Microsatellite loci isolated from the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris), one of the largest Neotropical mammal

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

The Heart of the South American Rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus

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

Pd-based catalysts: Influence of the second metal on their stability and oxygen reduction activity

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

Restriction fragment analysis of the ribosomal DNA of Paratelmatobius and Scythrophrys species (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

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

Evaluation of the in vitro activity of cefepime compared to other broad-spectrum cephalosporins against clinical isolates from eighteen Brazilian hospitals by using the Etest

The in vitro activity of cefepime was compared to that of ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, and cefotaxime in a multicenter study involving 10 clinical microbiology laboratories and clinical isolates from 18 Brazilian hospitals from 7 cities (4 states). A total of 982 isolates consecutively collected between December 1995 and March 1996 were susceptibility tested by using Etest and following the NCCLS procedures for agar diffusion tests. The cefepime spectrum was broader than that of the other broad-spectrum cephalosporins against both Gram-negative rods and Gram-positive cocci. Cefepime tons particularly move active against Enterobacter sp. (MIC90, 2 mu g/ml), Serratia sp. (MIC90, 2 mu g/ml) and oxacillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MIC90, 3 mu g/ml). Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cefepime (MIC90 16 mu g/ml) was slightly more active than ceftazidime (MIC90 32 mu g/ml) and 8- to 16-fold more active than ceftriaxone or cefotaxime (MIC90 >256 mu g/ml). Our results show that nosocomial bacteria, especially Gram-negative rods, have a high rate of cephalosporin resistance in Brazil. However, part of these resistant bacteria remains susceptible to cefepime. The Etest was shown to be an excellent method for multicenter studies of the in vitro evaluation of new antimicrobial agents. (C) 1997 Elsevier B.V.

The 3.4-3.5 Ga Sao Jose do Campestre massif, NE Brazil: remnants of the oldest crust in South America

The oldest fragment of continental crust recognized in South America occurs as an isolated Archean enclave in northeastem Brazil's Borborema Province, ca. 600 Ma Brasiliano-Pan African orogenic belt. This Archean fragment, the Sao Jose do Campestre massif, is surrounded by large tracts of 2.2-2.0 Ga Paleoproterozoic gneisses and is located more than 600-1500 km from the much larger assemblages of Archean rocks found in the Sao Fransciso and Amazonian cratons, located to the south and west, respectively. Geochronological studies of the Sao Jose do Campestre massif show that its oldest rocks contain zircons with U-Pb ages up to 3.5 Ga and Sm-Nd T-DM model ages of more than 3.7 Ga, indicating that they represent reworked crust. This older nucleus is flanked by both reworked and juvenile 3.25 and 3.18 Ga rocks which arc intruded by both 3.00 and 2.69 Ga plutonic bodies. The protracted evolution the Sao Jose do Campestre massif is consistent with that of a larger continental mass as opposed to a small crustal fragment that grew in isolation. As such, the Sao Jose do Campestre massif is interpreted as representing a detached piece of an evolved craton that became entrained with younger rocks during a subsequent Paleoproterozoic accretionary-orogenic event. This hypothesis is bolstered by the presence of Paleoproterozoic gneisses that envelop the Sao Jose do Campestre massif, as well as the existence of ca. 2.0 Ga metamorphic zircon and monazite within its rocks. The occurrence of several different Archean cratonic basement inliers within the greater Paleoproterozoic crustal framework of the Borborema Province suggests that cratonic slices spalled off one or more larger Archean masses prior to the ca. 2.2-2.0 Ga Paleoproterozoic orogenic collage. A important challenge is to link these older fragments to their parent cratons. Although results are not unique, the pattern of ages and isotopic signatures observed in the Sao Jose do Campestre massif is similar to that seen in parts of the Sao Francisco Craton, and it is possible that the Sao Jose do Campestre massif is a fragment of an Archean continental fragment formed during an episode of continental breakup prior to 2200 Ma. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural analysis of Canavalia maritima and Canavalia gladiata lectins complexed with different dimannosides: New insights into the understanding of the structure-biological activity relationship in legume lectins

Plant lectins, especially those purified from species of the Legummosae family, represent the best studied group of carbohydrate-binding proteins. The legume lectins from Diocleinae subtribe are highly similar proteins that present significant differences in the potency/ efficacy of their biological activities. The structural studies of the interactions between lectins and sugars may clarify the origin of the distinct biological activities observed in this high similar class of proteins. In this way, this work presents a crystallographic study of the ConM and CGL (agglutinins from Canavalia maritima and Canavalia gladiata, respectively) in the following complexes: ConM/ CGL:Man(alpha 1-2)Man(alpha 1-0)Me, ConM/CGL:Man(alpha 1-O)Man(alpha 1-O)Me and ConM/CGL:Man(alpha 1-4)Man(alpha 1-O)Me, which crystallized in different conditions and space group from the native proteins.The structures were solved by molecular replacement, presenting satisfactory values for R-factor and R-factor. Comparisons between ConM, CGL and ConA (Canavalia ensiformis lectin) binding mode with the dimannosides in subject, presented different interactions patterns, which may account for a structural explanation of the distincts biological properties observed in the lectins of Diocleinae subtribe. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparative investigation of the cleavage step in the synthesis of model peptide resins: Implications for N-alpha-9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl-solid phase peptide synthesis

Based on our studies of the stability of model peptide-resin linkage in acid media, we previously proposed a rule for resin selection and a final cleavage protocol applicable to the N-alpha-tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc)-peptide synthesis strategy. We found that incorrect choices resulted in decreases in the final synthesis yield, which is highly dependent on the peptide sequence, of as high as 30%. The present paper continues along this line of research but examines the N-alpha-9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-synthesis strategy. The vasoactive peptide angiotensin II (All, DRVYIHPF) and its [Gly(8)]-All analogue were selected as model peptide resins. Variations in parameters such as the type of spacer group (linker) between the peptide backbone and the resin, as well as in the final acid cleavage protocol, were evaluated. The same methodology employed for the Boc strategy was used in order to establish rules for selection of the most appropriate linker-resin conjugate or of the peptide cleavage method, depending on the sequence to be assembled. The results obtained after treatment with four cleavage solutions and with four types of linker groups indicate that, irrespective of the circumstance, it is not possible to achieve complete removal of the peptide chains from the resin. Moreover, the Phe-attaching peptide at the C-terminal yielded far less cleavage (50-60%.) than that observed with the Gly-bearing sequences at the same position (70-90%). Lastly, the fastest cleavage occurred with reagent K acid treatment and when the peptide was attached to the Wang resin.

Cytotaxonomic analysis of Brazilian species of the genus Amazona (Psittacidae, Aves) and confirmation of the genus Salvatoria (Ribeiro, 1920)

The karyotypes of 12 species of Psittacidae of the genus Amazona were studied: A. aestiva, A. amazonica, A. brasiliensis, A. autumnalis, A. farinosa, A, festiva, A. kawalli, A. ochrocephala, A. pretrei, A. rhodocorytha, A. vinacea and A. xanthops. The metaphases were obtained using a short term culture of leather pulp. Eleven of the twelve analyzed species were karyotypically homogeneous, with only a few divergences in chromosomes 2 and 3. The species A. xanthops showed large karyotypic differences compared to the genus Amazona. Consequently, the genus Salvatoria (Ribeiro, Rev. Mus. Paul. 12: 1-82, 1920) was confirmed, and A. xanthops renamed Salvatoria xanthops. The study showed the chromosomic conservation of the genus Amazona and the need for further taxonomic studies of the karyotype of the Psittacidae.

Basis sets applied to the theoretical study of the vibrational structure of hexaaquaaluminum(III) ion

Gaussian basis sets were developed with the Generator Coordinate Hartree-Fock (GCHF) method for the atoms from H (14s), O (23s16p), and Al (29sl9p) in the ground state. These basis sets were then contracted to 3s (12,1,1), 5s3p (18,2,1,1,1/14,1,1), and 7s5p (20,3,2,1,1,1,1/14,2,1,1,1) for H, O and Al atoms, respectively, by a standard procedure. The quality of contracted basis sets in molecular calculations was evaluated through studies of the total and orbital (epsilon(HOMO) and epsilon(HOMO-1)) energies at the HF level for the hexaaquaaluminum(III) ion, [AI(H(2)O)(6)](3+). For the O atom, the 5s3p was supplemented with d polarization function and it was used in combination with 3s, and 7s5p for H and Al atoms was used to the theoretical interpretation of the Infrared (IR) spectrum of hexaaquaaluminum(III) ion. The calculations of the IR-spectrum were also performed at the HF level and it showed that the basis sets obtained with the aid of GCHF method lead to the selection of useful contracted Gaussian basis sets for the theoretical study of vibrational property of ionic specie of our interest. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Calorimetric and SEM studies of PHB-PET polymeric blends

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

SAXS measurements of the porosity in Cu(II)-doped SnO2 xerogels during crystallization

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Mononeuropathy of the suprascapular nerve: Study of 3 South American cases

In this work 3 new cases of suprascapular nerve mononeuropathy are described. ENMG diagnosis criteria were: a) normal sensory conduction studies of the ipsolateral ulnar, median and radial nerves; b) bilateral suprascapular nerve latencies with bilateral compound muscle action potential, obtained from the infraspinatus muscle with symmetrical techniques; and c) abnormal neurogenic infraspinatus muscle electromyographic findings, coexisting with normal electromyographical data of the ipsolateral deltoideus and supraspinatus muscles. These 3 cases of suprascapular mononeurpathy were found in 6,080 ENMG exams from our University Hospital. For us this mononeuropathy is rare with a 0.05% occurrence.

Performance of the CMS drift tube chambers with cosmic rays

Studies of the performance of the CMS drift tube barrel muon system are described, with results based on data collected during the CMS Cosmic Run at Four Tesla. For most of these data, the solenoidal magnet was operated with a central field of 3.8 T. The analysis of data from 246 out of a total of 250 chambers indicates a very good muon reconstruction capability, with a coordinate resolution for a single hit of about 260 μm, and a nearly 100% efficiency for the drift tube cells. The resolution of the track direction measured in the bending plane is about 1.8 mrad, and the efficiency to reconstruct a segment in a single chamber is higher than 99%. The CMS simulation of cosmic rays reproduces well the performance of the barrel muon detector. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd and SISSA.

The present state and future prospects of the environment in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography