Propriedades tensiométricas do peritônio da paca (Cuniculus paca) a fresco e conservado em glicerina 98%

In constant searching for alternative biological material to perform implants and new options of experimental animal models, the objective of this investigation was to describe the mechanical properties of the peritoneum paca (Cuniculus paca Linnaeus, 1766) fresh and preserved in 98% glycerin. Samples of fresh and preserved in glycerin for periods of 30, 60 and 90 days were subjected to mechanical tests. Four adult animals, male or female, with mean body weight of eight kilograms, were used for collecting samples of the peritoneum. All tissues preserved in glycerin 98% showed a decrease in stiffness and increase in ductility and toughness. Considering the maximum force applied to the peritoneum, significant increase was observed in values (p<0.01) of samples stored for 60 and 90 days when compared to fresh material. In relation to the stretch variable, an increase was observed in all storage time of glycerin samples, verifying significant difference (p<0.01) when compared with the fresh samples. The variable area also showed significance (p <0.01) between the values of the fresh samples (5.40 mm(2)) and preserved in the glycerin by periods of 30 days (4.50 mm(2)), 60 days (9.00 mm(2)) and 90 days (7.20 mm(2)), thus indicating that the area of this membrane increased by 0.033 mm(2) per day. Generally, it was concluded that the 98% glycerin is a substance effective for the preservation of the peritoneum of the agouti paca, therefore improves its mechanical properties allowing the support membranes greater deformation forces. Thus, the results obtained in mechanical tests of the peritoneum of paca suggest its use as an alternative biological material.

O uso do peritônio de paca conservado em solução supersaturada de açúcar a 300% ou glicerina a 98% implantados na parede abdominal de ratos

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

Arnold Michael Shankman Papers - Accession 98

The Arnold Shankman Papers consist mainly of photocopies of manuscript collections which Dr. Shankman used for his research and writing. Included are pamphlets, biographical sketches, correspondence and newspaper accounts. Most of the collection relates to the American Civil War, particularly in Illinois, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, but there is material relating to Jewish history, African-Americans and United States foreign relations.

The Endothelial Sample Size Analysis in Corneal Specular Microscopy Clinical Examinations

Purpose: To evaluate endothelial cell sample size and statistical error in corneal specular microscopy (CSM) examinations. Methods: One hundred twenty examinations were conducted with 4 types of corneal specular microscopes: 30 with each BioOptics, CSO, Konan, and Topcon corneal specular microscopes. All endothelial image data were analyzed by respective instrument software and also by the Cells Analyzer software with a method developed in our lab(US Patent). A reliability degree (RD) of 95% and a relative error (RE) of 0.05 were used as cut-off values to analyze images of the counted endothelial cells called samples. The sample size mean was the number of cells evaluated on the images obtained with each device. Only examinations with RE<0.05 were considered statistically correct and suitable for comparisons with future examinations. The Cells Analyzer software was used to calculate the RE and customized sample size for all examinations. Results: Bio-Optics: sample size, 97 +/- 22 cells; RE, 6.52 +/- 0.86; only 10% of the examinations had sufficient endothelial cell quantity (RE<0.05); customized sample size, 162 +/- 34 cells. CSO: sample size, 110 +/- 20 cells; RE, 5.98 +/- 0.98; only 16.6% of the examinations had sufficient endothelial cell quantity (RE<0.05); customized sample size, 157 +/- 45 cells. Konan: sample size, 80 +/- 27 cells; RE, 10.6 +/- 3.67; none of the examinations had sufficient endothelial cell quantity (RE>0.05); customized sample size, 336 +/- 131 cells. Topcon: sample size, 87 +/- 17 cells; RE, 10.1 +/- 2.52; none of the examinations had sufficient endothelial cell quantity (RE>0.05); customized sample size, 382 +/- 159 cells. Conclusions: A very high number of CSM examinations had sample errors based on Cells Analyzer software. The endothelial sample size (examinations) needs to include more cells to be reliable and reproducible. The Cells Analyzer tutorial routine will be useful for CSM examination reliability and reproducibility.

Purification and characterization of Hb 98-114: A novel hemoglobin-derived antimicrobial peptide from the midgut of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

The antimicrobial activity of hemoglobin fragments (hemocidins) has been reported in a variety of models. The cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is a blood sucking arthropod from where the first in vivo-generated hemocidin was characterized (Hb 33-61). In the present work we identified a novel antimicrobial peptide from the midgut of fully engorged R. (B.) microplus females, which comprises the amino acids 98-114 of the alpha subunit of bovine hemoglobin, and was designated Hb 98-114. This peptide was active against several yeast and filamentous fungi, although no activity was detected against bacteria up to 50 mu M of the synthetic peptide. Hb 98-114 was capable of permeabilizing Candida albicans cell membrane and had a fungicidal effect against this yeast. Circulardichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments showed that Hb 98-114 has a random conformation in aqueous solution but switches to an alpha-helical conformation in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). This alpha helix adopts an amphipathic structure which may be the mechanism of cell membrane permeabilization. Importantly, Hb 98-114 may play an important role in defending the tick midgut against fungal pathogens and is the first hemocidin with specific antifungal activity to be characterized. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

El neocolonialismo desde la lógica del imperialismo tradicional. El '98 cubano bajo el prisma de El Buenos Aires Herald

[ES] La finalización del Siglo XIX contextualiza la emergencia de un nuevo proceso de distribución y ajuste de esferas de influencias a escala mundial, en el cual la guerra hispano-cubana-norteamericana obra como anclaje del imperialismo moderno a partir de la irrupción de Estados Unidos en la escala continental. La prensa argentina constituye un actor observador del conflicto que fija postura y evalúa su significación de proyecciones internacionales. La propuesta de este artículo es analizar el tratamiento que el periódico The Buenos Aires Herald otorga al tema, como variable coyuntural del complejo entramado de intereses de las potencias imperialistas de la etapa.

Die Bürokratisierung von Kultur: Ein staatliches Kulturzentrum in Nordghana /// Arbeitspapiere / Institut für Ethnologie und Afrikastudien ; 98

Die vorliegende Magisterarbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Produktivitaet bürokratischer Routinen am Centre for National Culture in Wa, Nordwestghana. Staat, Nation und nationale Kultur sind keine fest umgrenzten Entitäten, sondern entstehen in einem andauernden Prozess der Aushandlung und Bedeutungszuschreibung und in der permanenten Reproduzierung ihrer Grenzen und Kategorien. Bürokratische Routinen und administrativen Prozesse werden als jene Praktiken betrachtet, die Kultur nationalisieren. Die Arbeit geht der Frage nach, wie sich die stete Reproduktion der räumlichen Verortung des Staats durch bürokratische Routinen auf die Grenzen von Kultur und die Kategorien, in denen Kultur gedacht wird, auswirkt. Das wichtigste Schlagwort ghanaischer Kulturpolitik ist „unity in diversity“. Einer Vielzahl „lokaler Kulturen“ soll ihr rechtmäßiger Platz im nationalen Potpourri eingeräumt werden, aber die gewünschte Vielfalt darf keine politische Sprengkraft entwickeln. Die zentrale Aufgabe staatlicher Kulturinstitutionen in Ghana ist daher, die „rohe Kultur“ (die im Dorf verortet wird), zu choreographieren. Die Verwaltungspraxis der Kulturbeamten unterstellt die Einheit lokaler Kulturgrenzen (wo auch immer man die ziehen würde) mit den politisch-administrativen Grenzen, nach denen die Kulturinstitutionen organisiert sind, und trägt auf diese Weise zur Naturalisierung staatlicher Kulturgrenzen bei.