Eutrophization process in a system used for rearing the nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), São Paulo State, Brazil

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

Influence of degradation on the electrical conduction process in ZnO and SnO2-based varistors

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

Alveolar process preservation at implants installed immediately into extraction sockets using deproteinized bovine bone mineral - an experimental study in dogs

Aim To evaluate the soft tissue and the dimensional changes of the alveolar bony crest at sites where deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) particles, concomitantly with the placement of a collagen membrane, were used at implants installed into sockets immediately after tooth extraction. Material and methods The pulp tissue of the mesial roots of 3P3 was removed in six Labrador dogs, and the root canals were filled. Flaps were elevated bilaterally, the premolars hemi-sectioned, and the distal roots removed. Recipient sites were prepared in the distal alveolus, and implants were placed. At the test sites, DBBM particles were placed in the residual marginal defects concomitantly with the placement of a collagen membrane. No treatment augmentation was performed at the control sites. A non-submerged healing was allowed. Impressions were obtained at baseline and at the time of sacrifice performed 4 months after surgery. The cast models obtained were analyzed using an optical system to evaluate dimensional variations. Block sections of the implant sites were obtained for histological processing and soft tissue assessments. Results After 4 months of healing, no differences in soft tissue dimensions were found between the test and control sites based on the histological assessments. The location of the soft tissue at the buccal aspect was, however, more coronal at the test compared with the control sites (1.8 +/- 0.8 and 0.9 +/- 0.8 mm, respectively). At the three-dimensional evaluation, the margin of the soft tissues at the buccal aspect appeared to be located more apically and lingually. The vertical dislocation was 1 +/- 0.6 and 2.7 +/- 0.5 mm at the test and control sites, respectively. The area of the buccal shrinkage of the alveolar crest was significantly smaller at the test sites (5.9 +/- 2.4 mm2) compared with the control sites (11.5 +/- 1.7 mm2). Conclusion The use of DBBM particles concomitantly with the application of a collagen membrane used at implants placed into sockets immediately after tooth extraction contributed to the preservation of the alveolar process.

Optimisation of a fermentation process for butanol production by particle swarm optimisation (PSO)

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

Interclonal Variations in the Molecular Karyotype of Trypanosoma cruzi: Chromosome Rearrangements in a Single Cell-Derived Clone of the G Strain

Trypanosoma cruzi comprises a pool of populations which are genetically diverse in terms of DNA content, growth and infectivity. Inter- and intra-strain karyotype heterogeneities have been reported, suggesting that chromosomal rearrangements occurred during the evolution of this parasite. Clone D11 is a single-cell-derived clone of the T. cruzi G strain selected by the minimal dilution method and by infecting Vero cells with metacyclic trypomastigotes. Here we report that the karyotype of clone D11 differs from that of the G strain in both number and size of chromosomal bands. Large chromosomal rearrangement was observed in the chromosomes carrying the tubulin loci. However, most of the chromosome length polymorphisms were of small amplitude, and the absence of one band in clone D11 in relation to its reference position in the G strain could be correlated to the presence of a novel band migrating above or below this position. Despite the presence of chromosomal polymorphism, large syntenic groups were conserved between the isolates. The appearance of new chromosomal bands in clone D11 could be explained by chromosome fusion followed by a chromosome break or interchromosomal exchange of large DNA segments. Our results also suggest that telomeric regions are involved in this process. The variant represented by clone D11 could have been induced by the stress of the cloning procedure or could, as has been suggested for Leishmania infantum, have emerged from a multiclonal, mosaic parasite population submitted to frequent DNA amplification/deletion events, leading to a 'mosaic' structure with different individuals having differently sized versions of the same chromosomes. If this is the case, the variant represented by clone D11 would be better adapted to survive the stress induced by cloning, which includes intracellular development in the mammalian cell. Karyotype polymorphism could be part of the T. cruzi arsenal for responding to environmental pressure. © 2013 Lima et al.

Mathematical modeling and analysis of the flocculation process in chambers in series

In this study, the flocculation process in continuous systems with chambers in series was analyzed using the classical kinetic model of aggregation and break-up proposed by Argaman and Kaufman, which incorporates two main parameters: K (a) and K (b). Typical values for these parameters were used, i. e., K (a) = 3.68 x 10(-5)-1.83 x 10(-4) and K (b) = 1.83 x 10(-7)-2.30 x 10(-7) s(-1). The analysis consisted of performing simulations of system behavior under different operating conditions, including variations in the number of chambers used and the utilization of fixed or scaled velocity gradients in the units. The response variable analyzed in all simulations was the total retention time necessary to achieve a given flocculation efficiency, which was determined by means of conventional solution methods of nonlinear algebraic equations, corresponding to the material balances on the system. Values for the number of chambers ranging from 1 to 5, velocity gradients of 20-60 s(-1) and flocculation efficiencies of 50-90 % were adopted.

Interindividual variations in fruit preferences of the yellow-shouldered bat Sturnira lilium (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in a cafeteria experiment

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Single Nucleotide Variations in the Buffalo Kappa-Casein Gene (CSN3)

Caseins are the major milk proteins associated with lactation performance, milk composition and cheese yield efficiency, representing around 80% of the total amount of proteins found in milk. Among the caseins, kappa-casein is the protein that stabilizes micelle structure during milk coagulation process and being used during the cheese production. The kappa-casein gene (CSN3) has been previously mapped to buffalo chromosome 7 using a radiation hybrid panel and a comparative map was established using the sequence from bovine chromosome 6. The molecular structure of this gene has also been established in river buffalo, with a total length of 13,191 bp (GenBank: AM900443.1) and containing five exons. In this study we searched for single nucleotide variations in specific regions of the CSN3 gene in three animals representing the Murrah breed. Sequencing reactions were performed using ABI3730xl sequencer. The primer walking method was used to span the 5'-UTR and intron 2 regions of the gene, for which ten primer pairs were designed using Oligo 6 software. BLAST tool was used to verify the primers specificity. DNA sequences assemblies from all three animals were performed with Sequencher (R) software 4.1, while multiple alignments were performed using Clustal W software to identify single nucleotide variations. The sequencing revealed a total of 19 single nucleotide variations with 13 located in the upstream regulatory region of the gene (5'-UTR) and six on intron 2. These variations can be validated using commercial populations segregating specific economic traits.