Solubilization of CaHPO4 and AlPO4 by Aspergillus niger in culture media with different carbon and nitrogen sources

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Biocompatibilidade do cimento de fosfato de c��lcio implantado no r��dio de coelhos

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a biocompatibilidade do cimento de fosfato de c��lcio, para verificar sua efic��cia como poss��vel substituto ��sseo. M��TODOS: No presente trabalho, foi utilizado cimento de fosfato de c��lcio em r��dio de 8 coelhos, separados em dois grupos (GI e GII), referentes aos tempos de observa����o de 12 e 26 semanas p��s-operat��rias, a fim de se observar as rea����es entre este biomaterial e o tecido ��sseo do animal. Foram feitas an��lises radiogr��ficas e de densitometria ��ptica, al��m de microscopia ��ptica e eletr��nica de varredura. RESULTADOS: Observou-se, ao final do experimento, que o cimento �� base de fosfato de c��lcio foi parcialmente reabsorvido durante o tempo de observa����o de 26 semanas, apresentando biocompatibilidade, com aus��ncia de rea����es indesej��veis que pudessem ser atribu��das aos implantes. CONCLUS��ES: O cimento �� base de fosfato de c��lcio foi biocompat��vel e parcialmente reabsorvido no per��odo de 26 semanas de observa����o. Tempos maiores de observa����o s��o necess��rios para a avalia����o da reabsor����o.

The improvement of the anti-hyperalgesic effect of ketamine and of its isomers by the administration of ifenprodil

Coordena����o de Aperfei��oamento de Pessoal de N��vel Superior (CAPES)

Involvement of serotoninergic receptors in the anteroventral preoptic region on hypoxia-induced hypothermia

Hypoxia causes a regulated decrease in body temperature (Tb). There is circumstantial evidence that the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) in the anteroventral preoptic region (AVPO) mediates this response. However, which 5-HT receptor(s) is (are) involved in this response has not been assessed. Thus, we investigated the participation of the 5-HT receptors (5-HT(1), 5-HT(2), and 5-HT(7)) in the AVPO in hypoxic hypothermia. To this end, Tb of conscious Wistar rats was monitored by biotelemetry before and after intra-AVPO microinjection of methysergide (a 5-HT(1) and 5-HT(2) receptor antagonist, 0.2 and 2 mu g/100 nL), WAY-100635 (a 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist, 0.3 and 3 mu g/100 nL), and SB-269970 (a 5-HT(7) receptor antagonist, 0.4 and 4 mu/100 nL), followed by 60 min of hypoxia exposure (7% O(2)). During the experiments, the mean chamber temperature was 24.6 +/- 0.7 degrees C (mean +/- SE) and the mean room temperature was 23.5 +/- 0.8 degrees C (mean +/- SE). Intra-AVPO microinjection of vehicle or 5-HT antagonists did not change Tb during normoxic conditions. Exposure of rats to 7% of inspired oxygen evoked typical hypoxia-induced hypothermia after vehicle microinjection, which was not affected by both doses of methysergide. However, WAY-100635 and SB-269970 treatment attenuated the drop in Tb in response to hypoxia. The effect was more pronounced with the 5-HT7 antagonist since both doses (0.4 and 4 mu g/0.1 mu L) were capable of attenuating the hypothermic response. As to the 5-HT(1A) antagonist, the attenuation of hypoxia-induced hypothermia was only observed at the higher dose. Therefore, the present results are consistent with the notion that 5-HT acts on both 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT7 receptors in the AVPO to induce hypothermia, during hypoxia. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Serotoninergic receptors in the anteroventral preoptic region modulate the hypoxic ventilatory response

Hypothalamus is a site of integration of the hypoxic and thermal stimuli on breathing and there is evidence that serotonin (5-HT) receptors in the anteroventral preoptic region (AVPO) mediate hypoxic hypothermia. Once 5-HT is involved in the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR), we investigated the participation of the 5-HT receptors (5-HT1, 5-HT2 and 5-HT7) in the AVPO in the HVR. To this end, pulmonary ventilation (V-E) of rats was measured before and after intra-AVPO microinjection of methysergide (a 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptor antagonist), WAY-100635 (a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist) and SB-269970 (a 5-HT7 receptor antagonist), followed by 60 min of hypoxia exposure (7% O-2). Intra-AVPO microinjection of vehicles or 5-HT antagonists did not change VE during normoxic conditions. Exposure of rats to 7% O-2 evoked typical hypoxia-induced hyperpnea after vehicle microinjection, which was not affected by methysergide. WAY-100635 and SB-269970 treatment caused an increased HVR, due to a higher tidal volume. Therefore, the current data provide the evidence that 5-HT acting on 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptors in the AVPO exert an inhibitory modulation on the HVR. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Role of preoptic opioid receptors in the body temperature reduction during hypoxia

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Plantas antagonistas no manejo de Meloidogyne incognita, em solo arenoso de ��rea de cultivo de oler��colas

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of antagonistic plants on nematode control in vegetables growing areas. The experiment was conducted in two periods in randomized complete block design in plots 1.5 x 1.4 m, corresponding to experimental units and randomly cultivated with the different plants. From each plot 100 cm(3) of soil and 10 g of tomato root were collected for estimating the initial population of the first and second experiment, respectively. Sixteen antagonistic plant seedlings of velvet bean (Stizolobium aterrimum), sunn plant (Crotalaria spectabilis) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) were transferred to the plots and tomato (Solanun lycopersicum) cultivar Santa Clara was used as a control. After 116 days, two root systems and 100 cm(3) of soil were collected from each plot for a final nematode population analysis. Lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa) were transferred to the plots and evaluated after 28 and 42 days, respectively, for galls and eggs on the root system and fresh and dry weight of shoots,. Each treatment consisted of 6 replicates and the means were compared by LSD test (p<0.05). Meloidogyne incognita was found in the first survey. After the crop of the antagonistic plants, the M. incognita population in the root systems and the final population (soil + root) were statistically lower than in the control, which demonstrates the antagonistic effect of these plants on the nematode population. There were also a reduced number of galls on the lettuce cultivated after the antagonistic plants when compared to the control. The velvet bean and sunn plant showed an increase in dry shoot weight of the lettuce cultivated after the antagonists, respectively, in the first and second experiments.

Transcription profiling of signal transduction-related genes in sugarcane tissues

A collection of 237,954 sugarcane ESTs was examined in search of signal transduction genes. Over 3,500 components involved in several aspects of signal transduction, transcription, development, cell cycle, stress responses and pathogen interaction were compiled into the Sugarcane Signal Transduction (SUCAST) Catalogue. Sequence comparisons and protein domain analysis revealed 477 receptors, 510 protein kinases, 107 protein phosphatases, 75 small GTPases, 17 G-proteins, 114 calcium and inositol metabolism proteins, and over 600 transcription factors. The elements were distributed into 29 main categories subdivided into 409 sub-categories. Genes with no matches in the public databases and of unknown function were also catalogued. A cDNA microarray was constructed to profile individual variation of plants cultivated in the field and transcript abundance in six plant organs (flowers, roots, leaves, lateral buds, and 1(st) and 4(th) internodes). From 1280 distinct elements analyzed, 217 (17%) presented differential expression in two biological samples of at least one of the tissues tested. A total of 153 genes (12%) presented highly similar expression levels in all tissues. A virtual profile matrix was constructed and the expression profiles were validated by real-time PCR. The expression data presented can aid in assigning function for the sugarcane genes and be useful for promoter characterization of this and other economically important grasses.

The adrenergic regulation of the cardiovascular system in the South American rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus

The present study investigates adrenergic regulation of the systemic and pulmonary circulations of the anaesthetised South American rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus. Haemodynamic measurements were made following bolus injections of adrenaline and adrenergic antagonists administered through a systemic arterial catheter. Adrenaline caused a marked systemic vasoconstriction that was abolished by phentolamine, indicating this response was mediated through alpha-adrenergic receptors. Injection of phentolamine gave rise to a pronounced vasodilatation (systemic conductance (G(sys)) more than doubled), while injection of propranolol caused a systemic vasoconstriction, pointing to a potent alpha-adrenergic, and a weaker beta-adrenergic tone in the systemic vasculature of Crotalus. Overall, the pulmonary vasculature was far less responsive to adrenergic stimulation than the systemic circulation. Adrenaline caused a small but non-significant pulmonary vasodilatation and there was tendency of reducing this dilatation after either phentolamine or propranolol. Injection of phentolamine increased pulmonary conductance (G(pul)), while injection of propranolol produced a small pulmonary constriction, indicating that alpha-adrenergic and beta-adrenergic receptors contribute to a basal regulation of the pulmonary vasculature. Our results suggest adrenergic regulation of the systemic vasculature, rather than the pultrionary, may be an important factor in the development of intracardiac shunts. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fatores influenciadores da implementa����o de a����es de gest��o de seguran��a da informa����o :um estudo com executivos e gerentes de tecnologia da informa����o das empresas do Rio Grande do Norte

Information is one of the most valuable organization s assets, mainly on a global and highly competitive world. On this scenery there are two antagonists forces: on one side, organizations struggle for keeping protected its information, specially those considered as strategic, on the other side, the invaders, leaded by innumerous reasons - such as hobby, challenge or one single protest with the intention of capturing and corrupting the information of other organizations. This thesis presents the descriptive results of one research that had as its main objective to identify which variables influence the Executives�� and CIOs�� perceptions toward Information Security. In addition, the research also identified the profile of Rio Grande do Norte s organizations and its Executives/CIOs concerning Information Security, computed the level of agreement of the respondents according to NBR ISO/IEC 17799 (Information technology Code of practice for information security management) on its dimension Access Control. The research was based on a model, which took into account the following variables: origin of the organization s capital, sector of production, number of PCs networked, number of employees with rights to network, number of attacks suffered by the organizations, respondent��s positions, education level, literacy on Information Technology and specific training on network. In the goal��s point of view, the research was classified as exploratory and descriptive, and, in relation of the approach, quantitative. One questionnaire was applied on 33 Executives and CIOs of the 50 Rio Grande do Norte s organizations that collected the highest taxes of ICMS - Imposto sobre Circula����o de Mercadorias on 2000. After the data collecting, cluster analysis and chi-square statistical tools were used for data analysis. The research made clear that the Executives and CIOs of Rio Grande do Norte s organizations have low level of agreement concerning the rules of the NBR ISO/IEC 17799. It also made evident that the Executives and CIOs have its perception toward Information Security influenced by the number of PCs networked and by the number of attacks suffered by the organizations

Phosphate fertilization and phosphorus forms in an Oxisol under no-till

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Phosphorus sources and fractions in an oxisol under no-tilled soybean

A din��mica do P no solo pode ser modificada em sistemas com semeadura direta. Os agricultores brasileiros v��m aplicando f��sforo na superf��cie do solo para otimizar a opera����o de m��quinas, embora n��o seja uma pr��tica recomendada pela pesquisa. Foi conduzido um experimento para estudar os efeitos da aplica����o de duas fontes de f��sforo na superf��cie do solo e no sulco de semeadura da soja. Os tratamentos consistiram da aplica����o ou n��o de 80 kg ha-1 de P total como fosfato natural reativo e superfosfato, aplicados na superf��cie do solo, sobre os res��duos da cultura anterior. Na semeadura da soja, tratamentos adicionais (80 kg ha-1 de fosfato natural ou superfosfato) foram aplicados ao sulco de semeadura. O solo foi amostrado at�� 40 cm de profundidade, antes da semeadura da soja e ap��s a colheita. Uma amostra controle foi tomada de ��rea adjacente, sem cultivo. Houve aumento nos teores de P at�� 40 cm de profundidade, ap��s a colheita da soja, de modo que o aumento foi observado principalmente no P ligado ao Ca e no P org��nico. Entretanto houve decr��scimo nos teores de P ligado ao Fe. A aduba����o com ambas as fontes de fosfato levaram a um decr��scimo nos teores de P ocluso na superf��cie do solo quando comparada com a ��rea sem cultivo.

Triticale, milheto e aduba����o fosfatada para forma����o de palhada em semeadura direta

As fontes de P mais utilizadas s��o os fosfatos sol��veis em ��gua, pela maior facilidade de libera����o de P no solo. Entretanto, devido ��s caracter��sticas dos solos tropicais, grande parte desse P acaba adsorvida ��s part��culas do solo, tornando-se indispon��vel. Os fosfatos reativos podem, inicialmente, liberar o P de maneira mais lenta; entretanto, a partir dos cultivos, este elemento poder�� ser liberado de forma cont��nua, podendo haver menor fixa����o. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a resposta �� aplica����o de duas fontes de P na cultura do triticale e o efeito residual dessa aduba����o no milheto, cultivados em semeadura direta, avaliando-se: fertilidade do solo; produ����o de mat��ria seca; teor e quantidade de P nas plantas e palha de cobertura; densidade de plantas; teor e quantidade de P nos gr��os; e produtividade do triticale. O experimento foi conduzido em Latossolo Vermelho distrof��rrico. No m��s de abril foram aplicados, a lan��o, em superf��cie, tr��s tratamentos: sem aplica����o de P2O5; aplica����o de 80 kg ha-1 de P2O5 de superfosfato triplo; e aplica����o de 80 kg ha-1 de P2O5 de fosfato natural Arad. em seguida, semeou-se o triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack), que foi conduzido at�� a colheita. em setembro, ap��s a colheita do triticale, semeou-se o milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Brown), com o objetivo de elevar a cobertura de palha do solo, sendo ele dessecado no florescimento no m��s de novembro. A aplica����o de fosfato sol��vel em superf��cie proporcionou lixivia����o do P at�� a camada de 5-10 cm de profundidade do solo e melhor nutri����o fosfatada do triticale cultivado em seguida, assim como maior produ����o de gr��os. Apesar do aumento no teor de P dispon��vel no solo, proporcionado pelo fosfato sol��vel, a aplica����o de P no triticale n��o redundou em eleva����o da produ����o de mat��ria seca, do teor e da quantidade de P na parte a��rea do milheto cultivado em sequ��ncia.

Extraction methods and availability of phosphorus for soybean in soils from Parana State, Brazil

In studies on the evaluation of methodologies for the analysis of soil, phosphorus (P) has been the single most studied aspect, due to the complexity of this dynamic element in soil. However, these studies have been limited regarding soil conditions in Paranaa. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3 and ion exchange resin methods in the evaluation of available P for soybean (Glycine max) in the soils of Paranaa State. Twelve soil samples collected from the upper 0-20 cm were planted with soybean for a period of 42 days in the greenhouse. The ability to extract soil P followed the order of decreasing average amount of extracted P: Mehlich-3 > resin > Mehlich-1. The correlation coefficients between the content of P extracted by Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3 and resin and the amount of P accumulated in the plants were 0.86, 0.90 and 0.93, respectively. Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3 and resin showed similar efficiency in the evaluation of P availability to plants and, under conditions of natural fertility and in soils that had received no application of poorly natural reactive phosphates, can be used to quantify the concentrations of P in the soils of Parana State.

TERMOFOSFATOS: ALTERA����ES em PROPRIEDADES QU��MICAS em UM LATOSSOLO VERMELHO-ESCURO E EFICI��NCIA AGRON��MICA

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient��fico e Tecnol��gico (CNPq)