 nm. Photocatalytic activity of CdMoO 4 nanocrystals was examined by monitoring the degradation of rhodamine B dye.

Tratamento térmico de filmes supercondutores do sistema BSCCO utilizando forno de micro-ondas doméstico

Pós-graduação em Ciência dos Materiais - FEIS

Application of mesoporous SBA-15 silica functionalized with 4-amino-2-mercaptopyrimidine for the adsorption of Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), and Pb(II) from water

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

Chemical and thermal influence of the [4Fe-4S](2+) cluster of A/G-specific adenine glycosylase from Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Melanoma anorretal: relato de 2 casos e revisão da literatura

Os tumores malignos do canal anal e do anus são muito raros, não ultrapassam 2% de todos os tumores do colo, reto e anus; segundo os principais levantamentos os melanomas não ultrapassam a incidência de 0,1 a 1,2% dos tumores malignos. Os autores descrevem 2 casos de melanoma, discutindo os principais dados da literatura, enfocando os aspectos diagnósticos, tratamento, evolução e prognostico. Os indicies de cura s são baixos e com elevados índices de mortalidade a curto prazo.

Influence of fluid volume variations on the calculated value of the left ventricular mass measured by echocardiogram in patients submitted to hemodialysis

The left ventricular mass (LVM) measurement is of major importance for renal patients, as ventricular hypertrophy is an important prognostic index. The echo-cardiogram of the ventricular mass is larger before than it is after hemodialysis, which can confuse data interpretation. The aim of this work is to study the influence of alterations in fluid volume on the variations in measurements of ventricular mass observed during the course of a hemodialysis. Sixteen patients with chronic renal insufficiency in hemodialysis were evaluated at the Dialysis Unit of the University Hospital-UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo State. The left ventricular mass was calculated from echocardiograms taken before and after hemodialysis and simultaneous ultra-filtration (12 patients: UF GROUP) and before and after hemodialysis isovolemic phase with sequential ultra-filtration (10 patients: ISO GROUP). Six of these patients were submitted to measurements of left ventricular mass before and after hemodialysis in both isovolemic and simultaneous ultra-filtration procedures. In the UF group, there was significant reduction in the following parameters before and after dialysis: diastolic diameter from 54.0 +/- 6.0 mm to 45.6 +/- 7.6 mm; left ventricular mass from 342 +/- 114 g to 265 +/- 117 g; and its respective index (IMVE) from 214 +/- 68 g/m(2) to 168 +/- 71 g/m(2). The ISO group showed no statistically significant variation. The behavior of the variables of six patients submitted to both observations confirm these results. In conclusion, the variations in echocardiogram measurements of the left ventricular mass relating to hemodialysis appear to be induced by alterations of the volemic condition.

Changes in apoptosis and Bcl-2 expression in human hyperglycemic, term placental trophoblast

Apoptosis and its associated regulatory mechanisms are physiological events crucial to the maintenance of placental homeostasis; imbalance of these processes, however, such as occurs under various pathological conditions, may compromise placenta function and, consequently, pregnancy success. Increased apoptosis occurs in the placentas of pregnant women with several developmental disabilities, while increased Bcl-2 expression is generally associated with pregnancy-associated tumors. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that apoptosis-associated disturbs might be involved in the placental physiopathology subjected to different maternal hyperglycemic conditions.Thus, in the present study we investigated and compared the incidence of apoptosis using TUNEL reaction and Bcl-2 expression, in term-placentas of normoglycemic, diabetic and daily hyperglycemic patients. Tissue samples were collected from 37 placentas, being 15 from healthy mothers with normally delivered healthy babies, and 22 from mothers with glucose disturbances. From these latter 22 patients, 10 showed maternal daily hyperglycemia and 12 were clinically diabetics. Both Bcl-2 expression and apoptotic DNA fragmentation were established and quantified in the trophoblasts of healthy mothers. Compared to these reference values, a higher apoptosis index and lower Bcl-2 expression were disclosed in the placentas of the diabetic women, while in the daily hyperglycemic group, values were intermediate between the diabetic and normoglycemic patients. The TUNEL/Bcl-2 index ratio in the placentas varied from 0.02 to 0.09 for pregnant normoglycemic and diabetic women, respectively, revealing a predominance of apoptosis in the diabetic group. Our findings suggest that hyperglycemia may be a key factor evoking apoptosis in the placental trophoblast, and therefore, is relevant to diabetic placenta function. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Elevated progesterone concentrations enhance prostaglandin F-2 alpha synthesis in dairy cows

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