In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a primaquine prodrug without red blood cell membrane destabilization property

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

Crystal structure, DNA binding studies, nucleolytic property and topoisomerase I inhibition of zinc complex with 1,10-phenanthroline and 3-methyl-picolinic acid

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of polyol excess on the electrical property of vegetable-polyurethane film

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

Chemopreventive property of dietary ginger in rat urinary bladder chemical carcinogenesis

The modifying potential of ginger on the development of preneoplasia and tumors in the male Wistar rat urinary bladder was investigated in a 36-week-long initiation-promotion assay for chemical carcinogenesis. Groups G1 to G3 were given 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (BBN) in drinking water for 5 weeks and a 3% uracil meal for the subsequent 3 weeks. Groups G4 and G5 were treated with 3% uracil only for the same period. After these steps, groups G2, and G3 and G4 were fed for 26 weeks a ginger extract mixed at 0.5 and 1.0% in a basal diet, respectively. Thirty six weeks after the beginning of the experiment all rats were killed. The multiplicity of urothelial lesions (hyperplasia and neoplasia) was significantly lower (P = 0.013) in group G3 than in groups G1 and G2. The results suggest that 1.0% ginger meal exerts a protective effect on the post-initiation stage of rat chemically-induced urothelial carcinogenesis.

The effect of long-term disinfection procedures on hardness property of resin denture teeth

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

Likelihood approximations and discrete models for tied survival data

Ties among event times are often recorded in survival studies. For example, in a two week laboratory study where event times are measured in days, ties are very likely to occur. The proportional hazards model might be used in this setting using an approximated partial likelihood function. This approximation works well when the number of ties is small. on the other hand, discrete regression models are suggested when the data are heavily tied. However, in many situations it is not clear which approach should be used in practice. In this work, empirical guidelines based on Monte Carlo simulations are provided. These recommendations are based on a measure of the amount of tied data present and the mean square error. An example illustrates the proposed criterion.

Evaluation of the addition of ascorbic acid to the ration of cultivated Piaractus mesopotamicus (Characidae) on the infrapopulation of Anacanthorus penilabiatus (Monogenea)

Sixty Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887 (pacu) fry fed a diet containing 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg ascorbic acid/kg dry feed were studied to evaluate the effect on parasitic infestation by the monogenean Anacanthorus penilabiatus Boeger, Husak and Martins, 1995 (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) for a period of 24 weeks. The temperature of the aquaria was measured daily and remained between 28 and 31oC. At the beginning of the experiment, fish showed 6.15 ± 0.33 cm standard length and 8.64 ± 1.62 g average body weight. A sample of fish was examined and showed 43 ± 17 monogeneans per fish. At the end of the experiment, the gills of control and vitamin C-treated fish were collected for parasite counts. Control fish had 42.5 parasites per fish, a significantly higher number (P<0.05) when compared with fish fed vitamin C, that showed 16.5 parasites per fish. Ascorbic acid fortification in the food promoted an increase in fish resistance to parasites. It is suggested that an optimum level of 139 mg/kg vitamin C supplementation either elicited better nutritional conditions by stimulating the appetite of the fish or improved the immune response.

Copper toxicosis in sheep fed dairy cattle ration in São Paulo, Brazil

Intoxicação crônica por cobre foi observada em um rebanho de 20 ovinos no município de Franca, São Paulo. Três meses após o início do arraçoamento com feno e ração concentrada peletizada para bovinos de leite, seis animais apresentaram anorexia, icterícia severa e urina marrom escura, e vieram a óbito. Diagnosticou-se doença hemolítica com base em sinais clínicos, alterações macroscópicas observadas na necropsia e observações histológicas. À necropsia todos os ovinos apresentaram icterícia severa, fígado amarelado com padrão lobular evidente e rins escuros. As principais alterações histológicas incluíram necrose hepática periacinar e nefrose hemoglobinúrica. Acúmulos de cobre foram demonstrados nos hepatócitos e macrófagos pela coloração rodamina e níveis elevados de cobre mediante espectrofotometria de absorção atômica no soro, fígado e rins de dois ovinos afetados e na ração fornecida.

Genetic parameters of milk, fat, and protein yields in the first three lactations, using an animal model and restricted maximum likelihood

Milk, fat, and protein yields of Holstein cows from the States of New York and California in the United States were used to estimate (co)variances among yields in the first three lactations, using an animal model and a derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood (REML) algorithm, and to verify if yields in different lactations are the same trait. The data were split in 20 samples, 10 from each state, with means of 5463 and 5543 cows per sample from California and New York. Mean heritability estimates for milk, fat, and protein yields for California data were, respectively, 0.34, 0.35, and 0.40 for first; 0.31, 0.33, and 0.39 for second; and 0.28, 0.31, and 0.37 for third lactations. For New York data, estimates were 0.35, 0.40, and 0.34 for first; 0.34, 0.44, and 0.38 for second; and 0.32, 0.43, and 0.38 for third lactations. Means of estimates of genetic correlations between first and second, first and third, and second and third lactations for California data were 0.86, 0.77, and 0.96 for milk; 0.89, 0.84, and 0.97 for fat; and 0.90, 0.84, and 0.97 for protein yields. Mean estimates for New York data were 0.87, 0.81, and 0.97 for milk; 0.91, 0.86, and 0.98 for fat; and 0.88, 0.82, and 0.98 for protein yields. Environmental correlations varied from 0.30 to 0.50 and were larger between second and third lactations. Phenotypic correlations were similar for both states and varied from 0.52 to 0.66 for milk, fat and protein yields. These estimates are consistent with previous estimates obtained with animal models. Yields in different lactations are not statistically the same trait but for selection programs such yields can be modelled as the same trait because of the high genetic correlations.

Enhanced electrical property of nanostructured Sb-doped SnO2 thin film processed by soft chemical method

The effect of the Sb addition on the microstructural and electrical conductivity of the SnO2 thin film was studied in this work. Experimental results show that the Sb addition allowed to control the grain size and electrical conductivity of the SnO2 thin film, resulting in a nanostructured material. The nanostructured Sb-doped SnO2 thin films present high electrical conductivity, even in the presence of high porosity, supporting the hypothesis that nanostructured material must possess strong electrical conductivity. This work involves important aspects that can be applied to the development of high performance transparent conducting thin film. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Photoluminescent property of mechanically milled BaWO4 powder

Crystalline BaWO4 (BWO) powder obtained by the polymeric precursor method was structurally disordered by means of high-energy mechanical milling. For the first time a strong and broad photoluminescence (PL) has been measured at room temperature for mechanically milled BWO powder and interpreted by ground-state quantum mechanical calculations in the density functional theory framework. Two periodic models have been studied; one representing the crystalline form and the other one representing the disordered BWO powder. These models allowed the calculation of electronic properties, which are consistent with the experimental results, showing that structural disorder in the lattice is an important condition to generate an intense and broad PL band. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

BaZrO3 Photoluminescence Property: An Ab Initio Analysis of Structural Deformation and Symmetry Changes

This article reports a theoretical study based on experimental results for barium zirconate, BaZrO3 (BZ) thin films, using periodic mechanic quantum calculations to analyze the symmetry change in a structural order-disorder simulation. Four periodic models were simulated using CRYSTAL98 code to represent the ordered and disordered BZ structures. The results were analyzed in terms of the energy level diagrams and atomic orbital distributions to explain and understand the BZ photoluminescence properties (PL) at room temperature for the disordered structure based on structural deformation and symmetry changes. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 111: 694-701, 2011

Ovarian follicle diameter at timed insemination and estrous response influence likelihood of ovulation and pregnancy after estrous synchronization with progesterone or progestin-based protocols in suckled Bos indicus cows

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate factors associated with estrous synchronization responses and pregnancy per insemination (P/AI) in Bos indicus beef cows submitted to progesterone-based fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocols. A total of 2388 cows (1869 Nellore and 519 crossbred Nellore x Angus) from 10 commercial farms were evaluated to determine the relationships among breed, body condition score (BCS) on the first day of the FTAI protocol, the occurrence of estrus between progesterone device removal and FTAI and diameter of largest ovarian follicle (LF) at FTAI on estrous synchronization responses and P/AI. Cows (n=412 primiparous; 1976 multiparous) received an intravaginal device containing progesterone or an ear implant containing norgestomet (a progestin), and an injection of estradiol at the beginning of the estrous synchronization protocol. Body condition was scored using a 1-5 scale on the first day of the FTAI protocol and at 30-60 days postpartum. Females received 300IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and PGF(2 alpha) on the day the progesterone device/implant was removed and were inseminated 48-60h later. At insemination, cows (n=2388) were submitted to an ultrasonographic exam to determine the diameter of the LF. Follicles were classified into four categories based on mean and standard deviation (SD) of the LF (LF1 = two SD below the mean; LF2 = mean minus one SD; LF3 = mean plus one SD; LF4 = two SD above the mean). Ovulation rate was determined in a subset of cows (n=813) by three consecutive ultrasonographic exams: (1) at time of progesterone device/implant removal, (2) at time of FTAI and (3) 48 h after FTAI. Ovulation was defined as the disappearance of a large follicle (>= 8.0 mm) that was previously recorded. Estrus was determined in a subset of the cows (n = 445) by the activation of a detection of estrous patch placed on the tail head on the day of progesterone device/implant removal. Pregnancy was diagnosed 30 days after FTAI. Pregnancy was influenced (P = 0.001) by follicle diameter [LF1 = 27.5% (81/295), LF2 = 46.6% (328/705), LF3 = 57.9% (647/1118), LF4 = 63.3% (171/270)] and the occurrence of estrus [estrus = 67.7% (174/257) and no estrus = 36.2% (68/188)]. Follicle diameter at FTAI influenced ovulation rate [LF1 = 42.5% (34/80), LF2 = 73.9% (161/218), LF3 = 95.8% (407/425), LF4 = 97.8% (88/90)], the occurrence of estrus [LF1 = 54.8% (51/93), LF2 = 33.6% (43/128), LF3 = 68.9% (126/183), LF4 = 90.2% (37/41)] and P/AI among cows that had ovulations [LF1 =32.4% (11/34), LF2 = 50.3% (81/161), LF3 = 60.0% (244/407), LF4 = 68.2% (60/88)]. Improving estrous responses between progesterone device withdrawal and FTAI and increasing the diameter of the LF at FTAI may be important aspects to achieve improved estrous synchronization responses and P/AI following progesterone/progestin and estradiol based FTAI protocols in suckled Bos indicus cows. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Shape controlled synthesis of CaMoO4 thin films and their photoluminescence property

CaMoO4 (CMO) disordered and ordered thin films were prepared by the complex polymerization method (CPM). The films were annealed at different temperatures and time in a conventional resistive furnace (RF) and in a microwave (MW) oven. The microstructure and surface morphology of the structure were monitored by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM). Order and disorder were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical reflectance. A strong photoluminescence (PL) emission was observed in the disordered thin films and was attributed to complex cluster vacancies. The experimental results were compared with density functional and Hartree-Fock calculations. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rural property size drives patterns of upland and riparian forest retention in a tropical deforestation frontier

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