Female pintado catfish choose well-fed males

This study tested the preference of pintado catfish females (Pseudoplatystoma coruscans) for associating with well-fed or food-deprived males in simultaneous choice tests. Females were tested under three different treatments in which: (1) females could choose on the basis of multiple cues from the well-fed or food-deprived males (visual plus chemical); (2) only chemical cues were presented; (3) only visual cues were presented. Females chose well-fed males when chemical cues were presented (either visual + chemical or only chemical cues). When only visual cues were presented, females spent an equal amount of time in the choice apparatus compartments. Chemical signals, either directly through control of pheromone production, or indirectly by excreted metabolites, are likely to be an important source of information about nutritional condition in mating choice.

Effects of nutrients on feeding activities of the pest termite Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera : Rhinotermitidae)

Heterotermes tenuis is a native termite of large negative impact on the Brazilian economy. Many studies have focused on optimizing the baiting method for termite control by improving its use and its efficacy. In order to maximize termite bait consumption, this study aimed to select nutrient solutions which are able to enhance termite feeding. The effects of some sugars and urea on feeding preference of the subterranean termite H. tenuis were determined by double choice feeding tests, and the consumption was evaluated by variation in dry mass of filter paper after 28 days of termite feeding. Most of the solutions tested did not significantly influence feeding of H. tenuis. Termites fed preferentially on filter paper treated with 0.03 g/ml trehalose and 0.015 g/ml urea solutions. The data indicate that trehalose and urea solutions are phagostimulants to H. tenuis, and their future use in bait matrices may increase consumption of baits and improve this control technique.

Host specificity of Metriona elatior, a potential biological control agent of tropical soda apple, Solanum viarum, in the USA

The leaf beetle Metriona elatior from Brazil-Argentina was screened in the Florida (USA) State quarantine facility as a potential biological control agent of tropical soda apple, Solanum viarum, a recently arrived weed species. Multiple-choice host-specificity tests were conducted in small cages (60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm) using 95 plant species in 29 families. Adults fed heavily on the main target weed (S. viarum), and on turkeyberry, Solanum torvum (noxious weed of Asiatic origin); fed moderately on red soda apple, Solanum capsicoides (weed of South American origin), and eggplant, Solanum melongena (economic crop); and fed lightly on aquatic soda apple, Solanum tampicense (weed of Mexican-Caribbean-Central American origin), and on silverleaf nightshade, Solanum elaeagnifolium (native weed widely distributed). M. elatior adults laid 84 to 97% of their egg masses on S. viarum, and 3 to 16% on S. melongena. Non-choice host-specificity tests were also conducted in quarantine in which M. elatior adults and neonate larvae were exposed to 17 and 19 plant species, respectively. Tests with the neonates indicate that this insect was able to complete its development on S. viarum, S. torvum, S. melongena, and S. capsicoides. Although some adult feeding and oviposition occurred on S. melongena in quarantine on potted plants in small cages, no feeding or oviposition by M. elatior was observed in field experiments conducted in Brazil. Surveys in unsprayed S. melongena fields in Argentina and Brazil indicated that M. elatior is not a pest of S. melongena in South America. The evidence obtained from the South-American field surveys, Brazil open-field experiments, and Florida quarantine host specificity tests indicate that M. elatior causes significant feeding damage to S. viarum, and does not represent a threat to S. melongena crops in the USA. Therefore an application for permission to release M. elatior against S. viarum in the USA was submitted in October 1998.

Tipos e graus de resistência de genótipos de soja a Spodoptera eridania (Cramer, 1782) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Preference and infestation level of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) on fruits of some Psidium guajava L. cultivars and relation to their physicochemical parameters

This study aimed to verify the preference and infestation level of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) [South American fruit fly] in fruits of guava cultivars and to correlate them to variables such as peel coloration, soluble solids and pH of fruit cultivars. The following cultivars were used: Pedro Sato, Paluma, Casco and S,culo XXI. The infestation was evaluated in cages, considering two scenarios: no-choice and multiple choice. In both tests, evaluations of the fruit attraction to insects were conducted for a period of 1', 3', 5', 10', 20', 30', 1 h, 2 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h. The visit of A. fraterculus on the assayed cultivars in relation to the time was studied by logistic regression. After 10 days, the number of larvae in each fruit was recorded. In the multiple choice test, the visit proportions were significantly higher in the fruits of cvs. S,culo XXI and Pedro Sato than in those of cvs. Paluma and Casco. In the no-choice test, the visit proportions were significantly lower in the Paluma fruits. In both tests, the rate of fruit infestation by A. fraterculus did not differ among cvs. Pedro Sato, Paluma and Casco, whereas the fruits of cv. S,culo XXI were more infested. The indexes of pH did not interfere with the infestation of A. fraterculus, whereas a high rate of soluble solids and low color angle appear to be crucial for discriminating the fruits of the most susceptible cultivars. Infestation rate of S,culo XXI fruits displayed significant correlations with: A degrees Brix (r= 0.7078) and color angle (h) (r= -0.9499) of guava fruits under the multiple choice conditions.

Resistência de cultivares de milho convencional e transgênico à Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Photodynamic therapy in root canals contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis using curcumin as photosensitizer

The aim of the study was to evaluate the photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect on root canals contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis using a light emitting diode (LED) light and a curcumin solution (CUR) as photosensitizer (PS). Eighty root canals from uniradicular human teeth were prepared with Protaper Universal rotary system and contaminated with E. faecalis for 21 days. They were divided as: GIa-PDT (CUR, pre-irradiation for 5 + 5 min of irradiation); GIb-PDT (CUR, pre-irradiation for 5 + 10 min of irradiation); GIIa-(CUR, pre-irradiation for 5 + 5 min without irradiation); GIIb-(CUR pre-irradiation for 5 + 10 min of irradiation); GIIIa-(physiological solution and irradiation for 5 min); and GIIIb-(physiological solution and irradiation for 10 min); positive and negative control groups. Collections from root canals were made at time intervals of 21 days after contamination, immediately after treatment, and 7 days after treatment, and submitted to colony forming units per milliter (CFU mL-1) counts. The data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison tests, at a level of significance of 5 %. In the immediate post-treatment collection, group GIa showed greater bacterial reduction in comparison with GIIa, GIIb, GIIIa, GIIIb, and positive control (P < 0.05). At 7 days post-treatment, GIa showed significant bacterial reduction only in comparison with GIIIa (P < 0.05). Curcumin as sensitizer was effective by 5 min LED irradiation but not by 10 min irradiation PDT using LED light, and curcumin as PS was not effective in eliminating E. faecalis. No difference was observed for periods of irradiation.

Infestation of guava by Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae): preferred ripening stages and influence of fruit peel coloration

The current study aimed to verify the preferred guava fruit ripening stage for egg laying by Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) and to determine the influence of peel coloration of the fruits of 2 cultivars on infestation. The cultivars used were Paluma and Seculo XXI. The infestation level was evaluated in cages, considering 2 conditions: multiple-choice and nonchoice tests. The infestation levels of A. fraterculus differed between the green and the green-ripe stages in the multiple-choice test. In Paluma fruits with the nonchoice test, the infestation was highest during the ripe stage. There were no differences in infestation levels of A. fraterculus between the green and the green-ripe stages in Seculo XXI. In general, the green-ripe and the ripe stages were preferred for egg laying by A. fraterculus. In Paluma fruits there were significant correlations of infestation levels of A. fraterculus with luminosity (L) and chromaticity (C) in the nonchoice assay. In Seculo XXI fruits there was a significant correlation of infestation levels of A. fraterculus with color angle (h) in the nonchoice assay. No correlation was found between theses parameters in the multiple-choice test.

Sensibilidade da citoinclusão (PAAF) para detecção de CK5, RE e RP no carcinoma primário de mama na cadela

Pós-graduação em Patologia - FMB

Ensino de anestesiologia durante a graduação por meio de uma liga acadêmica: qual o impacto no aprendizado dos alunos?

Justificativa e objetivos: As ligas acadêmicas vêm se firmando como instrumentos de ensino médico e inserção dos estudantes de medicina na prática das especialidades, inclusive na anestesiologia. Como o papel das ligas no processo de desenvolvimento de competências e aprendizado de seus alunos não é bem conhecido, avaliou-se o aprendizado dos integrantes de uma liga acadêmica de anestesiologia após um ano de participação nas suas atividades. MÉTODO: Os alunos de uma liga acadêmica de anestesiologia foram acompanhados de março a dezembro de 2010 e avaliados por meio de testes cognitivos objetivos de múltipla escolha aplicados antes do início das atividades e após sua conclusão. A frequência nas atividades e o perfil epidemiológico dos alunos foram correlacionados aos resultados dos testes. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 20 acadêmicos do 3º ao 6º ano, com média de idade de 22,8 (21-26) anos. A frequência média nas atividades propostas foi 10,4/13 (80%). A média de acertos no primeiro teste foi 8,1/17 (47,6%), sendo que os alunos do 3º ano apresentam notas menores (p < 0,02) em relação aos demais. No teste pós-liga, a média de acertos foi 11,9/17 (70%), mostrando melhora no desempenho dos alunos (p < 0,05), e não houve diferença entre as notas dos diferentes anos da graduação. Foi encontrada relação forte entre frequência nas atividades e melhora nas notas (r = 0,719; p < 0,001). CONCLUSÕES: Os alunos que participaram da liga apresentaram melhora nos testes de avaliação de conhecimento, sugerindo que a liga é útil instrumento de ensino e promove ganho de aprendizado em anestesiologia. As atividades desenvolvidas nas ligas podem ter papel positivo na formação acadêmica dos graduandos, destacando-se, neste artigo, a anestesiologia.

Total parathyroidectomy in a large cohort of cases with hyperparathyroidism associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: experience from a single academic center

Most cases of sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism present disturbances in a single parathyroid gland and the surgery of choice is adenomectomy. Conversely, hyperparathyroidism associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (hyperparathyroidism/multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1) is an asynchronic, asymmetrical multiglandular disease and it is surgically approached by either subtotal parathyroidectomy or total parathyroidectomy followed by parathyroid auto-implant to the forearm. In skilful hands, the efficacy of both approaches is similar and both should be complemented by prophylactic thymectomy. In a single academic center, 83 cases of hyperparathyroidism/ multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 were operated on from 1987 to 2010 and our first surgical choice was total parathyroidectomy followed by parathyroid auto-implant to the non-dominant forearm and, since 1997, associated transcervical thymectomy to prevent thymic carcinoid. Overall, 40% of patients were given calcium replacement (mean intake 1.6 g/day) during the first months after surgery, and this fell to 28% in patients with longer follow-up. These findings indicate that several months may be needed in order to achieve a proper secretion by the parathyroid auto-implant. Hyperparathyroidism recurrence was observed in up to 15% of cases several years after the initial surgery. Thus, long-term follow-up is recommended for such cases. We conclude that, despite a tendency to subtotal parathyroidectomy worldwide, total parathyroidectomy followed by parathyroid auto-implant is a valid surgical option to treat hyperparathyroidism/multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Larger comparative systematic studies are needed to define the best surgical approach to hyperparathyroidism/multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

Ownership, Multiple Blockholders and Performance: A study of the Indonesian Banking Industry

The objective of this study is to provide empirical evidence on how ownership structure and owner’s identity affect performance, in the banking industry by using a panel of Indonesia banks over the period 2000–2009. Firstly, we analysed the impact of the presence of multiple blockholders on bank ownership structure and performance. Building on multiple agency and principal-principal theories, we investigated whether the presence and shares dispersion across blockholders with different identities (i.e. central and regional government; families; foreign banks and financial institutions) affected bank performance, in terms of profitability and efficiency. We found that the number of blockholders has a negative effect on banks’ performance, while blockholders’ concentration has a positive effect. Moreover, we observed that the dispersion of ownership across different types of blockholders has a negative effect on banks’ performance. We interpret such results as evidence that, when heterogeneous blockholders are present, the disadvantage from conflicts of interests between blockholders seems to outweigh the advantage of the increase in additional monitoring by additional blockholder. Secondly, we conducted a joint analysis of the static, selection, and dynamic effects of different types of ownership on banks’ performance. We found that regional banks and foreign banks have a higher profitability and efficiency as compared to domestic private banks. In the short-run, foreign acquisitions and domestic M&As reduce the level of overhead costs, while in the long-run they increase the Net Interest Margin (NIM). Further, we analysed NIM determinants, to asses the impact of ownership on bank business orientation. Our findings lend support to our prediction that the NIM determinants differs accordingly to the type of bank ownership. We also observed that banks that experienced changes in ownership, such as foreign-acquired banks, manifest different interest margin determinants with respect to domestic or foreign banks that did not experience ownership rearrangements.

Advanced polymeric materials for applications in technical equipment for snow sports

The thesis is divided in three chapters, each one covering one topic. Initially, the thermo-mechanical and impact properties of materials used for back protectors have been analysed. Dynamical mechanical analysis (DMTA) has shown that materials used for soft-shell protectors present frequency-sensitive properties. Furthermore, through impact tests, the shock absorbing characteristics of the materials have been investigated proving the differences between soft and hard-shell protectors; moreover it has been demonstrated that the materials used for soft-shell protectors maintain their protective properties after multi-impacts. The second chapter covers the effect of the visco-elastic properties of the thermoplastic polymers on the flexural and rebound behaviours of ski boots. DMTA analysis on the materials and flexural and rebound testing on the boots have been performed. A comparison of the results highlighted a correlation between the visco-elastic properties and the flexural and rebound behaviour of ski boots. The same experimental methods have been used to investigate the influence of the design on the flexural and rebound behaviours. Finally in the third chapter the thermoplastic materials employed for the construction of ski boots soles have been characterized in terms of chemical composition, hardness, crystallinity, surface roughness and coefficient of friction (COF). The results showed a relation between material hardness and grip, in particular softer materials provide more grip with respect to harder materials. On the contrary, the surface roughness has a negative effect on friction because of the decrease in contact area. The measure of grip on inclined wet surfaces showed again a relation between hardness and grip. The performance ranking of the different materials has been the same for the COF and for the slip angle tests, indicating that COF can be used as a parameter for the choice of the optimal material to be used for the soles of ski boots.

The nociceptive withdrawal reflex: Normative values of thresholds and reflex receptive fields

Assessments of spinal nociceptive withdrawal reflexes can be used in human research both to evaluate the effect of analgesics and explore pain mechanisms related to sensitization. Before the reflex can be used as a clinical tool, normative values need to be determined in large scale studies. The aim of this study was to determine the reference values of spinal nociceptive reflexes and subjective pain thresholds (to single and repeated stimulation), and of the area of the reflex receptive fields (RRF) in 300 pain-free volunteers. The influences of gender, age, height, weight, body-mass index (BMI), body side of testing, depression, anxiety, catastrophizing and parameters of Short-Form 36 (SF-36) were analyzed by multiple regressions. The 95% confidence intervals were determined for all the tests as normative values. Age had a statistically and quantitatively significant impact on the subjective pain threshold to single stimuli. The reflex threshold to single stimulus was lower on the dominant compared to the non-dominant side. Depression had a negative impact on the subjective pain threshold to single stimuli. All the other analyses either did not reveal statistical significance or displayed quantitatively insignificant correlations. In conclusion, normative values of parameters related to the spinal nociceptive reflex were determined. This allows their clinical application for assessing central hyperexcitability in individual patients. The parameters investigated explore different aspects of sensitization processes that are largely independent of demographic characteristics, cognitive and affective factors.

The Combination of Interferon-Beta and HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibition in Multiple Sclerosis: Enthusiasm Lost too Soon?

Recent studies support the notion that statins, widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering agents, may target key elements in the immunological cascade leading to inflammation and tissue damage in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Compelling experimental and observational clinical studies highlighted the possibility that statins may also exert immunomodulatory synergy with approved MS drugs, resulting in several randomized clinical trials testing statins in combination with interferon-beta (IFN-?). Some data, however, suggest that this particular combination may not be clinically beneficial, and might actually have a negative effect on the disease course in some patients with MS. In this regard, a small North American trial indicated that atorvastatin administered in combination with IFN-? may increase disease activity in relapsing-remitting MS. Although other trials did not confirm this finding, the enthusiasm for studies with statins dwindled. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the completed clinical trials and reports of the interim analyses evaluating the combination of IFN-? and statins in MS. Moreover, we try to address the evident question whether usage of this combination routinely requires caution, since the number of IFN-?-treated MS patients receiving statins for lowering of cholesterol is expected to grow.