Multivariate Analysis for Animal Selection in Experimental Research

Background: Several researchers seek methods for the selection of homogeneous groups of animals in experimental studies, a fact justified because homogeneity is an indispensable prerequisite for casualization of treatments. The lack of robust methods that comply with statistical and biological principles is the reason why researchers use empirical or subjective methods, influencing their results. Objective: To develop a multivariate statistical model for the selection of a homogeneous group of animals for experimental research and to elaborate a computational package to use it. Methods: The set of echocardiographic data of 115 male Wistar rats with supravalvular aortic stenosis (AoS) was used as an example of model development. Initially, the data were standardized, and became dimensionless. Then, the variance matrix of the set was submitted to principal components analysis (PCA), aiming at reducing the parametric space and at retaining the relevant variability. That technique established a new Cartesian system into which the animals were allocated, and finally the confidence region (ellipsoid) was built for the profile of the animals’ homogeneous responses. The animals located inside the ellipsoid were considered as belonging to the homogeneous batch; those outside the ellipsoid were considered spurious. Results: The PCA established eight descriptive axes that represented the accumulated variance of the data set in 88.71%. The allocation of the animals in the new system and the construction of the confidence region revealed six spurious animals as compared to the homogeneous batch of 109 animals. Conclusion: The biometric criterion presented proved to be effective, because it considers the animal as a whole, analyzing jointly all parameters measured, in addition to having a small discard rate.

Modelling the influence of microstructure on elastic properties and tensile damage behaviour of Mo-base silicide alloys

Mo-Si-B alloys, Real microstructures, Voronoi structures, Microstructural characterization, Modelling and finite element simulations, Effective material properties, Damage and Crack growth, tensile strength, fracture toughness

Efeitos do ácido 3-clorofenoxipropiônico na frutificação do tomateiro 'Miguel Pereira'

Devido às técnicas culturais avançadas utilizadas atualmente na produção do tomateiro, a aplicação de reguladores vegetais poderá alterar de forma qualitativa e quantitativa a produtividade desta hortaliça. O presente ensaio teve por finalidade determinar a ação do ácido 3-clorofenoxipropiônico (3-CP) na frutificação do tomateiro Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Miguel Pereira. Em condições de casa de vegetação, efetuou-se pulverizações em toda planta de 3-CP nas concentrações de 25, 50, 100 e 200 ppm, 109 dias após a semeadura. Foram coletados os frutos maduros dos três primeiros cachos, em oito colheitas efetuadas no período de 3 de agosto a 18 de setembro. Foi observado o número, peso e comprimento dos frutos, assim como o número de flores abortadas. Foi também determinada a classificação dos frutos e a germinação das sementes. Verificou-se que tratamento com 3-CP não alterou a frutificação e o número de flores abortadas, mas 3-CP 200 ppm diminuiu o número total de flores e aumentou a percentagem de frutos partenocárpicos.

Untersuchung der Rolle von Chk1 in der entzündungsbasierten kolorektalen Karzinogenese anhand eines zellulären Colitis-Modells

Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Fakultät für Naturwissenschaften, Dissertation, 2016

Nutrição mineral de hortaliças: LXXI recrutamento de micronutrientes pela cultura do melão (Cucumis melo cv. valenciano amarelo CAC) cultivado em latossolo vermelho em Presidente Venceslau - SP

Com o objetivo de obter: - os teores e acumulos de micronutrientes nos órgãos aéreos da planta, em diferentes estádios de crescimento; - a exportação de nutrientes na colheita de frutas, no ponto de consumo. Foi conduzido um ensaio no campo o qual consistiu da amostragem em cinco estádios de crescimento - 15, 30, 45, 60 e 75 dias após a emergência das plantas. As plantas eram cortadas rente ao solo, divididas em caule, ramos, folhas, flores e frutos para determinação dos elementos minerais B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn. Os tratamentos representados pelas épocas de amostragem, constaram de um delineamento em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. Conclui-se que: - A concentração dos nutrientes na parte aérea varia com a idade e o órgão considerado; - A parte aérea aumenta, nos 75 dias em mg por planta: 0,033 de B; 0,172 de Cu; 0,199 de Fe; 0,109 de Mn e 0,042 de Zn. - São exportados em uma tonelada de frutas: 1,67 g de B; 1,07 g de Cu; 2,51 g de Fe; 1,2 g de Mn e 2,3 g de Zn.

Entomological news.

v. 109 1998

A collection of amphibians and reptiles from the Cardamom Mountains, southwestern Cambodia / Bryan L. Stuart [and] David A. Emmett.

n.s. no.109(2006)

Endemism analysis of Neotropical Pentatomidae (Hemiptera, Heteroptera)

The definition of areas of endemism is central to studies of historical biogeography, and their interrelationships are fundamental questions. Consistent hypotheses for the evolution of Pentatomidae in the Neotropical region depend on the accuracy of the units employed in the analyses, which in the case of studies of historical biogeography, may be areas of endemism. In this study, the distribution patterns of 222 species, belonging to 14 Pentatomidae (Hemiptera) genera, predominantly neotropical, were studied with the Analysis of Endemicity (NDM) to identify possible areas of endemism and to correlate them to previously delimited areas. The search by areas of endemism was carried out using grid-cell units of 2.5° and 5° latitude-longitude. The analysis based on groupings of grid-cells of 2.5° of latitude-longitude allowed the identification of 51 areas of endemism, the consensus of these areas resulted in four clusters of grid-cells. The second analysis, with grid-cells units of 5° latitude-longitude, resulted in 109 areas of endemism. The flexible consensus employed resulted in 17 areas of endemism. The analyses were sensitive to the identification of areas of endemism in different scales in the Atlantic Forest. The Amazonian region was identified as a single area in the area of consensus, and its southeastern portion shares elements with the Chacoan and Paraná subregions. The distribution data of the taxa studied, with different units of analysis, did not allow the identification of individual areas of endemism for the Cerrado and Caatinga. The areas of endemism identified here should be seen as primary biogeographic hypotheses.

Botanisches Zentralblatt; referierendes Organ für das Gesamtgebiet der Botanik.

jahrg. 29, bd. 109 (1908)

Untitled 5

Untitled, 2010, pastel on paper, 10.5' x 6'.

Morbidade da doença de Chagas. II. Estudos seccionais em quatro áreas de campo no Brasil

Foi realizado um estudo seccional de campo do tipo "caso controle" sobre a morbilidade da doença de Chagas em quatro áreas endêmicas no Brasil, duas no Estado de Minas Gerais, uma no Estado do Piauí e outra no Estado da Paraíba, incluindo 716 pares de indivíduos da mesma idade e sexo, cada par constando de um indivíduo com sorologia positiva e outro com sorologia negativa para a infecção chagásica. Com esse tipo de estudo procurou-se determinar o componente exclusivamente chagásico na morbidade da doença em diferentes áreas do país. O gradiente de manifestações clínicas e alterações eletrocardiográficas entre o grupo com sorologia positiva e outro com sorologia negativa, estudado em 264 pares na área de Iguatama-Paris e 274 em Virgem da Lapa, ambas em Minas Gerais, e em 109 pares estudados nas localidades de Colônia e Oitis, em Oeiras, Piauí e em 69 nos municípios de Aguiar e Boqueirão dos Cochos na Paraíba, mostra nitidas diferenças regionais na morbilidade da doença. Nas áreas de Minas Gerais, embora a transmissão natural da infecção estivesse interrompida há 15 e 5 anos, respectivamente, o grau de morbilidade cardiológica pelo componente chagásico, considerando apenas as alterações eletrocardiográficas mais expressivas e específicas, no momento do estudo, foi de aproximadamente 30%, enquanto em Oeiras, no Piauí e em Aguiar e Boqueirão dos Cochos, na Paraíba, mesmo com transmissão ativa da infecção, a morbidade cardiológica pelo componente chagásico foi inferior a 15 e 10%, respectivamente

Contribuição do conhecimento da epidemiologia da leptospirose humana, com especial referência ao Grande Rio, Brasil, no período de 1970 a 1982

Com o intuito de fornecer dados ao estudo da leptospirose humana, foram analisados 884 pacientes diagnosticados sorologicamente no Laboratório de Leptospirose da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, no período de 1970 a 1982. Deste total, 775 estiveram internados em hospitais da cidade do Rio de Janeiro e 109 eram oriundos de outras cidades do Brasil. Sorologicamente, Icterohaemorrhagiae foi o sorogrupo mais freqüente, tanto para os pacientes do Grande Rio (76,4%), como para os demais (41,3%). No decorrer dos 13 anos, foram isoladas duas cepas de Icterohaemorrhagiae. Com relação ao Grande Rio, observou-se uma freqüência maior da doença entre janeiro e abril (53,7%); o sexo masculino concorreu para 89,9% dos casos; e a faixa etária mais atingida compôs-se de indivíduos entre 16 e 45 anos (74,9%).

A cross-sectional survey of attitudes to HIV risk and rapid HIV testing among clients of sex workers in Switzerland.

OBJECTIVES: To assess attitudes to HIV risk and acceptability of rapid HIV testing among clients of street-based female sex workers (FSW) in Lausanne, Switzerland, where HIV prevalence in the general population is 0.4%. METHODS: The authors conducted a cross-sectional study in the red light district of Lausanne for five nights in September of 2008, 2009 and 2010. Clients of FSW were invited to complete a questionnaire in the street assessing demographic characteristics, attitudes to HIV risk and HIV testing history. All clients interviewed were then offered anonymous finger stick rapid HIV testing in a van parked on-site. RESULTS: The authors interviewed 112, 127 and 79 clients in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. All were men, average age 32-37 years old; 40-60% were in a stable relationship. History of unprotected sex was higher with non-commercial partners (33-50%) than with FSW (6-11%); 29-46% of clients had never undergone an HIV test. Anonymous rapid HIV testing was accepted by 45-50% of clients. Out of 109 HIV tests conducted during the three study periods, none was reactive. CONCLUSIONS: On-site HIV counselling and testing is acceptable among clients of FSW in this urban setting. These individuals represent an unquantified population, a proportion of which has an incomplete understanding of HIV risk in the face of high-risk behaviour, with implications for potential onward transmission to non-commercial sexual partners.

Direct angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) stimulation attenuates T-cell and microglia activation and prevents demyelination in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice.

In the present study, we evaluated stimulation of the angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) by the selective non-peptide agonist Compound 21 (C21) as a novel therapeutic concept for the treatment of multiple sclerosis using the model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice. C57BL-6 mice were immunized with myelin-oligodendrocyte peptide and treated for 4 weeks with C21 (0.3 mg/kg/day i.p.). Potential effects on myelination, microglia and T-cell composition were estimated by immunostaining and FACS analyses of lumbar spinal cords. The in vivo study was complemented by experiments in aggregating brain cell cultures and microglia in vitro. In the EAE model, treatment with C21 ameliorated microglia activation and decreased the number of total T-cells and CD4+ T-cells in the spinal cord. Fluorescent myelin staining of spinal cords further revealed a significant reduction in EAE-induced demyelinated areas in lumbar spinal cord tissue after AT2R stimulation. C21-treated mice had a significantly better neurological score than vehicle-treated controls. In aggregating brain cell cultures challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus interferon-γ (IFNγ), AT2R stimulation prevented demyelination, accelerated re-myelination and reduced the number of microglia. Cytokine synthesis and nitric oxide production by microglia in vitro were significantly reduced after C21 treatment. These results suggest that AT2R stimulation protects the myelin sheaths in autoimmune central nervous system inflammation by inhibiting the T-cell response and microglia activation. Our findings identify the AT2R as a potential new pharmacological target for demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.