Efeitos de formulações e intervalos sem chuva na absorção, translocação e eficácia de Glyphosate e 2,4-D

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ecotoxicological evaluation of wastewater from 2.4.6-TNT production

During the manufacture of explosives, large amounts of water are used to remove unwanted by-products generated. This water in turn, ends up in wastewater treatment plants or water bodies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxic potential of effluent generated by 2.4.6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) production, yellow water, red water and mixture of yellow and red water, produced from a plant located in the Paraiba Valley, Sao Paolo state, Brazil. Daphnia similis, Danio rerio, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida and Pseudokircheneriella subcaptata were used as test organisms. Physicochemical parameters such as color, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) were evaluated. Effluent from 2.4.6-TNT production was extremely toxic to all test organisms. The physicochemical parameters evaluated showed high levels of conductivity (from 41.533 to 42.344 mu S /cm) and chemical oxygen demand (COD of 8471 to 27.364 mg/L) for the effluents analyzed.

Altered Oxygen Metabolism Associated to Neurogenesis of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived From a Schizophrenic Patient

Schizophrenia has been defined as a neurodevelopmental disease that causes changes in the process of thoughts, perceptions. and emotions, usually leading to a mental deterioration and affective blunting. Studies have shown altered cell respiration and oxidative stress response in schizophrenia; however, most of the knowledge has been acquired from postmortem brain analyses or from nonneural cells. Here we describe that neural cells, derived from induced pluripotent stem cells generated from skin fibroblasts of a schizophrenic patient, presented a twofold increase in extramitochondrial oxygen consumption as well as elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), when compared to controls. This difference in ROS levels was reverted by the mood stabilizer valproic acid. Our model shows evidence that metabolic changes occurring during neurogenesis are associated with schizophrenia, contributing to a better understanding of the development of the disease and highlighting potential targets for treatment and drug screening.

Diametral tensile strength and film thickness of an experimental dental luting agent derived from castor oil

The need to develop new dental luting agents in order to improve the success of treatments has greatly motivated research. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diametral tensile strength (DTS) and film thickness (FT) of an experimental dental luting agent derived from castor oil (COP) with or without addition of different quantities of filler (calcium carbonate - CaCO3). Material and Methods: Eighty specimens were manufactured (DTS N=40; FT N=40) and divided into 4 groups: Pure COP; COP 10%; COP 50% and zinc phosphate (control). The cements were mixed according to the manufacturers' recommendations and submitted to the tests. The DTS test was performed in the MTS 810 testing machine (10 KN, 0.5 mm/min). For FT test, the cements were sandwiched between two glass plates (2 cm(2)) and a load of 15 kg was applied vertically on the top of the specimen for 10 min. The data were analyzed by means of one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha=0.05). Results: The values of DTS (MPa) were: Pure COP- 10.94 +/- 1.30; COP 10%- 30.06 +/- 0.64; COP 50%- 29.87 +/- 0.27; zinc phosphate- 4.88 +/- 0.96. The values of FT (pm) were: Pure COP- 31.09 +/- 3.16; COP 10%- 17.05 +/- 4.83; COP 50%- 13.03 +/- 4.83; Zinc Phosphate- 20.00 +/- 0.12. One-way ANOVA showed statistically significant differences among the groups (DTS - p=1.01E-40; FT - p=2.4E-10). Conclusion: The experimental dental luting agent with 50% of filler showed the best diametral tensile strength and film thickness.

Glycerine derived from biodiesel production as a feedstuff for broiler diets

The performance, carcass traits, and litter humidity of broilers fed increasing levels of glycerine derived from biodiesel production were evaluated. In this experiment, 1,575 broilers were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design into five treatments with seven replicates of 45 birds each. Treatments consisted of a control diet and four diets containing 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, or 10% glycerine. The experimental diets contained equal nutritional levels and were based on corn, soybean meal and soybean oil. The glycerine included in the diets contained 83.4% glycerol, 1.18% sodium, and 208 ppm methanol, and a calculated energy value of 3,422 kcal AMEn/kg. Performance parameters (weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight, and livability) were monitored when broilers were 7, 21, and 42 days of age. On day 43, litter humidity was determined in each pen, and 14 birds/treatment were sacrificed for the evaluation of carcass traits. During the period of 1 to 7 days, there was a positive linear effect of the treatments on weight gain, feed intake, and live weight gain. Livability linearly decreased during the period of 1 to 21 days. During the entire experimental period, no significant effects were observed on performance parameters or carcass traits, but there was a linear increase in litter humidity. Therefore, the inclusion of up to 5% glycerine in the diet did not affect broiler performance during the total rearing period.

Differences in milk production, glucose metabolism, and carcass composition of 2 Charolais x Holstein F2 families derived from reciprocal paternal and maternal grandsire crosses

Two F(2) Charolais x German Holstein families comprising full and half sibs share identical but reciprocal paternal and maternal Charolais grandfathers differ in milk production. We hypothesized that differences in milk production were related to differences in nutritional partitioning revealed by glucose metabolism and carcass composition. In 18F(2) cows originating from mating Charolais bulls to German Holstein cows and a following intercross of the F(1) individuals (n=9 each for family Ab and Ba; capital letters indicate the paternal and lowercase letter the maternal grandsire), glucose tolerance tests were performed at 10 d before calving and 30 and 93 d in milk (DIM) during second lactation. Glucose half-time as well as areas under the concentration curve for plasma glucose and insulin were calculated. At 94 DIM cows were infused intravenously with 18.3 micromol of d-[U-(13)C(6)]glucose/kg(0.75) of BW, and blood samples were taken to measure rate of glucose appearance and glucose oxidation as well as plasma concentrations of metabolites and hormones. Cows were slaughtered at 100 DIM and carcass size and composition was evaluated. Liver samples were taken to measure glycogen and fat content, gene expression levels, and enzyme activities of pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and glucose 6-phosphatase as well as gene expression of glucose transporter 2. Milk yield was higher and milk protein content at 30 DIM was lower in Ba than in Ab cows. Glucose half-life was higher but insulin secretion after glucose challenge was lower in Ba than in Ab cows. Cows of Ab showed higher glucose oxidation, and plasma concentrations at 94 DIM were lower for glucose and insulin, whereas beta-hydroxybutyrate was higher in Ba cows. Hepatic gene expression of pyruvate carboxylase, glucose 6-phosphatase, and glucose transporter 2 were higher whereas phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activities were lower in Ba than in Ab cows. Carcass weight as well as fat content of the carcass were higher in Ab than in Ba cows, whereas mammary gland mass was lower in Ab than in Ba cows. Fat classification indicated leaner carcass composition in Ba than in Ab cows. In conclusion, the 2 families showed remarkable differences in milk production that were accompanied by changes in glucose metabolism and body composition, indicating capacity for milk production as main metabolic driving force. Sex chromosomal effects provide an important regulatory mechanism for milk performance and nutrient partitioning that requires further investigation.

The Laboratory Evaluation of Bio Oil Derived From Waste Resources as Extender for Asphalt Binder

A shortage of petroleum asphalt is creating opportunities for engineers to utilize alternative pavement materials. Three types of bio oils, original bio oil (OB), dewatered bio oil (DWB) and polymer-modified bio oil (PMB) were used to modify and partially replace petroleum asphalt in this research. The research investigated the procedure of producing bio oil, the rheological properties of asphalt binders modified and partially replaced by bio oil, and the mechanical performances of asphalt mixtures modified by bio oil. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) is conducted on the test results for the significance analysis. The main finding of the study includes: 1) the virgin bioasphalt is softer than the traditional asphalt binder PG 58-28 but stiffer after RTFO aging because bio oil ages much faster than the traditional asphalt binder during mixing and compaction; 2) the binder test showed that the addition of bio oil is expected to improve the rutting performance while reduce the fatigue and low temperature performance; 3) both the mass loss and the oxidation are important reasons for the bio oil aging during RTFO test; the mixture test showed that 1) most of the bio oil modified asphalt mixture had slightly higher rutting depth than the control asphalt mixture, but the difference is not statistically significant; 2) the dynamic modulus of some of the bio oil modified asphalt mixture were slightly lower than the control asphalt mixture, the E* modulus is also not statistically significant; 3) most of the bio oil modified asphalt mixture had higher fatigue lives than the control asphalt mixture; 4) the inconsistence of binder test results and mixture test results may be attributed to that the aging during the mixing and compaction was not as high as that in the RTFO aging simulation. 5) the implementation of Michigan wood bioasphalt is anticipated to reduce the emission but bring irritation on eyes and skins during the mixing and compaction.

Sodium hydride-mediated cascade reaction towards the synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted uracil from cyanamides derived from the Baylis-Hillman ad-ducts

Sodium hydride-mediated cascade reaction towards the synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted uracil from cyanamides derived from the Baylis-Hillman ad-ducts

Net accumulation rates derived from ice core stable isotope records of Pío XI glacier, Southern Patagonia Icefield

Pío XI, the largest glacier of the Southern Patagonia Icefield, reached its neoglacial maximum extent in 1994 and is one of the few glaciers in that area which is not retreating. In view of the recent warming it is important to understand glacier responses to climate changes. Due to its remoteness and the harsh conditions in Patagonia, no systematic mass balance studies have been performed. In this study we derived net accumulation rates for the period 2000–2006 from a 50 m (33.2 4 m weq) ice core collected in the accumulation area of Pío XI (2600 m a.s.l., 49°16'40"S, 73°21'14"W). Borehole temperatures indicate near temperate ice, but the average melt percent is only 16 ± 14%. Records of stable isotopes are well preserved and were used for identification of annual layers. Net accumulation rates range from 3.4–7.1 water equivalent (m weq) with an average of 5.8 m weq, comparable to precipitation amounts at the Chilean coast, but not as high as expected for the Icefield. Ice core stable isotope data correlate well with upper air temperatures and may be used as temperature proxy.

Characterization and mechanism of action of suppressor factors derived from human T cell hybridomas

This laboratory developed human T-cell hybridomas which constitutively secrete suppressor factors (SF) capable of inhibiting immune responses (Hybridoma 6:589 (1987). The mechanisms by which human T-cell hybridoma-derived SFs (designated 160 and 169) and Jurkat leukemic T-cell line derived SF inhibit the proliferative response to mitogen by human PBMC were investigated. The Jurkat SF had a pI of 5.2 whereas the 160 and 169 SF had pI of 5.7 and 4.7 (two peaks) and 4.7, respectively. The SF was not transforming growth factor-beta based upon neutralization and iummunoprecipitation experiments with anti-TGF-beta polyclonal antibody. Il-2 production by human PBMC cultured with Con A or OKT3 mAb in the presence of SF was found to be inhibited by greater than 80%. The proliferative responses of SF treated PBMC could not be restored by addition of exogeneous human IL-2. Inhibition of the proliferative responses could not be reversed by addition of exogenous rIL-1, rIL-2 or rIL-4 alone or in paired combinations. The expression of IL-2 receptors (TAC Ag) on Con A activated cultures time points was not affected by treatment with any SFs. Both the 160 and 169 hybridoma-derived SFs were found to arrest PHA induced cell cycle progression in G$\sb0$/G$\sb1$ phase, whereas SF from the Jurkat T-cell line arrested progression in the S phase. Pretreatment of PBMC with SF prior to the addition of mitogen, followed by washing, did not alter the proliferative response of these PBMC nor their cell cycle progression suggesting that cell activation is necessary for these SF to inhibit proliferative responses. Northern blot analysis of total mRNA from mitogen stimulated PBMC in the presence of SF, revealed a time dependent accumulation of an IL-2 specific mRNA of increased size (2.8 kB) in addition to the expected 1.0 kB mature IL-2 message. Interferon-gamma mRNA was of the appropriate size but its half-life was prolonged in SF treated cultures. IL-2 receptor and IL-1 beta mRNA expression was not altered in these cells. ^

Noninvasive pressure difference mapping derived from 4D flow MRI in patients with unrepaired and repaired aortic coarctation.

PURPOSE To develop a method for computing and visualizing pressure differences derived from time-resolved velocity-encoded three-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) and to compare pressure difference maps of patients with unrepaired and repaired aortic coarctation to young healthy volunteers. METHODS 4D flow MRI data of four patients with aortic coarctation either before or after repair (mean age 17 years, age range 3-28, one female, three males) and four young healthy volunteers without history of cardiovascular disease (mean age 24 years, age range 20-27, one female, three males) was acquired using a 1.5-T clinical MR scanner. Image analysis was performed with in-house developed image processing software. Relative pressures were computed based on the Navier-Stokes equation. RESULTS A standardized method for intuitive visualization of pressure difference maps was developed and successfully applied to all included patients and volunteers. Young healthy volunteers exhibited smooth and regular distribution of relative pressures in the thoracic aorta at mid systole with very similar distribution in all analyzed volunteers. Patients demonstrated disturbed pressures compared to volunteers. Changes included a pressure drop at the aortic isthmus in all patients, increased relative pressures in the aortic arch in patients with residual narrowing after repair, and increased relative pressures in the descending aorta in a patient after patch aortoplasty. CONCLUSIONS Pressure difference maps derived from 4D flow MRI can depict alterations of spatial pressure distribution in patients with repaired and unrepaired aortic coarctation. The technique might allow identifying pathophysiological conditions underlying complications after aortic coarctation repair.

Noninvasive 4D pressure difference mapping derived from 4D flow MRI in patients with repaired aortic coarctation: comparison with young healthy volunteers

To assess spatial and temporal pressure characteristics in patients with repaired aortic coarctation compared to young healthy volunteers using time-resolved velocity-encoded three-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) and derived 4D pressure difference maps. After in vitro validation against invasive catheterization as gold standard, 4D flow MRI of the thoracic aorta was performed at 1.5T in 13 consecutive patients after aortic coarctation repair without recoarctation and 13 healthy volunteers. Using in-house developed processing software, 4D pressure difference maps were computed based on the Navier-Stokes equation. Pressure difference amplitudes, maximum slope of pressure amplitudes and spatial pressure range at mid systole were retrospectively measured by three readers, and twice by one reader to assess inter- and intraobserver agreement. In vitro, pressure differences derived from 4D flow MRI showed excellent agreement to invasive catheter measurements. In vivo, pressure difference amplitudes, maximum slope of pressure difference amplitudes and spatial pressure range at mid systole were significantly increased in patients compared to volunteers in the aortic arch, the proximal descending and the distal descending thoracic aorta (p < 0.05). Greatest differences occurred in the proximal descending aorta with values of the three parameters for patients versus volunteers being 19.7 ± 7.5 versus 10.0 ± 2.0 (p < 0.001), 10.9 ± 10.4 versus 1.9 ± 0.4 (p = 0.002), and 8.7 ± 6.3 versus 1.6 ± 0.9 (p < 0.001). Inter- and intraobserver agreements were excellent (p < 0.001). Noninvasive 4D pressure difference mapping derived from 4D flow MRI enables detection of altered intraluminal aortic pressures and showed significant spatial and temporal changes in patients with repaired aortic coarctation.