Vagal afferent control of abdominal expiratory activity in response to hypoxia and hypercapnia in rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Glucose biosensor based on multisegment nanowires exhibiting reversible magnetic control

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

Sympatho-excitation during chemoreflex active expiration is mediated by L-glutamate in the RVLM/Bötzinger complex of rats

The involvement of glutamatergic neurotransmission in the rostral ventrolateral medulla/Bötzinger/pre-Bötzinger complexes (RVLM/BötC/pre-BötC) on the respiratory modulation of sympathoexcitatory response to peripheral chemoreflex activation (chemoreflex) was evaluated in the working heart-brain stem preparation of juvenile rats. We identified different types of baro- and chemosensitive presympathetic and respiratory neurons intermingled within the RVLM/BötC/pre-BötC. Bilateral microinjections of kynurenic acid (KYN) into the rostral aspect of RVLM (RVLM/BötC) produced an additional increase in frequency of the phrenic nerve (PN: 0.38 ± 0.02 vs. 1 ± 0.08 Hz; P < 0.05; n = 18) and hypoglossal (HN) inspiratory response (41 ± 2 vs. 82 ± 2%; P < 0.05; n = 8), but decreased postinspiratory (35 ± 3 vs. 12 ± 2%; P < 0.05) and late-expiratory (24 ± 4 vs. 2 ±1%; P < 0.05; n = 5) abdominal (AbN) responses to chemoreflex. Likewise, expiratory vagal (cVN; 67 ± 6 vs. 40 ± 2%; P < 0.05; n = 5) and expiratory component of sympathoexcitatory (77 ± 8 vs. 26 ± 5%; P < 0.05; n = 18) responses to chemoreflex were reduced after KYN microinjections into RVLM/BötC. KYN microinjected into the caudal aspect of the RVLM (RVLM/pre-BötC; n = 16) abolished inspiratory responses [PN (n = 16) and HN (n = 6)], and no changes in magnitude of sympathoexcitatory (n = 16) and expiratory (AbN and cVN; n = 10) responses to chemoreflex, producing similar and phase-locked vagal, abdominal, and sympathetic responses. We conclude that in relation to chemoreflex activation 1) ionotropic glutamate receptors in RVLM/BötC and RVLM/pre-BötC are pivotal to expiratory and inspiratory responses, respectively; and 2) activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors in RVLM/BötC is essential to the coupling of active expiration and sympathoexcitatory response.

Despacho ótimo de potências ativa e reativa de sistema elétricos multi-áreas considerando restrições físicas, econômicas e ambientais =: Envronmentally constrained active-reactive optimal power flow-a compromising strategy for economic-emission dispatch and a multi-area paradigm

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Multi-task control strategy for grid-tied inverters based on conservative power theory

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

Quality control of cosmetics containing Calendula officinalis, Melampodium divaricatum, Matricaria chamomila linné and Acchilea millefolium extracts

The use of medicinal plants occurs since the Antiquity, but has become more popular in the present time. In the United States, 50% of the population uses the phytotherapy. Calendula officinalis and Melampodium divaricatum have components called flavonoids. Matricaria chamomila Linn and Acchilea millefolium, popularly known as camomila and mil folhas, respectively, have sesquiterpenic components called azulens. These substances present many effects; some of them offer benefits to the human health. Thus, these plants had their extract incorporated in cosmetic-dermatological formulations. This study aimed to prove the presence of the active substances, sesquiterpenes and flavonoids, in cosmetic creams with Matricaria chamomila Linn, Acchilea millefolium, Calendula officinalis and Melampodium divaricatum extracts. Also, aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of the products. Flavonoids and sesquiterpernes were detected in the emulsions and the microbiological quality was verified. Thus, the products are safe to the users in relation to the microbiological aspects and should present beneficial effects due to the presence of flavonoids and sesquiterpenes.

Nonlinear state estimation and control for chaos suppression in MEMS resonator

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

On nonlinear dynamics behavior and control of a new model of a magnetically levitated vibrating system, excited by an unbalanced DC motor of limited power supply

We analyze new results on a magnetically levitated body (a block including a magnet whose bottom pole is set in such a way as to repel the upper pole of a magnetic base) excited by a non-ideal energy source (an unbalanced electric motor of limited power supply). These new results are related to the jump phenomena and increase of power required of such sources near resonance are manifestations of a non-ideal system and they are referred as the Sommerfeld effect, which emulates an energy sink. In this work, we also discuss control strategies to be applied to this system, in resonance conditions, in order to decrease its vibration amplitude and avoiding this apparent energy sink.

Artificial neural networks applied to bandsawing process control

In the search for productivity increase, industry has invested on the development of intelligent, flexible and self-adjusting method, capable of controlling processes through the assistance of autonomous systems, independently whether they are hardware or software. Notwithstanding, simulating conventional computational techniques is rather challenging, regarding the complexity and non-linearity of the production systems. Compared to traditional models, the approach with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) performs well as noise suppression and treatment of non-linear data. Therefore, the challenges in the wood industry justify the use of ANN as a tool for process improvement and, consequently, add value to the final product. Furthermore, Artificial Intelligence techniques such as Neuro-Fuzzy Networks (NFNs) have proven effective, since NFNs combine the ability to learn from previous examples and generalize the acquired information from the ANNs with the capacity of Fuzzy Logic to transform linguistic variables in rules.

Does diatomaceous earth control leaf-cutter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Eucalyptus plantations?

Genus Atta includes some of the most important Formicidae leaf cutter ants which cause extensive damage to the eucalyptus plantations. Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, one of the chief pests in Brazilian reforestation, can restrict and reduce forest productivity by its intense and constant leaf-cutting activities on plants at all stages. Therefore, the demand for new products to control A. sexdens rubropilosa indicates the study of the utilization of the dry powder formulation of diatomaceous earth (DE) against this pest in the eucalyptus cultivars. The study was conducted using 120 colonies of A. sexdens rubropilosa in Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex. Maiden x Eucalyptus urophylla Blake (Myrtaceae) (urograndis) stand. The randomized block experimental design was used with six treatments (1, 10, 25, and 50 g/m2 of DE, 6.0 g/m2 sulfluramid bait per square meter of loose soil, and the control) with five replications, each with four colonies of this ant. Diatomaceous earth was applied to the active A. sexdens rubropilosa ant holes, and the sulfluramid bait was applied in bulk in a localized manner. The control efficacy of A. sexdens rubropilosa with DE was low, showing values similar to that of the control, and, for this reason, it cannot be used to control this ant. The bait with sulfluramid showed higher efficacy than those of the other treatments.

Balancing Exploration and Exploitation: A New Algorithm for Active Machine Learning

Active machine learning algorithms are used when large numbers of unlabeled examples are available and getting labels for them is costly (e.g. requiring consulting a human expert). Many conventional active learning algorithms focus on refining the decision boundary, at the expense of exploring new regions that the current hypothesis misclassifies. We propose a new active learning algorithm that balances such exploration with refining of the decision boundary by dynamically adjusting the probability to explore at each step. Our experimental results demonstrate improved performance on data sets that require extensive exploration while remaining competitive on data sets that do not. Our algorithm also shows significant tolerance of noise.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRIVATE NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONTROL INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK

The nuisance wildlife control industry is rapidly expanding in New York State. To gain additional insight about this industry and the number of animals handled, we reviewed the 1989-90 annual logs submitted by Nuisance Wildlife Control Orators (NWC0s) to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The specific objectives of this study were to determine: (1) the number and species of different wildlife responsible for damage incidents, (2) the cause of damage complaints, (3) the disposition of animals handled, (4) the location of damage events (i.e., urban, suburban, rural), and (5) an estimate of the economic impact of the nuisance wildlife industry in Upstate New York. The Nuisance Wildlife Logs (NWLs) were examined for 7 urban and 7 rural counties (25.5% of Upstate counties), and these data were used to estimate total NWCO activity in DEC Regions 3 through 9 (excludes Long Island). Approximately 75% of NWCOs licensed by DEC were active during 1989-90, and nearly 2,800 complaints were handled in the 14 counties sampled. More than 90% of complaints came from urban counties, and we estimated that NWC0s responded to more than 11,000 calls in Upstate New York. At a conservative estimate of $35/call, revenue generated by this industry exceeded $385,000 annually. Six wildlife species accounted for 85% of the nuisance complaints in urban and rural counties. During 1986 to 1993, the number of NWCOs licensed by DEC nearly quadrupled, and there is no indication that this trend will change in the near future.

Characterization of a Toxoneuron nigriceps (Viereck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) - derived chitinase and its potential for pest control

The larval endoparasitoid Toxoneuron nigriceps (Viereck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) has a toolbox of biological weapons to secure for host colonization and the successful parasitization of its host Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The cDNA of a putative chitinase has been previously isolated and initially characterized from teratocytes of this parasitoid among the plethora of molecules available in the venom and calyx fluids injected by females, oral and/or anal secretions released by the parasitoid larvae and/or produced by the expression of genes of the symbiotic associated polydnavirus. This putative chitinase has been initially associated with the host cuticle digestion to allow for parasitoid egression and with the asepsis of the host environment, acting as an antimicrobial. As chitinases are commonly expressed in plants against plant pathogens, the chitinase derived from the teratocytes of T. nigriceps is a potential tool for the development of insect pest control methods based on the disruption of the perithrophic membrane of herbivores. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the activity of the putative chitinase from teratocytes of T. nigriceps (Tnchi) produced using the Escherichia coli expression system and its potential to control H. virescens larvae when expressed into transgenic tobacco plants. The purified E. coli-produced Tnchi protein showed no chitinolitic activity, but was active in binding with colloidal and crystalline chitins in water and with colloidal chitin in buffered solution (pH = 6.74). Transgenic tobacco plants showed no enhanced chitinolitic activity relative to control plants, but survival of three-day old larvae of H. virescens was severely affected when directly fed on transgenic tobacco leaves expressing the recombinant Tnchi protein. Some properties of the Tnchi protein and the potential use of Tnchi-transgenic plants to control plant pests are discussed. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Application of an active attachment model as a high-throughput demineralization biofilm model

Objectives: To investigate the potential of an active attachment biofilm model as a highthroughput demineralization biofilm model for the evaluation of caries-preventive agents. Methods: Streptococcus mutans UA159 biofilms were grown on bovine dentine discs in a highthroughput active attachment model. Biofilms were first formed in a medium with high buffer capacity for 24 h and then subjected to various photodynamic therapies (PACT) using the combination of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs, Biotable (R)) and Photogem (R). Viability of the biofilms was evaluated by plate counts. To investigate treatment effects on dentine lesion formation, the treated biofilms were grown in a medium with low buffer capacity for an additional 24 h. Integrated mineral loss (IML) and lesion depth (LD) were assessed by transversal microradiography. Calcium release in the biofilm medium was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: Compared to the water treated control group, significant reduction in viability of S. mutans biofilms was observed when the combination of LEDs and Photogem (R) was applied. LEDs or Photogem (R) only did not result in biofilm viability changes. Similar outcomes were also found for dentine lesion formation. Significant lower IML and LD values were only found in the group subjected to the combined treatment of LEDs and Photogem (R). There was a good correlation between the calcium release data and the IML or LD values. Conclusions: The high-throughput active attachment biofilm model is applicable for evaluating novel caries-preventive agents on both biofilm and demineralization inhibition. PACT had a killing effect on 24 h S. mutans biofilms and could inhibit the demineralization process. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia Depresses Afferent Neurotransmission in NTS Neurons by a Reduction in the Number of Active Synapses

Long-term synaptic plasticity has been recently described in brainstem areas associated to visceral afferent sensory integration. Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), an animal model for studying obstructive sleep apnea in humans, depresses the afferent neurotransmission in nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) neurons, which affect respiratory and autonomic regulation. Here we identified the synaptic mechanisms of CIH-induced depression of the afferent neurotransmission in NTS neurons in juvenile rats. We verified that CIH reduced the amplitude of both NMDA and non-NMDA glutamatergic excitatory currents (eEPSCs) evoked by tractus solitarii stimulation (TS-eEPSC) of second-order neurons in the NTS. No changes were observed in release probability, evidenced by absence of any CIH-elicited effects on short-term depression and failures in EPSCs evoked in low calcium. CIH also produced no changes in TS-eEPSC quantal size, since the amplitudes of both low calcium-evoked EPSCs and asynchronous TS-eEPSCs (evoked in the presence of Sr2+) were unchanged. Using single TS afferent fiber stimulation in slices from control and CIH rats we clearly show that CIH reduced the quantal content of the TS-eEPSCs without affecting the quantal size or release probability, suggesting a reduction in the number of active synapses as the mechanism of CIH induced TS-eEPSC depression. In accordance with this concept, the input-output relationship of stimulus intensity and TS-eEPSC amplitude shows an early saturation in CIH animals. These findings open new perspectives for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the synaptic plasticity in the brainstem sensory neurons under challenges such as those produced by CIH in experimental and pathological conditions.