A simple and environmentally friendly reflectometric method for the rapid quantitative analysis of captopril in pharmaceutical formulations

This paper describes a simple, environmentally friendly and rapid quantitative spot test procedure for the determination of captopril (CPT) in bulk drug and in pharmaceutical formulations by using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The proposed method is based on the reflectance measurements of the orange compound (λ max 490 nm) produced by the spot test reaction between CPT and p-chloranil (CL). Under optimal conditions, calibration curves were obtained for CPT by plotting the optical density of the reflectance signal (A R) vs. the log of the mol L -1 concentration, from 6.91×10 -3 to 1.17×10 -1, with a good coefficient of determination (R 2 = 0.9992). The common excipients used as additives in pharmaceuticals do not interfere in the proposed method. The method was applied to determine CPT in commercial pharmaceutical formulations. The results obtained by the proposed method are compared favorably with those obtained by an official procedure at 95% confidence level. The method validation results showed that the sensitivity and selectivity of the methods were adequated for drug monitoring in industrial quality control laboratories. © 2011 Moment Publication.

Efficiency analysis of an isolated high voltage gain converter operating in resonant and non-resonant mode

This paper presents an efficiency investigation of an isolated high step-up ratio dc-dc converter aimed to be used for energy processing from low-voltage high-current energy sources, like batteries, photovoltaic modules or fuel-cells. The considered converter consists of an interleaved active clamp flyback topology combined with a voltage multiplier at the transformer secondary side capable of two different operating modes, i.e. resonant and non-resonant according to the design of the output capacitors. The main goal of this paper is to compare these two operating modes from the component losses point of view with the aim of maximize the overall converter efficiency. The approach is based on losses prediction using steady-state theoretical models (designed in Mathcad environment), taking into account both conduction and switching losses. The models are compared with steady-state simulations and experimental results considering different operating modes to validate the approach. © 2012 IEEE.

Extensive impact of saturated fatty acids on metabolic and cardiovascular profile in rats with diet-induced obesity: A canonical analysis

Background: Although hypercaloric interventions are associated with nutritional, endocrine, metabolic, and cardiovascular disorders in obesity experiments, a rational distinction between the effects of excess adiposity and the individual roles of dietary macronutrients in relation to these disturbances has not previously been studied. This investigation analyzed the correlation between ingested macronutrients (including sucrose and saturated and unsaturated fatty acids) plus body adiposity and metabolic, hormonal, and cardiovascular effects in rats with diet-induced obesity. Methods: Normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats were submitted to Control (CD; 3.2 Kcal/g) and Hypercaloric (HD; 4.6 Kcal/g) diets for 20 weeks followed by nutritional evaluation involving body weight and adiposity measurement. Metabolic and hormonal parameters included glycemia, insulin, insulin resistance, and leptin. Cardiovascular analysis included systolic blood pressure profile, echocardiography, morphometric study of myocardial morphology, and myosin heavy chain (MHC) protein expression. Canonical correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between dietary macronutrients plus adiposity and metabolic, hormonal, and cardiovascular parameters. Results: Although final group body weights did not differ, HD presented higher adiposity than CD. Diet induced hyperglycemia while insulin and leptin levels remained unchanged. In a cardiovascular context, systolic blood pressure increased with time only in HD. Additionally, in vivo echocardiography revealed cardiac hypertrophy and improved systolic performance in HD compared to CD; and while cardiomyocyte size was unchanged by diet, nuclear volume and collagen interstitial fraction both increased in HD. Also HD exhibited higher relative β-MHC content and β/α-MHC ratio than their Control counterparts. Importantly, body adiposity was weakly associated with cardiovascular effects, as saturated fatty acid intake was directly associated with most cardiac remodeling measurements while unsaturated lipid consumption was inversely correlated with these effects. Conclusion: Hypercaloric diet was associated with glycemic metabolism and systolic blood pressure disorders and cardiac remodeling. These effects directly and inversely correlated with saturated and unsaturated lipid consumption, respectively. © 2013 Oliveira Junior et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Morphology, sex ratio and gene expression of Day 14 in vivo and in vitro bovine embryos

The present study was designed to compare Day 14 bovine embryos that were produced entirely in vitro using the post-hatching development (PHD) system with in vivo-derived embryos without or with transient PHD culture from Day 7 to Day 14. Embryos on Day 14 were used for sex determination and gene expression analysis of PLAC8, KRT8, CD9, SLC2A1, SLC2A3, PGK1, HSF1, MNSOD, HSP70 and IFNT using real-time quantitative (q) polymerase chain reaction (PCR). First, Day 7 in vivo-and in vitro-produced embryos were subjected to the PHD system. A higher rate of survival was observed for in vitro embryos on Day 14. Comparing Day 14 embryos produced completely in vivo or completely in vitro revealed that the mean size of the former group was greater than that of the latter (10.29±1.83 vs 2.68±0.33mm, respectively). Expression of the HSP70 and SLC2A1 genes was down-and upregulated, respectively, in the in vitro embryos. The present study shows that in vitro embryos cultured in the PHD system are smaller than in vivo embryos and that of the 10 genes analysed, only two were differentially expressed between the two groups. These findings indicate that, owing to the poor survival rate, the PHD system is not reliable for evaluation of in vitro embryo quality. © 2013 CSIRO.

Digit ratio (2D:4D) is associated with gastric cancer

Background: Sex steroid exposure during early human development may influence disease susceptibility. Digit ratio (2D:4D) is a putative marker for prenatal hormone exposure and sensitivity, as well as the action of genes closely related to carcinogenesis. Digit ratio could act as a possible marker for cancer predisposition. Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the possible correlations between right hand, left hand and right minus left (R. - L) 2D:4D and gastric cancer (GCA) in men and women and assess the correlations with tumor staging and histological diagnosis. Methods: Digital images of the right and left hand palms of patients diagnosed with GCA (n = 57, 42 males, 15 females) and age and sex-matched controls (n = 59, 41 males, 18 females) were obtained. Means for 2D:4D were compared. Data were analyzed by repeated-measures one-way ANOVA and Student's t-test for finger measurements and group comparisons and Pearson's and Spearman's tests for correlations with tumor staging (α = 0.05). Results: GCA group presented significantly higher left 2D:4D, but significantly lower R. - L in comparison to healthy controls, particularly so for males. Digit ratio did not correlate to clinical staging or TNM staging. However, low R. - L was significantly related to adenocarcinomas. Conclusions: Early developmental conditions, including prenatal testosterone seem to play a role on the malignant transformation of gastric lesions. The 2D:4D pattern found for gastric cancer parallels that earlier described for breast cancer. The findings suggest that 2D:4D could add to the list of etiological factors and be a putative marker for the screening of patients' susceptibility to develop gastric cancer. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

SFlt-1/PlGF ratio as a prognostic marker of adverse outcomes in women with early-onset preeclampsia

Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) is an anti-angiogenic factor released in higher amounts by preeclamptic placentas and it has been implicated in the endothelial dysfunction observed in the disease. In this study we evaluated if circulating sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is useful to predict adverse outcomes in women with early-onset preeclampsia. This is a cohort study of 88 preeclamptic women with singleton pregnancies at ≤35 weeks of gestation. According to definitions used, adverse outcomes occurred in 46.5% (N = 43) of the patients. The median sFlt1/PlGF ratio (25th-75th centile) for all patients evaluated was of 42.26 (13.1-226.1). The median sFlt-1/PlGF ratio among women who had any adverse outcome (N = 43) versus no adverse outcomes (N = 45) was of 227.6 (80.3-346.1) versus 14.4 (3.35-30.0), (P < 0.0001). According to our analyses a sFlt-1/PlGF ratio cut-point of ≥85 gave a sensitivity of 74.0% and specificity of 97.0%. The positive predictive value and the negative predictive value were 96.0% and 80.0%, respectively. The median sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (25th-75th centile) for patients who delivered within <7 days was 260.0 (127.7-404.7) as compared to 14.4 (3.35-34.97) for those patients who delivered within two weeks or more (P < 0.0001). Our results suggest that sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is a promising marker for adverse outcomes in women with early-onset preeclampsia. © 2013 International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bovine herpesvirus type 5 infection regulates Bax/BCL-2 ratio

Bovine herpesvirus 5 (BoHV-5) is an α-herpesvirus that causes neurological disease in young cattle and is also occasionally involved in reproductive disorders. Although there have been many studies of the apoptotic pathways induced by viruses belonging to the family Herpesviridae, there is little information about the intrinsic programmed cell death pathway in host-BoHV-5 interactions. We found that BoHV-5 is able to replicate in both mesenchymal and epithelial cell lines, provoking cytopathology that is characterized by cellular swelling and cell fusion. Viral antigens were detected in infected cells by immunofluorescence assay at 48 to 96 h post-infection (p.i.). At 48 to 72 h p.i., anti-apoptotic BCL-2 antigens were found at higher levels than Bax antigens; the latter is considered a pro-apoptotic protein. Infected cells had increased BCL-2 phenotype cells from 48 to 96 h p.i., based on flow cytometric analysis. At 48 to 96 h p.i., Bax mRNA was not expressed in any of the infected cell monolayers. In contrast, BCL-2 mRNA was found at high levels at all p.i. in both types of cells. BoHV-5 replication apparently modulates BCL-2 expression and gene transcription, enhancing production of virus progeny. © FUNPEC-RP.

Ion beam analysis of a-C:H films on alloy steel substrate

An a-C:H thin film deposited by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition on alloy steel (16MnCr5) was analyzed using a self-consistent ion beam analysis technique.In the self-consistent analysis, the results of each individual technique are combined in a unique model, increasing confidence and reducing simulation errors.Self-consistent analysis, then, is able to improve the regular ion beam analysis since several analyses commonly used to process ion beam data still rely on handling each spectrum independently.The sample was analyzed by particle-induced x-ray emission (for trace elements), elastic backscattering spectrometry (for carbon), forward recoil spectrometry (for hydrogen) and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (for film morphology).The self-consistent analysis provided reliable chemical information about the film, despite its heavy substrate.As a result, we could determine precisely the H/C ratio, contaminant concentration and some morphological characteristics of the film, such as roughness and discontinuities.© 2013 Elsevier B.V.All rights reserved.

Efeito do bloqueio da aldosterona na remodelação cardíaca de ratos espontaneamente hipertensos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Do demand and profitability stimulate capital accumulation? An analysis for Brazil

This article tests whether the profit share of gdp and capacity utilization affect capital accumulation in Brazil in the period 1950-2008 (in the sense of Granger causality). The methodology developed by Toda and Yamamoto (1995) is used to verify the Granger non-causality hypothesis. The results show that capacity utilization “Granger-causes” capital accumulation in the Brazilian economy and, also that the profit share of gdp does not “Granger-cause” the national investment-capital ratio. This corroborates the Kaleckian proposal based on the fundamental role of the accelerator, and suggests that the Brazilian economy can grow with either a concentration or a de-concentration of income, provided a suitable institutional arrangement is in place.

Aplicação de análise de séries temporais em perfis de poço

Esta tese descreve a aplicação de análise de séries temporais em perfis de poço. Através desta técnica é possível avaliar-se a repetição e a resolução vertical de perfis, e determinar-se o intervalo de amostragem e a velocidade de perfilagem ideais para diferentes perfis. A comparação entre três poços é também feita, baseada num mesmo tipo de perfil. Para tanto, na seqüência utilizada, procurou-se manter num mesmo domínio os dados cuja quantidade total de amostras (N) por perfil não ultrapassou 2048. Desses dados, foram inicialmente retirados o valor médio das amostras e o alinhamento polinomial algébrico eventualmente nelas embutido. Em seguida, foi efetuada a aplicação do ponderador cossenoidal, do filtro passa-alta, da janela Hanning, do cálculo da função coerência, do espectro de fase, da razão sinal-ruído e dos espectros de potência do sinal e do ruído, nesta ordem. Para a função coerência, fez-se necessário o cálculo dos níveis de confiança de 50%, 90% e 95%. O cálculo do primeiro nível teve por base a necessidade de se determinar a resolução vertical de alguns perfis, e dos demais, a fim de que fosse obtida uma informação referente à localização daqueles níveis para a coerência calculada. Em relação ao espectro de fase, seu cálculo surgiu da necessidade de se obter uma informação adicional a respeito dos perfis manipulados, ou seja, o conhecimento da ocorrência ou não de deslocamento relativo de profundidade entre a seção principal e a seção repetida. A razão sinal-ruído foi calculada no sentido de possibilitar a comparação, como elemento avaliador dos diversos tipos de perfis, com a coerência e o cálculo dos espectros de potência. Os espectros de potência do sinal e do ruído foram calculados para se ter mais um parâmetro de avaliação da seção repetida, já que em tese, os espectros de potência do sinal e do ruído da seção repetida devem ser iguais aos respectivos espectros da seção principal. Os dados utilizados na aplicação da metodologia proposta foram fornecidos pela PETROBRÁS e oriundos de quatro poços da Bacia Potiguar emersa. Por questões de sigilo empresarial, os poços foram identificados como poços A, B, C e D. A avaliação da repetição entre diferentes tipos de perfis indica que, para o poço A, o perfil micro-esférico (MSFL) tem repetição melhor do que o perfil de porosidade neutrônica (CNL), o qual tem, por sua vez, repetição melhor do que o perfil de raios gama normal (GR). Para os perfis do poço D, uma diminuição da velocidade de perfilagem de 550 m/h para 275 m/h é vantajosa apenas para o perfil de porosidade neutrônica. Já a velocidade de perfilagem de 920 m/h, utilizada, na obtenção dos perfis do poço C, é totalmente inadequada para os perfis de resistividade (MSFL, ILD e ILM). A diminuição do intervalo de amostragem de 0,20 m para 0,0508 m, nos perfis de raios gama e de porosidade neutrônica, e 0,0254 m para o perfil de densidade, apresenta bons resultados quando aplicada no poço D. O cálculo da resolução vertical indica, para o perfil de porosidade neutrônica, uma superioridade qualitativa em relação ao perfil de raios gama normal, ambos pertencentes ao poço A. Para o poço C, o perfil micro-esférico apresenta uma resolução vertical na mesma ordem de grandeza da resolução do perfil de raios gama do poço B, o que evidencia ainda mais a inconveniência da velocidade de perfilagem utilizada no poço C. Já para o poço D, o cálculo da resolução vertical indica uma superioridade qualitativa do perfil de densidade de alta resolução em relação ao perfil de raios gama de alta resolução. A comparação entre os poços A, B e D, levada a efeito através dos respectivos perfis de porosidade neutrônica normais, comprova que a presença de ruído aleatório, em geral, está diretamente ligada à porosidade da formação - uma maior porosidade indica uma presença maior de ruído e, por conseguinte, uma queda qualitativa no perfil obtido. A análise do espectro de fase de cada perfil indica um deslocamento em profundidade, existente entre as seções principal e repetida de todos os perfis do poço C. E isto pôde ser confirmado com a posterior superposição das seções.

Seasonal changes in the gonadossomatic index, allometric condition factor and sex ratio of an auchenipterid catfish from eastern Amazonia

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar alterações sazonais no índice gonadossomático (IGS%), fator de condição (K) e proporção sexual, a fim de determinar o período de atividade reprodutiva do bagre Auchenipterichthys longimanus (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae), a partir da análise de exemplares coletados em igarapés da Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, estado do Pará, Brasil. Através de coletas bimestrais entre julho de 2008 e julho de 2009, foram capturados 589 exemplares de A. longimanus, sendo 251 machos e 338 fêmeas. Dentre os machos, 171 exemplares foram classificados como adultos e 80 foram jovens, e dentre as fêmeas, 249 eram adultas e 89 jovens. Por meio do estabelecimento de uma equação senoidal, a análise do IGS% evidenciou uma assincronia reprodutiva entre os sexos, pois os machos obtiveram maiores valores de IGS% em janeiro e as fêmeas apresentaram seu pico em março. Para os valores de IGS% de machos, a equação senoide mostrou-se significante somente para os valores brutos (P=0,001), sendo não identificada uma tendência com os valores médios do IGS% (P=0,136). Para as fêmeas, os valores de significância da equação senoide para o IGS% foram obtidos tanto para os dados brutos (P=0,012) quanto para os dados médios (P=0,026). Para o Fator de Condição, a equação senoide demonstrou variação nos valores brutos e médios de machos adultos (P=0,02 e P=0,00, respectivamente) e nos valores brutos de fêmeas (P=0,04), refletindo diferenças nos padrões de investimento energético entre os sexos. Em relação à proporção sexual, foi observada uma maior frequência de capturas de fêmeas reprodutivas em relação aos machos nos meses de Janeiro e Março de 2009, sugerindo um padrão de segregação sexual com fins reprodutivos. Esses parâmetros são fundamentais na avaliação, conservação e manejo dos estoques naturais de peixes, assim como para subsidiar estratégias e procedimentos para a preservação e conservação da ictiofauna.

Modelamento da permissividade dielétrica de rochas saturadas de óleo e água e suas aplicações em perfilagem de poço

A ferramenta de propagação eletromagnética (EPT) fornece o tempo de propagação (T_pl) e a atenuação (A) de uma onda eletromagnética que se propaga num meio com perdas. Estas respostas da EPT são funções da permissividade dielétrica do meio. Existem vários modelos e fórmulas de misturas sobre a permissividade dielétrica de rochas reservatório que podem ser utilizados na interpretação da ferramenta de alta frequência. No entanto, as fórmulas de mistura não consideram a distribuição e a geometria do espaço poroso, e estes parâmetros são essenciais para que sejam obtidas respostas dielétricas mais próximas de uma rocha real. Foi selecionado um modelo baseado nos parâmetros descritos acima e este foi aplicado à dados dielétricos disponíveis na literatura. Foi obtida uma boa concordância entre as curvas teóricas e os dados experimentais, comprovando assim que a distribuição e a geometria dos poros têm que ser levadas em conta no desenvolvimento de um modelo realista. Foram conseguidas também funções de distribuição de razão de aspecto de poros, através das quais geramos várias curvas relacionando as respostas da EPT com diversas saturações de óleo/gás. Estas curvas foram aplicadas na análise de perfis. Como o modelo selecionado ajusta-se bem aos dados dielétricos disponíveis na literatura, torna-se atraente aplicá-lo à dados experimentais obtidos em rochas de campos brasileiros produtores de hidrocarbonetos para interpretação da EPT corrida em poços destes campos petrolíferos.

Analysis of the risk factors relating to cows' resistance to Rhipicephalus microplus ticks during the peripartum

This study aimed to evaluate season, breed, number of lactations and milk production as risk factors relating to Rhipicephalus microplus infestation in dairy cows during the peripartum. Eighty-four animals were randomly selected through proportional stratified sampling. All engorged and partially engorged female R. microplus specimens measuring 4.5-8.0 mm were counted during the 5 weeks before calving, calving week and 5 weeks after calving. The peripartum had a significant effect [calving (p < 0.05; prevalence ratio (PR)= 3.12) and post calving (p < 0.05; PR = 2.02)] on R. microplus infestation. Although the average tick count was higher during the rainy season than during the dry season, there was no significant difference (p = 0.055; PR = 0.63). The average R. microplus count was significantly higher (p < 0.05; PR = 2.10) in Bos taurus animals, followed by F1 (p < 0.05; PR = 1.64) and Girolando (p < 0.05; PR = 1.39). The average R. microplus count was significantly higher (p < 0.05; PR = 0.97) in first-lactation animals, followed by those at the second, third and, fourth or subsequent lactation. Milk production showed a negative correlation with R. microplus count, such that high-production animals were significantly (p = 0.003; PR = 2.04) more vulnerable to infestation than were low-production animals. First-lactation and high-production B. taurus animals had greatest vulnerability to R. microplus infestation over the peripartum period, and constituted the at-risk group in the dairy herd.u

Comparative Analysis of Approaches for Assessing Energy Intake Underreporting by Female Bariatric Surgery Candidates

Objective: To test six variations in the Goldberg equation for evaluating the underreporting of energy intake (EI) among obese women on the waiting list for bariatric surgery, considering variations in resting metabolic rate (RMR), physical activity, and food intake levels in group and individual approaches.Methods: One hundred obese women aged 20 to 45years (33.3 6.08) recruited from a bariatric surgery waiting list participated in the study. Underreporting assessment was based on the difference between reported energy intake, indirect calorimetry measurements and RMR (rEI:RMR), which is compatible with the predicted physical activity level (PAL). Six approaches were used for defining the cutoff points. The approaches took into account variances in the components of the rEI:RMR = PAL equation as a function of the assumed PAL, sample size (n), and measured or estimated RMR.Results: The underreporting percentage varied from 55% to 97%, depending on the approach used for generating the cutoff points. The ratio rEI:RMR and estimated PAL of the sample were significantly different (p = 0.001). Sixty-one percent of the women reported an EI lower than their RMR. The PAL variable significantly affected the cutoff point, leading to different proportions of underreporting. The RMR measured or estimated in the equation did not result in differences in the proportion of underreporting. The individual approach was less sensitive than the group approach.Conclusion: RMR did not interfere in underreporting estimates. However, PAL variations were responsible for significant differences in cutoff point. Thus, PAL should be considered when estimating underreporting, and even though the individual approach is less sensitive than the group approach, it may be a useful tool for clinical practice.