Efeitos do extrato aquoso de cebola (Allium cepa L.) sobre a função renal e a pressão arterial em ratos Wistar

The vegetal species, Allium cepa, known as onion, is widely used in the folk medicine as diuretic, besides it has been used on the bronchitis, cough, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension treatment. In this study we evaluate the onion aqueous extract (AE) effect on water flow and electrolytes in anesthetized Wistar rats, besides we also evaluate arterial pressure alterations. Two groups were studied: Group 1 (control) - oral tratment with 1.0 mL of distilled water, and Group 2 (experimental) - oral treatment with 1.0 mL of AE 20%. The rats were anesthetized and we canulate the trachea, left carotide artery (for arterial pressure measurement and blood collecting), jugular vein (to execute inulin perfusion - to register glomerular filtration), and urinary bladder (to collect urine). The Group 1 results had shown that the animals had not presented significant alterations (p>0.05) in the analyzed parameters. The animals of Group 2 had a significant reduction (p<0.05) in the arterial pressure (22.0%). However, there were not significant alterations in renal parameters (p>0.05). These results show that the treatment with the AE lead a hypotensor effect in anesthetized Wistar rats, but not followed by renal parameters alterations.

Os efeitos de um programa de atividade física de carga progressiva nas propriedades físicas e na força óssea de ratas osteopênicas

Background: Many studies have shown that physical exercises are able to stimulate bone formation and increase bone mass, constituting a therapeutic modality to treat bone loss due to osteoporosis. However, some points about the intensity, duration and frequency of the exercises remain confusing and contradictory. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of a progressive loading exercise program on femur of osteopenic rats. To induce osteopenia we used the animal model of ovariectomy (OVX). Forty animals was studied and divided into 4 groups: sham-operated sedentary (SS); ovariectomy-sedentary (OS); sham-operated training (ST) and ovariectomy training (OT). The trained groups performed jumps into water: 4 series of 10 jumps each, with an overload of 50% to 80% of the animal's body weight, during 8 weeks. Femora were submitted to a physical properties evaluation, a biomechanical test, calcium and phosphorus content measurement and a morphometric histological evaluation. Results: osteopenic animals showed a decrease of bone strength and lower values of bone weights, bone density and calcium content. The exercised osteopenic rats showed higher values of geometrical, physical properties, bone strength and calcium content compared to controls. The results of the present study indicate that the progressive loading exercise program had stimulatory effects on femora of osteopenic rats. It seems that the intensity and duration of the protocol used produced bone structural adaptations, which contributed to reverse bone loss due to ovariectomy.

Anatomical study on domestical fowl (Gallus domesticus) reproductive system

Lately, researchers have taken into consideration studies on birds since they represent an excellent nutritional source. There are several classical descriptions of the male reproductive tract, always aiming at establishing a correlation with shape, testicular size, age and sexual maturity. This study analyzed 50 male Gallus domesticus, 1 to 64 weeks old. The birds were collected with 10 days and then weekly until 24 weeks, following 37, 48, 59 and 64 weeks, and sacrificed by cervical displacement. It was observed the sintopies of testis with the other organs. Further, it was done the testicular measurement and then the statistical analysis by following the model of testis weight variation due to the animal age. Our results showed that the maximum weight of the right and left testes occurred with 167 and 210 days, respectively, what made us infer this species sexual maturity in this period.

Efeito hipotensor do extrato aquoso de alpiste (Phalaris canariensis L.) em ratos

The plant species Phalaris canariensis, known as canary grass, is widely used in folk medicine as diuretic, as well as in culinary and animal feed. In this study, the effect of P. canariensis aqueous extract (AE) on water flow (V) and sodium renal excretion (Qe (Na+)) was evaluated in anesthetized Wistar rats. Arterial pressure alterations (AP) were also assessed. Two groups were studied: Control group (CON) - oral administration of 1.0 mL distilled water, and Experimental group (EA) - oral administration of 1.0 mL P. canariensis aqueous extract 40%. Rats were anesthetized and subjected to cannulation of trachea (for better pulmonary ventilation), left carotid artery (for arterial pressure measurement) and urinary bladder (for urine collection). Control animals did not present significant alterations (p>0.05) in all analyzed parameters after water administration. EA group had a significant arterial pressure reduction at 60 minutes (31.4%) and 90 minutes (49.1%) after the extract administration (p<0.05). Renal parameters did not have any significant alteration (p>0.05). In this study, P. canariensis aqueous extract had a hypotensive effect in anesthetized Wistar rats, without renal alterations.

Calibration uncertainty estimation for internal aerodynamic balance

Aerodynamic balances are employed in wind tunnels to estimate the forces and moments acting on the model under test. This paper proposes a methodology for the assessment of uncertainty in the calibration of an internal multi-component aerodynamic balance. In order to obtain a suitable model to provide aerodynamic loads from the balance sensor responses, a calibration is performed prior to the tests by applying known weights to the balance. A multivariate polynomial fitting by the least squares method is used to interpolate the calibration data points. The uncertainties of both the applied loads and the readings of the sensors are considered in the regression. The data reduction includes the estimation of the calibration coefficients, the predicted values of the load components and their corresponding uncertainties, as well as the goodness of fit.

The use of current transformers for noise detection due to sparking in insulators strings in high voltage transmission lines

In a general way, in an electric power utility the current transformers (CT) are used to measurement and protection of transmission lines (TL) 1 The Power Line Carriers systems (PLC) are used for communication between electrical substations and transmission line protection. However, with the increasing use of optical fiber to communication (due mainly to its high data transmission rate and low signal-noise relation) this application loses potentiality. Therefore, other functions must be defined to equipments that are still in using, one of them is detecting faults (short-circuits) and transmission lines insulator strings damages 2. The purpose of this paper is to verify the possibility of using the path to the ground offered by the CTs instead of capacitive couplings / capacitive potential transformers to detect damaged insulators, since the current transformers are always present in all transmission lines (TL's) bays. To this a comparison between this new proposal and the PLC previous proposed system 2 is shown, evaluating the economical and technical points of view. ©2010 IEEE.

Indicators for monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Woman

Includes bibliography

N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles as a vitamin carrier system

There is considerable interest in incorporating stabilized vitamins into biopolymeric nanoparticles, especially in the development of carriers and active systems for pharmaceutical and food applications. Amongst biopolymer, chitosan is highly desirable owing to its good biocompatibility, biodegradability and ability to be chemically modified. In this paper, nanoparticles from three kinds of water-soluble derivative chitosan (N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan, TMC) have successfully been synthesized by ionic gelation with tripolyphosphate (TPP) anions. Combinations of concentrations of TMC and TPP have resulted in nanoparticles with varying sizes for which the capability for loading with vitamins was investigated. Zeta potential measurement and particle size analysis demonstrated that the size of the nanoparticles wasoptimized (196±8nm) when the lowest TMC and TPP amounts were used, i.e., 0.86mgmL -1 and 0.114mgmL -1 respectively. As the TMC and/or the TPP concentrations increase, the resulting size of the nanoparticles increases considerably. Three different vitamins (B9, B12 and C) were tested as additives and the final system characterized in relation to size, morphology, spectroscopic and zeta potential properties. In general, the incorporation of vitamins increased all the TMC-TPP original nanoparticle sizes, reaching a maximum diameter of 534±20nm when loaded with vitamin C. The presence of vitamins also decreases the zeta potential, with one exception observed when using vitamin C. The preliminary results of this study suggested that all TMC/TPP nanoparticles can be successfully used as a stable medium to incorporate and transport vitamins, with potential applications in foodstuffs. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Tooth embedding medium influences the accuracy of electronic apex locator

This study evaluated the influence of tooth embedding media on the accuracy ofan electronic apex locator. The root canal length of 20 human mandibular canines was measured by inserting a 15 K-file into the root canal up to the apical foramen. The distance was measured with a digital caliper. The embedding media evaluated were alginate, saline, floral foam or gauze soaked in saline. Electronic root canal length measurement was performed with Root ZX II. Data were analysed using ANOVA for repeated measurements and Tukey test, at a significance level of 5%. There was no difference between the actual root canal length measurement and the electronic reading recorded with alginate medium. The readings obtained with the other media differed from the actual root canal length measurements. Alginate provided greater accuracy in electronic root canal length determination by Root ZX II than saline, floral foam and gauze.

Qualidade de dados fluviométricos obtidos através de perfilamento acústico

Acoustic Doppler current profilers are currently the main option for flow measurement and hydrodynamic monitoring of streams, replacing traditional methods. The spread of such equipment is mainly due to their operational advantages ranging from speed measurement to the greatest detail and amount of information generated about the hydrodynamics of hydrometric sections. As in the use of traditional methods and equipments, the use of acoustic Doppler profilers should be guided by the pursuit of data quality, since these are the basis for project and management of water resources constructions and systems. In this sense, the paper presents an analysis of measurement uncertainties of a hydrometric campaign held in Sapucaí River (Piranguinho-MG), using two different Doppler profilers - a Rio Grande ADCP 1200 kHz and a Qmetrix Qliner. 10 measurements were performed with each equipment consecutively, following the literature quality protocols, and later, a Type A uncertainty analysis (statistical analysis of several independent observations of the input under the same conditions). The measurements of the ADCP and Qliner presented, respectively, standard uncertainties of 0.679% and 0.508% compared with the averages. These results are satisfactory and acceptable when compared to references in the literature, indicating that the use of Doppler profilers is valid for expansion and upgrade of streamflow measurement networks and generation of hydrological data.

Método de Lowry: validação e estimativa do cálculo da incerteza

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito da adição de parede celular de levedura sobre a digestibilidade, microbiota, ácidos graxos de cadeia curta e aminas fecais e parâmetros hematológicos e imunológicos de cães

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influência das alterações testiculares diagnosticadas pela histopatologia sobre as características biométricas, morfométricas e seminais em touros da raça nelore

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Implementation strategy for poverty eradication in Belize

Summary This document identifies the component of the implementation strategy. These include: the attainment of productive employment and sustainable livelihood; social protection and reduced vulnerability; health; education; the environment; management and resources for social development programmes; institutional mechanisms; measurement and monitoring instruments; and foreign affairs. In this tabular presentation, the issues associated with each component are identified, priority actions outlined, and time frame, cost, source of funds and institutional responsibility included.

Inclusão de alunos com deficiência intelectual: considerações sobre avaliação da aprendizagem escolar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)