Solvatochromic Shift of the pi -> pi* Transition in All-Trans, Cis-13, Cis-11, Cis-9, and Cis-7 Retinal Isomers Induced by Water and Methanol

The solvatochromic shift of the lowest singlet it pi -> pi* electronic transition in the all-trans, cis-13, cis-11, cis-9, and cis-7 retinal isomers were computed under the influence of water, methanol, and benzene solvents. Excitation energies were calculated in gas phase and in solution. The calculations in solution were performed considering the sequential Monte Carlo (MC) /Quantum Mechanical approach. The MC simulations were performed considering the full retinal isomer molecules and 900 water molecules, 900 methanol, or 400 benzene ones. The OPLS/AA parametrization was chosen for retinal, methanol, and benzene molecules and the SPC model was used for water one. From the MC calculations 100 independent configurations were selected, with 100 solvent molecules in thermodynamical equilibrium at T = 298.15 K. Average point-charges were obtained from those independent configurations for water, methanol, and benzene solvent. TDDFT and CASSCF//CASPT2 methodologies were used to compute the vertical excitation energy of the retinal isomers in different environment. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 110: 2076-2087, 2010

Students at the Guidance Counselors Conference

Photographs of students at the Voorhees Technical Institute.

Metodologia para ordenação de controles internos contábeis com base em critérios estabelecidos pelo SEC Management Guidance e escala baseada em operadores da lógica Fuzzy

Propõe-se com a presente dissertação conduzir estudo exploratório sobre a razoabilidade de um método de apoio à tomada de decisão para ordenar os controles internos contábeis, utilizando critérios estabelecidos pelo regulador do mercado de capitais dos Estados Unidos, quantificados por meio de uma escala baseada em operadores da lógica fuzzy. O método foi elaborado com base em pesquisa bibliográfica sobre o controle interno contábil e sua relação com os controles internos em geral; a exigência de constituição, avaliação e divulgação da avaliação dos controles internos contábeis pela legislação do mercado de capitais americano ao longo das últimas três décadas; o conceito de matriz de risco; os métodos de apoio à decisão; e os fundamentos da lógica fuzzy. A metodologia proposta foi adaptada à realidade da entidade objeto do estudo de caso e aplicada sobre 2,4 mil controles. Uma amostra de aproximadamente 14% desse universo foi analisada e permitiu concluir pela razoabilidade do método proposto, que será utilizado pela entidade estudada como parte de seu processo de avaliação dos controles internos contábeis.

Retinal nerve fiber layer analysis using GDx® in 49 patients with chronic phase DUSN

To describe retinal nerve fiber layer changes in late-stage diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis eyes and compare these results with healthy eyes observed through nerve fiber analyzer (GDx®). Methods: This is a retrospective case-control study in which 49 eyes in late-stage diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis were examined from May/97 to December/ 01. First, eyes with diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis and healthy contralateral eyes (Control Group I) were statistically matched. Subsequently, eyes with diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis were compared with eyes of healthy patients (Control Group II). Results: Eyes from Control Groups I and II had higher relative frequency of “within normal limits” status. Eyes from the diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis (DUSN) Group had higher frequency of “outside normal limits” and “borderline” status. Control Groups I and II had absolute values different from the DUSN Group regarding all parameters (p<0.05), except for Symmetry in Control Groups I and II, Average thickness and Superior Integral in control group II. Conclusion: Patients with late-stage diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis presented presumed decrease in nerve fiber layer thickness shown by GDx®. Retinal zones with larger vascular support and larger amount of nerve fibers presented higher decrease in the delay of the reflected light measured by the nerve fiber analyzer

Canine spinal cord neuron and axon myelin sheath morphometry

This inedited morphometric study has been developed from healthy canine spinal cord neuron cytoplasm and nucleus, and white matter axonal myelin sheath, from cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions. For the morphometric study, the parameters were area, perimeter, maximum and minimum diameters and roundness for neurons and myelin thickness for axon. For each parameter, 300 neurons were analysed. The results revealed that lumbar neurons had the highest mean values for the analysed parameters, indicating the presence of large neurons in this region, with large axons as a result of myelin thickness, which is proportional to axon calibre. We conclude that these morphometric results can contribute for the establishment of normal patterns, for canine spinal cord cervical, thoracic and lumbar segments.

Evaluation of the Cartographic Communication Performance of a Route Guidance and Navigation System

This study evaluates the influence of different cartographic representations of in-car navigation systems on visual demand, subjective preference, and navigational error. It takes into account the type and complexity of the representation, maneuvering complexity, road layout, and driver gender. A group of 28 drivers (14 male and 14 female) participated in this experiment which was performed in a low-cost driving simulator. The tests were performed on a limited number of instances for each type of representation, and their purpose was to carry out a preliminary assessment and provide future avenues for further studies. Data collected for the visual demand study were analyzed using non-parametric statistical analyses. Results confirmed previous research that showed that different levels of design complexity significantly influence visual demand. Non-grid-like road networks, for example, influence significantly visual demand and navigational error. An analysis of simple maneuvers on a grid-like road network showed that static and blinking arrows did not present significant differences. From the set of representations analyzed to assess visual demand, both arrows were equally efficient. From a gender perspective, women seem to took at the display more than men, but this factor was not significant. With respect to subjective preferences, drivers prefer representations with mimetic landmarks when they perform straight-ahead tasks. For maneuvering tasks, landmarks in a perspective model created higher visual demands.

"O núcleo supraquiasmático e o folheto intergeniculado do mocó (Kerodon rupestris): Projeções retinianas e caracterização imuno-histoquímica

In this study, two circadian related centres, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) were evaluated in respect to their cytoarchitecture, retinal afferents and chemical content of major cells and axon terminals with a tract tracer and immunohistochemical techniques in the rock cavy (Kerodon rupestris), a Brazilian caviidae rodent species. The rock cavy SCN is innervated in its ventral portion by terminals from the predominantly contralateral retina. It also contains neurophisin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactive cell bodies and neuropeptide Y and enkephalin immunopositive fibres and terminals and is marked by intense GFAP immunoreactivity. The IGL receives a predominantly contralateral retinal projection, contains neuropeptide Y and nitric oxide synthase producing neurons and enkephalin immunopositive terminals and is characterized by dense GFAP immunoreactivity. This is the first report examining the neural circadian system in a crepuscular rodent species for which circadian properties have been described. The results are discussed comparing with what has been described for other species and in the context of the functional significance of these centres

Retinal projections and neurochemical characterization of the pregeniculate nucleus of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ultrasound guidance is not necessary during easy embryo transfers

Purpose: To determine whether the use of ultrasound (US) to guide embryo transfer (ET) in a population previously defined as likely to have easy transfer would change the implantation and pregnancy rates in an ICSI program.Methods: A total of 100 patients identified as likely to have easy transfer after mock transfer were divided into two groups: Group I, US-guided ET (N = 50) and Group II, ET without the aid of US (N = 50).Results: Implantation and pregnancy rates were similar (p = 0.51, p = 0.29) for Group I (19.6%,42%) and Group II (16.3%,30%), as also was the abortion rate (p = 0.55) (Group I: 1/21; Group II: 2/15).Conclusion: As long as previous mock transfers are routinely performed during a cycle preceding assisted reproduction and the clinician considers transfer to be easy, ultrasound does not benefit the process of embryo transfer.

Immunocytochemical characterization of the pregeniculate nucleus and distribution of retinal and neuropeptide Y terminals in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the Cebus monkey

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

CHOLECYSTOKININ-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVE RETINAL GANGLION-CELLS PROJECT TO THE VENTRAL LATERAL GENICULATE-NUCLEUS IN PIGEONS

A subpopulation of retinal ganglion cells projecting to the pigeon ventral lateral geniculate nucleus was shown to contain cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity. These ganglion cells were mainly distributed in the peripheral retina, and their somata sizes were medium to large (14-23-mu-m). Taken together with previous findings, these results indicate that the retinal input to the ventral geniculate is chemically heterogeneous.

Intraoperative bleeding during vitrectomy for diabetic tractional retinal detachment with versus without preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab (IBeTra study)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ultrastructural and morphometric aspects of ageing in the retinal capillaries of rats

Age-related morphological, ultrastructural and morphometric changes in the capillaries of the superficial and deep plexuses of the rat retina were studied in animals aged from 3 to 15 months. Our results suggest that age-related morphological alterations start occurring in the retina of rats at about 12 months of age. Increased glycogen deposits, pinocytotic vesicles, residual bodies and cell debris were observed in both the endothelial and pericytic cells of 12- and 15-month-old animals. In addition, heterogeneous osmiophilic accumulations, electron-transparent spaces were observed in the basement membrane as well as projections of the basement membrane towards the neighboring cells. Morphometric examination of the two vascular plexuses studied did not show differences in the area of the endothelial or pericytic cells, basement membrane or vascular lumen between rats of different ages.

Shape-based features for cat ganglion retinal cells classification

This article presents a quantitative and objective approach to cat ganglion cell characterization and classification. The combination of several biologically relevant features such as diameter, eccentricity, fractal dimension, influence histogram, influence area, convex hull area, and convex hull diameter are derived from geometrical transforms and then processed by three different clustering methods (Ward's hierarchical scheme, K-means and genetic algorithm), whose results are then combined by a voting strategy. These experiments indicate the superiority of some features and also suggest some possible biological implications.