A tool to simplify the management of homogeneous and heterogeneous grids

To simplify computer management, several system administrators are adopting advanced techniques to manage software configuration on grids, but the tight coupling between hardware and software makes every PC an individual managed entity, lowering the scalability and increasing the costs to manage hundreds or thousands of PCs. This paper discusses the feasibility of a distributed virtual machine environment, named Flexlab: a new approach for computer management that combines virtualization and distributed system architectures as the basis of a management system. Flexlab is able to extend the coverage of a computer management solution beyond client operating system limitations and also offers a convenient hardware abstraction, decoupling software and hardware, simplifying computer management. The results obtained in this work indicate that FlexLab is able to overcome the limitations imposed by the coupling between software and hardware, simplifying the management of homogeneous and heterogeneous grids. © 2009 IEEE.

Evaluation of alternative methods for the disinfection of toothbrushes

The aim of this study was to evaluate alternative methods for the disinfection of toothbrushes considering that most of the previously proposed methods are expensive and cannot be easily implemented. Two-hundred toothbrushes with standardized dimensions and bristles were included in the study. The toothbrushes were divided into 20 experimental groups (n=10), according to microorganism considered and chemical agent used. The toothbrushes were contaminated in vitro by standardized suspensions of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus or Candida albicans. The following disinfectants were tested: 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate, 50% white vinegar, a triclosan-containing dentifrice solution, and a perborate-based tablet solution. The disinfection method was immersion in the disinfectant for 10min. After the disinfection procedure, the number of remaining microbial cells was evaluated. The values of cfu/toothbrush of each group of microorganism after disinfection were compared by Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and Dunn's test for multiple comparisons (5%). The chlorhexidine digluconate solution was the most effective disinfectant. The triclosan-based dentifrice solution promoted a significant reduction of all microorganisms' counts in relation to the control group. As to the disinfection with 50% vinegar, a significant reduction was observed for all the microorganisms, except for C. albicans. The sodium perborate solution was the less effective against the tested microorganisms. Solutions based on triclosan-containing dentifrice may be considered effective, nontoxic, cost-effective, and an easily applicable alternative for the disinfection of toothbrushes. The vinegar solution reduced the presence of S. aureus, S. mutans and S. pyogenes on toothbrushes.

Non-conventional applications of computerized tomography: Analysis of solid dosage forms produced by pharmaceutical industry

X-ray computed tomography (CT) refers to the cross-sectional imaging of an object measuring the transmitted radiation at different directions. In this work, we describe a non-conventional application of computerized tomography: visualization and improvements in the understanding of some internal structural features of solid dosage forms. A micro-CT X-ray scanner, with a minimum resolution of 30 μm was used to characterize some pharmaceutical tablets, granules, controlled-release osmotic tablet and liquid-filled soft-gelatin capsules. The analysis presented in this work are essentially qualitative, but quantitative parameters, such as porosity, density distribution, tablets dimensions, etc. could also be obtained using the related CT techniques. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.

Development and validation of a microbiological agar assay for determination of orbifloxacin in pharmaceutical preparations

Orbifloxacin is a fluoroquinolone with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and belongs to the third generation of quinolones. Regarding the quality control of medicines, a validated microbiological assay for determination of orbifloxacin in pharmaceutical formulations has not as yet been reported. For this purpose, this paper reports the development and validation of a simple, sensitive, accurate and reproducible agar diffusion method to quantify orbifloxacin in tablet formulations. The assay is based on the inhibitory effect of orbifloxacin upon the strain of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 used as test microorganism. The results were treated statistically by analysis of variance and were found to be linear (r = 0.9992) in the selected range of 16.0-64.0 μg/mL, precise with relative standard deviation (RSD) of repeatability intraday = 2.88%, intermediate precision RSD = 3.33%, and accurate (100.31%). The results demonstrated the validity of the proposed bioassay, which allows reliable orbifloxacin quantitation in pharmaceutical samples and therefore can be used as a useful alternative methodology for the routine quality control of this medicine. © 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Antiulcer effects of Ethyl acetate fraction of Carpolobia lutea leaf

Carpolobia lutea leaves (CLL) (Polygalaceae) were earlier screened and the antiulcer ethnomedicinal claim established. This article seeks to quantitatively isolate, elucidate the active compounds from most active CLL fraction. Fractionation was by semi-preparative HPLC; the active fraction was subjected to radical scavenging assays (RSA) and quantification of the total phenolic content (TPC) were also executed. Results: Ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) was observed to be the most pharmacologically active antiulcer fraction when screened using acute ulcer models induced in rodents. The EAF demonstrated significant (p < 0.05-0.001) antiulcer activity in various in vivo induced ulceration models by reducing the ulcer index and increasing the preventive ratio. The EAF demonstrated > 70% in TPC and < 20 % in RSA. Cinnamic and coumaric acids derivatives were isolated from EAF. Cinnamic acids have been implicated and patented as antiulcer agent. Isolated compounds could in part mediate the observed pharmacological activities which lend credence to its ethnobotanical uses.

Desenvolvimento de métodos analíticos qualitativos para a análise de darunavir comprimidos

Darunavir is a protease inhibitor used in the treatment of HIV infection. It is a pillar of the drug cocktail for patients diagnosed with the virus. Quality control in the pharmaceutical industry, to verify the content of active substance and study the physicochemical characteristics of the drug, is essential to ensure final product quality. Until now, standardized methods for the analysis of darunavir have not been available in official compendia. This justifies new research, to develop and validate analytical methods, as well as physicochemical and pharmaceutical analysis for this drug, both as a raw material and a finished product. Thus, in this study, (a) the average weight of darunavir tablets and (b) the melting point of the pure drug were determined, and the following analytical techniques were performed: (c) thin-layer chromatography, (d) ultraviolet spectroscopy, (e) infrared spectroscopy and (f) high performance liquid chromatography. By developing the above techniques, it is possible to make a qualitative assessment of the quality of darunavir tablets.

A polymeric europium complex with the ligand thiophene-2-carboxylic acid: Synthesis, structural and spectroscopic characterization

A polymeric complex [Eu(α-tpc)3(α-Htpc) 2]n and its characterization by single crystal X-ray and thermal analysis, infrared and photoluminescence spectroscopies are described. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic Cc space group. The asymmetric unit is formed from a europium ion bonded to one carboxyl oxygen of five different thiophene carboxylic moieties. Three of these moieties are deprotonated and bridge between neighboring europium ions giving rise to an infinite polymer along the c axis. Besides the europium characteristic emission lines, the emission spectra show unambiguously the crystal size effect on the 5D0 → 7F0 transition. The complex thermal decomposition at 220 C leads to a stable luminescent complex in which the 5D0 → 7F4 transition reveals a monomeric characteristic. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters to the polymeric and the monomeric compound with the same ligand and coordination number were compared. © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Características anatômicas foliares e controle químico em pós-emergência de Brachiaria decumbens e Brachiaria plantaginea

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

Efeitos do tramadol no modelo de dor induzida por obstrução intestinal em eqüinos

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

A obra artística e as novas mídias de representação: do papel ao digital

Pós-graduação em Artes - IA

Estudo da teoria de potência conservativa para análise de sistemas elétricos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A preparação e a execução de tarefa de alcance ao alvo em crianças com transtornos do desenvolvimento da coordenação

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise ex vivo de hiperplasia fibrosa inflamatória de mucosa jugal por espectroscopia FT-Raman

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Monitoramento da qualidade de hemocomponentes produzidos no Hemocecentro da FMB - UNESP

Pós-graduação em Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (Biotecnologia Médica) - FMB

Influência do estádio de maturação e do cultivo na composição de voláteis do maracujá (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg)

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