Construction of an alkaline phosphatase-liposome system: a tool for biomineralization study

Alkaline phosphatase is required for the mineralization of bone and cartilage. This enzyme is localized in the matrix vesicle, which plays a role key in calcifying cartilage. In this paper. we standardize a method for construction an alkaline phosphatase liposome system to mimic matrix vesicles and examine a some kinetic behavior of the incorporated enzyme. Polidocanol-solubilized alkaline phosphatase, free of detergent, was incorporated into liposomes constituted from dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), dilaurilphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) or dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). This process was time-dependent and >95% of the enzyme was incorporated into the liposome after 4 h of incubation at 25 degreesC. Although, incorporation was more rapid when vesicles constituted from DPPC were used, the incorporation was more efficient using vesicles constituted from DMPC. The 395 nm diameter of the alkaline phosphatase-liposome system was relatively homogeneous and more stable when stored at 4 degreesC.Alkaline phosphatase was completely released from liposome system only using purified phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIPLC). These experiments confirm that the interaction between alkaline phosphatase and lipid bilayer of liposome is via GPI anchor of the enzyme, alone. An important point shown is that an enzyme bound to liposome does not lose the ability to hydrolyze ATP, pyrophosphate and p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP), but a liposome environment affects its kinetic properties, specifically for pyrophosphate.The standardization of such system allows the study of the effect of phospholipids and the enzyme in in vitro and in vivo mineralization, since it reproduces many essential features of the matrix vesicle. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

DYNAMICS AT INFINITY of A CUBIC CHUA'S SYSTEM

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Global dynamics of the Rikitake system

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

GLOBAL DYNAMICS of THE LORENZ SYSTEM WITH INVARIANT ALGEBRAIC SURFACES

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ecological efficiency and thermoeconomic analysis of a cogeneration system at a hospital

This work aims with an approach for cogeneration plants evaluation based on thermoeconomic functional diagram analysis. The second law of thermodynamics is used to develop a methodology to analyse cogeneration systems, based on exergoeconomics evaluation. The thermoeconomic optimisation method developed is applied to allow a better configuration of the cogeneration plant associated to a university hospital. Also ecological efficiency is evaluated. The method was efficient and contributes for thermoeconomics modelling and analysis and can be applied to any sort of thermal system, especially those with combined heat and power in thermal parity. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

System identification and active vibration control of a flexible structure

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

Straw decomposition of nitrogen-fertilized grasses intercropped with irrigated maize in an integrated crop-livestock system

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

On an Optimal Linear Control of a Chaotic Non-Ideal Duffing System

In this work, we use a nonlinear control based on Optimal Linear Control. We used as mathematical model a Duffing equation to model a supporting structure for an unbalanced rotating machine with limited power (non-ideal motor). Numerical simulations are performed for a set control parameter (depending on the voltage of the motor, that is, in the static and dynamic characteristic of the motor) The interaction of the non-ideal excitation with the structure may lead to the occurrence of interesting phenomena during the forward passage through the several resonance states of the system. Chaotic behavior is obtained for values of the parameters. Then, the proposed control strategy is applied in order to regulate the chaotic behavior, in order to obtain a periodic orbit and to decrease its amplitude. Both methodologies were used in complete agreement between them. The purpose of the paper is to give suggestions and recommendations to designers and engineers on how to drive this kind of system through resonance.

Effect of Passive Fit Absence in the Prosthesis/Implant/Retaining Screw System: A Two-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis

The misfit between prostheses and implants is a clinical reality, but the level that can be accepted without causing mechanical or biologic problem is not well defined. This study investigates the effect of different levels of unilateral angular misfit prostheses in the prosthesis/implant/retaining screw system and in the surrounding bone using finite element analysis. Four models of a two-dimensional finite element were constructed: group I (control), prosthesis that fit the implant; groups 2 to 4, prostheses with unilateral angular misfit of 50, 100, and 200 mu m, respectively. A load of 133 N was applied with a 30-degree angulation and off-axis at 2 mm from the long axis of the implant at the opposite direction of misfit on the models. Taking into account the increase of the angular misfit, the stress maps showed a gradual increase of prosthesis stress and uniform stress in the implant and trabecular bone. Concerning the displacement, an inclination of the system due to loading and misfit was observed. The decrease of the unilateral contact between prosthesis and implant leads to the displacement of the entire system, and distribution and magnitude alterations of the stress also occurred.

Evaluation of the Diramic system for urine cultures

O sistema Diramic foi avaliado para o diagnóstico das infecções do trato urinário (ITU). O sistema Diramic foi desenvolvido em Cuba e possibilita resultados de diagnóstico das infecções do trato urinário (ITU) em quatro horas e baseia-se na variação da turvação do crescimento microbiano no meio de cultura após incubação a 37ºC/4 horas. 396 amostras de urinas provenientes de ambulatórios e enfermarias do HC da FMB-UNESP-Botucatu/SP foram analisadas pelo sistema Diramic. O método da alça calibrada (AC) foi adotado como método de referência. A taxa de coincidência entre os dois métodos foi de 96,46% (382 amostras de urina), não havendo diferença significativa entre os resultados obtidos nos dois métodos. Os resultados para sensibilidade e especificidade foram 84,37 e 98,80% respectivamente e 10 resultados no Diramic foram falsos negativos (2,5%) e 4 falso positivos (1,01%). Os microrganismos identificados nas urinas positivas foram Escherichia coli (68,75%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (10,94%), leveduras (6,25%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4,69%), Enterobacter cloacae (3,12%) e Proteus mirabilis, Staphyloccocus coagulase negativo, Morganella morganii e Citrobacter freundii também foram identificadas (1,56% para cada espécie). O método Diramic foi eficiente na triagem das urinoculturas, porém verificou-se algumas restrições quanto ao diagnóstico das infecções do trato urinário quando causadas por leveduras e em pacientes submetidos a antibioticoterapia.

Surface characterisation of V(2)O(5)/TiO(2) catalytic system

Samples of the V(2)O(5)/TiO(2) system were prepared by the sol-gel method and calcined at different temperatures. Surface species of vanadium, their dispersion, as well as the structural evolution of the system were analysed by XRD, Raman, EPR, and XPS techniques. The results of XRD showed the evolution of TiO(2) from anatase phase to rutile. phase. The Raman spectra for calcination temperatures up to 500 degreesC showed a good dispersion of vanadium over titania in the form of monomeric vanadyl groups (V(4+)) and polymeric vanadates (V(5+)). At least three families of V4+ ions were identified by EPR investigations. Two kinds of isolated V(4+) species are placed in sites of octahedral symmetry, substituting Ti(4+) in the rutile phase. The third is formed by pairs of V(4+) species on the surface of titania. Above 500 degreesC part of superficial V(4+) is inserted into the,matrix of titania and part is oxidized to V(5+). The XPS results showed that the V/Ti ratio rises with increasing calcination temperature, indicating a smaller dispersion of vanadium.

Performance of the constructed wetland system for the treatment of water from the corumbataí river

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

Finite-momentum condensate of magnetic excitons in a bilayer quantum Hall system

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

A note about the appearance of non-hyperbolic solutions in a mechanical pendulum system

The investigation of the behavior of a nonlinear system consists in the analysis of different stages of its motion, where the complexity varies with the proximity of a resonance region. Near this region the stability domain of the system undergoes sudden changes due basically to competition and interaction between periodic and saddle solutions inside the phase portrait, leading to the occurrence of the most different phenomena. Depending of the domain of the chosen control parameter, these events can reveal interesting geometric features of the system so that the phase portrait is not capable to express all them, since the projection of these solutions on the two-dimensional surface can hide some aspects of these events. In this work we will investigate the numerical solutions of a particular pendulum system close to a secondary resonance region, where we vary the control parameter in a restrict domain in order to draw a preliminary identification about what happens with this system. This domain includes the appearance of non-hyperbolic solutions where the basin of attraction in the center of the phase portrait diminishes considerably, almost disappearing, and afterwards its size increases with the direction of motion inverted. This phenomenon delimits a boundary between low and high frequency of the external excitation.

Dynamics of two planets in the 3/2 mean-motion resonance: Application to the planetary system of the pulsar PSR B1257+12

This paper considers the dynamics of two planets, as the planets B and C of the pulsar PSR B1257+12, near a 3/2 mean-motion resonance. A two-degrees-of-freedom model, in the framework of the general three-body planar problem, is used and the solutions are analyzed through surfaces of section and Fourier techniques in the full phase space of the system.