Are affects important for the definition of depression?

Many of the nosological features, subtypes, biochemical, neurophysiological mechanisms, and therapeutic proposals are controversial in depression. Methods: We review theories and discuss affects and mood as criteria For depression or mania diagnosis. Results: Our work was to show that mood and affections are poorly conceived. Conclusions: Mood and affection do not serve as a basis for the diagnosis of depression or mania.

Fatigue and Fluoride Corrosion on Streptococcus mutans Adherence to Titanium-Based Implant/Component Surfaces

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

Involvement of L-glutamate and ATP in the neurotransmission of the sympathoexcitatory component of the chemoreflex in the commissural nucleus tractus solitarii of awake rats and in the working heart-brainstem preparation

Peripheral chemoreflex activation with potassium cyanide (KCN) in awake rats or in the working heart-brainstem preparation (WHBP) produces: (a) a sympathoexcitatory/pressor response; (b) bradycardia; and (c) an increase in the frequency of breathing. Our main aim was to evaluate neurotransmitters involved in mediating the sympathoexcitatory component of the chemoreflex within the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). In previous studies in conscious rats, the reflex bradycardia, but not the pressor response, was reduced by antagonism of either ionotropic glutamate or purinergic P2 receptors within the NTS. In the present study we evaluated a possible dual role of both P2 and NMDA receptors in the NTS for processing the sympathoexcitatory component (pressor response) of the chemoreflex in awake rats as well as in the WHBP. Simultaneous blockade of ionotropic glutamate receptors and P2 receptors by sequential microinjections of kynurenic acid (KYN, 2 nmol (50 nl)(-1)) and pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulphonate (PPADS, 0.25 nmol (50 nl)(-1)) into the commissural NTS in awake rats produced a significant reduction in both the pressor (+38 +/- 3 versus +8 +/- 3 mmHg) and bradycardic responses (-172 +/- 18 versus -16 +/- 13 beats min(-1); n = 13), but no significant changes in the tachypnoea measured using plethysmography (270 +/- 30 versus 240 +/- 21 cycles min(-1), n = 7) following chemoreflex activation in awake rats. Control microinjections of saline produced no significant changes in these reflex responses. In WHBP, microinjection of KYN (2 nmol (20 nl)(-1)) and PPADS (1.6 nmol (20 nl)(-1)) into the commissural NTS attenuated significantly both the increase in thoracic sympathetic activity (+52 +/- 2% versus +17 +/- 1%) and the bradycardic response (-151 +/- 17 versus -21 +/- 3 beats min(-1)) but produced no significant changes in the increase of the frequency of phrenic nerve discharge (+0.24 +/- 0.02+0.20 +/- 0.02 Hz). The data indicate that combined microinjections of PPADS and KYN into the commissural NTS in both awake rats and the WHBP are required to produce a significant reduction in the sympathoexcitatory response (pressor response) to peripheral chemoreflex activation. We conclude that glutamatergic and purinergic mechanisms are part of the complex neurotransmission system of the sympathoexcitatory component of the chemoreflex at the level of the commissural NTS.

Acoustic and perceptual analyses of Brazilian male actors' and nonactors' voices: Long-term average spectrum and the Actor's Formant

This study investigates the possible differences between actors' and nonactors' vocal projection strategies using acoustic and perceptual analyses. A total of 11 male actors and 10 male nonactors volunteered as subjects, reading an extended text sample in habitual, moderate, and loud levels. The samples were analyzed for sound pressure level (SPL), alpha ratio (difference between the average SPL of the 1-5 kHz region and the average SPL of the 50 Hz-1 kHz region), fundamental frequency (F0), and long-term average spectrum (LTAS). Through LTAS, the mean frequency of the first formant (171) range, the mean frequency of the actor's formant, the level differences between the F1 frequency region and the F0 region (L1-L0), and the level differences between the strongest peak at 0-1 kHz and that at 3-4 kHz were measured. Eight voice specialists evaluated perceptually the degree of projection, loudness, and tension in the samples. The actors had a greater alpha ratio, stronger level of the actor's formant range, and a higher degree of perceived projection and loudness in all loudness levels. SPL, however, did not differ significantly between the actors and nonactors, and no differences were found in the mean formant frequencies ranges. The alpha ratio and the relative level of the actor's formant range seemed to be related to the degree of perceived loudness. From the physiological point of view, a more favorable glottal setting' providing a higher glottal closing speed, may be characteristic of these actors' projected voices. So, the projected voices, in this group of actors, were more related to the glottic source than to the resonance of the vocal tract.

Agrupamentos Sonoros Plenos na Música de Simultaneidades Acústicas e Estruturais

The present article reflects about the concepts of linearity, space and acoustic complexity in the definition of sound grouping as a criticism to the linear concept of phraseology mainly when applied to the music of imitative texture or of complex simultaneities. It takes as examples works by Bach, Josquin des Prez and a fragment of "Lontano" by Ligeti, to study them in two distinct dimensions, simultaneous and interconnected: the acoustic dimension with its entire spectral complexity and the relational dimension which establishes the interaction among the figures in voices and texture layers with some kind of acoustic and structural simultaneity.

Hunger suppresses the onset and the freezing component of the antipredator response to conspecific skin extract in pintado catfish

Although the skin of an injured conspecific releases alarm substance in some fish species, it has been shown that such damage induces feeding behaviour rather than an alarm reaction under conditions of food scarcity. We studied chemical communication associated with this paradox in a Brazilian catfish, the pintado (Pseudoplatystoma coruscans). In preliminary tests pintado were confirmed to demonstrate an alarm reaction to conspecific skin extract. In the experiment we investigated whether skin extract of pintado induces either alarm response (panic or alert component) or feeding in hungry conspecifics. Fish feed-deprived for eight days and fed control fish were exposed to either conspecific skin extract or distilled water (as a control). Alarm reaction was restricted to the skin extract treatment and occurred in the fish irrespective of their hunger state, but the components of this response were significantly affected by hungry. Fed fish showed a complete alarm reaction (dashing and freezing behaviours). Feed-deprived fish exhibited only part of this biphasic response, the dashing component. We conclude that chemicals from injured fish elicit an alarm reaction, which is partially inhibited by feeding motivation.

Helminth component community of the paradoxal frog Pseudis platensis Gallardo, 1961 (Anura: Hylidae) from south-eastern Pantanal, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Phylogenetic relationships within the speciose family Characidae (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characiformes) based on multilocus analysis and extensive ingroup sampling

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

Toward a hierarchical concept of plant stress

A number of attempts have been made to obtain a clear definition of biological stress. However, in spite of the efforts, some controversies on the concept of plant stress remain. The current versions are centered either on the cause (stress factor) or on the effect (stress response) of environmental stress. The objective of this study was to contribute to the definition of stress, using a hierarchical approach. Thus, we have performed an analysis of the most usual stress concepts and tested the relevance of considering different observation scales in a study on plant response to water deficit. Seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis were grown in vitro at water potentials ranging from -0.16 to -0.6 MPa, and evaluated according to growth and biochemical parameters. Data were analyzed through principal component analysis (PCA), which pointed to a hierarchical organization in plant responses to environmental disturbances. Growth parameters (height and dry weight) are more sensitive to water deficit than biochemical ones (sugars, proline, and protein), suggesting that higher hierarchical levels were more sensitive to environmental constraints than lower hierarchical ones. We suggest that before considering an environmental fluctuation as stressful, it is necessary to take into account different levels of plant response, and that the evaluation of the effects of environmental disturbances on an organism depends on the observation scale being used. Hence, a more appropriate stress concept should consider the hierarchical organization of the biological systems, not only for a more adequate theoretical approach, but also for the improvement of practical studies on plants under stress.

Perseveration in congenitally blind children: Effects of luminous and acoustic targets on a modified A-not-B task

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not blind children perseverate during a modified Piagetian A-not-B reaching task, with conditions that employ luminous AB targets and acoustic AB targets. Ten congenitally blind children, ages 1-4 years, with residual vision for light, took part in this study. Behavioral and kinematic data were computed for participants' reaches, performed in six A trials and in two B trials, in both stimulus conditions. All of the children perseverated in the luminous condition, and none of them perseverated in the condition using acoustic targets. The children tilted their heads in the direction of the target as they reached towards it. However, this coupling action (head-reaching) occurred predominantly in the A trials in the acoustic condition. In the luminous condition, in contrast to the acoustic condition, the children took longer times to initiate the reaching movement. Also, in the luminous condition, the children explored the target surroundings, unlike the acoustic condition, in which they reached straight ahead. For these blind children, sound was more relevant to reaching than was the luminous stimulus. The luminous input caused perseveration in congenitally blind children in a similar way that has been reported in the literature for typically-developing, sighted infants, ages 8-12 months, performing A-not-B tasks with visual inputs. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Social interactions in Hypsiboas albomarginatus (Anura : Hylidae) and the significance of acoustic and visual signals

Social behavior of Hypsiboas albomarginatus was studied in the Atlantic rain forest, Municipality of Ubatuba, in the north coast of the State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Vocalizations of H. albomarginatus are described, including contexts in which they were emitted and temporal and spectral parameters differentiating advertisement from aggressive calls. Dominant call frequency was inversely correlated with male length and body mass but not with environmental temperature. Number of pulses per note was not correlated with any variable, and advertisement call amplitude was influenced by temperature and time. During chorus aggregation, males interacted acoustically by emitting advertisement calls in antiphony, or by emitting aggressive calls. Some disputes among males culminated in physical combat; males performed kicks and slaps on rivals' heads, in an apparent attempt to dislodge rivals from perches. Visual signals were also displayed during conflicts between males, contributing to an escalation of aggressive behavior. Visual signals were not recorded during courtship between males and females but may help in the accurate localization of the signaling male during aggressive interactions.

Crystal structure of a dimeric Ser49 PLA(2)-like myotoxic component of the Vipera ammodytes meridionalis venomics reveals determinants of myotoxicity and membrane damaging activity

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The structure of a native L-amino acid oxidase, the major component of the Vipera ammodytes ammodytes venomic, reveals dynamic active site and quaternary structure stabilization by divalent ions

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