No relationship found between point heteroplasmy in mitochondrial DNA control region and age range, sex and haplogroup in human hairs

The analysis of heteroplasmy (presence of more than one type of mitochondrial DNA in an individual) is used as a tool in human identification studies, anthropology, and most currently in studies that relate heteroplasmy with longevity. The frequency of heteroplasmy and its correlation with age has been analyzed using different tissues such as blood, muscle, heart, bone and brain and in different regions of mitochondrial DNA, but this analysis had never been performed using hair samples. In this study, samples of hair were sequenced in order to ascertain whether the presence or not of heteroplasmy varied according to age, sex and origin of haplogroup individuals. The samples were grouped by age (3 groups), gender (male and female) and haplogroup of origin (European, African and Native American), and analyzed using the chi-square statistical test (chi(2)). Based in statistical results obtained, we conclude that there is no relationship between heteroplasmy and sex, age and haplogroup origin using hair samples.

On Seliger and Whitham`s variational principle for hydrodynamic systems from the point of view of `fictitious particles`

FAPESP, the Sao Paulo State Research Foundation[04/04611-5]

On the solubility of proteins as a function of pH: Mathematical development and application

Thermodynamic relations between the solubility of a protein and the solution pH are presented in this work. The hypotheses behind the development are that the protein chemical potential in liquid phase can be described by Henry`s law and that the solid-liquid equilibrium is established only between neutral molecules. The mathematical development results in an analytical expression of the solubility curve, as a function of the ionization equilibrium constants, the pH and the solubility at the isoelectric point. It is shown that the same equation can be obtained either by directly calculating the fraction of neutral protein molecules or by integrating the curve of the protein average charge. The methodology was successfully applied to the description of the solubility of porcine insulin as a function of pH at three different temperatures and of bovine beta-lactoglobulin at four different ionic strengths. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fixed-point DSP implementation of nonlinear H(infinity) controller for large gap electromagnetic suspension system

Electromagnetic suspension systems are inherently nonlinear and often face hardware limitation when digitally controlled. The main contributions of this paper are: the design of a nonlinear H(infinity) controller. including dynamic weighting functions, applied to a large gap electromagnetic suspension system and the presentation of a procedure to implement this controller on a fixed-point DSP, through a methodology able to translate a floating-point algorithm into a fixed-point algorithm by using l(infinity) norm minimization due to conversion error. Experimental results are also presented, in which the performance of the nonlinear controller is evaluated specifically in the initial suspension phase. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Measuring Hydraulic Conductivity to Wilting Point Using Polymer Tensiometers in an Evaporation Experiment

The polymer tensiometer is a novel instrument to measure soil water pressure heads from saturation to permanent wilting conditions. We used tensiometers of this type in an experiment to determine the hydraulic properties of evaporating soil samples in the laboratory. Relative errors in the hydraulic conductivity function in the wet part were high due to the relatively low accuracy of the pressure transducers, resulting in a large uncertainty in the hydraulic gradient and therefore in the calculated hydraulic conductivity. In the dry part, the error related to this accuracy was on the same order of magnitude as the error related to balance accuracy. Therefore, the method can be assumed adequate for measuring soil hydraulic properties except under very wet conditions. In our experiments, relative error and bias increased significantly at pressure heads less negative than -1 m.

Increased class A scavenger receptor and glomerular lipid precede mesangial matrix expansion in the bGH mouse model

Objective: Elevated neutral lipid content and mRNA expression of class A scavenger receptor (SRA) have been found in the renal cortex of the bovine growth hormone (bGH) mouse model of progressive glomerulosclerosis (GS). We hypothesize that the increased expression of SRA precedes glomerular scarring in this model. Design: Real time RT-PCR and immunofluorescence were employed to measure SRA and collagen types I and IV in the bGH transgenic and control mice at 5 and 12 weeks (wk) of age to determine the chronology of change in SRA expression in relation to glomerular scarring. Alternative mechanisms for increasing glomerular lipid were assessed by measuring mRNA expression levels of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-r), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR), and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1). In addition, the involvement of macrophages in early GS was assessed by CD68 mRNA expression in kidney cortex. Results: Both mRNA and protein levels of SRA were significantly increased in 5-wk bGH compared with control mice, whereas the expression of collagen I and IV was unaltered. Unchanged levels of LDL-r and HMGR mRNA indicate that neither regulated cholesterol uptake via LDL-r nor the cholesterol synthetic pathway played a role in the early lipid increase. The finding of increased ABCA1 expression was an indicator of excess intracellular lipid in the renal cortex of bGH mice at 5 wk. CD68 expression in bGH did not differ significantly from that of controls at 5 wk suggesting that cortical macrophage infiltration was not increased in bGH mice at this time point. Conclusion: An early increase in SRA mRNA and protein expression in the bGH kidney precedes glomerular scarring and is independent of macrophage influx. Published by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of Growth Hormone Research Society.

Low cytotoxicity of creams and lotions formulated with Buriti oil (Mauritia flexuosa) assessed by the neutral red release test

The aim of this work was to evaluate possible cytotoxic effects of topical creams and lotions produced with Buriti oil and commercial surfactants on human keratinocytes HaCat and 3T3 embryonic mouse fibroblast cultures. We also aimed to assess the cytotoxicity of the surfactants used to produce the emulsions. The neutral red release (NRR) assay was performed as an in vitro method to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the emulsions in HaCat and 3T3 cell lines and predict potential skin irritation. The Buriti oil emulsions presented low cytotoxicity to the cells at high concentrations and the addition of Vitamin E increased cell viability. Among the surfactant tested, Unitol(R) CE 200F proved to be the most cytotoxic, presenting an IC50 significantly lower than the others. Emulsions formulated with Buriti oil and commercial surfactants could be non irritant to the skin due to their low cytotoxicity, especially when enhanced with vitamin E. When emulsified with Buriti oil, water and Brij 72, Unitol CE200F showed less cytotoxic effects than when tested alone. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Column connection detail, Kangaroo Point House

Hand-made spotted gum column on edge of outdoor room.

West elevation, Cleveland Point House, Cleveland

Hand-drawn elevation.

Cottage, Cleveland Point House, Cleveland

Beach elevation of renovated existing cottage.

Lattice to boat house, Cleveland Point House, Cleveland

Lattice behind pull-down blind to boat house.

Beachfront elevation, Cleveland Point House, Cleveland

Timber framing to new bath house (centre), with existing buildings to either side.

Bath house, Cleveland Point House, Cleveland

New bath house under construction (centre), with existing buildings to either side.

Bath house, Cleveland Point House, Cleveland

Bath house under construction, as seen looking towards water from deck area.

Bath house, Cleveland Point House, Cleveland

As seen looking towards water from deck area.