Aging kinetics in the Cu-8 wt.% Al alloy with Ag additions

The influence of additions of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 wt.% Ag in the isothermal aging kinetics of the Cu-8 wt.% Al alloy was studied using microhardness measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, optical and scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The results indicate that the presence of silver is responsible for the shift of the equilibrium concentration to higher Al contents, allowing the formation of the gamma(1) phase (Al4Cu9) in this alloy. For Ag additions up to 6% the dominant kinetic process is Ag precipitation and for additions from 8 to 12% Ag the nucleation of the perlitic phase dominates. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of silver additions on the thermal behavior of the Cu-8 mass% Al alloy

The influence of additions of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 mass% Ag on the thermal behavior of the Cu-8 mass% Al alloy was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The results indicate that the presence of silver introduces new thermal events, due to the formation of a silver-rich phase and, for additions of 10 and 12 mass% Ag, it is possible to verify the formation of the gamma (1) phase (Cu9Al4) and the metastable transitions which are only observed in alloys with a minimum of 9 mass% Al.

Hipomineralização molar incisivo: qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal e percepção estética em escolares de 8 a 12 anos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

IL-8 released constitutively by primary bronchial epithelial cells in culture forms an inactive complex with secretory component

The bronchial epithelium is a source of both α and β chemokines and, uniquely, of secretory component (SC), the extracellular ligand-binding domain of the polymeric IgA receptor. Ig superfamily relatives of SC, such as IgG and α2-macroglobulin, bind IL-8. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that SC binds IL-8, modifying its activity as a neutrophil chemoattractant. Primary bronchial epithelial cells were cultured under conditions to optimize SC synthesis. The chemokines IL-8, epithelial neutrophil-activating peptide-78, growth-related oncogene α, and RANTES were released constitutively by epithelial cells from both normal and asthmatic donors and detected in high m.w. complexes with SC. There were no qualitative differences in the production of SC-chemokine complexes by epithelial cells from normal or asthmatic donors, and in all cases this was the only form of chemokine detected. SC contains 15% N-linked carbohydrate, and complete deglycosylation with peptide N-glycosidase F abolished IL-8 binding. In micro-Boyden chamber assays, no IL-8-dependent neutrophil chemotactic responses to epithelial culture supernatants could be demonstrated. SC dose-dependently (IC50 ∼0.3 nM) inhibited the neutrophil chemotactic response to rIL-8 (10 nM) in micro-Boyden chamber assays and also inhibited IL-8-mediated neutrophil transendothelial migration. SC inhibited the binding of IL-8 to nonspecific binding sites on polycarbonate filters and endothelial cell monolayers, and therefore the formation of haptotactic gradients, without effects on IL-8 binding to specific receptors on neutrophils. The data indicate that in the airways IL-8 may be solubilized and inactivated by binding to SC

Exercise training changes IL-10/TNF-alpha ratio in the skeletal muscle of post-MI rats

Heart failure (HF) is associated with changes in the skeletal muscle (SM) which might be a consequence of the unbalanced local expression of pro- (TNF-alpha) and anti- (IL-10) inflammatory cytokines, leading to inflammation-induced myopathy, and SM wasting. This local effect of HF on SM may, on the other hand, contribute to systemic inflammation, as this tissue actively secretes cytokines. Since increasing evidence points out to an anti-inflammatory effect of exercise training, the goal of the present study was to investigate its effect in rats with HF after post-myocardial infarction (MI), with special regard to the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-10 in the soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL), muscles with different fiber composition. Wistar rats underwent left thoracotomy with ligation of the left coronary artery, and were randomly assigned to either a sedentary (Sham-operated and MI sedentary) or trained (Sham-operated and MI trained) group. Animals in the trained groups ran on a treadmill (0% grade at 13-20 m/min) for 60 min/day, 5 days/week, for 8-10 weeks. The training protocol was able to reverse the changes induced by MI, decreasing TNF-alpha protein (26%, P < 0.05) and mRNA (58%, P < 0.05) levels in the soleus, when compared with the sedentary MI group. Training also increased soleus IL-10 expression (2.6-fold, P < 0.001) in post-MI HF rats. As a consequence, the IL-10/TNF-alpha ratio was increased. This ""anti-inflammatory effect"" was more pronounced in the soleus than in the EDL, suggesting a fiber composition dependent response. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Epidemiology of uveitis in children over a 10-year period.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study is to investigate the demographics, aetiologies, complications, treatments and visual outcomes in paediatric uveitis patients in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. METHODS: Chart review of all patients diagnosed with uveitis before the age of 16 years, presenting to two tertiary referral centres (uveitis and paediatric rheumatology clinics) in Lausanne, Switzerland, between 2000 and 2009. RESULTS: Seventy-nine children (37 girls) were identified, 62 living in Switzerland, 15 in Europe and 2 in North Africa. Median age at first symptoms was 9.0 years (range 1.5-15.8 years), with a median follow-up time of 1.8 years (0-8 years). Both eyes were involved in 51 patients (64.6%). The course was acute in 30.4%, chronic in 60.8% and recurrent in 8.9%. Anterior uveitis occurred in 39.2%, intermediate in 32.9%, posterior in 22.8% and panuveitis in 5.1%. The three main diagnoses were idiopathic uveitis (34.2%), JIA-related uveitis (22.8%) and toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (15.2%). During the last follow-up visit, the visual acuity (VA) was ≥8/10 in 72% of all eyes with a measurable VA. Cataract (8%), ocular hypertension/glaucoma (8%) and macular fibrosis (4%) were the three most common severe complications. Systemic steroids were given to 56% and biological agents to 24% of patients with inflammatory uveitis. CONCLUSIONS: Uveitis in children can be a devastating disease. A strict classification of aetiologies and a tight collaboration between paediatric rheumatologists and ophthalmologists are important to ensure early control of ocular inflammation and improve long-term visual prognosis.

Pyhä Birgitta ja Suomi : näyttelyn avajaispuhe Helsingin yliopiston kirjastossa 7.10.2003

Pyhä Birgitta ja Suomi. Näyttely Kansalliskirjaston Galleriassa 8.10.2003 - 17.1.2004.

L'atenció conjunta dels 10 als 28 mesos d'edat de l'infant. 'La atención conjunta desde los 10 a los 28 meses de edad del niño'.

Analizar el desarrollo de la atención conjunta de los 10 a los 28 meses de edad del niño. Dar a conocer los diferentes niveles de atención conjunta que reflejan evolutivamente las diferentes formas de atender en relación con el desarrollo de competencias del niño en las situaciones de interacción triádica adulto-objeto-niño. Se seleccionaron 12 parejas adulto-niño de forma accidental. Las parejas pertenecen a un marco sociocultural económico entre medio y alto y con un nivel de estudios medio o superior. Se tuvo en cuenta la ausencia de enfermedades graves. Se utiliza un diseño longitudinal-transversal que se estructura en tres cohortes. El niño y el adulto juegan con unos objetos seleccionados y se graban durante unos 8-10 minutos. Para la obtención de resultados se crean una serie de categorías exhaustivas y mutuamente excluyentes para cada miembro diádico. Para la recogida de datos se utilizó el programa ObsWin. Los datos se analizan secuencialmente con el programa SDIS-GSEQ. Se utiliza el índice de concordancia Kappa de Cohen que muestra que los registros de los comportamientos son fiables a partir de un segundo de tolerancia. También se utiliza el análisis descriptivo. Entre otros, a medida que el niño se desarrolla no disminuye la tasa de manifestación ni de la orientación de la mirada al objeto ni al adulto, aunque sólo aumenta la duración media de la manifestación de la mirada al objeto. Independientemente del desarrollo, la tasa de manifestación de la orientación de la mirada hacia el objeto y la de la mirada hacia el adulto aumentan y disminuyen conjuntamente. También independientemente del desarrollo, cuando disminuye la tasa de ocurrencia de las situaciones de atención conjunta, aumenta la tasa de las situaciones de atención compartida y al revés, pero a lo largo del desarrollo, sólo aumentan las situaciones de atención compartida. Los episodios interactivos de atención conjunta son menos frecuentes a medida que el niño se desarrolla, pero duran más. Esto comporta que el contenido del juego o trama interactiva que llevan a cabo el adulto y el niño sea más continuo y más rico en los ámbitos comunicativos, social y manipulativo. Además esto contribuye a la prolongación de los episodios. La comunicación del niño entre los 10-14 meses es básicamente no verbal a partir de la emisión de gestos y onomatopeyas. Tanto el gesto simple como el relacional y el conjunto emergen a los 10 meses, pero el simple se extingue entre los 18-20 meses y los otros dos se mantienen a lo largo del desarrollo. La comunicación verbal se inicia a los 16 meses con la manifestación de las primeras palabras sueltas y la confirmación o desconfirmación de enunciados del adulto. La comunicación verbal se inicia a los 22 meses con la emergencia de las primeras construcciones de frases y los primeros enunciados de edades mentales. Se concluye que de los 10 a los 28 meses, el niño desarrolla la atención conjunta con el adulto en función de la edad y el nivel de desarrollo de competencias cognitivas, comunicativas, sociales y manipuladoras y que el adulto crea un medio que posibilita la adquisición y el desarrollo de estas competencias. En este desarrollo el niño pasa por tres niveles de atención conjunta: entre los 10-12 meses alcanza el nivel preliminar de atención conjunta, entre los 14 y los 16 el nivel de adquisición de atención conjunta y entre los 22-24 meses alcanza el nivel ulterior de atención conjunta.

Massive superstring vertex operator in D=10 superspace

Using the pure spinor formalism for the superstring, the vertex operator for the first massive states of the open superstring is constructed in a manifestly super-Poincare covariant manner. This vertex operator describes a massive spin-two multiplet in terms of ten-dimensional superfields.

Biomimetic sensor based on 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-21H,23H- porphyrin iron (III) chloride and MWCNT for selective detection of 2,4-D

Exploitation of the electronic properties of carbon nanotubes for the development of voltammetric and amperometric sensors to monitor analytes of environmental relevance has increased in recent years. This work reports the development of a biomimetic sensor based on a carbon paste modified with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-21H,23H-porphyrin iron (III) chloride (a biomimetic catalyst of the P450 enzyme) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), for the sensitive and selective detection of the herbicide 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The sensor was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and amperometry, for electrochemical characterization and quantification purposes, respectively. Amperometric analyses were carried out at -100 mV vs. Ag/AgCl(KClsat), using a 0.1 mol L-1 phosphate buffer solution at pH 6.0 as the support electrolyte. Under these optimized analytical conditions, the sensor showed a linear response between 9.9 × 10-6 and 1.4 × 10-4 mol L-1, a sensitivity of 1.8 × 104 (±429) μA L mol -1, and limits of detection and quantification of 2.1 × 10 -6 and 6.8 × 10-6 mol L-1, respectively. The incorporation of functionalized MWCNT in the carbon paste resulted in a 10-fold increase in the response, compared to that of the biomimetic sensor without MWCNT. In addition, the low applied potential (-100 mV) used to obtain high sensitivity also contributed to the excellent selectivity of the proposed sensor. The viability of the application of this sensor for analysis of soil samples was confirmed by satisfactory recovery values, with a mean of 96% and RSD of 2.1% (n = 3). © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Expressão gênica dos fatores de crescimento fibroblástico 7 e 10 (FGF-7 e FGF-10) ao longo do desenvolvimento folicular ovariano bovino

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)