Glial cells modulate the synaptic transmission of NTS neurons sending projections to ventral medulla of Wistar rats

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

Autonomic control of post-air-breathing tachycardia in Clarias gariepinus (Teleostei: Clariidae)

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

The homeostasis of iron, copper, and zinc in paracoccidioides brasiliensis, cryptococcus neoformans var. Grubii, and cryptococcus gattii: a comparative analysis

Iron, copper, and zinc are essential for all living organisms. Moreover, the homeostasis of these metals is vital to microorganisms during pathogenic interactions with a host. Most pathogens have developed specific mechanisms for the uptake of micronutrients from their hosts in order to counteract the low availability of essential ions in infected tissues. We report here an analysis of genes potentially involved in iron, copper, and zinc uptake and homeostasis in the fungal pathogens Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii, and Cryptococcus gattii. Although prior studies have identified certain aspects of metal regulation in Cryptococcus species, little is known regarding the regulation of these elements in P. brasiliensis. We also present amino acid sequences analyses of deduced proteins in order to examine possible conserved domains. The genomic data reveals, for the first time, genes associated to iron, copper, and zinc assimilation and homeostasis in P. brasiliensis. Furthermore, analyses of the three fungal species identified homologs to genes associated with high-affinity uptake systems, vacuolar and mitochondrial iron storage, copper uptake and reduction, and zinc assimilation. However, homologs to genes involved in siderophore production were only found in P. brasiliensis. Interestingly, in silico analysis of the genomes of P. brasiliensis Pb01, Pb03, and Pb18 revealed significant differences in the presence and/or number of genes involved in metal homeostasis, such as in genes related to iron reduction and oxidation. The broad analyses of the genomes of P. brasiliensis, C. neoformans var. grubii, and C. gattii for genes involved in metal homeostasis provide important groundwork for numerous interesting future areas of investigation that are required in order to validate and explore the function of the identified genes and gene pathways.

Análise energética de sistemas de produção de etanol de mandioca, cana-de-açúcar e milho

The objective of this work was the analysis of the energetic ethanol production systems using as source of carbohydrates, manioc, sugar cane and maize crops. The searches were carried from the field in the Paranapanema River Valley, state of Sao Paulo in the operations of cultivation and industrial processing of raw materials for analysis. The expenditure of energy concerning the agricultural part was made by the energy consumption of stage production of one hectare of sugar cane, cassava and corn, tillage and planting procedure, inputs, driving the crop, harvest, transport industry and energy draining. The expenditure of energy referring to the part was made by the industry energy consumption of stage processing of one tonne of sugar cane, cassava and corn, in the operations of disintegration / milling, hydrolysis / treatment of the broth, fermentation, distillation and maintenance of equipment. Under the system of agronomic production of raw materials, manioc presented an energy expenditure below that of sugar cane and maize (9,528.33 MJ ha-1; 14,370.90 MJ ha-1 and 15,633.83 MJ ha-1, respectively). For the ethanol produced, the operations of cultivation has consumed 1.54 MJ l-1 with manioc; MJ 1.99 l-1 with sugar cane, and 7.9 MJ l-1 with the corn. In the industrial processing of a ton of raw material, sugar cane presented an energy cost less than the cassava and maize (1,641.56 MJ t-1; 2,208.28 MJ t-1 and MJ 3,882.39 t-1, Respectively), however, showed a higher cost than when they related to ethanol produced (19.38 MJ l-1; 11.76 MJ l-1 and 11.76 MJ l-1, respectively). In the final energy balance for each megajoules of energy invested in sugar cane were required 1.09 MJ (9%), for each megajoules of energy invested in manioc were required 1.76 MJ (76%) and for each megajoules energy invested in maize were required 1.19 MJ (19%). Overall, it appears that the manioc consumes less energy than sugar cane and corn crops in the process of agribusiness obtaining ethanol.

Um estudo dos avanços conceituais dos estudantes sobre calor e temperatura decorrentes da aplicação de uma estratégia de ensino inspirada na teoria de Lakatos

We report here a study about the application of a formal teaching strategy about heat and temperature concepts applied among high school students. The strategy belongs to a research trend which deals with epistemological analogies and has an innovative character related to the students’ preparation for rational debates between conceptions and/or rival theories, using didactical rational reconstruction (DRR) which aims to help scientific concepts rational learning. We investigate the outcomes of this preparation and students’ conceptual development, analyzed through a qualitative-interpretative methodological approach.

Desenvolvimento e avaliação de desempenho de um sistema de posicionamento automático para painéis fotovoltaicos

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

O conceito da televisão pública para a rede nacional de televisão pública digital

A Rede Nacional de Televisão Pública Digital3 (RNTPD), antes prevista para ser implantada por meio de um Operador de Rede Público, passa agora a ser estudada para ser efetivada por meio da malha de fibra óptica da Telebrás (banda larga), empresa que apresentou projeto com possibilidade de redução em 50% dos gastos da implantação da rede. Com a previsão da parceria, a meta da implantação da rede deve atingir cerca 4,3 mil cidades em quatro anos, chegando a aproximadamente 80% dos municípios brasileiros. Por meio de uma pesquisa exploratória, este artigo tem o objetivo de apresentar alguns conceitos de televisão pública discutidos pela sociedade civil organizada e academia para a RNTPD.

Transpondo o abismo: a construção de perfis de cientistas

From the dyagnosis that science has become apart from mainstream culture and everyday life, we discuss in this article the representation of characters and actions which are part of science-making in three profiles published by piauí magazine: “Entre ratos”, by Raquel Freire Zangrandi, “Artur tem um problema”, by João Moreira Salles, and “Com a mão na massa (cerebral)”, by Dorrit Harazim. In constrast, we also analyze the profiles presented in the book Gigantes da ciência, by Philipe Cane, and the series Os cientistas, published by Abril. From this we may consider that the group of texts published by piaui, which are structured according to literary journalism techniques, bring the reader closer to the making of science and the profiled characters, although they still narrate too little of their private lives.

Ultra-precision face grinding with constant pressure, lapping kinematics, and SiC grinding wheels dressed with overlap factor

Several machining processes have been created and improved in order to achieve the best results ever accomplished in hard and difficult to machine materials. Some of these abrasive manufacturing processes emerging on the science frontier can be defined as ultra-precision grinding. For finishing flat surfaces, researchers have been putting together the main advantages of traditional abrasive processes such as face grinding with constant pressure, fixed abrasives for two-body removal mechanism, total contact of the part with the tool, and lapping kinematics as well as some specific operations to keep grinding wheel sharpness and form. In the present work, both U d-lap grinding process and its machine tool were studied aiming nanometric finishing on flat metallic surfaces. Such hypothesis was investigated on AISI 420 stainless steel workpieces U d-lap ground with different values of overlap factor on dressing (Ud=1, 3, and 5) and grit sizes of conventional grinding wheels (silicon carbide (SiC)=#800, #600, and #300) applying a new machine tool especially designed and built for such finishing. The best results, obtained after 10 min of machining, were average surface roughness (Ra) of 1.92 nm, 1.19-μm flatness deviation of 25.4-mm-diameter workpieces, and mirrored surface finishing. Given the surface quality achieved, the U d-lap grinding process can be included among the ultra-precision abrasive processes and, depending on the application, the chaining steps of grinding, lapping, and polishing can be replaced by the proposed abrasive process.

Efeito do tirosol sobre biofilmes de Streptococcus mutans

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

Reatividade e tolerância ao calor de fêmeas ovinas de diferentes grupos genéticos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Incidência e determinantes de infecção de sítio cirúrgico em hospitais de pequeno porte nas divisões regionais de saúde de Araçatuba, Bauru e Botucatu

Pós-graduação em Doenças Tropicais - FMB

Soil greenhouse gas emissions and their relations to soil attributes in a sugarcane area

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

Suplementação com levedura de Crômio eleva a concentração sérica de Crômio em bovinos

This study evaluated the effect of daily chromium supplementation at growing doses on serum Cr levels in cattle. Sixty Nellore heifers 2 to 5 years old were randomly assigned to one of four groups (15 heifers/group) fed non-fertilized Brachiaria decumbens pasture. In the control group (Gc), the heifers received a mineral mixture without Cr. In the other groups, heifers received 0.59, 1.19 or 2.38 mg Cr+3/animal/day, groups G8,5, G17 and G34, respectively. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 30 and 60. Serum concentration of chromium was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The chromium source used was the chromium yeast. The results do not support any significant difference (p>0.05) among serum chromium levels of heifers in groups Gc, G8,5, G17 and G34 at a same observation day. Only effect of supplementation time was detected in group G34. In this group there was significant increase (p<0,05) in the concentration serum chromium 60 days after the beginning of the experiment. Concluded Cr yeast can be used as the source of this mineral element for animals and supplementation with 2.38 mg/ cattle/day was the dose that most increased the serum concentration of Cr in Nellore cattle during the experimental period.

Imagens aéreas multiespectrais na identificação de zonas de manejo em áreas de algodão para aplicação localizada de insumos

Crop yield is influenced by several factors with variability in time and space that are associated with the variations in the plant vigor. This variability allows the identification of management zones and site-specific applications to manage different regions of the field. The purpose of this study was the use of multispectral image for management zones identification and implications of site-specific application in commercial cotton areas. Multispectral airborne images from three years were used to classify a field into three vegetation classes via the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The NDVI classes were used to verify the potential differences between plant physical measurements and identify management zones. The cotton plant measurements sampled in 8 repetitions of 10 plants at each NDVI class were Stand Count, Plant Height, Total Nodes and Total Bolls. Statistical analysis was performed with treatments arranged in split plot design with Tukey’s Test at 5% of probability. The images were classified into five NDVI classes to evaluate the relationship between cotton plant measurement results and sampling location across the field. The results have demonstrated the possibility of using multispectral image for management zones identification in cotton areas. The image classification into three NDVI classes showed three different zones in the field with similar characteristics for the studied years. Statistical differences were shown for plant height, total nodes and total bolls between low and high NDVI classes for all years. High NDVI classes contained plants with greater height, total nodes and total bolls compared to low NDVI classes. There was no difference in Stand Count between low and high NDVI classes for the three studied years. The final plant stand was the same between all NDVI classes for 2001 and 2003 as it was expected due to the conventional seeding application with the same rate of seeds for the entire field.