Spectrophotometric Evaluation of the Behavior of Disperse Red 1 Dye in Aqueous Media and its Interaction with Calf Thymus ds-DNA

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

Espectro de gotas de pontas de pulverização com adjuvantes de uso agrícola

O sucesso de uma boa aplicação de produtos fitossanitários depende da sinergia entre fatores como tamanho de gota, tipo de ponta, pressão, volume e composição da calda e características do alvo. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o espectro de gotas produzidas por pontas de jato plano defletor (TT 11002) e jato plano defletor com indução de ar (TTI 11002), com diferentes adjuvantes adicionados à calda de pulverização, pela técnica de difração de raio laser. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial 2 x 5, ou seja, duas pontas de aplicação (jato plano defletor e jato plano defletor com indução de ar) e cinco composições de calda (água e água mais quatro adjuvantes: fosfatidilcoline+ácido propiônico, éter poliglicólico de monilfenol, ésteres de ácidos graxos e nonil-fenol etoxilado+óxido de etileno). em ambiente controlado, avaliou-se o espectro de gotas, por meio de um analisador a laser de gotas em tempo real, na pressão de 276 kPa. O efeito dos adjuvantes no espectro de gotas mostrou-se dependente da ponta de pulverização empregada. A adição dos adjuvantes à calda não alterou o risco potencial de deriva, expresso pela porcentagem do volume em gotas com diâmetro inferior a 100 µm, porém o adjuvante fosfatidilcoline+ácido propiônico reduziu o diâmetro da mediana volumétrica das gotas produzidas pela ponta de jato plano defletor com indução de ar, em relação à avaliação feita somente com água.

Evaluation of digital optical density of bone repair in rats medicated with ketoprofen

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência do cetoprofeno sobre o processo de reparação óssea em tíbias de ratos, por meio da análise da densidade óptica digital. Vinte ratos da linhagem Wistar foram divididos em 2 grupos: um grupo controle (sem tratamento) e um grupo tratado com cetoprofeno. Os procedimentos experimentais consistiram de: anestesia, cirurgia, administração do cetoprofeno e exame radiográfico. As imagens radiográficas foram adquiridas empregando-se o sensor digital Visualix GX-S-HDI™ e um aparelho de raios X. As radiografias foram realizadas nos períodos baseline (inicial), 7, 14, 21 e 30 dias pós-operatório, sendo a densidade óptica (DO) avaliada por meio do sistema Vix winTM 1.4. Os valores médios da leitura da do obtidos foram analisados estatisticamente por meio de ANOVA e teste de Tukey com nível de significância de 5%. No grupo controle, houve diferença estatisticamente significante (p=0,001) entre o tempo e a DO, enquanto no grupo tratado com cetoprofeno a diferença não foi estatisticamente significante (p=0,100). O grupo controle apresentou as menores proporções de do (%) no 1º e 7º dias e as maiores proporções de do (%) no 14º, 21º e 30º dias, com diferença estatisticamente significante (p=0,001). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante (p=0,100) entre as proporções médias de do (%) no grupo tratado, independentemente do período de avaliação. Os achados deste trabalho sugerem que houve influência do cetoprofeno sobre o processo de reparo ósseo, uma vez que na primeira semana o medicamento proporcionou aumento na densidade óptica e provocou atraso na neoformação óssea após o 21º dia.

Efeito da interação reprodutor x rebanho sobre as produções de leite e de gordura na raça Pardo-Suíça

Dados de 4.959 lactações de 2.414 vacas da raça Pardo-Suíça, filhas de 70 reprodutores, distribuídos em 51 rebanhos, foram utilizados para se estimar o componente de variância para a interação reprodutor x rebanho das produções de leite e de gordura e verificar o efeito desta interação sobre a avaliação genética dos reprodutores, por meio de modelos que diferiam na presença e ausência do termo de interação. As produções de leite e de gordura foram ajustadas para duas ordenhas diárias, 305 dias de lactação e idade adulta da vaca. O teste da razão de verossimilhança foi utilizado na verificação da efetividade da inclusão da interação no modelo. As médias das produções de leite e de gordura foram 6085,79 ± 1629,73 kg e 225,61 ± 60,44 kg, respectivamente. A proporção da variância total decorrente da interação reprodutor x rebanho foi 0,4%, para a produção de leite, e 1%, para a produção de gordura. A estimativa de herdabilidade foi 0,38, para a produção de leite, utilizando-se ambos os modelos, e reduziu de 0,40 para 0,39, para a produção de gordura, quando o modelo com interação foi considerado. A função de verossimilhança aumentou significativamente com a inclusão da interação no modelo. A correlação de Spearman foi próxima de um para ambas as características, quando todos os reprodutores foram considerados. Houve redução de 1% na estimativa de acurácia dos valores genéticos preditos para ambas as características, porém, a correlação de Pearson estimada entre as acurácias obtidas para cada modelo estudado foi próxima à unidade. A interaçãoreprodutor x rebanho não afetou as estimativas de componentes de variâncias genética e residual e a ordem de classificação dos reprodutores para ambas as características.

Evaluation of varying amounts of thermal cycling on bond strength and permanent deformation of two resilient denture liners

Statement of problem. Two problems found in prostheses with resilient liners are bond failure to the acrylic resin base and increased permanent deformation due to material aging.Purpose. This in vitro study evaluated the effect of varying amounts of thermal cycling on bond strength and permanent deformation of 2 resilient denture liners bonded to an acrylic resin base.Material and methods. Plasticized acrylic resin (PermaSoft) or silicone (Softliner) resilient lining materials were processed to a heat-polymerized acrylic resin (QC-20). One hundred rectangular specimens (10 X 10-mm(2) cross-sectional area) and 100 cylindrically-shaped specimens (12.7-mm diameter X 19.0-mm height) for each liner/resin combination were used for the tensile and deformation tests, respectively. Specimen shape and liner thickness were standardized. Specimens were divided into 9 test groups (n=10) and were thermal cycled for 200, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, and 4000 cycles. Control specimens (n=10) were stored for 24 hours in water at 37degreesC. Mean bond strength, expressed as stress at failure (MPa), was determined with a tensile test using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min. Analysis of failure mode, expressed as a percent (%), was recorded as either cohesive, adhesive, or both, after observation. Permanent deformation, expressed as a percent (%), was determined using ADA specification no. 18. Data from both tests were examined with a 2-way analysis of variance and a Tukey test (alpha=.05).Results. For the tensile test, Softliner specimens submitted to different thermal cycling regimens demonstrated no significantly different bond strength values from the control; however, there was a significant difference between the PermaSoft control group (0.47 +/- 0.09 MPa [mean +/- SD]) and the 500 cycle group (0.46 +/- 0.07 MPa) compared to the 4000 cycle group (0.70 +/- 0.20 MPa) (P<.05). With regard to failure type, the Softliner groups presented adhesive failure (100%) regardless of specimen treatment. PermaSoft groups presented adhesive (53%), cohesive (12%), or a combined mode of failure (35%). For the deformation test, there was no significant difference among the Softliner specimens. However, a significant difference was observed between control and PermaSoft specimens after 1500 or more cycles (1.88% +/- 0.24%) (P<.05).Conclusions. This in vitro study indicated that bond strength and permanent deformation of the 2 resilient denture liners tested varied according to their chemical composition.

Evaluation of whole toasted and extruded soybean on the performance of broilers

This experiment was conducted to compare the performance of 1260 chicks fed diets containing soybean meal plus soybean oil (SBM + oil), whole extruded soybean (ESB) and whole steam toasted soybean (TSB), with two protein levels. A complete randomized design was used, with six treatments and 3 replicates of each sex. The treatments consisted of a factorial arrangement 2 x 3 x 2 to test three soybean types (SBM + oil, ESB and TSB), two protein levels (optimum and suboptimum) and two sexes. From 1 to 49 days of age, the tested soybean types did not affect the diet intake. However, ESB provided higher weight gain in relation to SBM + oil, but it did not differ from TSB. The feed:gain ratio obtained with ESB and TSB was better in relation to SBM + oil. There was no difference between the nutritional value of TSB and ESB, because they provided similar performance to the birds.

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.

Qualidade e composição química da carne de bovinos de corte inteiros ou castrados de diferentes grupos genéticos Charolês x Nelore

Seventy beef males of three breeding systems (BS), straightbreds Charolais (Ch) and Nellore (Ne), G1 crossbreds: 1/2 Ch + 1/2 Ne (1/2 Ch) and 1/2 Ne + 1/2 Ch (1/2 Ne) and G2 crossbreds: 3/4 Ch + 1/4 Ne (3/4 Ch) and 3/4 Ne + 1/4 Ch (3/4 Ne) were used. The number of animals by genetic group was, respectively, 15, 12,8, 12,14 and 9. Thirty-five males were castrated (C) at seven months and 35 were kept intact (1). The animals were feedlot finished from 20 to 24 months. The longissimus dorsi muscle was used for the meat evaluation. No significant interaction was observed between genetic composition and sexual condition, for the variables studied. The I males displayed meat with darker color (3.05 vs. 3.78 points) with less amount of marbling (4.26 vs. 5.75 points) and less amount of ether extract (1.73 vs. 2.88%). However they presented larger (66.03 vs. 60.50 cm(2)) longissimus dorsi area and meat with better palatability, juiciness and tenderness. Ch animals had larger longissimus dorsi than the Ne. In the G I group, the 1/2 Ch meat showed larger amount of marbling and ether extract and less cooking losses than the 1/2 Ne meat. Between G2 animals, the 3/4 Ne showed meat with larger thawing losses and larger amount of ether extract. In G1 animals meat, the heterosis level reached 18.54% for longissimus dorsiarea, 28.10% for ether extract and 64.01% for amount of marbling. In G2, the heterosis was -17.30% for lean texture and 10.40% for longissimus dorsi area.

Sealing evaluation of the cervical base in intracoronal bleaching

Discoloration of non-vital teeth is an esthetic deficiency frequently requiring bleaching treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro the cervical base efficacy in order to prevent or to minimize the leakage along the root canal filling and into the dentinal tubules. Thirty-eight extracted single-root human teeth were used, which were biomechanically prepared, filled, and divided into three experimental groups: G1, a cervical base was applied (3 mm of thickness) below the cemento-enamel junction, with resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (Vitremer); G2, the base was done with glass-ionomer cement (Vidrion R); and G3 (Control), did not receive any material as base. A mixture of sodium perborate and hydrogen peroxide 30% was placed inside the pulp chamber for 3 days, and the access opening was sealed with Cimpat. This procedure was repeated thrice. Soon after this, a paste of calcium hydroxide was inserted into the pulp chamber for 14 days. All teeth were covered with two layers of sticky wax, except the access opening, and immersed in blue India Ink for 5 days. The results did not show statistically significant differences between the three groups concerning the leakage inside the dentinal tubules. Regarding the apical direction, a statistical difference (ANOVA P < 0.05) was observed among the experimental group G1 and control group G3. No statistically significant difference was observed between G2 and G3 groups. Therefore, the placement of a cervical base before internal bleaching procedures is still recommended.

Evaluation of shear bond strength at the interface of two porcelains and pure titanium injected into the casting mold at three different temperatures

Statement of problem. Titanium has physical and mechanical properties, which have led to its increased use in dental prostheses despite casting difficulties due to high melting point and formation of oxide layers which affect the metal-ceramic bond strength.Purpose. This in vitro study evaluated the shear bond strength of the interface of 2 dental porcelains and pure titanium injected into a mold at 3 different temperatures.Material and methods. Using commercially pure (cp) titanium bars (Titanium, Grade I) melted at 1668degreesC and cast at mold temperatures of 430degreesC, 700degreesC or 900degreesC, 60 specimens were machined to 4 x 4 mm, with a base of 5 x 1 mm. The 4-mm surfaces were airborne-particle abraded with 100 mum aluminum oxide before applying and firing the bonding agent and evaluating the 2 porcelains (Triceram/Triline ti and Vita Titankeramik). Ten specimens were prepared for each temperature and porcelain combination Shear bond testing was performed in a universal testing machine, with a 500-kg load cell and crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The specimens were loaded until failure. The interfaces of representative fractured specimens of each temperature were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Data for shear bond strength (MPa) were statistically analyzed by 2-way ANOVA and the Tukey test (alpha = .05).Results. The results showed significant differences for the metal/porcelain interaction effect (P = .0464). There were no significant differences for the 2 porcelains (P = .4250). The Tukey test showed a significant difference between the pair cp Ti 430degreesC Triceram and cp Ti 900degreesC Triceram, with respective mean values and SDs of 59.74 +/- 11.62 and 34.03 +/- 10.35 MPa.Conclusion. Triceram porcelain showed a bond strength decrease with an increase in the mold temperature for casting titanium. The highest bond strength for Vita porcelain and the best metal-ceramic interface observed with the SEM were found with the mold temperature of 700degreesC.

Evaluation of color removal and degradation of a reactive textile azo dye on nanoporous TiO2 thin-film electrodes

The feasibility of the photobleaching of a textile azo dye, reactive orange 16 (C.I. 17757), in aqueous solution using titanium dioxide thin-film electrodes prepared by the sol-gel method was investigated. The best conditions for maximum photoelectrocatalytic degradation were found to be pH > 10 for Na2SO4 medium and pH < 6 for NaCl. In both situations, an applied potential of +1.0 V and low dye concentration are recommended, when 100% of color removal is obtained after 20 min of photoelectrocatalysis. The effects of side reaction pathway on the degradation rate of dye in sulfate and chloride medium were presented and the best performance are optimized to situations closed to that verified in the textile effluent. The influence of variables as applied potential, pH, supporting electrolyte and dye concentration on the kinetics of photoelectrochemical degradation also were investigated. Oxalic acid is identified by HPLC and UV-Vis spectrophotometric methods as the main degradation product generated after 180 min of photoelectrocatalysis of 4 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) dye in sodium sulphate pH 12 and NaCl pH 4.0 and a maximum reduction of 56 and 62% TOC was obtained, respectively. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Conjunctival impression cytology in dogs

Objective Ocular conjunctivas of healthy dogs were studied by conjunctival impression cytology for evaluation of feasibility, protocol standardization, and normal cytologic pattern recognition of this technique.Animals studied Twenty healthy, adult, cross-breed dogs.Procedures Samples of the bulbar conjunctiva were collected after instillation of topical anesthetic drops at the ocular surface. Impression cytology was performed by applying asymmetric strips of Millipore filter on the superior temporal bulbar conjunctiva near the limbus. The filter strip was gently pressed against the conjunctiva for 5 s and removed with a peeling motion. Samples were immediately fixed in 95% ethyl alcohol, stained with periodic acid-Schiff and hematoxylin, and mounted on slides cover-slipped using synthetic resin. The slides were examined by light microscopy.Results Microscopic examination of the impressions revealed superficial, intermediate and basal epithelial cells arranged in sheets. Keratinized epithelial cells, goblet cells and leukocytes, as well as cellular debris and mucus were observed.Conclusions Feasibility of impression cytology for sampling the bulbar conjunctiva of the dog and the standardization the the proposed protocol was shown. The results allowed the recognition the the normal cytologic pattern of healthy conjunctivas in dogs.

Consequences of crown fractures with pulpal exposure: histopathological evaluation in dogs

When a crown fracture involving pulpal exposure is produced, the therapeutic treatment to be applied depends to a great extent on the general histopathological condition of the exposed pulp. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate histopathological and bacteriological changes occurring in dental tissue and periradicular tissue of crown-fractured teeth with pulpal exposure. Twenty-four anterior teeth (central and lateral incisors) from the maxillary teeth of four young, adult Mongrel dogs were used. At 48 and 72 h after performing the crown fractures, the animals were sacrificed and the results evaluated. Both observation periods revealed the existence of an area of superficial inflammation with the formation of hyperplastic tissue towards the external surface. Intense neutrophilic infiltrate was observed below it. Mean depth of inflammation was greater at 48 h (4633.33 mum) than at 72 h (3933.33 mum), perhaps coinciding with the bigger pulp chamber opening (x1332.14 mum at 48 h vs. x479.52 mum at 72 h). Upon approaching the cervical portion, the inflammation became less. Bacterial contamination was constant in all the cases evaluated, worsening the histopathological findings with exposure time. This study demonstrates that when a crown fracture with pulpal exposure is produced, the success in treating it depends partly on how quickly therapeutic treatment is administered.

Evaluation of the genetic diversity of Xylella fastidiosa strains from citrus and coffee hosts by single-nucleotide polymorphism markers

The aim of this study was to obtain information about genetic diversity and make some inferences about the relationship of 27 strains of Xylella fastidiosa from different hosts and distinct geographical areas. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) molecular markers were identified in DNA sequences from 16 distinct regions of the genome of 24 strains of X. fastidiosa from coffee and citrus plants. Among the Brazilian strains, coffee-dependent strains have a greater number of SNPs (10 to 24 SNPs) than the citrus-based strains (2 to 12 SNPs); all the strains were compared with the sequenced strain 9a5c. The identified SNP markers were able to distinguish, for the first time, strains from citrus plants and coffee and showed that strains from coffee present higher genetic diversity than the others. These markers also have proven to be efficient for discriminating strains from the same host obtained from different geographic regions. X. fastidiosa, the causal agent of citrus variegated chlorosis, possesses genetic diversity, and the SNP markers were highly efficient for discriminating genetically close organisms.