Caracterização físico-química e análises por espectrofotometria e cromatografia de Peperomia pellucida L. (H. B. K.)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a caracterização físico-química do pó e da tintura, e análise por espectrofotometria e cromatografia do extrato seco de Peperomia pellucida L. (H. B. K.). As metodologias seguiram a Farmacopéia Brasileira IV ed., com exceção da prospecção química, da espectrofotometria, da obtenção do perfil cromatográfico do extrato seco, e determinação do resíduo seco. A prospecção química revelou a presença de saponinas espumídicas; açúcares redutores; proteínas e aminoácidos; fenóis; taninos; flavonóides; esteróides e triterpenóides. Na análise por CCD, o melhor perfil da fração flavonoídica foi obtido com MeOH/CHOOH (90:10). Foi confirmada, através de CLAE, a presença de 3’,4’,7-tri-O-metoxiflavona no extrato seco deste material vegetal. Os resultados obtidos contribuem para a determinação de especificações de uma futura monografia em Farmacopéias da Peperomia pellucida L. (H.B.K.).

Teatro de fantoches na formação continuada docente em educação ambiental

Neste artigo, apresentamos os resultados de uma pesquisa-ação participativa realizada no espaço do Grupo de Pesquisa e Estudos em Educação Ambiental / Sala Verde Pororoca: espaço socioambiental Paulo Freire (GPEEA/Sala Verde), na UFPA. O objetivo foi investigar as contribuições do teatro de fantoches como proposta pedagógica na formação continuada de professores em educação ambiental. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram seis professoras do ensino básico, as quais são aqui identificadas pelos seguintes pseudônimos: Lucia, Michelle, Izabel, Eloísa, Marta e Ana. Utilizamos quatro fontes para a coleta das informações: 1) um questionário sobre dados pessoais e com as perguntas a) Que motivos levaram você a se inscrever na oficina? e b) Qual é o entendimento de educação ambiental predominante?; 2) uma oficina; 3) um diário de bordo; e 4) entrevistas para complementar as informações fornecidas pelas professoras. Para analisar os dados, utilizamos a técnica da triangulação metodológica. Constatamos que o teatro de fantoches, como estratégia de ensino-aprendizagem de conhecimentos ambientais, foi importante em todas as etapas. A utilização do teatro de fantoches como metodologia foi entusiasticamente reconhecida pelas professoras como viável na prática docente em todas as disciplinas. E o mais importante: elas perceberam que, para a elaboração de qualquer atividade alternativa, há a necessidade de um planejamento, pois é preciso ter uma finalidade pedagógica, com conotação diferente do lúdico pelo lúdico.

Prevalence and genotyping of hepatitis C virus in blood donors in the state of Pará, Northern Brazil

Given the scarcity of epidemiological information on hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Northern Brazil, we determined the prevalence and genotypic frequency in blood donors in the state of Pará (PA). Blood samples from all of the blood donors at the Fundação HEMOPA (blood bank of PA) from 2004-2006 were screened for the presence of antibodies to anti-HCV and samples seroreactive to anti-HCV were further tested for HCV RNA using real-time PCR. In total, 116 HCV-RNA samples were genotyped, based on maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses, using BioEdit, Modelgenerator, PHYML and FigTree software. The population consisted of 242,726 volunteers who donated blood from 2004-2006; the most common subgroup was males between the ages of 18-29 years old (37.30%). Within the whole group, 1,112 blood donors (0.46%) had indeterminate or positive serology; among these, 28.78% were males whose ages ranged from 18-29 years. A diagnosis of chronic HCV infection was confirmed for 304 donors (60.20% males; 66.45% were 30-49 years old), resulting in a prevalence of HCV RNA in 0.13% of the samples (304 of 242,726). HCV genotyping revealed a high frequency of genotype 1 (108/116) followed by genotype 3 (8/116). This study found HCV infection to be relatively infrequent in PA; genotype 1 was most commonly isolated. This information can help guide prevention and control policies aimed at efficient diagnosis and control measures.

Efeito do treinamento contrarresistência e isoflavona na densidade mineral óssea em mulheres na pós-menopausa

This study aimed to investigate the independent and additive effects of counter-resistance training (RT) and soy isoflavone supplement (ISO) on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover in postmenopausal women. This study used a placebo-controlled, double-blinded (soy), randomized two (ISO vs. placebo) x two (RT vs. no RT) design. Eighty sedentary postmenopausal women, aged 45-70 years, were randomly assigned to one of four groups (71 completed a 9-month intervention): RT+ISO (n=15); no RT+ISO (n=20); RT+placebo (n=18); no RT+placebo (n=18). Participants randomized to ISO received 100mg/ day/oral of soy isoflavone; and those to RT attended supervised counter-resistance training sessions at least twice a week. At baseline and 9-month, BMD was estimated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Serum levels of C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), osteocalcin, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured as bone turnover. ANOVA with time as the repeated measure and test t were used in the statistical analysis. After 9 months of intervention, neither ISO nor RT alone affected BMD at any site or levels of CTX, osteocalcin, and IGF-1 (p>0.05). ISO and RT had no additive effects on BMD and bone turnover. RT groups showed significantly increased muscle strength (+ 35.2%) (p=0.02). We found no additive effects of resistance training and soy isoflavone on bone mineral density or bone turnover in postmenopausal women after 9-months.

Search for a Higgs boson decaying into a Z and a photon in pp collisions at root s=7 and 8 TeV

A search for a Higgs boson decaying into a Z boson and a photon is described. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision datasets recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC. Events were collected at center-of-mass energies of 7 TeV and 8 TeV, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 5.0 fb(-1) and 19.6 fb(-1), respectively. The selected events are required to have opposite-sign electron or muon pairs. No excess above standard model predictions has been found in the 120-160 GeV mass range and the first limits on the Higgs boson production cross section times the H -> Z gamma branching fraction at the LHC have been derived. The observed at 95% confidence level limits are between about 4 and 25 times the standard model cross section times the branching fraction. For a standard model Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV the expected limit at the 95% confidence level is 10 and the observed limit is 9.5. Models predicting the Higgs boson production cross section times the H -> Z gamma branching fraction to be larger than one order of magnitude of the standard model prediction are excluded for most of the 125-157 GeV mass range. (C) 2013 CERN. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A liquid-phase-blocking concanavalin A enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies against Newcastle disease virus in serum of free-ranging pigeons

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Photoelectroactivity of Bismuth Vanadate Prepared by Combustion Synthesis: Effect of Different Fuels and Surfactants

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sol-gel thin-film based mesoporous silica and carbon nanotubes for the determination of dopamine, uric acid and paracetamol in urine

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

Performance evaluation of multi-stage filtration with use of granular activated carbon and synthetic non-woven fabrics

The multi stage filtration (MSF) is an alternative that permits to enlarge the spectrum of application of the slow sand filtration as for the effluent quality and run duration. In this research the use of MSF technology associated to a granular activated carbon (GAC) column as polishing mechanism of the final effluent was evaluated; in the slow sand filters GAC was used as an intermediate layer and non-woven synthetic fabrics were utilized as a first layer of the filter media. Five different tests were conducted, where the systems subjected to the treatment were: water from the Ipe Lake (Ilha Solteira, Sao Paulo, Brazil); water from the lake with water from a recreational fish pond; water from the lake with a phytoplankton and cyanobacteria overload simulation, with and without the use of the pre-filters as a stage of the treatment. The synthetic fabrics and GAC use resulted in the best turbidity removal and an efficient apparent and true color removal; in spite that the polishing columns reported similar results for those parameters. The utilization of GAC as an intermediate layer contributed to a better organic matter removal and the fabrics improved chlorophyll-a removal. The pre-filtration columns made an efficient algae and cyanobacteria removal, a function that was completed by the filters and reached >98% efficiency. The synthetic non-woven fabrics and GAC inclusion in MSF operation improved performance of this technology with ease of application and operation.

Effects of Dextrose and Lipopolysaccharide on the Corrosion Behavior of a Ti-6Al-4V Alloy with a Smooth Surface or Treated with Double-Acid-Etching

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

The influence of habitat homogenization on the trophic structure of fish fauna in tropical streams

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

Search for a non-standard-model Higgs boson decaying to a pair of new light bosons in four-muon final states

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Compartmentalized gene expression of toll-like receptors 2, 4 and 9 in the brain and peripheral lymphoid organs during canine visceral leishmaniasis

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

Lorentz-violating effects in three-dimensional QED

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