TNFa-e microsatellite, HLA-DRB1 and-DQB1 alleles and haplotypes in Brazilian patients presenting recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus

TNF microsatellite and HLA class II polymorphisms were studied in 28 recently diagnosed Brazilian patients presenting type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and in 120 healthy controls. TNFa-e and HLA-DRB1/DQB1 alleles were identified using sets of sequence-specific primers. Compared to controls, the DRB1* 03 and DQBI*02 allele groups, TNFa1 allele, and the TNFa4-b5-c1-d4-e3 and TNFa10-b5-c1-d4-e3 haplotypes were overrepresented in patients. TNF microsatellite together with HLA polymorphisms is associated with type 1 diabetes in Brazilian patients, corroborating the participation of the MHC genes in disease susceptibility.

An ancestral luciferase in the Malpighi tubules of a non-bioluminescent beetle!

The evolutionary origin of beetle bioluminescence is enigmatic. Previously, weak luciferase activity was found in the non-bioluminescent larvae of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), but the detailed tissular origin and identity of the luciferase-like enzyme remained unknown. Using a closely related giant mealworm, Zophobas morio, here we show that the luciferase-like enzyme is located in the Malpighi tubules. cDNA cloning of this luciferase like enzyme, showed that it is a short AMP-ligase with weak luciferase activity which diverged long ago from beetle luciferases. The results indicate that the potential for bioluminescence in AMP-ligases is very ancient and provide a first reasonable protoluciferase model to investigate the origin and evolution of beetle luciferases.

The effect of changes in the bulk dielectric constant on the DNA torsional properties

The effect of changes in the bulk dielectric constant on the DNA torsional properties was evaluated from plasmid circularization reactions. In these reactions, pUC18 previously linearized by EcoRI digestion was recircularized with T4 DNA ligase. The bulk dielectric constant of the reaction medium was decreased by the addition of different concentrations of neutral solutes: ethylene glycol, glycerol, sorbitol, and sucrose, or increased by the addition of glycine. The topoisomers generated by the ligase reaction were resolved by agarose-gel electrophoresis. The DNA twist energy parameter (K), which is an apparent torsional constant, was determined by linearization of the Gaussian topoisomers' distribution. It was observed that the twist energy parameter for the given solutes is almost linearly dependent on the bulk dielectric constant. In the reaction buffer, the twist energy parameter was determined to be 1100 +/- 100. By decreasing the dielectric constant to 74 with the addition of sorbitol, the value of the parameter reaches K = 900 +/- 100, whereas the addition of ethylene glycol leads to kappa = 400 +/- 50. Upon addition of glycine, which resulted in a dielectric constant equal to 91, the value of the twist energy parameter increased to K 1750 +/- 100. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals.

Method for determination of vertical bar U(e)3 vertical bar in neutrino oscillation appearance experiments

We point out that determination of the MNS matrix element \U-e3\ = s(13) in long-baseline nu(mu) --> nu(e) neutrino oscillation experiments suffers from large intrinsic uncertainty due to the unknown CP violating phase delta and sign of Deltam(13)(2). We propose a new strategy for accurate determination of theta(13); tune the beam energy at the oscillation maximum and do the measurement both in neutrino and antineutrino channels. We show that it automatically resolves the problem of parameter ambiguities which involves delta, theta(13), and the sign of Deltam(13)(2). (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Tolerance to the air exposition test of Hoplias lacerdae larvae and juvenile during its initial development

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Maturação de sementes de aveia-preta (Avena strigosa Schreb). II. Maturidade da panícula e da espigueta

The present work aims at defining the panicle and spikelet maturity of Avena strigosa Schreb. Four experiments were carried out under field conditions during 1989 (E1 and E2) and 1990 (E3 and E4) in Botucatu county, São Paulo State, Brazil. The sowings were made in 04.19.89 (E1) and 06.18.89 (E2). Maturity of panicle was evaluated by weekly (E1) or biweekly harvests (E2) beginning at total emergence of the panicle. In E3 and E4, sowing was made in 06.04.90 and each experiment had a single harvest date (E3 = 11.01.90 and E4 = 11.07.90). After harvest, the spikelets with similar stage of development were grouped and evaluated. Based on dry matter accumulation and germination percentage of the seeds, it was observed that the maturity of the seeds in the panicle was reached at 28 and 35 days after total emergence of the panicle in the April sowing, and between 24.5 and 28 days in the June sowing. During this period a few percentage of panicles not yet yellow became all yellow, the cariopsis at semi-hard stage became hard and moisture of the seeds dropped from 32% to 12%. The maturity of the seeds in the spikelet was reached when the glumes changed their color from yellowish to yellow, the lemma and palea changed from yellow with black strips to black, the cariopsis changed from farinaceous stage to semi-hard and the moisture content of the seeds changed from 40% to 25%.

6-[omega-arylalkenyl]-5,6-dihydro-alpha-pyrones from Cryptocarya moschata (Lauraceae)

Eleven 6-[omega-arylalkenyl]-5,6-dihydro-alpha-pyrones, cryptomoscatones D2, E1, E2, E3 and F1 and cryptopyranmoscatones A1, A2, A3, B1, B2 and B4, in addition to goniothalamin and cryptofolione, were isolated from branch and stem bark of Cryotocarya moschata, Lauraceae. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

INFLUENCE of HIP EXTERNAL ROTATION on HIP ADDUCTOR and RECTUS FEMORIS MYOELECTRIC ACTIVITY DURING A DYNAMIC PARALLEL SQUAT

Pereira, GR, Leporace, G, Chagas, DV, Furtado, LFL, Praxedes, J, and Batista, LA. Influence of hip external rotation on hip adductor and rectus femoris myoelectric activity during a dynamic parallel squat. J Strength Cond Res 24(10): 27492754, 2010-This study sought to compare the myoelectric activity of the hip adductors (HAs) and rectus femoris (RF) when the hip was in a neutral position or externally rotated by 30 degrees or 50 degrees (H0, H30, and H50, respectively) during a parallel squat. Ten healthy subjects performed 10 repetitions of squats in each of the 3 hip positions and the myoelectric activities of the HAs and RF were recorded. The signal was then divided into categories representing concentric (C) and eccentric (E) contractions in the following ranges of motion: 0-30 degrees (C1 and E1), 30-60 degrees (C2 and E2), and 60-90 degrees (C3 and E3) of knee flexion. From those signals, an root mean square (RMS) value for each range of motion in each hip position was obtained. All values were normalized to those obtained during maximum voluntary isometric contraction. We found that HAs showed a significant increase in myoelectric activity during C3 and E3 in the H30 and H50 positions, as compared with H0. Meanwhile, RF activity did not significantly differ between hip positions. Both muscles showed higher activation during 60-90 degrees (C3 and E3) of knee flexion, as compared with 0-30 degrees (C1 and E1) and 30-60 degrees (C2 and E2). The results suggest that if the aim is to increase HA activity despite the low percentage of muscle activation, squats should be performed with 30 degrees of external rotation and at least 90 degrees of knee flexion.

Fadiga de grampos de retenção em prótese parcial removível. Efeito de ligas, espessuras e técnicas de fusão. Parte I.

The authors looked for the verification of the fatigue of retentive clasps utilized on the removable partial denture. According to this, it was idealized and built on assay machine, that through movements, simulate the insertion and removal of the clasp for a pattern tooth, manufactured on cobalt-chromium which has all the preparation normally utilized to the correct confection of this type of prosthesis. It was utilized three different commercial alloys based on cobalt-chromium: L1-Biosil; L2-Steldent; L3-Duracron. It was utilized the T clasp of Roach, with was tested upon three different proportions among width and thickness: E1-1.7;E2-2.0 and E3-2.3 and was casted through two casting techniques: F1-oxygen-gas and F2-oxygen-acetylene. The clasps were tested on the machine, which allowed the reading of the number of insertion and removal cycles made until fatigue appeared. The obtained results were submitted to the statistic analysis and the authors concluded that: a) L3 (Duracrom) obtained the best results followed by L1 (Biosil) and finally L3 (Steldent); b) among the analyzed thickness, the best results were obtained by E3, followed by E2 and after this E1; c) form the casting techniques, F2 gave us the best results.

Fadiga de grampos de retenção em prótese parcial removível. Efeito de ligas, espessuras e técnicas de fusão. Parte II.

The authors tested the T clasp of Roach in three differents proportions among width and thickness: E1-1.7; E2-2.0 and E3-2.3, with a constant length of 15 mm. These clasps were casted with three cobalt-chromium alloys (L1-Biosil; L2-Steldent and L3-Duracrom), through two casting techniques (F1-oxygen-gas and F2-oxygen-acetylene). The fatigue of the clasps were verified by using and assay machine, that through movements, simulate the insertion and removal of the clasps for a pattern which were obtained from a premolar, prepared in a surveyor. This machine detect the fatigue of the clasps and count the number of cycles of insertion and removal realized. The obtained results of the interaction between the analysed factors, were submitted to the statistic analysis and the authors concluded that: a) the interaction of factors, Alloy x Thickness, Alloy x Casting Technique and Thickness x Casting Technique did not change the order of effects that the factors showed separately but gave rise to effects of different magnitude for any observed sense; b) the simultaneous interaction of the factors Alloy x Thickness x Casting Technique confirmed the superiority of the L3 alloy, the thickness E3 and the F2 casting technique.

Eucalyptus ESTs corresponding to the enzyme glutamine synthetase and the protein D1, sites of action of herbicides that cause oxidative stress

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

Bovine serum albumin displays luciferase-like activity in presence of luciferyl adenylate: Insights on the origin of protoluciferase activity and bioluminescence colours

Luciferyl adenylate, the key intermediate in beetle bioluminescence, is produced through adenylation of D-luciferin by beetle luciferases and also by mealworm luciferase-like enzymes which produce a weak red chemiluminescence. However, luciferyl adenylate is only weakly chemiluminescent in water at physiological pH and it is unclear how efficient bioluminescence evolved from its weak chemiluminescent properties. We found that bovine serum albumin (BSA) and neutral detergents enhance luciferyl adenylate chemiluminescence by three orders of magnitude, simulating the mealworm luciferase-like enzyme chemiluminescence properties. These results suggest that the beetle protoluciferase activity arose as an enhanced luciferyl adenylate chemiluminescence in the protein environment of the ancestral AMP-ligase. The predominance of luciferyl adenylate chemiluminescence in the red region under most conditions suggests that red luminescence is a more primitive condition that characterized the original stages of protobioluminescence, whereas yellow-green bioluminescence may have evolved later through the development of a more structured and hydrophobic active site. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Alterações de propriedades físicas de um nitossolo vermelho pela sucessão milheto-soja na fase de implantação do sistema de semeadura direta

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of a millet-soybean rotation, during the implantation phase of no-tillage system on the physical properties of a Nitossolo Vermelho distroférrico and the dry mass production of millet and the productivity of soybean. The experimental design used was a randomized blocks, in a split splot arrangement, with four replications. The parcels was constituted by three sowings (E1, E2 and E3) and the subparcels was constituted by harvests, where each harvest handling was: M1 - harvest each blooming and covering withdrawal; M2 - harvest each blooming and covering permanency; M3 - only in the first harvest on blooming and covering withdrawal; M4 - only in the first harvest on blooming and covering permanency, and M5-free growing, with no harvest. Samples were collected from three soil layers: 0-0,05, 0,05-0,10 and 0,10-0,20 m. The E2 showed smaller values of soil density and larger values of total porosity. The E3 resulted in smaller values of flocculation degree and mean weight diameter of the aggregates. The E3 showed smaller production of dry mass.

Biomass production and chemical composition of essential oil of Piper callosum as affected by spacing in Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil

The family Piperaceae contains nearly 2000 species, most of them distributed in two genera, Piper and Peperomia. In Brazil circa 170 Piper species are found, mainly in tropical areas Their use ranges from flavoring and culinary to raw material for pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. One of these species, Piper callosum, is used in folk medicine in the Amazon area. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production of biomass (aerial parts) as well as yield and composition of the essential oil from the leaves, according to different spacing between cultivated plants at Embrapa Western Amazon, in Manaus, State of Amazonas, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with four treatments and seven replicates with six plants. Biomass production was inversely proportional to the spatial arrangements, with the greatest biomass production (1034.93 kg/ha) in the shortest spacing (E1), although no statistical difference was verified between E3 and E4. The same response was observed for the production of essential oil. The chemical composition of the oil was not affected by spacing, and major compounds found were safrole (59.1%), beta-pinene (8.3%), alpha-pinene (6.5%), methyl eugenol (6.3%) and 1,8-cineole (4.1).