A randomized and controlled trial about the use of oral isotretinoin for photoaging

Topical retinoids are used to treat photoaging; oral isotretinoin is gold standard for acne; off label indications, including photoaging, have been reported with insufficient evidence of efficacy. This is a randomized controlled phase II trial with clinical and histological assessment to evaluate efficacy and safety of oral isotretinoin for photoaging. Study population was comprised of 32 menopausal or sterilized women, aged 40-55, divided in 2 groups: A (21) received 20mg isotretinoin, 3 times per week, nightly moisturizer, and daily sunscreen, for three months; B (11) just moisturizer/sunscreen. Main outcome measures were: overall clinical assessment; profilometry, corneometer and elasticity tests in periocular regions and left forearm; before/after biopsies from left forearm in patients of B and in 10 randomly selected of A. Microscopic blinded evaluation of epidermal thickness, dermal elastosis, new collagen, p53 epidermal expression was performed by quantitative digital image analysis. All data were submitted to statistical analysis. Clinical evaluation showed slight improvement; profilometry, corneometer and skin elasticity tests presented significant difference in pre/post values (P = 0.001 to 0.028), but no differences between A/B. Histological findings and p53 expression were comparable between groups before treatment (P > 0.1); microscopic analysis showed no differences between groups for most variables, after treatment. Slight but significant difference between A/B for p53 with major reduction post isotretinoin [0.66±0.31 vs. 0.94±0.34 respectively (P = 0.04) was observed. There were minor side effects and no significant laboratory test alterations. We concluded that no significant clinical, microscopic changes but p53 epidermal expression reduction were observed. The role of ultra-violet induced p53 mutation in skin carcinogenesis reinforces retinoids chemoprevention. Oral isotretinoin seemed safe but not effective to treat photoaging. Caution should be considered for women prone to pregnancy. Further controlled studies are necessary. © 2010 The International Society of Dermatology.

Serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii in captive Neotropical felids from Southern Brazil

Toxoplasma gondii is the causative intracellular protozoan of toxoplasmosis in human being and animals. Members of the Felidae family are considered the single definitive host for the infection; both wild and domestic cats are able to excrete oocysts in the environment. Wild cats maintained in captivity may serve as source of infection for other clinically susceptible animals in the same environment. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of T. gondii IgG antibodies in 57 neotropical felids (1 Leopardus geoffroyi; 3 Puma yagouaroundi; 17 Leopardus wiedii; 22 Leopardus tigrinus; and 14 Leopardus pardalis) kept at the Bela Vista Biological Sanctuary, Itaipu Binacional, Southern Brazil, by the modified agglutination test (MAT) using titer 16 as cut-off point. Seropositivity was observed in 38/57 (66.67%; 95% CI 53.66-77.51%) samples, with higher frequency in ocelots (71.43%). Wild-caught felids were three times more likely to be infected when compared to zoo-born animals (P≤ 0.05) and age of wild-caught animals (P= 0.6892; 95% CI. = 0.7528-1.66) was not significant as a risk factor for the infection, the same occurring with zoo-born animals (P= 0.05; 95% CI. = 0.6267-24.052). These results suggest that, despite efforts to control T. gondii infection in zoo facilities, such as individual pens, hygiene monitoring, veterinary care and pre-frozen meat offered as food, non-domestic felids kept in captivity, particularly the wild-caught specimens, may be invariably exposed to infection due to other environmental sources. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.

Effect of nozzle angle and air-jet parameters in air-assisted sprayer on biological effect of soybean asian rust chemical protection

Aiming at improving the efficiency control of Phakopsora pachyrhizi, this research evaluated different application techniques, using spray deposits and yield parameters of soybean crop. Two experiments were carried out in the experimental area of FCA/UNESP - Botucatu, SP, Brazil, in the soybean crop, Conquista variety, in the 2006/2007 season. The first experiment was arranged in random blocks with eight treatments and four replications. The treatments were conducted in factorial arrangement 4×2 (four air levels 0, 9, 11 and 29 km/h combined at two nozzle angles 0 and 30°) using AXI 110015 nozzles. Ten plants on each plot were selected for sampling spray deposits. Artificial targets were fixed on plants, two in the top and another two in the bottom part of plants (abaxial and adaxial leaf surface each one). For deposit evaluations, a cupric tracer was used and the amount of deposits was determined by a spectrophotometer. The second experiment was carried out in the same place and the treatments were of the same arrangement as the previous experiment, including control treatment (untreated plants). The spraying with triazole fungicide was realized in R2 and R5.2 growth stages of soybean with 142 l/ha spray volume. The nozzle angled of 30° combined with maximum air speed promoted the highest spray deposits on the soybean crop and influenced positively the control of the soybean Asian rust as well in the productivity of this crop.

Air-assistance and low volume application to control of asian rust on soybean crop

Currently, one of factors that cause the production cost increase of soybean crop is the pesticide application. The most important disease in soybean crop is Asian rust, caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydon & P. Sydon fungus, which can cause significant loss of the production. Therefore, this work aimed at evaluation of different spraying techniques on the spray deposits and some parameters of soybean crop: grain size, weight of 1 000 seeds and the crop productivity. Two experiments were carried out in the experimental area of FCA/UNESP (Faculdade de Ciencias Agronomicas/Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho) - Botucatu, S P, Brazil, in soybean crop, Conquista variety, in the 2007/2008 season. In the first experiment, three air levels (0, 9 and 29 km/h of the air speed generated by fan) with flat fan nozzle XR 8002 with a spray volume of 130 l/ha were compared with a rotating nozzle - using low volume oily - LVO at 40 l/ha of spray volume. The second experiment was carried out under the same conditions as the previous experiment, including a control treatment (untreated plants). The disease severity was evaluated using a diagrammatic scale with a visual evaluation of the disease on 15 leaves of each plot. The grades varied between 0.6 and 78.5% of the disease severity. The use of air assistance when compared with the rotating system nozzle did not show significant differences for spray deposits on adaxial and abaxial surface of the leaves in bottom part of the plant. The air assistance with maximum air speed (29 km/h) increased the productivity with respect of the other treatments.

Morphologic changes and the expression of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone and melanocortin-1 receptor in melasma lesions: A comparative study

Melasma is a common acquired symmetrical hypermelanosis characterized by irregular light- to dark-brown macules on sun-exposed skin areas. The literature shows few studies on its physiopathogeny. However, changes in α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) secretion and melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1-R) expression may play a role to trigger this condition. Biopsies were taken from both melasma skin and adjacent perilesional normal skin of 44 patients. The biopsies were submitted for hematoxylin and eosin and Fontana-Masson staining and immunohistochemistry with Melan-A, α-MSH, and MC1-R, and processed for transmission electron microscopy. In some cases, they were submitted to MC1-R gene expression analysis by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Increased lymphohistiocytic infiltrate and solar elastosis, higher epidermal melanin were observed in melasma skin. Electron microscopy revealed a greater number of mature melanosomes in keratinocytes and melanocytes, and more prominent cytoplasmic organelles in melasma skin. There was no difference in melanocyte number between areas. However, melanocytes were larger and more dendritic in melasma skin. Immunohistochemistry with α-MSH and MC1-R showed significant labeling in melasmic epidermis but MC1-R messenger ribonucleic acid (RNAm) did not show significant quantitative difference between melasma and normal skin. © 2010 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Suscetibilidade magnética na identificação de compartimentos da paisagem em uma vertente

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Distribuição e abundância de larvas de Simulium spp.em córregos do estado de São Paulo nos diferentes níveis de qualidade da água

The aim of this work was to determine the distribution and abundance the species of Simulium: in 5 streams of the north coastal region of the state of São Paulo. Simulium larval and water samples were collected every 2 weeks in summer and winter, 2001. The larval were collected on artificial substrates (triplicate) preserved in alcohol (70%) and after analyzed quantitative and qualitative. From the streams the values of temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH and stream discharge were measured. The contents of total nitrogen and dissolved nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen, nitrate, nitrite, orthophosphate, dissolved phosphorus and total phosphorus were determined in the laboratory. Water quality has great influence in the distribution and abundance of the species. S. pertinax was more abundant in streams without or with low levels of pollution, S. inaequale in streams more polluted and S. incrustatum in intermediary levels of pollution. S. pertinax was the species more abundant with 57.5% of presence in the samples, the second more abundant was S. inaequale with 42.1% of presence and S. incrustatum was rare with 0.4% of presence. The larval abundance was lower in the polluted environment. © 2012 by Unisinos.

Evolução tecnológica no setor de máquinas de processar cereais: um estudo de caso

Incluye Bibliografía

Observações sobre a mudança tecnológica no setor de máquinas ferramentas do Brasil

Incluye Bibliografía

Evolução tecnológica em uma firma de processo produtivo continuo no setor metal-mecânico brasileiro

Incluye Bibliografía

Basic issues emerging from recent research on technological behaviour of selected Latin American metalworking plants

Includes bibliography

Determination of onboard coplanar orbital maneuvers with orbits determined using GPS

In the present paper a study is made in order to find an algorithm that can calculate coplanar orbital maneuvers for an artificial satellite. The idea is to find a method that is fast enough to be combined with onboard orbit determination using GPS data collected from a receiver that is located in the satellite. After a search in the literature, three algorithms are selected to be tested. Preliminary studies show that one of them (the so called Minimum Delta-V Lambert Problem) has several advantages over the two others, both in terms of accuracy and time required for processing. So, this algorithm is implemented and tested numerically combined with the orbit determination procedure. Some adjustments are performed in this algorithm in the present paper to allow its use in real-time onboard applications. Considering the whole maneuver, first of all a simplified and compact algorithm is used to estimate in real-time and onboard the artificial satellite orbit using the GPS measurements. By using the estimated orbit as the initial one and the information of the final desired orbit (from the specification of the mission) as the final one, a coplanar bi-impulsive maneuver is calculated. This maneuver searches for the minimum fuel consumption. Two kinds of maneuvers are performed, one varying only the semi major axis and the other varying the semi major axis and the eccentricity of the orbit, simultaneously. The possibilities of restrictions in the locations to apply the impulses are included, as well as the possibility to control the relation between the processing time and the solution accuracy. Those are the two main reasons to recommend this method for use in the proposed application.

Responsabilidade social empresarial na indústria de calçados paulista: Uma análise dos pólos de franca e Birigui

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

Application of landsat images for quantifying the energy balance under conditions of land use changes in the semi-arid region of Brazil

In the Nilo Coelho irrigation scheme, Brazil, the natural vegetation has been replaced by irrigated agriculture, bringing importance for the quantification of the effects on the energy exchanges between the mixed vegetated surfaces and the lower atmosphere. Landsat satellite images and agro-meteorological stations from 1992 to 2011 were used together, for modelling these exchanges. Surface albedo (α0), NDVI and surface temperature (T0) were the basic remote sensing retrieving parameters necessary to calculate the latent heat flux (λE) and the surface resistance to evapotranspiration (rs) on a large scale. The daily net radiation (Rn) was obtained from α0, air temperature (Ta) and short-wave transmissivity (τsw) throughout the slob equation, allowing the quantification of the daily sensible heat flux (H) by residual in the energy balance equation. With a threshold value for rs, it was possible to separate the energy fluxes from crops and natural vegetation. The averaged fractions of Rn partitioned as H and λE, were in average 39 and 67%, respectively. It was observed an increase of the energy used for the evapotranspiration process inside irrigated areas from 51% in 1992 to 80% in 2011, with the ratio λE/Rn presenting an increase of 3 % per year. The tools and models applied in the current research, can subsidize the monitoring of the coupled climate and land use changes effects in irrigation perimeters, being valuable when aiming the sustainability of the irrigated agriculture in the future, avoiding conflicts among different water users. © 2012 SPIE.

Water productivity assessment by using MODIS images and agrometeorological data in the Petrolina municipality, Brazil

The municipality of Petrolina, located in the semi-arid region of Brazil, is highlighted as an important agricultural growing region, however the irrigated areas have cleared natural vegetation inducing a loss of biodiversity. To analyze the contrast between these two ecosystems the large scale values of biomass production (BIO), evapotranspiration (ET) and water productivity (WP) were quantified. Monteithś equation was applied for estimating the absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR), while the new SAFER (Simple Algorithm For Evapotranspiration Retrieving) algorithm was used to retrieve ET. The water productivity (WP) was analysed by the ratio of BIO by ET at monthly time scale with four bands of MODIS satellite images together with agrometeorological data for the year of 2011. The period with the highest water productivity values were from March to April in the rainy period for both irrigated and not irrigated conditions. However the largest ET rates were in November for irrigated crops and April for natural vegetation. More uniformity of the vegetation and water variables occurs in natural vegetation, evidenced by the lower values of standard deviation when comparing to irrigated crops, due to the different crop stages, cultural and irrigation managements. The models applied with MODIS satellite images on a large scale are considered to be suitable for water productivity assessments and for quantifying the effects of increasing irrigated areas over natural vegetation on regional water consumption in situations of quick changing land use pattern. © 2012 SPIE.