Morphometry and morphology of nucleus of the Sertoli and interstitial cells of the tambaqui Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1881) (Pisces: Characidae) during the reproductive cycle

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

Short- and long-term reproductive effects of prenatal and lactational growth restriction caused by maternal diabetes in male rats

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

Contribution to the study of aortic mural structure of opossum (Didelphis albiventris)

Opossum is considered one of the most primitive mammals, with transition evolutive characteristics. In mammals, the aorta artery is referred as the main body blood vessel. The arteries wall structural organization follows a basic pattern, being contituted of three tunics: Intima, Median and Adventicial. After euthanasia, three samples of opossum had segments from the aorta artery ascendent, thoracic descending and abdominal descending portions removed, fixed in phormalin at 10% for 48 hours. Then, the material was washed in alcohol 70% several times, dehydrated in alcohois of growing concentrations, diafanized in xylol and included in "paraplast". Cuts with 5 to 7 mu m of thickness were placed in histological laminae and submitted to color methods of Hematoxilin-Eosin, Masson, Mallory and Calleja Tricromics. It was observed that in the different portions ascendent, thoracic and abdominal descending of aorta, the intima tunic presents much thick, made up of a layer of smooth muscular cells and elastic fibers, forming a limiting internal elastic membrane. In the three portions studied, the median tunic was the most evident layer, constituted of colagen fibers, smooth muscular cells arranged in a circular manner and elastic fibers, showing a variation in the mural elements proportion. It was evidenced the presence of a external elastic lamina, marking the transition between the median and adventicial tunic, formed by elastic fibers condensation. The aortic adventicial tunic showed to be little organized, having in its structure predominantely colagen fibers beans with some isolated smooth muscular fibers or in small fascicules among a few elastic fibers.

Apoptosis in T lymphocytes from spleen tissue and peripheral blood of L. (L.) chagasi naturally infected dogs

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

Very Intense Distinct Blue and Red Photoluminescence Emission in MgTiO3 Thin Films Prepared by the Polymeric Precursor Method: An Experimental and Theoretical Approach

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Some particularities of dam rehabilitation projects

The number of dams, which need rehabilitation, is growing, not only in countries that have a long tradition in dam building and operation but,also in those regions where the infrastructure is still in full development. Though rehabilitation projects generally deal with problems that are common in dam engineering practice there are some peculiarities which are a characteristic of such projects and which must be duly taken into account to avoid unsuccess and/or unnecessary costs. Regular safety inspection is essential to forestall the development of structural, hydrological and operational unsafety. if need of major repair or overall rehabilitation of a dam becomes apparent design oft he rehabilitation project must be preceded by a comprehensive checkup of the structure and appurtenant works, as well as by an evaluation of its hydrological safety inclusive of all relevant environmental aspects. The availability of complete records on the clam's structural behaviour and on meteorological and hydrological data, as well as the knowledge of the materials properties of the existing structure are important for the successful design of a rehabilitation project. To this end the installation of monitoring devices in the existing structure may be necessary to generate representative data. While the criteria to be used in structural design should correspond to current standards, the definition of hydrological design criteria depends on considerations that vary widely from region to region or even from one country to another. Some basic hydrological safety requirements, however, are recommended for general acceptance. Dam rehabilitation projects demand very careful and detailed construction planning because of their dependence on river flow conditions, operational restrictions and, often, on procedures or limitations imposed to avoid harm to the environment. of utmost importance is the timely availability of the financial funds required to complete the project, in order to avoid delays which could result in structural or operational unsafety. Since every dam sooner or later will have to undergo major repair or updating of safety, rehabilitation may evolve to a speciality of dam engineering.

Synthesis, characterization and electrochemical study of layered double hydroxides intercalated with 2-thiophenecarboxylate anions

The synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical study of the Zn(II)-Al(III) and Zn(II)-Cr(III) Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) containing 2-thiopenecarboxylate as the interlayer anions are described. The LDHs were prepared by the constant pH coprecipitation technique followed by hydrothermal treatment for 72 h. The materials were analyzed by PXRD, FT-IR, C-13 CP-MAS, EDX, TEM, and CV. The presence of the organic heterocyclic anions was confirmed by FT-IR and the related solid-state C-13 NMR data strongly suggested that these were dimerised during coprecipitation. Accordingly, the basal spacing found by the X-ray technique was similar to 15.3 Angstrom, a distance coincident with the formation of bilayers of the intercalated anions. The structural organization of all the new materials was greatly enhanced by hydrothermal treatment, as shown by PXRD. The improved organization of the bilayered structures had a strong influence in the electrochemical behaviour of clay-modified electrodes produced with these materials, such as the diminished resistance to the ionic flow through the LDHs films. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Glasses in the SbPO4-WO3 system

Glasses in the binary system (100 - x)SbPO4-xWO3 (20 <= x <= 60, x in mol%) have been prepared and characterized. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) shows that the glass transition temperature, T-g increases from 412 degrees C, for samples containing 20 mol% of WO3 to 481 degrees C observed for glass containing 60 mol%. Sample containing 40 mol% in WO3 were observed to be the most stable against devitrification. The structural organization of the glasses has been studied by using Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), Raman, P-31 Magic angle spinning (MAS) and spin echo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. Results suggest two distinct networks comprising the glass structure, one with high SbPO4 content and the other characteristic of the highest WO3 content samples. The glasses present photochromic properties. Colour changes are observed for samples after exposure to ultraviolet or visible laser light. XANES, at L-1 absorption edge of tungsten, suggests partial reduction from W6+ to W5+ species during the laser irradiation. The photochromic effects and the colour changes, promoted by laser excitation, are reversible and easily removed by heat for during 1 h at 150 degrees C. Subsequent 'write/erase' cycles can be done without degradation of the glasses. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In2O3 microcrystals obtained from rapid calcination in domestic microwave oven

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

Restabelecimento funcional do tendão extensor digital longo submetido a ressecção parcial em equinos: Observação macroscópica, histopatológica e ultra-sonográfica

The objective of this work was to study the macroscopic, ultrasonographic and histopathologic aspects from the newly formed cicatricial tissue at the site of the partial resection of the long digital extensor tendon in 10 equines at the moment of functional restoration of the limb with the animal in walk locomotion. The macroscopic exam was performed every 48 hours, the planimetric mensuration every 10 days, the ultrasonographic exam every 15 days and the histopathologyc exam at the end of the study. The wounds showed granulation tissue in retraction, without total lesion epithelization, and the aspects ultrasonographics revealed wound healing with newly formed tissues with variable density and high neovascularization without tendon structural reorganization. The histopathology showed newly formed vascularized tissue, with leukocytic infiltrate and collagenous deposition without full epithelization. The cicatrization tissue formed in the resection region of the tendon, immature and without the structural organization of the normal tendon, showed to be able to functional restoration of the operated limb.

Orphan nuclear receptor NGFI-B forms dimers with nonclassical interface

The orphan receptor nerve growth factor-induced B (NGFI-B) is a member of the nuclear receptor's subfamily 4A (Nr4a). NGFI-B was shown to be capable of binding both as a monomer to an extended half-site containing a single AAAGGTCA motif and also as a homodimer to a widely separated everted repeat, as opposed to a large number of nuclear receptors that recognize and bind specific DNA sequences predominantly as homo- and/or heterodimers. To unveil the structural organization of NGFI-B in solution, we determined the quaternary structure of the NGFI-B LBD by a combination of ab initio procedures from small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data and hydrogen-deuterium exchange followed by mass spectrometry. Here we report that the protein forms dimers in solution with a radius of gyration of 2.9 nm and maximum dimension of 9.0 nm. We also show that the NGFI-B LBD dimer is V-shaped, with the opening angle significantly larger than that of classical dimer's exemplified by estrogen receptor (ER) or retinoid X receptor (RXR). Surprisingly, NGFI-B dimers formation does not occur via the classical nuclear receptor dimerization interface exemplified by ER and RXR, but instead, involves an extended surface area composed of the loop between helices 3 and 4 and C-terminal fraction of the helix 3. Remarkably, the NGFI-B dimer interface is similar to the dimerization interface earlier revealed for glucocorticoid nuclear receptor (GR), which might be relevant to the recognition of cognate DNA response elements by NGFI-B and to antagonism of NGFI-B-dependent transcription exercised by GR in cells. Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Copyright © 2007 The Protein Society.

Cultivo de condrócitos equinos e avaliação de sua condrogenicidade mediante implante de células associadas ao hidrogel em subcutâneo de camundongos atímicos

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Restabelecimento funcional do tendão extensor digital longo submetido à tenectomia em eqüinos: observação macroscópica, ultra-sonográfica e histopatológica

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Estudo de propriedades elétricas em sistemas orgânicos e inorgânicos correlacionados

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

Estudo no grau de ordem-desordem no 'SR''BI IND 2''NB IND 2''O IND.9 pela influência do íon 'EU IND.3'/' e tratamento térmico por microondas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)