Ontogenesis of the fruit pulp layer of Hymenaea stigonocarpa (Fabaceae : Caesalpinioideae)

Hymenaea, a genus of major economic importance, has been the subject of several botanical studies. However, there is disagreement over the origin of the edible fruit pulp of Hymenaea, as there are no ontogenetic studies on this organ. According to some authors, the edible layer results from transformations of the mesocarp and endocarp, while according to others, it is considered a seed aril. There are still others who regard this layer as originating from an undefined region of the pericarp. To understand the nature and origin of the pulp layer, Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne ovaries and fruit were processed according to standard techniques. The production of the fruit pulp layer starts immediately after anthesis. During anthesis, the inner epidermal cells of the ovary show periclinal division and form a new layer of cells towards the mesocarp; this remains meristematic and initiates cell production by predominantly periclinal divisions, producing a compact tissue towards the locule. This tissue will become the fruit pulp layer, the inner endocarp. The seed coat shows typical testal structure without evidence of aril formation. This allows us to conclude that the fruit pulp layers are exclusively made from part of the endocarp. We also observed resin cavities on outer mesocarp and outer endocarp.

Asymmetry parameter for the nonmesonic decay of 5LHe

We report the preliminary result of an exact calculation of the asymmetry parameter, alambda, in the nonmesonic hypernuclear decay, based on a one-meson-exchange (OME) model. For the case of He and including one-pion-exchange only, the result is shown not to differ considerably from the one obtained with the approximate formula widely used in the literature. In particular, the sign of alambda remains negative, in disagreement with its most recent experimental determination. Whether these facts remain true for heavier hypernuclei and in a more complete OME model is still under investigation.

Correlation between maxillary central incisor form and face form in 4 racial groups

Objectives: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between central incisor form and face form in 4 racial groups and to investigate if there was agreement among experts in categorizing the central incisor forms. Method and Materials: A total of 160 subjects (40 whites, 40 mulattos, 40 blacks, and 40 Asians) ranging from 18 to 33 years of age were selected. Digital photographic records were made, 1 full-face and 1 intraoral view of the maxillary right central incisor. The outline tracings of the tooth and face images were obtained using Adobe Photoshop 5.0 software. The outline tracings were printed in distinct transparencies, and 3 prosthodontists determined if there was correspondence between the tooth and the face forms by superimposition of the transparencies. If there was disagreement among the prosthodontists' evaluations, the prevalent decision was considered. The experts also classified the central incisor forms into square, ovoid, tapering, or combination at 2 different sessions. At the first session, no instructions were given. At the second session, the prosthodontists were instructed to follow Williams' method of classification. Results: A correspondence between tooth and face forms was found in 23.75% of all cases. Agreement on the tooth form classifications among the prosthodontists occurred in 30.62% of all cases at the first session and 24.37% at the second session. Conclusion: There is not a highly defined correlation between central incisor form and face form in any racial group studied. In addition, the experts were not in fair agreement in categorizing tooth forms.

Purification and properties of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) erythrocyte hexokinase

Buffalo erythrocytes contain one isozyme of hexokinase that apparently lacks microheterogeneity as shown by chromatographic properties. A single protein band was detected by means of Western blotting using an antibody raised in rabbits against homogeneous rat brain hexokinase I. The native protein has a molecular weight of 200,000 +/- 2880 by gel filtration. Partial purification of erythrocyte hexokinase by a combination of several procedures, including affinity chromatography, which was previously applied successfully to the purifica tion of other mammalian type I hexokinases, produced a partially purified enzyme that showed several contami nants after SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The affinity of buffalo erythrocyte hexokinase for glucose (K-m = 0.012 +/- 0.001 mM) is lower than most other mammal hexokinases type I. It phosphorylates other sugars, with considerably higher K-m values. This isozyme is able to use MgATP but does not use MgGTP, MgCTP or MgUTP. We used inhibition patterns, obtained with products to elucidate enzyme sequential mechanisms. Our results are clearly in agreement with a random sequential mechanism and in disagreement with an ordered sequential mechanism with either glucose or ATP as the obligatory first substrates. The ADP inhibition was of mixed type with both ATP and glucose as substrates. (C) 1997 Elsevier B.V.

Influence of exercise mode and maximal lactate-steady-state concentration on the validity of OBLA to predict maximal lactate-steady-state in active individuals

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of exercise mode on the validity of onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA-3.5-mM fixed blood lactate concentration) to predict the work-rate at maximal lactate steady state (MLSSwork-rate). Eleven recreationally active mates (21.3 +/- 2.9 years, 72.8 +/- 6.7 kg, 1.78 +/- 0.1 m) performed randomly incremental tests to determine OBLA (stage duration of 3 min), and 2 to 4 constants work-rate exercise tests to directly determine maximal lactate steady state parameters on a cycle-ergometer and treadmill. For both exercise modes, the OBLA was significantly correlated to MLSSwork-rate, (cycling: r = 0.81 p = 0.002; running: r = 0.94, p < 0.001). OBLA (156.2 +/- 41.3 W) was lower than MLSSwork-rate (179.6 +/- 26.4 W) during cycling exercise (p = 0.007). However, for running exercise, there was no difference between OBLA (3.2 +/- 0.6 m s(-1)) and MLSSwork-rate (3.1 +/- 0.4 m s(-1)). The difference between OBLA and MLSSworkrate on the cycle-ergometer (r = 0.86; p < 0.001) and treadmill (r = 0.64; p = 0.048) was significantly related to the specific MLSS. We can conclude that the validity of OBLA on predicting MLSSwork-rate is dependent on exercise mode and that its disagreement is related to individual variations in MLSS. (C) 2007 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of proton energy loss in thick absorbers in terms of a reduced calibration curve

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The reliability of experts' opinions in constructing a composite environmental index: The case of ESI 2005

The complexity of the environment demands a well-constructed composite environmental index (CEI) to provide a useful tool to draw attention to environmental conditions and trends for policy purposes. Among the common difficulties in constructing a proper CEI are uncertainties due to the selection of the most representative underlying variables or indicators. A degree of uncertainty accompanies experts' judgments, and to deal with vague, subjective or inconsistent information, logic other than classic is required. This study analyzes a procedure that uses different experts' opinions in constructing a CEI. with the use of paraconsistent annotated logic. For this, a sensitivity analysis of the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI 2005) was used as an example to assess the reliability of experts' opinions. The uncertainty due to the disagreement in experts' opinions clearly indicates that the forms we presently use to measure and monitor the actual environment are insufficient, that is, there is a lack of a "science of sustainability". (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Problems related to the employment of thin uranium films as neutron dosimeters

Thin uranium films built on muscovite mica basis and obsidian samples having known ages were irradiated with thermal neutrons at the IPEN/CNEN reactor, São Paulo. Comparing thin film performance with the obsidian one, it was observed that the latter feel a greater neutron fluence. Nominal fluences at the used facility are in agreement with the results obtained analysing the obsidian samples. A probable hypothesis to explain this disagreement, namely, the uranium loss from the thin films, was ruled out. © 1995.

Inelastic photoproduction at HERA: A second charmonium crisis?

Measurements of the inelastic photoproduction of charmonium at HERA have ignited a new charmonium crisis. The Color Singlet approach to computing onium production cross sections fits the data for large charmonium energy fraction z, where color octet models fail. This approach is however in qualitative disagreement with a wealth of information that exist on charmonium production by other initial states. We here suggest that the source of the discrepancy between color octet models (whether implemented in the soft color or NRQCD formalism) and data is due to the neglect of non-perturbative effects. Implementing these in a scheme originally developed for Drell-Yan phenomenology, we illustrate how agreement with the data is achieved. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Immunohistochemical aspects of basal cell adenoma and canalicular adenoma of salivary glands

Basal cell adenoma is a benign epithelial neoplasm with a uniform histologic appearance dominated by basaloid cells. Those cells may be distributed in various arrangements as solid, trabecular, tubular and membranous. Canalicular adenoma is also a benign neoplasm composed by columnar cells arranged in branching and interconnecting cords of single or double cell thick rows. There is some disagreement among investigators about whether canalicular adenoma should be included within the basal cell adenoma histologic spectrum. In the present study we compared the expression of cytokeratins (CK), vimentin and muscle-specific actin, utilizing immunohistochemical technique, in three cases diagnosed as basal cell adenomas predominantly of the solid type, and three cases of canalicular adenomas. The results obtained showed a distinct immunoprofile for both neoplasms. Solid areas of basal cell adenomas did not stain for any of the tested antibodies; only when there was tubular differentiation, those structures expressed CKs 7, 8, 14, and 19 in luminal cells and vimentin in non-luminal cells. On the other hand, canalicular adenomas strongly expressed CKs 7 and 13. The panel of antibodies utilized supports the separation of the two entities. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Comparação entre o sistema Autoścan-4 e métodos convencionais na identificação de bacilos Gram-negativos não fermentadores, isolados de materiais clínicos de pacientes em Presidente Prudente - SP

Ninety eight strains of glucose-nonfermenting Gram-negative bacilli were analyzed and isolated from several clinical materials of 95 patients admitted at the Dr. Domingos Leonardo Cerávolo University Hospital and three from outpatients. All of them were assisted in the Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of Unoeste University, Presidente Prudente, SP, from the period of October of 1999 to April of 2001. In this work, the level of agreement between the semi-automated commercial system AutoScan-4 and the conventional system for the identification of those bacteria were studied comparatively. There was agreement in 81 (82.7%), showing that both methodologies are useful for identification; partial agreement in six strains (6.1%) and disagreement in 11 (11.2%). The comercial system did not identify nine (9.2%) of the strains and reported them as very rare biotypes.

Identificação de Enterobacter spp. através de técnicas convencionais e do sistema semi-automatizado Microscan (Autoscan-4)

A hundred and ninety-five (195) strains of Enterobacter spp., isolated from diverse clinical specimens - urine, feces, cateter, blood, wound, tracheal aspirate, vaginal fluid - were submitted to the conventional identification by biochemical tests, and were also submitted to the identification by panels NegCombo 20 of the system automated MicroScan - AutoScan- 4 (Dade Behring Inc., West Sacramento, CA, USA). The samples were from patients of the Clinical Laboratory from the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry of UNOESTE, Presidente Prudente, SP, and from patients hospitalized at the University Hospital Domingos Leonardo Cerávolo, UNOESTE. Of the total of strains tested, 191 (97.9%) presented agreement between the two approaches utilized and 4 strains (2.1%) presented identification disagreement, that is, the genus identified was different in each approach. By this study, the conclusion is that both the approaches utilized for the identification presented advantages and disadvantages related to the cost, facility of execution, quickness, reliability and some other characteristics. Even so, our results showed that conventional methods represent a reliable tool for Enterobacter identification.

Influência do ciclo lunar no parto: mito ou constatação científica?

Superstitions are found everywhere in our lives, and medicine, a profession that is prides itself on an evidence-based approach to treatment, is not exempt. A superstition that pervades the labor and delivery floor is that it is busier during certain phases of the lunar cycle, specifically the full moon. Although some studies have demonstrated an increase in deliveries that are related to the lunar cycle, there has been disagreement about when, in the lunar cycle, the peak volume occurs. Front to the divergence of the existent results in the literature to relate the events of the lunar cycle with deliveries, the aim of this review was to accomplish the literature in the attempt of explaining this popular culture with base in the results presented by different researchers.

Análise isotópica (δ13c) e legalidade em néctares de uva

The aim of this work was to develop an isotopic analysis method to quantify the carbon of C3 photosynthesis cycle in grape nectar and to identify the commercial beverages in disagreement to the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) regulation. The nectars were produced in a laboratory, according to the Brazilian Law. Adulterated beverages with quantity of grape juice lower than the legal limit were also produced. Isotopic analysis measured the relative isotopic enrichment of grape nectar and its purified sugar fraction. Based on these results, it was possible to estimated the quantity of source C3 by means of isotopic dilution equation. To determine the existence of adulteration in commercial nectars, it was necessary to create a legal limit according to the Brazilian Law. One of the twelve commercial brands of nectar analyzed was classified as adulterated. The developed methodology proved to be efficient to quantify the carbon of C3 origin and identify the adulterated commercial grape nectar.

Aparecimento de psoríase durante o tratamento das doenças inflamatórias intestinais com infliximabe: A terapia biológica deve ser suspensa?

Context - Several paradoxical cases of infliximab-induced or-exacerbated psoriatic lesions have been described in the recent years. There is disagreement regarding the need to discontinue infliximab in order to achieve the resolution of these adverse cutaneous reactions specifically in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Objective - To systematically review the literature to collect information on IBD patients that showed this adverse cutaneous reaction, focusing mainly on the therapeutic approach. Methods - A systematic literature review was performed utilizing Medline, Embase, SciELO and Lilacs databases. Published studies were identified, reviewed and the data were extracted. Results - Thirty-four studies (69 IBD patients) met inclusion criteria for review. There was inconsistency in reporting of some clinical and therapeutic aspects. Most patients included had Crohn's disease (89.86%), was female (47.83%), had an average age of 27.11 years, and no reported history of psoriasis (84.05%). The patients developed primarily plaque-type psoriasis (40.58%). There was complete remission of psoriatic lesions in 86.96% of IBD patients, existing differences in the therapeutic approaches; cessation of infliximab therapy led to resolution in 47.83% of cases and 43.48% of patients were able to continue infliximab therapy. Conclusion - As increasing numbers of IBD patients with psoriasis induced or exacerbated by infliximab, physicians should be aware of its clinical manifestations so that appropriate diagnosis and treatment are properly established. The decision whether to continue or discontinue infliximab should be individualized.