Synergistic effect of photodynamic therapy and cisplatin: a novel approach for cervical cancer

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

Taxonomic update in Adenocalymma (Bignoniaceae): emendations, new synonyms, typifications, and status change

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

Metabolic investigation of patients with staghorn calculus: is it necessary?

To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic disorders in patients with staghorn calculi treated at the Regional Center of Lithiasis Metabolic Studies in central region of Såo Paulo State, Brazil. Between February 2000 and February 2008, 630 patients with urinary calculi were evaluated in the lithiasis outpatient clinic. Thirty-seven of them had staghorn calculi (35 women and 2 men). The inclusion criteria for the metabolic investigation included the absence of urological manipulation 30 days before the examination, negative urine culture and creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min. The protocol for metabolic investigation consisted of qualitative search for cystinuria. Two non-consecutive 24-hour urine samples collected to measure calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, sodium, potassium, magnesium, oxalate and citrate, and serum calcium levels, phosphorus, uric acid, sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, parathormone and urine pH. Among patients with lithiasis, 5.9% (37/630) had staghorn calculus and in 48.6% (18/37) were diagnosed with urinary infection. The females were predominant for 94.5% of cases. The calculi were unilateral in 31 of cases and bilateral in six. Metabolic abnormalities were found in 68.2% of patients with hypercalciuria (64.2%) and hypocitraturia (53.3%) being the most common disorders. The presence of metabolic disorders in nearly 70% of patients with staghorn calculus reinforces the necessity for evaluation of these patients. The diagnosis and treatment of identified metabolic abnormalities can contribute to the prevention of recurrent staghorn calculi.

Prevalence of anogenital warts in Men with HIV/AIDS and associated factors

Infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world. Among the 630 million new cases of HPV that occur each year, 30 million develop anogenital warts. Although subclinical infection with HPV is the most common cause, genital warts are also associated with immunosuppression caused by HIV. In view of the high prevalence of HPV/HIV co-infection particularly among men who have sex with men, the objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of anogenital warts in men with HIV/AIDS and to identify associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 159 men with HIV/AIDS consecutively selected at a referral service in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, in which the association between sociodemographic, behavioral and clinical variables and the presence of anogenital warts was evaluated. After hierarchical analysis of the data, variables presenting a p value ≤ 0.2 were entered into an unconditional multivariate logistic regression model. Forty-nine (31%) of the HIV-positive patients had anogenital warts. The mean age was 44.6 ± 9.6 years. The main factors associated with the presence of anogenital warts were irregular antiretroviral treatment and genital herpes(HSV). The present study demonstrate that anogenital warts occur in almost one-third of the male population infected with HIV and factors associated with a higher risk of being diagnosed with anogenital warts were irregular cART use and co-infection with HSV, other variables could not be associated.

Uncaria tomentosa increases growth and immune activity in Oreochromis niloticus challenged with Streptococcus agalactiae

Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is an Amazon herb using in native cultures in Peru. In mammals, it has been described several effects of this herb. However, this is the first report of its use on the diet of fish. The aim of this study was to determinate the effect of this plant on the growth and immune activity in Oreochromis niloticus. Nile tilapia (81.3 ± 4.5 g) were distributed into 5 groups and supplemented with 0 (non-supplement fish), 75, 150, 300, and 450 mg of U. tomentosa.kg(-1) of diet for a period of 28 days. Fish were inoculated in the swim bladder with inactivated Streptococcus agalactiae and samples were taken at 6, 24, and 48 h post inoculation (HPI). Dose dependent increases were noted in some of the evaluated times of thrombocytes and white blood cells counts (WBC) in blood and exudate, burst respiratory activity, lysozyme activity, melanomacrophage centers count (MMCs), villi length, IgM by immunohistochemistry in splenic tissue, and unexpectedly on growth parameters. However, dietary supplementation of this herb did not affect red blood cells count (RBC), hemoglobin, and there were no observed histological lesions in gills, intestine, spleen, and liver. The current results demonstrate for the first time that U. tomentosa can stimulate fish immunity and improve growth performance in Nile tilapia.

Projeto de extensão FUTFEB

Introdução: O Projeto de Extensão FutFEB procura estimular o interesse dos alunos do ensino médio, técnico e fundamental para seguirem carreira nas áreas de engenharia e ciência da computação. Para isso são utilizados robôs móveis simples em conjunto com material didático e audiovisual para despertar de forma lúdica, através de palestras e demonstrações práticas, o interesse dos jovens para os desafios e atrativos das carreiras tecnológicas. Essas atividades são desenvolvidas por alunos do Colégio Técnico Industrial e da Faculdade de Engenharia do Campus de Bauru. Objetivos: Propiciar condições para que os alunos do Colégio Técnico Industrial e da Faculdade de Engenharia desenvolvam atividades de pesquisa e desenvolvimento sobre robôs móveis autônomos funcionando como complemento e estímulo a sua formação acadêmica nas áreas de engenharia elétrica, mecânica, e computação. Assim, espera-se a criação da cultura e de um ambiente propícios para desenvolvimento de pesquisas e de inovação tecnológica, que ajudem a consolidar os Cursos Técnicos, de Graduação e PósGraduação da FEB. Métodos: O uso de robôs móveis em cursos de engenharia ou cursos visando o desenvolvimento tecnológico não é uma novidade. Inúmeros experimentos são relatados na literatura, sendo que esta abordagem tem se tornado quase que uma obrigatoriedade nos cursos de boa qualidade [Hoopes, 2003], [Martin, 1994], [Miglino, 1998]. Um dos pilares desta nova linha de ensino tecnológico é o trabalho desenvolvido por Resnick no MIT [Kafai & Resnick, 1996] que é parte importante do conhecido Projeto LEGO Mindstorms. Esta perspectiva altera significativamente o posicionamento do estudante, dando-lhe maturidade profissional e responsabilidade. Com isso espera-se formar um profissional mais capacitado tanto no aspecto de fundamentos e conceitos técnicos, como na capacidade de empreender e inovar. Também existe a expectativa de que muitos dos trabalhos desenvolvidos sejam transformados em projetos de Iniciação Científica. Resultados: toda a tecnologia utilizada no conceito Futebol de Robôs continua sendo desenvolvida e aprimorada, diversos trabalhos científicos de ponta podem ser encontrados na literatura recente, trabalhos que abordam entre outros temas, o problema da navegação autônoma dos robôs móveis. Apresenta-se a seguir trabalhos de alunos vinculados ao Projeto de Extensão FutFEB, submetidos ao Congresso de Iniciação Científica da UNESP - 2011.- Software de Mapeamento para Navegação de Robôs Móveis Autônomos.- Sensoriamento por Infra-Vermelho para Robôs Móveis Autônomos.- Sensoriamento por Ultra-Som para Robôs Móveis Autônomos.- Segmentação de Imagens Coloridas para Reconhecimento de Objetos.- Algoritmos de Subtração de Plano de Fundo em Frames de Vídeo.

Desempenho de crianças com deficiência auditiva e implante coclear em tarefas de seleção de e de nomeação de figuras

The aim of this study was to investigate the development of specific domains of Numerical Cognition (Number Sense – NS, Number Comprehension – NC, Number Production – NP, and Calculation – CA) in Brazilian children with Specific Learning Disorders. The study included 72 children (36 boys), from 9-to 10-years-old, enrolled in 4th and 5th years of elementary school of public schools at countryside of Sao Paulo State, Brazil. They were divided into three groups: control (CT, N = 42), Developmental Dyslexia (DL, N = 11) and Developmental Dyscalculia combined with dyslexia (DDc, N = 19). All participants had intellectual level within the normal range, however, children from the last two groups had Learning Disorders classified by School Achievement Test - TDE (Stein, 1994) and DDc children received necessarily classification as 'inferior' in Arithmetic Test of TDE. The children did not differ in NS. DL and DDc children showed slight deficits in NC. However, DDc children had moderate in NP and mild to moderate deficits in CA, which indicates a more generalized impairment in Numerical Cognition. Furthermore, DDc children showed discrepancy in Numerical Cognition performance when compared to the other groups. Thus, children with Learning Disorders showed different performances in Numerical Cognition, although both groups had preserved SN, DDc children showed higher deficits and discrepancy in relation DL and typically developing children.

Os álbuns fotojornalísticos online e a construção do acontecimento: atribuições de sentido a partir da composição imagética dos protestos de junho

Given that the choices involved in the selection of compositional techniques in photography are mediated by values, this article aims to analyze the compositional techniques of photographs published by photojournalistic online albums during the protests of June 2013 in Brazil. These albums feature professional and amateur photographs considered "the best" of this event and, interestingly, the chosen photographs have several composition techniques in common. We will examine these images from the perspective of significant effects that these techniques engender with the objective of examining the meanings that were attributed to that event in those albums.

Avaliação de um pulverizador e volume ultra baixo e de adjuvantes em caldas fitossanitárias na cultura dos citros

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Contribuição de práticas argumentativas para a democratização de debates científicos em aulas de Física

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Demography and population viability of polar bears in the Gulf of Boothia, Nunavut

We estimated demographic parameters and harvest risks for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) inhabiting the Gulf of Boothia, Nunavut, from 1976 to 2000. We computed survival and abundance from capture–recapture and recovery data (630 marks) using a Burnham joint live–dead model implemented in program MARK. Annual mean total survival (including harvest) was 0.889 ± 0.179 ( x ± 1 SE) for cubs, 0.883 ± 0.087 for subadults (ages 1–4), 0.919 ± 0.044 for adult females, and 0.917 ± 0.041 for adult males. Abundance in the last 3 yr of study was 1,592 ± 361 bears. Mean size of newborn litters was 1.648 ± 0.098 cubs. By age 7, 0.97 ± 0.30 of available females were producing litters. Harvest averaged 38.4 ± 4.2 bears/year in the last 5 yr of study; however, the 2002–2007 kill averaged 56.4 bears/yr. We used a harvested Population Viability Analysis (PVA) to examine impacts of increasing rates of harvest. We estimated the current population growth rate, λH, to be 1.025 ± 0.032. Although this suggests the population is growing, progressive environmental changes may require more frequent population inventory studies to maintain the same levels of harvest risk.

Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in plastics ingested by seabirds

The occurrence of plastic objects in the digestive tract was assessed in eight species of Procellariiformes collected in southern Brazil and the occurrence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the ingested plastics pellets and plastic fragments was evaluated. PCBs were detected in plastic pellets (491 ng g(-1)) and plastic fragments (243-418 ng g(-1)). Among the OCPs, p,p`-DDE had the highest concentrations, ranging from 68.0 to 99.0 ng g(-1). The occurrence of organic pollutants in post-consumer plastics supports the fact that plastics are an important source carrying persistent organic pollutants in the marine environment. Although transfer through the food chain may be the main source of exposure to POPs to seabirds, plastics could be an additional source for the organisms which ingest them, like Procellariiformes which are the seabirds most affected by plastic pollution. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

CIRCULATION AND SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER TRANSPORT IN A TIDALLY DOMINATED ESTUARY: CARAVELAS ESTUARY, BAHIA, BRAZIL

The circulation and transport of suspended particulate matter in the Caravelas Estuary are assessed. Nearly-synoptic hourly hydrographic, current (ADCP velocity and volume transport) and suspended particulate matter data were collected during a full semidiurnal spring tide, on the two transects Boca do Tomba and Barra Velha and on longitudinal sections at low and high tide. On the first transect the peak ebb currents (-1.5 ms(-1)) were almost twice as strong as those of the wider and shallow Barra Velha inlet (-0.80 ms(-1)) and the peak flood currents were 0.75 and 0.60 ms(-1), respectively. Due to the strong tidal currents both inlets had weak vertical salinity stratification and were classified with the Stratification-circulation Diagram as Type 2a (partially mixed-weakly stratified) and Type 1a (well mixed). Volume transports were very close, ranging from -3,500 to 3,100 m(3)s(-1) at the ebb and flood, respectively, with a residual -630 m(3)s(-1). The concentration of the suspended particulate matter was closely related to the tidal variation and decreased landwards from 50 mg. L(-1) at the estuary mouth, to 10 mg.L(-1) at distances of 9 and 16 km for the low and high tide experiments, respectively. The total residual SPM transport was out of the estuary at rates of -18 tons per tidal cycle.

Contrasted crustal sources as defined by whole-rock and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope geochemistry of neoproterozoic early post-collisional granitic magmatism within the Southern Brazilian Shear Belt, Camboriu, Brazil

The early phase of post-collisional granitic magmatism in the Camboriu region, south Brazil, is represented by the porphyritic biotite +/- hornblende Rio Pequeno Granite (RPG; 630-620 Ma) and the younger (similar to 610 Ma), equigranular, biotite +/- muscovite Serra dos Macacos Granite (SMG). The two granite types share some geochemical characteristics, but the more felsic SMG constitutes a distinctive group not related to RPG by simple fractionation processes, as indicated by its lower FeOt, TiO2, K2O/Na2O and higher Zr Al2O3, Na2O, Ba and Sr when compared to RPG of similar SiO2 range. Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes require different sources. The SMG derives from old crustal sources, possibly related to the Paleoproterozoic protoliths of the Camboriu Complex, as indicated by strongly negative epsilon Nd-t (-23 to -24) and unradiogenic Pb (e.g., Pb-206/Pb-204 = 16.0-16.3; Pb-207/Pb-204 = 15.3-15.4) and confirmed by previous LA-MC-ICPMS data showing dominant zircon inheritance of Archean to Paleoproterozoic age. In contrast, the RPG shows less negative epsilon Nd-t (-12 to -15) and a distinctive zircon inheritance pattern with no traces of post-1.6 Ga sources. This is indicative of younger sources whose significance in the regional context is still unclear; some contribution of mantle-derived magmas is indicated by coeval mafic dykes and may account for some of the geochemical and isotopic characteristics of the least differentiated varieties of the RPG. The transcurrent tectonics seems to have played an essential role in the generation of mantle-derived magmas despite their emplacement within a low-strain zone. It may have facilitated their interaction with crustal melts which seem to be to a large extent the products of reworking of Paleoproterozoic orthogneisses from the Camboriu Complex. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Partial oxidation of methane on NiO-MgO-ZrO2 catalysts

Catalysts containing mixtures of NiO, MgO and ZrO2 were synthesized by the polymerization method. They were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), physisorption of N-2 (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), and then tested in the partial oxidation of methane (POM) in the presence of air (2CH(4):1O(2)) at 750 degrees C for 6 h. Among the ternary oxides, the catalyst with 40 mol% MgO showed the highest conversion rates in the catalytic processes, but also the highest carbon deposition values (48 mmol h (1)). The greater the amount of NiO-MgO solid solution formed, the higher was the conversion rate of reactants (CH4), peaking at 40 mol% of MgO. Catalysts with lower Ni content on the surface achieved a high rate of CH4 conversion into synthesis gas (H-2 + CO). The formation of more NiO-MgO solid solution seemed to inhibit the deactivation of Ni degrees during reaction. The values of the H-2/CO product ratio were generally found to be slightly lower than stoichiometric. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.