Initial concentration profile influence on migration measurements from plastic packaging: A simulation study

Migration of components from plastic packaging into foodstuffs or into medicines is a very important issue, concerning public health. Using experimental techniques, like gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, these essays measure total migration and specific migration of components from plastic packaging. This work presents an explanation and applications of a numerical technique tool for this measurement, allowing the comprehension of the diffusion process and the estimate of component migration in difficult or impractical measurements. As an application example, the non-uniform influence of initial concentration profile on the migration is presented, demonstrating the necessity of this profile determination for high quality considerations on involved metrology.

The effect of CpG-ODN on antigen presenting cells of the foal

Background: Cytosine-phosphate-guanosine oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) has been used successfully to induce immune responses against viral and intracellular organisms in mammals. The main objective of this study was to test the effect of CpG-ODN on antigen presenting cells of young foals. Methods: Peripheral blood monocytes of foals (n = 7) were isolated in the first day of life and monthly thereafter up to 3 months of life. Adult horse (n = 7) monocytes were isolated and tested once for comparison. Isolated monocytes were stimulated with IL-4 and GM-CSF (to obtain dendritic cells, DC) or not stimulated (to obtain macrophages). Macrophages and DCs were stimulated for 14-16 hours with either CpG-ODN, LPS or not stimulated. The stimulated and non-stimulated cells were tested for cell surface markers (CD86 and MHC class II) using flow cytometry, mRNA expression of cytokines (IL-12, IFNα, IL-10) and TLR-9 using real time quantitative RT-PCR, and for the activation of the transcription factor NF-κB p65 using a chemiluminescence assay. Results: The median fluorescence of the MHC class II molecule in non-stimulated foal macrophages and DCs at birth were 12.5 times and 11.2 times inferior, respectively, than adult horse cells (p = 0.009). That difference subsided at 3 months of life (p = 0.3). The expression of the CD86 co-stimulatory molecule was comparable in adult horse and foal macrophages and DCs, independent of treatment. CpG-ODN stimulation induced IL-12p40 (53 times) and IFNα (23 times) mRNA expression in CpG-ODN-treated adult horse DCs (p = 0.078), but not macrophages, in comparison to non-stimulated cells. In contrast, foal APCs did not respond to CpG-ODN stimulation with increased cytokine mRNA expression up to 3 months of age. TLR-9 mRNA expression and NF-kB activation (NF-kB p65) in foal DCs and macrophages were comparable (p > 0.05) to adult horse cells. Conclusion: CpG-ODN treatment did not induce specific maturation and cytokine expression in foal macrophages and DCs. Nevertheless, adult horse DCs, but not macrophages, increased their expression of IL-12 and IFNα cytokines upon CpG-ODN stimulation. Importantly, foals presented an age-dependent limitation in the expression of MHC class II in macrophages and DCs, independent of treatment. © 2007 Flaminio et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Panorama social da América Latina 2011: documento informativo

Versión en español y en inglés disponibles en Biblioteca

Coesão social: inclusão e sentido de pertencer na América Latina e no Caribe. Síntese = Cohesión social: inclusión y sentido de pertenencia en América Latina y el Caribe. Síntesis

Incluye Bibliografía

Molecular basis for defining the pineal gland and pinealocytes as targets for tumor necrosis factor

The pineal gland, the gland that translates darkness into an endocrine signal by releasing melatonin at night, is now considered a key player in the mounting of an innate immune response. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), the first pro-inflammatory cytokine to be released by an inflammatory response, suppresses the translation of the key enzyme of melatonin synthesis (arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase, Aanat). Here, we show that TNF receptors of the subtype 1 (TNF-R1) are expressed by astrocytes, microglia, and pinealocytes. We also show that the TNF signaling reduces the level of inhibitory nuclear factor kappa B protein subtype A (NFKBIA), leading to the nuclear translocation of two NFKB dimers, p50/p50, and p50/RelA. The lack of a transactivating domain in the p50/p50 dimer suggests that this dimer is responsible for the repression of Aanat transcription. Meanwhile, p50/RelA promotes the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the production of nitric oxide, which inhibits adrenergically induced melatonin production. Together, these data provide a mechanistic basis for considering pinealocytes a target ofTNF and reinforce the idea that the suppression of pineal melatonin is one of the mechanisms involved in mounting an innate immune response. © 2011 Carvalho-Sousa, da Silveira Cruz-Machado, Tamura, Fernandes, Pinato, Muxel, Cecon and Markus.

Desenvolvimento financiero e crescimento econômico: teoria e evidência

Incluye Bibliografía

Cysteine proteinase inhibitors regulate human and mouse osteoclastogenesis by interfering with RANK signaling

The cysteine proteinase inhibitor cystatin C inhibited RANKL-stimulated osteoclast formation in mouse bone marrow macrophage cultures, an effect associated with decreased mRNA expression of Acp5, Calcr, Ctsk, Mmp9, Itgb3, and Atp6i, without effect on proliferation or apoptosis. The effects were concentration dependent with half-maximal inhibition at 0.3 μM. Cystatin C also inhibited osteoclast formation when RANKL-stimulated osteoclasts were cultured on bone, leading to decreased formation of resorption pits. RANKL-stimulated cells retained characteristics of phagocytotic macrophages when cotreated with cystatin C. Three other cysteine proteinase inhibitors, cystatin D, Z-RLVG-CHN2 (IC50 0.1 μM), and E-64 (IC 50 3 μM), also inhibited osteoclast formation in RANKL-stimulated macrophages. In addition, cystatin C, Z-RLVG-CHN2, and E-64 inhibited osteoclastic differentiation of RANKL-stimulated CD14+ human monocytes. The effect by cystatin C on differentiation of bone marrow macrophages was exerted at an early stage after RANKL stimulation and was associated with early (4 h) inhibition of c-Fos expression and decreased protein and nuclear translocation of c-Fos. Subsequently, p52, p65, IκBα, and Nfatc1 mRNA were decreased. Cystatin C was internalized in osteoclast progenitors, a process requiring RANKL stimulation. These data show that cystatin C inhibits osteoclast differentiation and formation by interfering intracellularly with signaling pathways downstream RANK. © FASEB.

Estudo teórico da relação entre número de CT de raios-X e Stopping Power de prótons

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Classificação fuzzy de vertentes por krigagem e TPS com agregação de regiões via diagrama de Voronoi

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Problema integrado de dimensionamento de lotes e corte de estoque na indústria moveleira

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

As creches hoje: nível da educação básica ou benefício social?

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Das perspectivas ontol ógicas à natureza do internauta: contribui çã o à epistemologia em Geografia

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comportamento reprodutivo e estudo bioacústico de Pionites leucogaster leucogaster (Kuhl 1829) e Pionites melanocephalus melanocephalus (Linné 1758) (Aves: Psittacidae) em cativeiro

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBB

Teor de nitrogênio inorgânico no solo em função de plantas de cobertura, fontes de nitrogênio e inibidor de nitrificação

A utilização de plantas de cobertura pode alterar a rela-ção NO3-:NH4+ no solo, proporcionando maiores quantidades de NH4+ e podendo viabilizar o desenvolvimento de culturas que absorvem mais e preferem esta forma de nitrogênio (N), como o arroz. Objetivou-se avaliar a influência da interação de plantas de cobertura e fontes de N, com e sem inibidor de nitrificação (dicianodiamida), em sistema plantio direto (SPD). O experimento foi realizado em 2009/2010, em Botucatu (SP), em Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico cultivado por seis anos no SPD. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema de parcela subdividida, com quatro repetições. As parcelas foram constituídas por seis espécies de plantas de cobertura do solo (Urochloa brizantha, U. decumbens, U. humidicola, U. ruziziensis, Pennisetum americanum e Crotalaria spectabilis) e as subparcelas por sete formas de fertilização nitrogenada, aos 0 e 30 dias após a emergência (DAE) do arroz [1 - controle, sem aplicação de nitrogênio; 2 - nitrato de cálcio (40 + 40 kg ha-1); 3 - nitrato de cálcio (0 + 80 kg ha-1); 4 - sulfato de amônio (40 + 40 kg ha-1); 5 - sulfato de amônio (0 + 80 kg ha-1); 6 - sulfato de amônio + dicianodiamida (40 + 40 kg ha-1); e 7 - sulfato de amônio + dicianodiamida (0 + 80 kg ha-1)]. O uso do inibidor de nitrificação e o cultivo de C. spectabilis proporcionaram maiores teores de amônio no solo. A aplicação da fonte amoniacal sem inibidor em dose total aos 30 DAE e com inibidor tanto parcelada quanto em dose total proporcionaram os maiores teores de nitrato no solo.

Projeto e implementação de redes neurais artificiais em distintos níveis de abstrações para o reconhecimento de deficiências de diversos macronutrientes e cultivares

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)