Obten����o de novos sistemas nanoautoemulsificantes a partir do ��leo das sementes de Azadirachta indica A Juss e suas aplica����es como inibidores de corros��o

Corrosion is a natural process that causes progressive deterioration of materials, so, reducing the corrosive effects is a major objective of development of scientific studies. In this work, the efficiency of corrosion inhibition on a AISI 1018 carbon steel of the nanoemulsion system containing the oil of the seeds of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (SNEOAI) was evaluated by the techniques of linear polarization resistance (LPR) and weight loss (CPM), a instrumented cell. For that, hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of A. indica (EAI) was solubilized in a nanoemulsion system (SNEOAI) of which O/W system (rich in aqueous phase). This nanoemulsion system (tested in different concentrations) was obtained with oil from the seeds of this plant species (OAI) (oil phase), dodecylammonium chloride (DDAC) (surfactant), butanol (cosurfactant) and water, using 30 % of C/T (cosurfactant/surfactant), 0.5 % of oil phase and 69.5 % of aqueous phase, and characterized by surface tension, rheology and droplet sizes. This systems SNEOAI and SNEOAI-EAI (nanoemulsion containing hydroalcoholic extract - EAI) showed inhibition efficiencies in corrosive environment in saline (1 %), for the method of LPR with significant value of 70.58 % (300 ppm) to SNEOAI, 74.17 % (100 ppm) and 72.51 % (150 ppm) to SNEOAI-EAI. The best efficiencies inhibitions were observed for the method of CPM with 85.41 % for the SNEOAI (300 ppm) and 83.19 % SNEOAI-EAI (500 ppm). The results show that this formulation could be used commercially for use as a corrosion inhibitor, this research contributed to the biotechnological applicability of Azadirachta indica, considering the large use of this plant species rich in limonoids (tetranortriterpenoids), especially azadirachtin

S��ntese, caracteriza����o e estudo das propriedades magn��ticas de ortoferritas de lant��nio dopadas com mangan��s

Orthoferrites AFeO3 (A = rare earth) are an important class of perovskite oxides that exhibit weak ferromagnetism. These materials find numerous applications as chemical sensors, cathodes for fuel cells and catalysis, which make them interesting from the standpoint of science and technology. Their structural, electrical and magnetic properties are dependent on many factors such as the preparation method, heat treatment conditions, chemical composition and replacement of cations in sites A and/or B. In this paper, LaFe1-xMnxO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) orthoferrites-type was prepared by Pechini method and Microwave-assisted combustion reaction in order to evaluate the influence of synthesis route on the formation of oxide, as well as the effect of parcial replacement of iron by manganese and heat treatment on the magnetic properties. The precursor powders were calcined at 700��C, 900��C, 1100��C and 1300��C for 4 hours and they were characterized by the techniques: Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X ray diffraction (XRD), Refinement by Rietveld method, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Reduction temperature programmed (RTP) and Magnetic hysteresis measurements performed at room temperature. According to the XRD patterns, the formation of perovskite phase with orthorhombic structure was observed for the systems where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5 and rhombohedral for x = 1. The results also showed a decrease of lattice parameters with the parcial replacement of iron by manganese and consequently a reduction in cell volume. The hysteresis curves exhibited weak ferromagnetism for the systems prepared by both synthesis methods. However, a dependence of magnetization as a function of dopant content was observed for samples produced by Pechini method. As for the systems prepared by combustion reaction, it was found that the secondary phases exert a strong influence on the magnetic behavior

Lymphocyte transformation assay for C neoformans antigen is not reliable for detecting cellular impairment in patients with Neurocryptococcosis

Background: Cryptococcus neoformans causes meningitis and disseminated infection in healthy individuals, but more commonly in hosts with defective immune responses. Cell-mediated immunity is an important component of the immune response to a great variety of infections, including yeast infections. We aimed to evaluate a specific lymphocyte transformation assay to Cryptococcus neoformans in order to identify immunodeficiency associated to neurocryptococcosis (NCC) as primary cause of the mycosis.Methods: Healthy volunteers, poultry growers, and HIV-seronegative patients with neurocryptococcosis were tested for cellular immune response. Cryptococcal meningitis was diagnosed by India ink staining of cerebrospinal fluid and cryptococcal antigen test (Immunomycol-Inc, SP, Brazil). Isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with C. neoformans antigen, C. albicans antigen, and pokeweed mitogen. The amount of H-3-thymidine incorporated was assessed, and the results were expressed as stimulation index (SI) and log SI, sensitivity, specificity, and cut-off value (receiver operating characteristics curve). We applied unpaired Student t tests to compare data and considered significant differences for p<0.05.Results: The lymphotoxin alpha showed a low capacity with all the stimuli for classifying patients as responders and non-responders. Lymphotoxin alpha stimulated by heated-killed antigen from patients with neurocryptococcosis was not affected by TCD4+ cell count, and the intensity of response did not correlate with the clinical evolution of neurocryptococcosis.Conclusion: Response to lymphocyte transformation assay should be analyzed based on a normal range and using more than one stimulator. The use of a cut-off value to classify patients with neurocryptococcosis is inadequate. Statistical analysis should be based on the log transformation of SI. A more purified antigen for evaluating specific response to C. neoformans is needed.

O problema do Hiker Dice em tabuleiro compacto: um estudo algor��tmico

The Hiker Dice was a game recently proposed in a software designed by Mara Kuzmich and Leonardo Goldbarg. In the game a dice is responsible for building a trail on an n x m board. As the dice waits upon a cell on the board, it prints the side that touches the surface. The game shows the Hamiltonian Path Problem Simple Maximum Hiker Dice (Hidi-CHS) in trays Compact Nth , this problem is then characterized by looking for a Hamiltonian Path that maximize the sum of marked sides on the board. The research now related, models the problem through Graphs, and proposes two classes of solution algorithms. The first class, belonging to the exact algorithms, is formed by a backtracking algorithm planed with a return through logical rules and limiting the best found solution. The second class of algorithms is composed by metaheuristics type Evolutionary Computing, Local Ramdomized search and GRASP (Greed Randomized Adaptative Search). Three specific operators for the algorithms were created as follows: restructuring, recombination with two solutions and random greedy constructive.The exact algorithm was teste on 4x4 to 8x8 boards exhausting the possibility of higher computational treatment of cases due to the explosion in processing time. The heuristics algorithms were tested on 5x5 to 14x14 boards. According to the applied methodology for evaluation, the results acheived by the heuristics algorithms suggests a better performance for the GRASP algorithm

Rela����o da express��o de fatores de crescimento celular (IGF-1) e (SCF) com fatores progn��sticos e o alvo da rapamicina em mam��feros (m-TOR) em mastocitomas cut��neos caninos

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Obten����o e caracteriza����o de filmes SnO2 depositados em vidro borosilicato por silk-screen modificado: SnCl2.2H2O como precursor

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo investigar as caracter��sticas de filmes de SnO2 depositados em substrato de vidro borosilicato por um processo de silk-screen modificado para obten����o de espessura fina compat��vel com a aplica����o em células solares policristalinas de baixo custo. O filme de SnO2 �� um dos mais apropriados para obten����o de vidro TCO (transparent conductive oxide) para uso em células solares devido a sua baixa resistividade el��trica e alta transmit��ncia, sendo quimicamente inerte, mecanicamente duro e tem resist��ncia a altas temperaturas, o que facilita ent��o a calcina����o das amostras entre 500�� C a 550�� C. Os filmes foram obtidos a partir de uma solu����o precursora b��sica, preparada pela dissolu����o de SnCl2.2H2O em Etanol (99,5 %). Foi realizado um planejamento fatorial 2(3-1) para analisar a influ��ncia dos par��metros concentra����o da solu����o precursora (CETN), temperatura de calcina����o (TC) e taxa de aquecimento (tX) na calcina����o, sendo a concentra����o CETN o par��metro que apresentou maior efeito sobre os par��metros de respostas investigados: espessura do filme (��), resistividade de superf��cie (��) e a transmit��ncia relativa (��). Foi poss��vel obter com a metodologia utilizada, filmes com espessuras da ordem de 1 Nm com resistividade de superf��cie de 10 / e transmit��ncia relativa entre 70 e 80 %.

Propriedades magn��ticas de ortoferritas de lant��nio dopadas com estr��ncio

Samples of lanthanum Ortoferrites doped with strontium were synthesized in a single phase by the sol-gel method. Two samples were prepared, one by varying the concentration of strontium in lanthanum ortoferrites La1���xSrxFeO3����� with (0 ��� x ��� 0.5), and another batch of samples of type, La1/3Sr2/3FeO3�����, now varying only the temperature of calcination. Our samples were obtained by Pechini method and sintered in air and oxygen atmospheric. Their crystal structures were determined by x-ray diraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), where we observed that the samples (0 ��� x ��� 0.3) have orthorhombic symmetry and the volume of the single cell decreases with the increasing of concentration of strontium. For x = 0.5 it is only observed the simple phase when that is sintered in O2 atmospheric. Their magnetic characteristics were obtained by the M��ssbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. The magnetization measurements for samples La1���xSrxFeO3����� with (0 ��� x ��� 0.5) revealed that the magnetization decreases with increasing concentration of strontium, but for the sample x = 0.4 the magnetization shows a high coercive field and a ferrimagnetic behavior, which is attributed to a small amount of strontium hexaferrite. As for the samples La1/3Sr2/3FeO3����� calcined between 800 oC e 1200 oC. The hysteresis curves revealed two distinct behaviors: an declined antiferromagnetic behavior (Canted) for samples calcined between 800 oC and 1000 oC and a paramagnetic behavior for the samples calcined at 1100 oC e 1200 o C. Thermal hysteresis and sharp peaks around the N��el temperature (TN), over the curves of specific heat as a function of temperature was only observed in calcined samples with 1100 oC and 1200 oC. This eect is attributed to the charge ordering. These results indicate that the charge ordering occurs only in the samples without oxygen deficiency. Magnetic measurements as a function of temperature are also in agreement with this interpretation

Excita����es elementares em super-redes quasiperi��dicas com simetria espelho

In this thesis, we investigated the magnonic and photonic structures that exhibit the so-called deterministic disorder. Speci cally, we studied the effects of the quasiperiodicity, associated with an internal structural symmetry, called mirror symmetry, on the spectra of photonics and magnonics multilayer. The quasiperiodicity is introduced when stacked layers following the so-called substitutional sequences. The three sequences used here were the Fibonacci sequence, Thue-Morse and double-period, all with mirror symmetry. Aiming to study the propagation of light waves in multilayer photonic, and spin waves propagation in multilayer magnonic, we use a theoretical model based on transfer matrix treatment. For the propagation of light waves, we present numerical results that show that the quasiperiodicity associated with a mirror symmetry greatly increases the intensity of transmission and the transmission spectra exhibit a pro le self-similar. The return map plotted for this system show that the presence of internal symmetry does not alter the pattern of Fibonacci maps when compared with the case without symmetry. But when comparing the maps of Thue-Morse and double-time sequences with their case without the symmetry mirror, is evident the change in the pro le of the maps. For magnetic multilayers, we work with two di erent systems, multilayer composed of a metamagnetic material and a non-magnetic material, and multilayers composed of two cubic Heisenberg ferromagnets. In the rst case, our calculations are carried out in the magnetostatic regime and calculate the dispersion relation of spin waves for the metamgnetic material considered FeBr2. We show the e ect of mirror symmetry in the spectra of spin waves, and made the analysis of the location of bulk bands and the scaling laws between the full width of the bands allowed and the number of layers of unit cell. Finally, we calculate the transmission spectra of spin waves in quasiperiodic multilayers consisting of Heisenberg ferromagnets. The transmission spectra exhibit self-similar patterns, with regions of scaling well-de ned in frequency and the return maps indicates only dependence of the particular sequence used in the construction of the multilayer

Efeito do col��rio de 5-fluorouracil sobre o epit��lio corneano ��ntegro de coelhos

OBJETIVO: Observar os efeitos da aplica����o t��pica de 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) sobre o epit��lio corneano ��ntegro. M��TODOS: Foram utilizados 10 coelhos albinos (14 olhos), divididos em: grupo controle (GC), 4 olhos nos quais n��o se administraram drogas, grupo 1 (G1), 5 olhos que receberam 5-fluorouracil na concentra����o 1,25% e grupo 2 (G2), 5 olhos que receberam 5-fluorouracil na concentra����o de 2,5%. A droga foi instilada 4 vezes por dia, durante 7 dias, quando os animais foram sacrificados, os olhos removidos, separando-se a c��rnea que foi preparada de modo convencional para estudo em microsc��pico eletr��nico de varredura. RESULTADOS: GC: observaram-se células de formato hexagonal, claras, escuras e intermedi��rias, compondo o epit��lio corneano de coelhos. Presen��a de numerosas microplicas, principalmente nas células claras. Cada célula possui cerca de 1 a 3 criptas. Nos animais do G1, observou-se maior n��mero de células escuras, regi��es com diminui����o no n��mero de criptas; altera����es da superf��cie celular, protus��o na regi��o do n��cleo e descama����o de células epiteliais. Os do G2 tiveram aumento de microproje����es na superf��cie celular, modifica����es nas jun����es intercelulares at�� separa����o de células adjacentes; diminui����o do n��mero e variabilidade no tamanho das criptas. As altera����es mais freq��entes ocorreram nas células da periferia da c��rnea. CONCLUS��O: O 5-fluorouracil teve efeitos delet��rios no epit��lio ��ntegro corneano de coelhos. As altera����es observadas foram mais importantes nos animais que receberam a droga mais concentrada (G2) e mais freq��entes na periferia da c��rnea.

Subpopulations of mononuclear leukocytes associated with inhibition of Ehrlich ascites tumor growth by treatment with Bothrops jararaca venom

Snake venoms have been used as antineoplastic substances in several experimental models. We demonstrated in previous studies that Bothrops jararaca venom (BjV) induces inhibition of Ehrlich ascites tumor ( EAT) growth accompanied by an increase of mononuclear (MN) leukocytes in all groups inoculated with EAT and/or venom. The objective of the present study was to characterize the subpopulations of MN leukocytes involved in the inhibition of EAT growth by treatment with BjV. Swiss mice were inoculated with 1.0 x 10(3) EAT cells by the intraperitoneal route and treated with 0.4 mg/kg of BjV by the same route ( Group TV). Treatment was started 24 h after tumor cell inoculation and consisted of five intraperitoneal injections performed at 72 h intervals. After 2, 8 and 14 days, groups of animals were sacrificed and the number of B, TCD4 and TCD8 lymphocytes, macrophages and natural killer cells present in the peritoneal cavity was determined by flow cytometry. The control group consisted of animals inoculated with EAT and treated with 0.1 ml of saline under the same conditions as the experimental group ( Group T). Two additional control groups consisted of animals not inoculated with EAT and treated with saline or venom. Data were analyzed statistically by the Kruskal - Wallis nonparametric test for independent samples. on the 2nd and 8th day we observed a difference between groups T and TV ( group T > group TV) for all cell types, except natural killer cells, that only differed on the 2nd day. However, on the 14th day there was no difference in MN cells among groups. These data suggest that the inhibition of EAT is related to the toxic action of BjV on tumor cells and/or to the proteolytic effect of the venom on the mediators produced by the cells for growth modulation.

Uso de células mononucleares da medula ��ssea no tratamento de tendinites induzidas experimentalmente em equinos

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Aplica����es cl��nicas da suplementa����o de L-carnitina

A carnitina, uma amina quatern��ria (3-hidroxi-4-N-trimetilamino-butirato), �� sintetizada no organismo (f��gado, rins e c��rebro) a partir de dois amino��cidos essenciais: lisina e metionina, exigindo para sua s��ntese a presen��a de ferro, ��cido asc��rbico, niacina e vitamina B6. Tem fun����o fundamental na gera����o de energia pela célula, pois age nas rea����es transferidoras de ��cidos graxos livres do citosol para mitoc��ndrias, facilitando sua oxida����o e gera����o de adenosina Trifosfato. A concentra����o org��nica de carnitina �� resultado de processos metab��licos - como ingest��o, bioss��ntese, transporte dentro e fora dos tecidos e excre����o - que, quando alterados em fun����o de diversas doen��as, levam a um estado carencial de carnitina com preju��zos relacionados ao metabolismo de lip��deos. A suplementa����o de L-carnitina pode aumentar o fluxo sang����neo aos m��sculos devido tamb��m ao seu efeito vasodilatador e antioxidante, reduzindo algumas complica����es de doen��as isqu��micas, como a doen��a arterial coronariana, e as conseq����ncias da neuropatia diab��tica. Por esse motivo, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi descrever poss��veis benef��cios da suplementa����o de carnitina nos indiv��duos com necessidades especiais e suscept��veis a car��ncias de carnitina, como os portadores de doen��as renais, neuropatia diab��tica, s��ndrome da imunodefeci��ncia adquirida e doen��as cardiovasculares.

Diferencia����o in vitro de células-tronco mesenquimais da medula ��ssea de c��es em precursores osteog��nicos

O objetivo principal da nossa pesquisa foi avaliar o potencial de diferencia����o osteog��nica de células-tronco mesenquimais (MSC) obtidas da medula ��ssea do c��o. As MSC foram separadas pelo m��todo Ficoll e cultivadas sob duas condi����es distintas: DMEM baixa glicose ou DMEM/F12, ambos contendo L-glutamina, 20% de SFB e antibi��ticos. Marcadores de MSC foram testados, confirmando células CD44+ e CD34- atrav��s da citometria de fluxo. Para a diferencia����o osteog��nica, as células foram submetidas a quatro diferentes condi����es: Grupo 1, as mesmas condi����es utilizadas para a cultura de células prim��rias com os meios DMEM baixa glicose suplementado; Grupo 2, as mesmas condi����es do Grupo 1, mais os indutores de diferencia����o dexametasona, ��cido asc��rbico e b-glicerolfosfato; Grupo 3, células cultivadas com meios DMEM/F12 suplementado; e Grupo 4, nas mesmas condi����es que no Grupo 3, mais indutores de diferencia����o de dexametasona, ��cido asc��rbico e b-glicerolfosfato. A diferencia����o celular foi confirmada atrav��s da colora����o com alizarin red e da imunomarca����o com o anticorpo SP7/Osterix. N��s observamos atrav��s da colora����o com alizarin red que o dep��sito de c��lcio foi mais evidente nas células cultivadas em DMEM/F12. Al��m disso, usando a imunomarca����o com o anticorpo SP/7Osterix obtivemos positividade em 1:6 células para o Meio DMEM/F12 comparada com 1:12 para o meio DMEM-baixa glicose. Com base nos nossos resultados conclu��mos que o meio DMEM/F12 �� mais eficiente para a indu����o da diferencia����o de células-tronco mesenquimais caninas em promotores osteog��nicos. Este efeito provavelmente ocorre em decorr��ncia da maior quantidade de glicose neste meio, bem como da presen��a de diversos amino��cidos.

Efeito das células do cumulus e cisteamina durante o cultivo de matura����o in vitro de o��citos bovinos sobre a matura����o nuclear e aquisi����o da compet��ncia para desenvolvimento embrion��rio

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Morphometric study of the midgut epithelium in larvae of Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

A larva de Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius (broca-da-cana) tem grande interesse econ��mico, pois afeta o cultivo e aproveitamento industrial da cana-de-a����car. Entretanto, poucos s��o os estudos sobre a morfologia interna desse inseto. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar, morfometricamente, o seu epit��lio intestinal, ao longo de seu comprimento, visando caracterizar regi��es estruturalmente diferentes. O intestino m��dio de larvas no ��ltimo instar foi subdividido em tr��s regi��es: proximal, mediana e distal e os fragmentos foram processados para observa����o em microscopia de luz. Os cortes histol��gicos foram analisados em sistema computadorizado de an��lise de imagens para medir comprimento, largura e ��rea do epit��lio, das diferentes células epiteliais, dos seus respectivos n��cleos e do l��men intestinal. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos ao teste estat��stico de Kruskal-Wallis e �� an��lise multivariada. Nossos resultados mostraram que o intestino m��dio apresentou-se constitu��do, morfometricamente, por duas diferentes regi��es, proximal e distal; a regi��o mediana apresentou valores coincidentes tanto com a regi��o proximal quanto com a distal, sugerindo ser regi��o intermedi��ria. As células epiteliais (colunares, caliciformes e regenerativas), quando avaliadas pela an��lise estat��stica multivariada, n��o apresentaram diferen��a morfom��trica nas diferentes regi��es do intestino m��dio. Entretanto, a an��lise de vari��ncia, realizada para vari��veis isoladas, mostrou que as células regenerativas apresentaram maior variabilidade morfom��trica.