Activation of Ca2+-independent membrane-damaging activity in Lys49-phospholipase A(2) promoted by amphiphilic molecules

Association of class-II phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) with aggregated phospholipid substrate results in elevated levels of the Ca2+-dependent hydrolytic activity. The Asp49 residue participates in coordination of the Ca2+ ion cofactor, however, in Lys49-PLA(2) homologues (Lys49-PLA(2)S), substitution of the Asp49 by Lys results in loss of Ca2+ binding and lack of detectable phospholipid hydrolysis. Nevertheless, Lys49-PLA2S cause Ca2+-independent damage of liposome membranes. Bothropstoxin-I is a homodimeric Lys49-PLA(2) from the venom of Bothrops jararacussu, and in fluorescent marker release and dynamic light scattering experiments with DPPC liposomes we demonstrate activation of the Ca2+-independent membrane damaging activity by similar to4 molecules of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) per protein monomer. Activation is accomparlied by significant changes in the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence emission (ITFE) and near UV circular dichroism (UVCD) spectra of the protein. Subsequent binding of 7-10 SDS molecules results in further alterations in the ITFE and far UVCD spectra. Reduction in the rate of N-bromosuccinimide modification of Trp77 at the dimer interface suggests that initial binding of SDS to this region accompanies the activation of the membrane damaging activity. 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulphonic acid binding studies indicate that subsequent SDS binding to the active site is concomitant with the second structural transition. These results provide insights in the structural basis of amphiphile/protein coupling in class-II PLA(2)s. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Extruded vesicles of dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide and chloride investigated by light scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy

Combined dynamic and static light scattering (DLS, SLS) and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) were used to investigate extruded cationic vesicles of dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride and bromide (DODAX, X being Cl- or Br-). In salt-free dispersions the mean hydrodynamic diameter, D-h, and the weight average molecular weight, M-w, are larger for DODAB than for DODAC vesicles, and both D-h and M-w increase with the diameter (phi) of the extrusion filter. NaCl (NaBr) decreases (increases) the DODAB (DODAC) vesicle size, reflecting the general trend of DODAB to assemble as larger vesicles than DODAC. The polydispersity index is lower than 0.25, indicating the dispersions are rather polydisperse. Cryo-TEM micrographs show that the smaller vesicles are spherical while the larger ones are oblong or faceted, and the vesicle samples are fairly polydisperse in size and morphology. They also indicate that the vesicle size increases with phi and DODAB assembles as larger vesicles than DODAC. Lens-shaped vesicles were observed in the extruded preparations. Both light scattering and cryo-TEM indicate that the vesicle size is larger or smaller than phi when phi is smaller or larger than the optimal phi* approximate to 200 nm. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Implicit differential equations with impasse singularities and singular perturbation problems

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

Ácaros (Arachnida: Acari) associados a Bauhinia variegata L. (Leguminosae) no noroeste do Estado de São Paulo

Foi estudada a acarofauna associada a Bauhinia variegata L., espécie introduzida no Brasil como ornamental. Dois exemplares dessa planta foram amostrados mensalmente, de maio de 2000 a abril de 2001. Foram registrados 8.482 ácaros, pertencentes a 25 espécies de 11 famílias. Os fitófagos foram os mais abundantes, sendo Lorryia formosa Cooreman a espécie dominante. A dominância de L. formosa foi provavelmente influenciada pela condição de estresse das plantas amostradas e pela baixa quantidade de ácaros predadores sobre estas plantas.

Dentine microhardness after different methods for detection and removal of carious dentine tissue

There are several methods for identifying carious dentinal tissue aiming to avoid removal of healthy dentinal tissue. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to test different methods for the detection of carious dentinal tissue regarding the amount of carious tissue removed and the remaining dentin microhardness after caries removal. Material and methods: The dentin surfaces of 20 bovine teeth were exposed and half of the surface was protected with nail polish. Cariogenic challenge was performed by immersion in a demineralizing solution for 14 days. After transverse cross-section of the crown, the specimens were divided into four groups (n=10), according to the method used to identify and remove the carious tissue: "Papacarie", Caries-detector dye, DIAGNOdent and Tactile method. After caries removal, the cross-sectional surface was included in acrylic resin and polished. In a microhardness tester, the removed dentin thickness and the Vickers microhardness of the following regions were evaluated: remaining dentin after caries removal and superficial and deep healthy dentin. Results: ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha=0.05) were performed, except for DIAGNOdent, which did not detect the presence of caries. Results for removed dentin thickness were: "Papacarie" (424.7 +/- 105.0; a), Caries-detector dye (370.5 +/- 78.3; ab), Tactile method (322.8 +/- 51.5; bc). Results for the remaining dentin microhardness were: "Papacarie" (42.2 +/- 10.5; bc), Caries-detector dye (44.6 +/- 11.8; bc), Tactile method (24.3 +/- 9.0; d). Conclusions: DIAGNOdent did not detect the presence of carious tissue; Tactile method and "Papacarie" resulted in the least and the most dentinal thickness removal, respectively; Tactile method differed significantly from "Papacarie" and Caries-detector dye in terms of the remaining dentin microhardness, and Tactile method was the one which presented the lowest microhardness values.

Clinical and MRI investigation of temporomandibular joint in major depressed patients

Objective: The aim of the present study was to describe the clinical and MRI findings of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in patients with major depressive disorders (MDDs) of the non-psychotic type.Methods: 40 patients (80 TMJs) who were diagnosed as having MDDs were selected for this study. The clinical examination of the TMJs was conducted according to the research diagnostic criteria and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). The MRIs were obtained bilaterally in each patient with axial, parasagittal and paracoronal sections within a real-time dynamic sequence. Two trained oral radiologists assessed all images. For statistical analyses, Fisher's exact test and chi(2) test were applied (alpha = 0.05).Results: Migraine was reported in 52.5% of subjects. Considering disc position, statistically significant differences between opening patterns with and without alteration (p = 0.00) and between present and absent joint noises (p = 0.00) were found. Regarding muscular pain, patients with and without abnormalities in disc function and patients with and without abnormalities in disc position were not statistically significant (p = 0.42 and p = 0.40, respectively). Significant differences between mandibular pathway with and without abnormalities (p=0.00) and between present and absent joint noises (p=0.00) were observed.Conclusion: Based on the preliminary results observed by clinical and MRI examination of the TMJ, no direct relationship could be determined between MDDs and TMDs. Dentomaxillofacial Radiology (2012) 41, 316-322. doi: 10.1259/dmfr/27328352

Two phase transitions in (d(x2-y2)+is)-wave superconductors

We study numerically the temperature dependencies of specific heat, susceptibility, penetration depth, and thermal conductivity of a coupled (d(x2-y2) + is)-wave Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superconductor in the presence of a weak s-wave component (1) on square lattice and (2) on a lattice with orthorhombic distortion. As the temperature is lowered past the critical temperature T-c, a less ordered superconducting phase is created in d(x2-y2) wave, which changes to a more ordered phase in (d(x2-y2) + is) wave at T-c1. This manifests in two second-order phase transitions. The two phase transitions are identified by two jumps in specific heat at T-c and T-c1. The temperature dependencies of the superconducting observables exhibit a change from power-law to exponential behavior as temperature is lowered below T-c1 and confirm the new phase transition. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Second order gauge theory

A gauge theory of second order in the derivatives of the auxiliary field is constructed following Utiyama's program. A novel field strength G = partial derivative F + fAF arises besides the one of the first order treatment, F = partial derivative A - partial derivative A + fAA. The associated conserved current is obtained. It has a new feature: topological terms are determined from local invariance requirements. Podolsky Generalized Eletrodynamics is derived as a particular case in which the Lagrangian of the gauge field is L-P alpha G(2). In this application the photon mass is estimated. The SU(N) infrared regime is analysed by means of Alekseev-Arbuzov-Baikov's Lagrangian. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

General unitary SU(1,1) TFD formulation

In this Letter we discuss a generalization for the thermal Bogoliubov transformation in the context of a Hermitian general SU(1,1) transformation generator. The TFD tilde conjugation rules are redefined using an appropriated Tomita-Takesaki modular operator. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Three-Higgs-doublet model with A(4) symmetry

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

What are Scientific Leaders? The Introduction of a Normalized Impact Factor

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The analytic torsion of a disc

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

Dissolved Po-210 and Pb-210 in Guarani aquifer groundwater, Brazil

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

Theoretical and experimental study of disordered Ba0.45Sr0.55TiO3 photoluminescence at room temperature

Disordered and crystalline Ba0.45Sr0.55TiO3 (BST) powder processed at low temperature was synthesized by the polymeric precursor method. The single-phase perovskite structure of the ceramics was identified by the Raman and X-ray diffraction techniques. Photoluminescence at room temperature was observed only in a disordered BST sample. Increasing the calcination time intensified the photoluminescence (PL), which reached its maximum value in the sample heat treated at 300 degrees C for 30 h. This emission may be correlated with the structural disorder. Periodic ab initio quantum-mechanical calculations using the CRYSTAL98 program can yield important information regarding the electronic and structural properties of crystalline and disordered solids. The experimental and theoretical results indicate the presence of intermediary energy levels in the band gap. This is ascribed to the break in symmetry, which is responsible for visible photoluminescence in the material's disordered state at room temperature. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Períodos de interferência de plantas daninhas na cultura da soja: I - cultivar iac-11

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi o de estudar os períodos de interferência das plantas daninhas na cultura da soja, cultivar IAC-11, em região de cerrado no nordeste do Mato Grosso do Sul. Os tratamentos utilizados no experimento constaram de testemunhas capinada e sem capina e de diferentes épocas de controles das plantas daninhas, de modo que a cultura da soja foi mantida na presença ou na ausência das plantas daninhas até os 10, 20, 30, 40 e 50 dias após a sua emergência. Foram realizadas avaliações de cobertura do solo por espécie daninha e avaliações relativas ao crescimento e à produtividade da cultura. Observou-se que a cultura da soja suportou a convivência com as plantas daninhas até os 49 dias após a sua emergência (PAI = 49 DAE) e que as plantas daninhas que germinaram após os 20 dias da emergência da cultura não afetaram a sua produtividade (PTPI = 20 DAE). A ocorrência do período inicial de convivência possível (49 DAE) maior que o período final (20 DAE) confere aos períodos de convivência uma característica diferente e não ocorre o Período Crítico de Prevenção da Interferência (PCPI). Nessa situação, o controle de plantas daninhas recomendado é o método momentâneo, com herbicida pós-emergente ou mecanicamente, utilizado uma única vez, dentro do período que vai do término do PTPI ao término do PAI, ou herbicida pré-emergente com efeito residual que ultrapasse o PTPI.