Large-scale transcriptome analyses reveal new genetic marker candidates of head, neck, and thyroid cancer

A detailed genome mapping analysis of 213,636 expressed sequence tags (EST) derived from nontumor and tumor tissues of the oral cavity, larynx, pharynx, and thyroid was done. Transcripts matching known human genes were identified; potential new splice variants were flagged and subjected to manual curation, pointing to 788 putatively new alternative splicing isoforms, the majority (75%) being insertion events. A subset of 34 new splicing isoforms (5% of 788 events) was selected and 23 (68%) were confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR and DNA sequencing. Putative new genes were revealed, including six transcripts mapped to well-studied chromosomes such as 22, as well as transcripts that mapped to 253 intergenic regions. In addition, 2,251 noncoding intronic RNAs, eventually involved in transcriptional regulation, were found. A set of 250 candidate markers for loss of heterozygosis or gene amplification was selected by identifying transcripts that mapped to genomic regions previously known to be frequently amplified or deleted in head, neck, and thyroid tumors. Three of these markers were evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR in an independent set of individual samples. Along with detailed clinical data about tumor origin, the information reported here is now publicly available on a dedicated Web site as a resource for further biological investigation. This first in silico reconstruction of the head, neck, and thyroid transcriptomes points to a wealth of new candidate markers that can be used for future studies on the molecular basis of these tumors. Similar analysis is warranted for a number of other tumors for which large EST data sets are available.

Rheological, mechanical and mucoadhesive properties of thermoresponsive, bioadhesive binary mixtures composed of poloxamer 407 and carbopol 974P designed as platforms for implantable drug delivery systems for use in the oral cavity

This study described the formulation and characterisation of the viscoelastic, mechanical and mucoadhesive properties of thermoresponsive, binary polymeric systems composed of poloxamer (P407) and poly(acrylic acid, C974P) that were designed for use as a drug delivery platform within the oral cavity. Monopolymeric and binary polymeric formulations were prepared containing 10, 15 and 20% (w/w) poloxamer (407) and 0.10-0.25% (w/w) poly(acrylic acid, 934P). The flow theological and viscoelastic properties of the formulations were determined using controlled stress and oscillatory rheometry, respectively, the latter as a function of temperature. The mechanical and mucoadhesive properties (namely the force required to break the bond between the formulation and a pre-hydrated mucin disc) were determined using compression and tensile analysis, respectively. Binary systems composed of 10% (w/w) P407 and C934P were elastoviscous, were easily deformed under stress and did not exhibit mucoadhesion. Formulations containing 15 or 20% (w/w) Pluronic P407 and C934P exhibited a sol-gel temperature T(sol/gel), were viscoelastic and offered high elasticity and resistance to deformation at 37 degrees C. Conversely these formulations were elastoviscous and easily deformed at temperatures below the sol-gel transition temperature. The sol-gel transition temperatures of systems containing 15% (w/w) P407 were unaffected by the presence of C934P; however, increasing the concentration of C934P decreased the T(sol/gel) in formulations containing 20%(w/w) P407. Rheological synergy between P407 and C934P at 37 degrees C was observed and was accredited to secondary interactions between these polymers, in addition to hydrophobic interactions between P407 micelles. Importantly, formulations composed of 20% (w/w) P407 and C934P exhibited pronounced mucoadhesive properties. The ease of administration (below the T(sol/gel)) in conjunction with the viscoelastic (notably high elasticity) and mucoadhesive properties (at body temperature) render the formulations composed of 20% (w/w) P407 and C934P as potentially useful platforms for mucoadhesive, controlled topical drug delivery within the oral cavity. (c) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Plasmid-based controls to detect rpoB mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction-high-resolution melting

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

Determinação do perfil dos usuários e da composição química e nutricional da alimentação oferecida no restaurante universitário da Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, Brasil

Este estudo teve como objetivos determinar o perfil e o estado nutricional da clientela e a composição química e nutricional das refeições oferecidas no restaurante universitário da Universidade Estadual Paulista de Araraquara, Brasil. Realizou-se a determinação química do teor de proteínas, lipídios, carboidratos, fibra, cinzas e umidade de amostras das refeições fornecidas. A amostra populacional foi constituída de 403 usuários (212 mulheres e 191 homens). em relação ao perfil do usuário, constatou-se que 82,60% encontravam-se na faixa etária de 18 a 25 anos e 75,44% dos indivíduos apresentaram índice de massa corporal dentro da faixa de normalidade. em média, as refeições continham 4,74% de proteínas, 10,84% de lipídeos, 24,32% de carboidratos, 3,30% de fibras, 1,00% de cinzas e 55,00% de umidade. Os dados mostraram que as refeições do restaurante universitário continham excesso de proteínas e de energia e que se faz necessário realizar ajustes na sua composição para adequá-la ao perfil da clientela atendida.

Chronic fluoxetine treatment alters cardiovascular functions in unanesthetized rats

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

Professores de Street Dance do Estado de São Paulo: formação e saberes

This research of qualitative nature, aimed to analyze the formation and knowledges of the teachers of Street Dance from the State of São Paulo. Reviewing the literarature it was approached the conceptions of culture, "Hip Hop Culture", and Street Dance. Also, some studies referred to the professional formation in dance and Physical Education; acting in dance by the teacher of Physical Education; and professional academic formation and/or experimental. The approaching method was the story of the time at present. The technique: interview semi-structured. According to the analysis of the statements: a) we noticed that no one of the interviewers show academic formation in dance; a small part is graduated in Physical Education, and the majority act as authorized teachers by the CREF and/ or DRT; b) we verified that the teaching of Street Dance is determined by experimental knowledges. The Street Dance shows itself as a process of constitution, and the formation and the knowledges to its teaching did not show systematization.

Natural rubber latex used as drug delivery system in guided bone regeneration (GBR)

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

Time-domain analysis of piezoelectric impedance-based structural health monitoring using multilevel wavelet decomposition

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A New Impedance Measurement System for PZT-Based Structural Health Monitoring

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Transducer Loading Effect on the Performance of PZT-Based SHM Systems

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Exploring S-type orbits in the Pluto-Charon binary system

This work generates, through a sample of numerical simulations of the restricted three-body problem, diagrams of semimajor axis and eccentricity which defines stable and unstable zones for particles in S-type orbits around Pluto and Charon. Since we consider initial conditions with 0 <= e <= 0.99, we found several new stable regions. We also identified the nature of each one of these newly found stable regions. They are all associated to families of periodic orbits derived from the planar circular restricted three-body problem. We have shown that a possible eccentricity of the Pluto-Charon system slightly reduces, but does not destroy, any of the stable regions.

Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia de Soldagem do Titânio pelo Processo TIG Orbital no Segmento Aeroespacial Brasileiro - Parte 2: Caracterização das Juntas Soldadas

In this work, three welding programs for orbital TIG previously developed were used, using pulsed current and increasing speed (M), constant current (#B) and pulsed current and decreasing current (#C). One of those should be used for the propulsion system of the satellite CBERS (CHINA-BRAZIL EARTH RESOURCES SATELLITE). Welded joints using tubes of commercially pure titanium were obtained with these procedures, which were characterized by means of mechanical and metallographic tests. The obtained results show that the three welding procedures produce welded joints free of defects and with adequate shape. Although small differences on mechanical properties and microstructure have been observed, the three welding programs attained compatible results with international standards used in the aerospace segment. The welding program #B, due the reduced heat input used, was considered to obtain slightly advantage over the others.

Quantitative fractography under light microscopy: A digital image processing approach

This work is an example of the improvement on quantitative fractography by means of digital image processing and light microscopy. Two techniques are presented to investigate the quantitative fracture behavior of Ti-4Al-4V heat-treated alloy specimens, under Charpy impact testing. The first technique is the Minkowski method for fractal dimension measurement from surface profiles, revealing the multifractal character of Ti-4Al-4V fracture. It was not observed a clear positive correlation of fractal values against Charpy energies for Ti-4Al-4V alloy specimens, due to their ductility, microstructural heterogeneities and the dynamic loading characteristics at region near the V-notch. The second technique provides an entire elevation map of fracture surface by extracting in-focus regions for each picture from a stack of images acquired at successive focus positions, then computing the surface roughness. Extended-focus reconstruction has been used to explain the behavior along fracture surface. Since these techniques are based on light microscopy, their inherent low cost is very interesting for failure investigations.

An investigation on sliding wear behavior of PVD coatings

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Fatigue behavior of PVD coated Ti-6Al-4V alloy

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)