Crystal morphologies on a cordierite glass surface

With suitable thermal treatments, a nearly stoichiometric cordierite glass (2 MgO.2 Al2O3. 5 SiO2) shows a variety of crystal morphologies on the external surfaces: lozenges, regular and elongated hexagons, spherical and square shaped particles. We initially identified these morphologies through optical and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Their structural features were distinguished by x-ray diffraction patterns, infrared and Roman microprobe spectra. We concluded that there are close structural similarities for: lozenges and glass matrix; regular and elongated hexagons; spherical and square particles. The ordering degree increases in the following sequence: glass matrix, lozenges, hexagons, squares and spheres. The lozenge crystals are known as X-phase. The hexagons belong to the μ-cordierite (high quartz solid solution) metastable phase and the squares and spheres to the α-cordierite stable phase.

Níveis de proteínas nas dietas de faisões em crescimento

The experiment with pheasants in initial growth phase (1 to 35 days of age), which had as its objective evaluating the nutritional needs of pheasants in the growth phase as to protein levels in the diets, was conducted on a pheasant farm located at Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Small pheasants were used, which were submitted to isocaloric diets containing 26%, 28% and 30% of crude protein. The experimental design was totally random with four repetitions of 30 birds per parcel, totaling 360 birds. The results showed that a 30% crude protein level should be recommended for pheasants in the growth phase (1 to 35 days of age).

Estudo dos efeitos da restrição alimentar nas características das fibras musculares de bovinos jovens confinados

The influence of restricting feed intake of young bulls in feedlots was evaluated in terms of structure of muscular fibers and respective areas, sampled by biopsy on the semitendinoso muscle. Sixty six crossbred Simental-Nelore bulls, 8 months old, averaging 220±34.03 kg were submited for 84 days in phase 1 (growing period), to three treatments: ad libitum (AL), restriction + whole soybean (RWS) and restriction + toasted whole soybean (RTS). The level of restriction of feed intake was 23%. Phase 2 was performed by splitting the animals in each treatment in phase 1 in two groups, feeding one with a diet containing soybeans and the other with poultry litter. The results showed that the animals AL presented more white fibers (FG), compared to the RWS and RST and a larger area of these fibers. A greater frequency of red fibers was observed in treatments RWS and RST. The conclusion was that the restriction of feed intake and consequent compensatory growth contributed for modulation of the muscular fibers increasing the frequency of the fast oxidative glycolitic (FOG) in 10.88% and decreasing of the slow oxidative (SO) and FG in 4.81 and 6.90%, respectively, with possible alteration on meat quality.

Larval development of the giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii at different ammonia concentrations and pH values

The effect of ammonia and pH levels on giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii larvae were evaluated to provide science-based information on safe levels of ammonia and pH for larviculture. Survival rate, developmental stage, and larval weight gain were determined for larvae kept in water with total ammonia (NH4-N) concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 mg\L and pH 7, 8, and 9. The trials were conducted in two phases: phase 1, larvae from stages I through VIII and phase 2, larvae from stage VIII until metamorphose. Oxygen consumption was determined for larvae in stages I and VIII at total ammonia concentrations of 0, 4, and 8 mg/L and pH 8. Survival rate up to stage VIII varied from 86 to 98% and did not differ for total ammonia concentrations in pH 7 and 8 and for 0 mg/L NH4-N in pH 9. Survival rate was significantly lower (0-20%) for total ammonia concentrations from 1 to 8 mg/L (0.43-3.41 mg/L of unionized ammonia) in pH 9. Larval stage indexes (7.9-8.0 range) and weight gain (1.572-2.931 mg range) of larvae at the end of phase 1 of the experiment did not differ for the different ammonia concentration solutions, but were significantly lower in pH 9. In phase 2, no parameter differed among treatments for pH 7 and 8; however there was total mortality at pH 9 until 96h. Respiration rates diminished when larvae were exposed to total ammonia concentrations of 4 and 8 mg/L (0.28 and 0.55 mg/L of unionized ammonia), but development remained unaltered. Therefore, M. rosenbergii larvae tolerate high levels of total ammonia, while toxicity depends primarily on unionized ammonia concentrations. In addition, alkaline pH (9) acted directly on the larvae, curbing development and causing severe mortality. Larval tolerance to high ammonia and pH levels decreases for the last zoeal stages. © Copyright by the World Aquaculture Society 2005.

Efeito da adição de probiótico e/ou prebiótico em dietas de leitões desmamados sobre o desempenho, incidência de diarréia e contagem de coliformes totais

In the Experiment 1, 50 pigs weaned at the 21 days were fed with either of five diets: T1 - basal diet; T2 - basal diet + antibiotic; T3 - basal diet + probiotic; T4 - basal diet + prebiotic; T5 - basal diet + simbiotic. The variables studied were body weight, feed intake and feed conversion in the Phase 1 (21 to 43 days), Phase 2 (44 to 57 days), Phase 3 (58 to 70 days) and Total Phase (21 to 70 days). During the performance experiment, a fecal survey score was conducted to verify diarrhea incidence. In the Experiment 2, 44 pigs weaned at 21 days were fed with the same diets of Experiment 1. Pigs were slaughtered at three differents ages (at weaning, at seven and 14 days after weaning). A segment of the small intestine was collected for analisys of total coliformes. The results showed that the best performance was obtained with the utilization of prebiotic and simbiotic. There were not differences in relation to diarrhea incidence among the treatments studied. The addition of probiotic and/or prebiotic in the diet prevented increase of colonization by pathogenic bacterias from seven to 14 days after weaning.

Fostering economic policy coordination in Latin America: the REDIMA approach to escaping the prisoner's dilemma

Includes bibliography

Enhanced nicotine-seeking behavior following pre-exposure to repeated cocaine is accompanied by changes in BDNF in the nucleus accumbens of rats

We investigated the behavioral and molecular interactions between cocaine and nicotine, through evaluating locomotor activity, nicotine intravenous self-administration and gene expression. Locomotor sensitization was induced in male Wistar rats by repeated cocaine (20 mg/kg; i.p.) or saline injections once a day over 7 days. Three days after the last injection, rats were challenged with either saline or cocaine (15 mg/kg; i.p.) and the locomotor activity was measured. The very next day animals received either saline or nicotine (0.4 mg/kg; s.c.) and the locomotor cross-sensitization was tested. Animals were then prepared with intrajugular catheters for nicotine self-administration. Nicotine self-administration patterns were evaluated using fixed or progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement and a 24-h unlimited access binge. Immediately after the binge sessions animals were decapitated, the brains were removed and the nucleus accumbens was dissected. The dynorphin (DYN), μ-opioid receptor (mu opioid), neuropeptide Y (NPY), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin-related tyrosine kinase B receptor (TrkB) and corticotropin- releasing factor receptor type 1 (CRF-R1) gene expression were measured by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Pretreatment with cocaine caused sensitization of cocaine motor response and locomotor cross-sensitization with nicotine. In the self-administration experiments repeated cocaine administration caused an increase in the nicotine break point and nicotine intake during a 24 h binge session. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Expanding the spectrum of PTH1R mutations in patients with primary failure of tooth eruption

Objectives: Primary failure of tooth eruption (PFE) is a rare autosomal-dominant disease characterized by severe lateral open bite as a consequence of incomplete eruption of posterior teeth. Heterozygous mutations in the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R) gene have been shown to cause PFE likely due to protein haploinsufficiency. To further expand on the mutational spectrum of PFE-associated mutations, we report here on the sequencing results of the PTH1R gene in 70 index PFE cases. Materials and methods: Sanger sequencing of the PTH1R coding exons and their immediate flanking intronic sequences was performed with DNA samples from 70 index PFE cases. Results: We identified a total of 30 unique variants, of which 12 were classified as pathogenic based on their deleterious consequences on PTH1R protein while 16 changes were characterized as unclassified variants with as yet unknown effects on disease pathology. The remaining two variants represent common polymorphisms. Conclusions: Our data significantly increase the number of presently known unique PFE-causing PTH1R mutations and provide a series of variants with unclear pathogenicity which will require further in vitro assaying to determine their effects on protein structure and function. Clinical relevance: Management of PTH1R-associated PFE is problematic, in particular when teeth are exposed to orthodontic force. Therefore, upon clinical suspicion of PFE, molecular DNA testing is indicated to support decision making for further treatment options. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Antinociceptive and Behavioral Effects of Methadone Alone or in Combination with Detomidine in Conscious Horses

The antinociceptive and behavioral effects of methadone (MET) alone or combined with detomidine (DET) were studied in horses. Intravenous treatments were randomly administered in a two-phase crossover study. In phase 1, six horses were treated with saline (control) or 0.2 or 0.5 mg/kg methadone (MET0.2; MET0.5, respectively). In phase 2, six horses were treated with 0.01 mg/kg DET alone or with DET combined with 0.2 mg/kg MET (DET/MET0.2). Thermal nociceptive threshold (TNT) and electrical nociceptive thresholds (ENT) were recorded by using a heat projection lamp and electrodes placed in the coronary band of the thoracic limbs, respectively. Spontaneous locomotor activity (SLA) was studied by movement sensors in the stall (phase 1). Chin-to-floor distance was assessed in phase 2. In phase 1, the TNT increased significantly for 30 minute after MET0.5 but not after saline or MET0.2. Hyperesthesia and ataxia were observed in 2 of 6 and 6 of 6 horses after MET0.2 and MET0.5, respectively. SLA increased significantly for 120 minutes after MET in a dose-dependent way, but not after placebo. In phase 2, DET and DET/MET0.2 significantly increased the TNT and ENT above baseline for 15 and 30 minutes, respectively; thresholds were significantly higher with DET/MET0.2 than with DET at the same times. Chin-to-floor distance decreased significantly from baseline for 30 minutes, and no excitatory behavior was observed in both treatments. Although the higher dose of MET induced short-acting antinociception, the associated adverse effects may contraindicate its clinical use. The lower dose of MET potentiated DET-induced antinociception without adverse effects, which might be useful under clinical circumstances. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Produção de glicerol quinase em Pichia pastoris

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

Desenvolvimento de cosmético contendo ácido Alfa-Lipóico para prevenção de alterações da pele e do envelhecimento cutâneo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeitos do cloreto de amônio, ácido cítrico e cloreto de sódio no controle de cistites em porcas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo de lipoxigenases em extrato hidrossolúvel de soja (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) submetido a diferentes tratamentos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Seleção assistida por marcadores moleculares microssatélites para resistência ao oídio em soja

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

O percurso gerativo de sentido aplicado à análise documental de textos narrativos de ficção: perspectivas de utilização em bibliotecas universitárias

Pós-graduação em Ciência da Informação - FFC