Morphometric and morphological analysis of neuromuscular junction alterations in the denervated rat diaphragm

The morphological and structural alterations that occur in the neuromuscular junctions of the denervated rat diaphragm were studied. Fifteen adult male albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) aged about 60 days and with a mean weight of 200 g were used. Chronically denervated diaphragms were obtained and the animals were sacrificed after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of denervation. The left antimere of the diaphragm was denervated by section of the phrenic nerve and the right antimere was used as control. Each antimere was divided into three fragments: one was used for histochemical (nonspecific esterase) and morphometric study of neuromuscular junctions, and the other two were used for transmission and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Histochemical analysis of the diaphragm neuromuscular junctions after denervation showed only small changes in junction morphology. However, these junctions became smaller and elongated and presented less visible contours with increasing time of denervation. Ultrastructural analysis of neuromuscular junctions after 12 weeks showed more or less organized junctional folds on the muscle fiber surface. The junctional cytoplasm exhibited important alterations such as mitochondrial degeneration and the presence of numerous filaments. SEM revealed the presence of deep primary synaptic grooves with peripheral excavations which housed the nerve terminal boutons and exhibited internally the secondary synaptic clefts present among the junctional folds of the sarcolemma. This study showed that some of the morphological changes demonstrated in other denervated striated skeletal muscles are not repeated at the same intensity or in the same temporal pattern in the rat diaphragm.

Morphological analysis of colon goblet cells and submucosa in type I diabetic rats submitted to physical training

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morphological analysis of the corneal endothelium in eyes of dogs using specular microscopy

Foram estudados 20 olhos de 10 cães sem raça definida, machos e fêmeas com 6 anos de idade. A morfologia das células do endotélio da córnea foi analisada utilizando-se microscópio especular de contato. Foram estudadas as regiões central e periférica da córnea. de cada região da córnea foram realizadas três micrografias. de cada micrografia foram analisadas no mínimo 100 células endoteliais. Foram obtidos os valores do polimegatismo e pleomorfismo. O endotélio corneano de cães caracterizou-se por uma monocamada de células poligonais uniformes em tamanho e forma. A forma predominante das células endoteliais foi hexagonal. O índice de polimegatismo foi 0.22. Este estudo demonstrou que a morfologia das células do endotélio da córnea de cães é semelhante à observada em humanos.

Comparative cytogenetic and morphological analysis of Astyanax scabripinnis paranae (Pisces, Characidae, Tetragonopterinae)

Foram realizados estudos citogenéticos e morfológicos em nove populações locais de Astyanax scabripinnis paranae. Todas as populações apresentaram 2n = 50 cromossomos e conspícuas diferenças envolvendo a morfologia dos cromossomos, número e posição das NORs e quantidade e localização dos blocos de heterocromatina constitutiva. O estudo quantitativo dos dados citogenéticos, usando a análise das variáveis canônicas (CVA), mostraram que oito populações apresentaram diferentes constituições cariotípicas. Análises morfológicas baseadas em nove caracteres morfométricos e dois merísticos foram eficazes no estabelecimento de uma clara identificação de cinco populações. Análises comparativas dos dados citogenéticos e morfológicos sugerem que as modificações cromossômicas e morfológicas ocorreram em diferentes taxas, sendo as cromossômicas mais rápidas do que as morfológicas. A despeito da similaridade morfológica encontrada entre algumas populações, diferenças cromossômicas foram detectadas entre todas as populações estudadas.

Morphological analysis of pits formed on Al 2024-T3 in chloride aqueous solution

It has been used a new image analysis method, based on segmentation by shape parameters, for pits morphology examination from Al 2024 aluminum-copper alloy in chloride aqueous solution. Corrosion behavior of this alloys in naturally aerated 3.5% NaCl solution has been investigated through open circuit potential measurements. Afterwards, pits have been characterized by image analysis taking density and size measurements right from corroded surfaces. Morphological investigation has been conducted for profiles, cut orthogonally from mean surface planes, and observed through light microscopy. Image analysis data could demonstrate that pits are wider than deep, evoluting for conical, quasi-conical or irregular shapes. Most pits have presented a quasi-conical morphology, but the wider ones have evoluted to an irregular shape influenced by sub-surface microstructure. Image analysis based on shape segmentation could enhance the differences on morphological behavior. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microstructural and morphological analysis of pure and Ce-doped tin dioxide nanoparticles

Structural morphological studies in pure and Ce-doped tin dioxide nanoparticles with high stability against particle growth were performed in samples, obtained using the polymeric precursor method and prepared at different annealing temperatures. A Ce-rich surface layer was used to control the particle size and stabilize SnO2 against particle growth. The formation of this segregated layer can contribute to a decreased surface energy, acting in the driving force, or reducing the surface mobility. Only the cassiterite SnO2 phase was observed below 1000 degreesC and a secondary phase (CeO2) was observed for the Ce-doped SnO2 at temperatures higher than 1000 degreesC, when de-mixing process occurs. The evolution of crystallite size, microstrain and morphology of the nanoparticles with annealing temperatures was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), associated to Rietveld refinements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hydrodynamic modeling and morphological analysis of Lake Água Preta: one of the water sources of Belém-PA-Brazil

The main contribution from this paper includes the hydrodynamic modeling and morphological analysis of Lake Água Preta in Belém city, Pará State, Brazil. The lake bathymetry was taken through the data provided by COSANPA (the local sanitation and water supply company) dating back to 1975, and from a 2009 field study. Both bathymetries produced two terrain elevation models, which were used for morphological analysis and hydrodynamic simulations. The morphological analysis has revealed that, from 1975 to 2009, the annual mean rate of sedimentation varies between 23,065 and 29,081 m3/year. Through this result, the sedimentation time of Lake Água Preta, from 2009, has been calculated, which varies between 295 and 381 years, maintaining the same rate of sedimentation, water consumption and pumping. The hydrodynamic model simulated the depths and velocities, showing a slight flow with velocities ranging from 0 to 33 cm/s. This flow is established between water input and output of the lake, which is used as reservoir of Belém city.

Processing of Brazil-nut flour: characterization, thermal and morphological analysis

A castanha-do-Brasil (Bertholletia excelsea H. B. K.) destaca-se por seus elevados teores em lipídios e proteínas de alta qualidade biológica, parâmetros que justificam a necessidade de maiores pesquisas e incentivos para a elaboração de novos produtos comerciais. No presente estudo, busca-se identificar novas formas de aproveitamento tecnológico dessas amêndoas pela indústria alimentícia, através de seu processamento sobre a forma de farinha sem alteração do teor energético. Os resultados após sua elaboração mostraram um produto com alto valor energético 431,48 kcal.100 g–1, teor de proteína de 45,92 g.100 g–1 e fibra alimentar de 17,14%. As análises térmicas indicam que a introdução de outro componente proteico, como o isolado proteico de soja, não altera as reações e comportamentos térmicos. Já as morfológicas evidenciaram estruturas granulares semelhantes à estrutura das matrizes de proteínas globulares. Constata-se que, após o processamento e obtenção de farinha, o produto mantém seu alto teor energético-proteico e, ao ser submetido a altas temperaturas, mantém suas características.

Morphological analysis of the pancreatic beta cells of diabetic female rats at different ages of life

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

Taxonomic validity of Mesoclemmys heliostemma (McCord, Joseph-Ouni & Lamar, 2001) (Testudines, Chelidae) inferred from morphological analysis

Mesoclemmys heliostemma (Testudines: Chelidae) was described based on five vouchered specimens and nine live specimens from the western Amazon basin. Some authors questioned its status as a valid species, suggesting that it represents a junior synonym of M. raniceps. Here, we report on eight additional specimens from eastern Peru and northern Brazil, and provide descriptive statistics of morphological characters for hatchlings, juveniles, and adults of M. heliostemma, M. raniceps, and M. gibba. We also test for group differences through univariate and multivariate statistical analyses, and discuss some advantages of this methodology. Our data suggest that all three taxa are morphologically divergent, and that M. heliostemma is a valid species.

Morphological analysis of Mecosarthron Buquet and Xixuthrus Thomson and Reevaluation of Generic Assignment of Xixuthrus domingoensis Fisher (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Prioninae)

The characters defining Mecosarthron Buquet, 1840 and Xixuthrus Thomson 1864 are discussed, along with a historical review of the literature that described and classified these taxa. Through morphological examination of these genera and most of the included species, we addressed the systematic placement of Xixuthrus domingoensis Fisher, 1932 that was placed in Mecosarthron by Ivie (1985). We restore its placement in the genus Xixuthrus. The first description of the female of X. domingoensis is provided, along with comparative redescriptions of Mecosarthron gounellei (Lameere, 1903), and M. buphagus Buquet, 1840. We include a key to the species currently in Mecosarthron.

Morphological analysis of the mammalian postcranium: A developmental perspective

The past two decades have greatly improved our knowledge of vertebrate skeletal morphogenesis. It is now clear that bony morphology lacks individual descriptive specification and instead results from an interplay between positional information assigned during early limb bud deployment and its “execution” by highly conserved cellular response programs of derived connective tissue cells (e.g., chondroblasts and osteoblasts). Selection must therefore act on positional information and its apportionment, rather than on more individuated aspects of presumptive adult morphology. We suggest a trait classification system that can help integrate these findings in both functional and phylogenetic examinations of fossil mammals and provide examples from the human fossil record.

Morphological analysis of underwater sensing for Coast Guard applications /

Final report; April 1978.

Morphological analysis of underwater sensing for Coast Guard applications : appendix C /

Final report; April 1978.