IMPROVEMENT TO THE MARGINAL COPING FIT of COMMERCIALLY PURE TITANIUM CAST IN PHOSPHATE-BONDED INVESTMENT BY USING A SIMPLE PATTERN COATING TECHNIQUE

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

Improvement of L(+)-lactic acid production from cassava wastewater by Lactobacillus rhamnosus B 103

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

Microsporogenesis is simultaneous in the early-divergent grass Streptochaeta, but successive in the closest grass relative, Ecdeiocolea

Simultaneous microsporogenesis is described for the first time in a grass, Streptochaeta spicata Schrad., a tropical Brazilian species that belongs in the early-divergent subfamily Anomochlooideae. Microsporogenesis is successive in all other Poaceae examined so far, and most other members of the order Poales, to which grasses belong. The only other reports of simultaneous microsporogenesis in Poales are in Rapateaceae and some members of the cyperid clade (Juncaceae, Cyperaceae, Prionium and Thurnia). Among the graminids, Ecdeiocolea (the putative closest relative to Poaceae) is successive, as are Joinvillea, Flagellaria and all other Poaceae, indicating that the simultaneous condition is autapomorphic in Streptochaeta, though Anomochloa has yet to be examined. Anther wall development in Streptochaeta is of the reduced type, as also in another early-divergent grass Pharus, though most other Poales, including most grasses, have the monocot type. In Streptochaeta, as in Pharus, the endothecium lacks thickenings, unlike other grasses that have a persistent endothecium with thickenings. The centrifixed anthers and nonplumose stigmas of Streptochaeta suggest entomophily.

Short-Term Effects of the Use of Non-Rigid Tools for Postural Control by Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Caffeine effect on mortality and oviposition in successive generations of Aedes aegypti

OBJETIVO: Experimentos anteriores mostraram que a cafeína bloqueia o desenvolvimento de Aedes aegypti (Diptera, Culicidae) na fase larval, inibindo conseqüentemente a produção de adultos. O objetivo do estudo foi obter dados que pudessem sugerir desenvolvimento de resistência dos mosquitos à cafeína. MÉTODOS: Foi avaliada a produção de adultos em gerações sucessivas, a partir de ovos produzidos na geração anterior e a taxa de oviposição em cada geração, utilizando meios contendo cafeína a 200 e 500 µg/ml e água de torneira proveniente de poço artesiano como controle. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em São José do Rio Preto, entre 2002 e 2005. Nos testes estatísticos foram utilizados a análise exploratória de dados e algoritmos de alisamento. RESULTADOS: Ocorreu redução crescente da produção de adultos, nas duas concentrações, ao longo das gerações, mas apenas no experimento a 200 µg/ml os dados foram estatisticamente significantes. Quanto à oviposição, a análise dos números mostra redução crescente e acentuada na média de ovos por fêmea, no experimento tratado. CONCLUSÕES: Não houve evidência de resistência ao longo das gerações devido ao tratamento com cafeína. Os resultados encontrados podem reforçar a indicação da cafeína como uma alternativa aos principais agentes de controle do Ae. aegypti atualmente usados, contra os quais os mosquitos têm desenvolvido resistência.

Influence of cerium (IV) ions on the mechanism of organosilane polymerization and on the improvement of its barrier properties

In this work, the effect of cerium (IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) addition on the polymerization of bis-[triethoxysilyl]ethane (BTSE) film applied on carbon steel was studied. The electrochemical characterization of the films was carried out in 0.1 mol L(-1) NaCl solution by open-circuit potential measurements, anodic and cathodic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Morphological and chemical characterization were performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle measurements, infrared-spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and thermogravimetric analysis. The results have clearly shown the improvement on the protective properties of the Ce(4+) modified film as a consequence of the formation of a more uniform and densely reticulated silane film. A mechanism is proposed to explain the accelerating role of Ce(4+) ions on the cross-linking of the silane layer. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Improvement of fatigue resistance on La modified BiFeO(3) thin films

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Improvement in RNA extraction from S. cerevisie by optimization in the autolysis and NH3 hydrolysis

The optimization of autolysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae from brewery was studied aiming at the maximum ribonucleic acid extraction and yeast extract production. The best conditions for yeast autolysis was 55.2ºC, pH= 5.1 and 9.8% NaCl for 24h of processing, without the NH3 use. In these conditions, the RNA yield was 89.7%, resulting in 51.3% of dehydrated yeast extract with 57.9% protein. The use of 12.2% NH3 at 60ºC after autolysis (8h) and plasmolysis (8h) was not viable due to the reduction in the RNA yield from 89.7to78.4%. on the other hand, the thermal shock at 60ºC for 15 minutes prior to autolysis provided an increase in the yield from 89.7 to 91.4%. The autolysis, including NaCl plasmolysis in the optimized conditions was efficient, economic and with short time, thus usable for industrial purpose to obtain more valuable products such as yeast extract enriched in RNA and/or protein, for different applications.

The Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization American-College-of-Rheumatology provisional criteria for the evaluation of response to therapy in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus: Prospective validation of the definition of improvement

Objective. To use the Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO) core set of outcome measures to develop a validated definition of improvement for the evaluation of response to therapy in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods. Thirty-seven experienced pediatric rheumatologists from 27 countries, each of whom had specific experience in the assessment of juvenile SLE patients, achieved consensus on 128 patient profiles as being clinically improved or not improved. Using the physicians' consensus ratings as the gold standard measure, the chi-square, sensitivity, specificity, false-positive and false-negative rates, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and kappa level of agreement for 597 candidate definitions of improvement were calculated. Only definitions with a kappa value greater than 0.7 were retained. The top definitions were selected based on the product of the content validity score multiplied by its kappa statistic.Results. The definition of improvement with the highest final score was at least 50% improvement from baseline in any 2 of the 5 core set measures, with no more than 1 of the remaining worsening by more than 30%.Conclusion. PRINTO proposes a valid and reproducible definition of improvement that reflects well the consensus rating of experienced clinicians and that incorporates clinically meaningful change in core set measures in a composite end point for the evaluation of global response to therapy in patients with juvenile SLE. The definition is now proposed for use in juvenile SLE clinical trials and may help physicians to decide whether a child with SLE responded adequately to therapy.

Improvement in relaxation response in corpus cavernosum from trained rats

Objectives. To evaluate the contractile and relaxing responses in rat corpus cavernosum (RCC) from rats after 8 weeks of run training, because erectile function is highly dependent on nitric oxide (NO) from nitrergic fibers or endothelium. Physical activity enhances NO production and improves endothelial function, with beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease.Methods. The training program consisted of 8 weeks of run training, 5 days/wk, and each session lasted 60 minutes. The RCC was isolated, and concentration-response curves to NO, acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside, phenylephrine, and endothelin were obtained. The excitatory and inhibitory effects of electrical field stimulation (2 to 32 Hz) were also evaluated.Results. NO (0.1 to 100 muM) and sodium nitroprusside (0.01 to 1000 muM) produced a relaxing effect in RCC in a dose-dependent manner, with the maximal responses to NO (control 62% +/- 4%, trained 88% +/- 3%) and sodium nitroprusside (control 83% +/- 3%, trained 95% +/- 2%) significantly enhanced after 8 weeks of run training. However, acetylcholine-induced relaxations were not affected by exercise. Similarly, electrical field stimulation-induced relaxations were significantly increased in RCC from trained rats at 2 Hz (control 2.4% +/- 0.3%, trained 4.2% +/- 0.5%) and 4 Hz (control 5.3% +/- 1.2%, trained 12.5% +/- 1.7%). The contractile sensitivity of RCC to phenylephrine (0.01 to 100 AM) and endothelin (0.01 to 100 nM) was not modified by training exercise.Conclusions. Our findings suggest that run training enhances functional responses in rat RCC that involves increases in the NO-cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling pathway by endothelium-independent mechanisms that is not accompanied by changes in contractile sensitivity. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V.

Improvement of the dielectric and ferroelectric properties in superlattice structure of Pb(Zr,Ti)O-3 thin films grown by a chemical solution route

Making heterolayered perovskite materials constitutes an approach for the creation of better dielectric and ferroelectric properties. In the experiment reported here, heterolayered PZT40/PZT60 films were grown on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si (100) by a chemical solution deposition. The dielectric constant of the heterolayered thin film was significantly enhanced compared with that of pure PZT40 and PZT60 thin films. A dielectric constant of 701 at 100 kHz was observed for a stacking periodicity of six layers having a total thickness of 150 nm. The heterolayered film exhibited greater remanent polarization than PZT60 and PZT40 films. The values of remanent polarization were 7.9, 18.5, and 31 muC/cm(2), respectively, for pure PZT60, PZT40, and heterolayered thin films, suggesting that the superior dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the heterolayered thin film resulted from a cooperative interaction between the ferroelectric phases made from alternating tetragonal and rhombohedral phases of PZT, simulating the morphotropic phase boundary of this system. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.

Use of survival analysis as a tool for the genetic improvement of age at first conception in Nellore cattle

Restricted breeding seasons in beef cattle lead to censoring of reproductive data. In this paper, age at first conception (AFC) of Nellore females exposed to the sires for the first time between 11 and 16 months of age, was studied aiming to verify the possibility of genetically advance sexual precocity using a survival model. The final data set contained 6699 records of AFC in days. Records of females that did not calve in the next year following exposure to the sire were considered censored (77.5% of total). The model used was a Weibull mixed survival model including effects of contemporary groups, period (fixed) and animal (random). The effect of the contemporary groups on AFC was important (p < 0.01). Heritabilities were 0.51 and 0.76 in logarithmic and original scales respectively. Results indicate that it is possible to genetically advance sexual precocity, using the outcome of survival analysis of AFC as selection criterion. They also suggest that improvements of the environment could advance sexual precocity too, thus an adequate pregnancy rate for farmers could quickly be achieved.

Improvement of the Mo/TiO2-Al2O3 catalyst by the control of the sol-gel synthesis

Traditional hydrotreating catalysts are constituted by molybdenum deposited on Al2O3 promoted by nickel and phosphorous. Several studies have shown that TiO2-Al2O3 mixed oxides are excellent supports for the active phases. Results concerning the preparation, characterization and testing of molybdenum catalyst supported on titania-alumina are presented. The support was prepared by sol-gel route using titanium and aluminum isopropoxides, the titanium one chelated with acetylacetone (acac) to promote similar hydrolysis ratio for both the alcoxides. The effect of nominal molar ratio [Ti]/[Ti+Al] on the microstructural features of nanometric particles was analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction, N-2 Adsorption Isotherms and Transmission Electron Microscopy. The catalytic activity of Mo impregnated supports was evaluated using the thiophene hydrodesulfurization at different temperatures and atmospheric pressure. The pores size distribution curve moves from the micropores to the mesopores by increasing the Ti contents, allowing the fine tuning of average size from 2.5 to 6 nm. Maximal (367 m(2).g(-1)) and minimal (127 m(2).g(-1)) surface area were found for support containing [Ti]/[Ti+Al] ratio equal to 0.1 and 1, respectively. The good mesopore texture of alumina-titania support with [Ti]/[Ti+Al] molar ratio between 0.3 and 0.5 was found particularly valuable for the preparation of well dispersed MoS2 active phase, leading to HDS catalyst with somewhat higher activity than that prepared using a commercial alumina support.

Improvement of Aspergillus niger glucoamylase thermostability by directed evolution

Directed evolution was used to improve the thermostability of Aspergillus niger glucoamylase (GA) expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A starch-plate assay developed to screen GA mutants for thermostability gave results consistent with those of irreversible thermoinactivation kinetic analysis. Several thermostable multiply-mutated GAs were isolated and characterized by DNA sequencing and kinetic analysis. Three new GA mutations, T62A, T290A and H391Y, have been identified that encode GAs that are more thermostable than wild-type GA, and that improve thermostability cumulatively. These individual mutations were combined with the previously constructed thermostable site-directed mutations D20C/A27C (forming a disulficle bond), S30P, and G137A to create a multiply-mutated GA designated THS8. THS8 GA is substantially more thermostable than wild-type GA at 8OoC, with a 5.1 kJ/mol increase in the free energy of therrnoinactivation, making it the most thermostable Aspergillus niger GA mutant characterized to date. THS8 GA and the singly-mutated GAs have specific activities and catalytic efficiencies (k(cat)/K-m) similar to those of wild-type GA.

Improvement of the ferroelectric properties of ABO(3) (A= Pb, Ca, Ba; B=Ti, Zr) films

High-quality ABO(3)/LaNiO3 (A = Ph, Ca, Ba; B = Ti, Zr) hetero structures have been grown on LaAlO3 (1 0 0) substrate by the chemical solution deposition method and crystallized by a microwave oven technique. The structural, morphological and electric properties were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), and dielectric and ferroelectric measurements. XRD patterns revealed single-phase polycrystalline and oriented thin films whose feature depends on the composition of the films. The AFM surface morphologies showed a smooth and crack-free surface with the average grain size ranging from 116 to 300 nm for both LaNiO3 electrode and the ferroelectric films. Dielectric measurements on these samples revealed dielectric constants as high as 1800 at frequency of 100 KHz. Such results showed that the combination of the chemical solution method with the microwave process provides a promising technique to grow high-quality thin films with good dielectric and ferroelectric properties. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.