Composição corporal e exigências nutricionais de caprinos Saanen machos dos 30 aos 45 kg de peso vivo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeito de dentifrícios com concentração reduzida de fluoreto suplementados com polifosfatos na incidência de lesões de cárie dentária e na ingestão de fluoreto: estudo clínico longitudinal em crianças

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

Fezes equina como fonte de inóculo na obtenção de indicadores indigestíveis para estimar a digestibilidade em equinos

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

Análise econômica do plantio e condução do eucalipto de curta rotação para fins energéticos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Longitudinal evaluation of fluoride levels in nails of 18-30-month-old children that were using toothpastes with 500 and 1100 mu g F/g

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the fluoride concentration in the fingernails and toenails of children aged 18-30months during use of fluoride-containing toothpastes supplemented with calcium glycerophosphate (CaGP) or sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP).MethodsAccording to the toothpaste used, children (n=56) were randomly assigned into three groups: 500gF/g with 1% TMP, 500gF/g with 0.25% CaGP, and 1100gF/g. Fingernails and toenails were collected monthly over a period of 330days, from the beginning of toothpaste use. Fluoride concentration in the water consumed by the volunteers and fluoride intake from diet and toothpaste were also determined. Fluoride analyses were performed with the electrode after hexamethyldisiloxane-facilitated diffusion or by the direct method, according to the samples. Data passed normality and homoscedasticity tests and were analyzed by 2-way analysis of variance (anova) and 1-way anova followed by Student-Newman-Keuls test (P<0.05).ResultsFluoride levels in the fingernails and toenails as well as fluoride intake from toothpaste were similar for the groups treated with 500gF/g with 1% TMP and 500gF/g with 0.25% CaGP toothpastes, but significantly lower than the 1100 gF/g group (P<0.05). No significant differences were noted among the groups regarding fluoride intake from diet and that by water consumed by the volunteers (P>0.05).ConclusionThe results of the longitudinal study suggest that the level of fluoride present in nails was lower with the use of toothpastes with a low fluoride concentration.

Learning HMMs for nucleotide sequences from amino acid alignments

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

Ocorrência de Clostridium botulinum tipos C e D em criatórios de bovinos no município de Cocalinho, Vale do Araguaia, Mato Grosso

In order to assess the occurrence and distribution of spores and toxins of Clostridium botulinum types C and D in three farms in Cocalinho, at the Araguaia River valley, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, we analyzed sediment samples from 40 water holes, soil and cattle feces, collected around water holes. Sediments were analyzed by direct method, whilst feces, soil and also sediment samples were individually analyzed by indirect method. The detection of spores and botulinum toxins in the filtered material was performed by bioassay in Swiss Webster mice strain, as well as the serum-neutralization of the positive materials for typing. Samples of cattle feces showed the largest positive rate for C. botulinum, with 25/40 (62.5%), followed by soil, 12/40 (30%), and by sediment, 13/40 (32.5%). From the 40 cattle feces samples, 25 (62.00%) were positive for Clostridium botulinum; six samples were identified as type C, other six as type D, and 13 samples were classified as CD complex. From the equal number (40) of soil samples, 12 (30%) were positive for C. botulinum; two samples were identified as type C, other three as type D, and seven samples were classified as CD complex. Regarding the 40 sediment samples, 13 (32.5%) were positive for C. botulinum; two samples were identified as type C, other three as type D, and eight samples were classified as CD complex. No botulism toxin was detected by indirect method.

Freio eletrodinamométrico usando um inversor de frequência e um motor de indução trifásico

Considering that the Brazilian energy source is based on hydroelectric power plants, every moment that it does not rain enough, we are likely to suffer power outage. Making the rational use of energy not only is wise, but also important for financial issues. The industrial sector is of great importance to Brazilian economic context, because it is one that creates more wealth and jobs. It should be noted that it is one of the sectors that consume more electricity. One of the most used equipment in industry is the three phase induction motor, which ends up providing significant waste of energy. For that reasons, studying three phase induction motors is important. One of the ways to evaluate the parameter of the three phase induction motor is using a dynamometer mechanic or electric. This work aims at further studies (and development) of electrodynamometer brake, a type of electrical dynamometer, that is the only one with reversible use. This means, it is possible to measure both the torque and the power transmitted by the electric motors, by the direct method and the indirect. Besides it allows greater stability in the imposition of charges, due to its nature of being able to regenerate the energy imparted by the engines being tested

Freio eletrodinamométrico usando um inversor de frequência e um motor de indução trifásico

Considering that the Brazilian energy source is based on hydroelectric power plants, every moment that it does not rain enough, we are likely to suffer power outage. Making the rational use of energy not only is wise, but also important for financial issues. The industrial sector is of great importance to Brazilian economic context, because it is one that creates more wealth and jobs. It should be noted that it is one of the sectors that consume more electricity. One of the most used equipment in industry is the three phase induction motor, which ends up providing significant waste of energy. For that reasons, studying three phase induction motors is important. One of the ways to evaluate the parameter of the three phase induction motor is using a dynamometer mechanic or electric. This work aims at further studies (and development) of electrodynamometer brake, a type of electrical dynamometer, that is the only one with reversible use. This means, it is possible to measure both the torque and the power transmitted by the electric motors, by the direct method and the indirect. Besides it allows greater stability in the imposition of charges, due to its nature of being able to regenerate the energy imparted by the engines being tested

Blocking of Connexin-Mediated Communication Promotes Neuroprotection during Acute Degeneration Induced by Mechanical Trauma

Accruing evidence indicates that connexin (Cx) channels in the gap junctions (GJ) are involved in neurodegeneration after injury. However, studies using KO animal models endowed apparently contradictory results in relation to the role of coupling in neuroprotection. We analyzed the role of Cx-mediated communication in a focal lesion induced by mechanical trauma of the retina, a model that allows spatial and temporal definition of the lesion with high reproducibility, permitting visualization of the focus, penumbra and adjacent areas. Cx36 and Cx43 exhibited distinct gene expression and protein levels throughout the neurodegeneration progress. Cx36 was observed close to TUNEL-positive nuclei, revealing the presence of this protein surrounding apoptotic cells. The functional role of cell coupling was assessed employing GJ blockers and openers combined with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, a direct method for evaluating cell death/viability. Carbenoxolone (CBX), a broad-spectrum GJ blocker, reduced LDH release after 4 hours, whereas quinine, a Cx36-channel specific blocker, decreased LDH release as early as 1 hour after lesion. Furthermore, analysis of dying cell distribution confirmed that the use of GJ blockers reduced apoptosis spread. Accordingly, blockade of GJ communication during neurodegeneration with quinine, but not CBX, caused downregulation of initial and effector caspases. To summarize, we observed specific changes in Cx gene expression and protein distribution during the progress of retinal degeneration, indicating the participation of these elements in acute neurodegeneration processes. More importantly, our results revealed that direct control of GJ channels permeability may take part in reliable neuroprotection strategies aimed to rapid, fast treatment of mechanical trauma in the retina.

Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Fingerprinting of Extracts of the Leaves of Arrabidaea chica

Arrabidaea chica (crajiru) is an important Amazonian plant. Its extracts are used as red pigments, antimicrobial agents and astringents. Three different varieties of this species are cultivated in the Amazon region. In this work, direct infusions of A. chica extracts from these three varieties were analyzed via electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI(+)-MS) fingerprinting. Derived data from the spectra were classified by using a multivariate method (PLS-DA, partial least squares-discriminant analysis). The direct method that is herein presented relies on extraction of dry, powdered leaves with acidified methanol/water solution with no further sample preparation. The resulting supernatants were analyzed by direct infusion ESI(+)-MS, which provides characteristic fingerprints of the sample composition. 3-Deoxyanthocyanidins are important substances in A. chica, their ions were used as markers in the PLS-DA data treatment. PLS-DA was able to differentiate the three varieties. ESI(+)-MS fingerprinting works as a simple and fast method to differentiate varieties of A. chica.

Evaluation of reference-based two-color methods for measurement of gene expression ratios using spotted cDNA microarrays

Abstract Background Spotted cDNA microarrays generally employ co-hybridization of fluorescently-labeled RNA targets to produce gene expression ratios for subsequent analysis. Direct comparison of two RNA samples in the same microarray provides the highest level of accuracy; however, due to the number of combinatorial pair-wise comparisons, the direct method is impractical for studies including large number of individual samples (e.g., tumor classification studies). For such studies, indirect comparisons using a common reference standard have been the preferred method. Here we evaluated the precision and accuracy of reconstructed ratios from three indirect methods relative to ratios obtained from direct hybridizations, herein considered as the gold-standard. Results We performed hybridizations using a fixed amount of Cy3-labeled reference oligonucleotide (RefOligo) against distinct Cy5-labeled targets from prostate, breast and kidney tumor samples. Reconstructed ratios between all tissue pairs were derived from ratios between each tissue sample and RefOligo. Reconstructed ratios were compared to (i) ratios obtained in parallel from direct pair-wise hybridizations of tissue samples, and to (ii) reconstructed ratios derived from hybridization of each tissue against a reference RNA pool (RefPool). To evaluate the effect of the external references, reconstructed ratios were also calculated directly from intensity values of single-channel (One-Color) measurements derived from tissue sample data collected in the RefOligo experiments. We show that the average coefficient of variation of ratios between intra- and inter-slide replicates derived from RefOligo, RefPool and One-Color were similar and 2 to 4-fold higher than ratios obtained in direct hybridizations. Correlation coefficients calculated for all three tissue comparisons were also similar. In addition, the performance of all indirect methods in terms of their robustness to identify genes deemed as differentially expressed based on direct hybridizations, as well as false-positive and false-negative rates, were found to be comparable. Conclusion RefOligo produces ratios as precise and accurate as ratios reconstructed from a RNA pool, thus representing a reliable alternative in reference-based hybridization experiments. In addition, One-Color measurements alone can reconstruct expression ratios without loss in precision or accuracy. We conclude that both methods are adequate options in large-scale projects where the amount of a common reference RNA pool is usually restrictive.

Comparison of indigestible markers from in situ and in vivo incubation to predict apparent digestibility in hay- and corn-fed horses

Four castrated crossbred horses were used in a randomized block design to study the use of indigestible internal markers iNDF and iADF obtained in situ (from bovines) or in vivo (from equines). Treatments consisted of determining digestibility by the direct method comprising total feces collection (TC) and by the indirect method comprising internal markers iNDF and iADF obtained by in situ incubation in bovine rumen or in vivo by the mobile nylon bag (MNB) technique with horses. iNDF-IV and iADF-IV resulted in better marker recovery rate (RR) (91.50%), similar to TC. The in situ technique resulted in lower RR values for the two indigestible markers, averaging 86.50% (p < 0.05). Estimates of the nutrient coefficient of digestibility (CD) were adequately predicted by iADF-IV, for horses fed on hay exclusively, with rates 46.41, 48.16, 47.92 and 45.51% for dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), FDN and gross energy, respectively. Results show that MNB may be used to obtain iADF in horses fed on coast-cross hay exclusively, whereas NDFi and ADFi were selected for horses fed on mixed diets to predict the coefficient of nutrient digestibility.

Indigestible cellulose and lignin in determining feces production and apparent digestibility in horses

Four crossbred geldings were used in a randomized blocks experimental design. The objective was to study the use of the internal markers indigestible cellulose (iCEL) and indigestible lignin (iLIG), obtained in situ (cattle) or in vivo (equine) to predict nutrient apparent digestibility in horses. Treatments consisted of different methodologies to determine digestibility: direct method with total feces collection (TC), and indirect method using internal markers iCEL and iLIG obtained either by in situ incubation in bovine rumen or in vivo (IV) using the mobile nylon bag (MNB) technique in horses. Feces production was 2.80 kg in DM, and average recovery rate (p > 0.05) was 101%. Nutrient digestibility coefficient (p > 0.05) estimates were adequately predicted by iCEL and iLIG, obtained in situ or in vivo, with average values of 52.63, 54.17, 64.90, 43.73 and 98.28% for dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and starch, respectively. It can be concluded that iCEL and iLIG may be obtained in vivo by MNB in horses consuming a forage-concentrate diet, to predict nutrient digestibility coefficients.

In vitro study on radiographic gray levels of biomaterials using two digital image methods

PURPOSE: To compare the direct and indirect radiographic methods for assessing the gray levels of biomaterials employing the Digora for Windows and the Adobe Photoshop CS2 systems. METHODS: Specimens of biomaterials were made following manusfacturer's instructions and placed on phosphor storage plates (PSP) and on radiographic film for subsequent gray level assessment using the direct and indirect radiographic method, respectively. The radiographic density of each biomaterial was analyzed using Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Digora for Windows software. RESULTS: The distribution of gray levels found using the direct and indirect methods suggests that higher exposure times are correlated to lower reproducibility rates between groups. CONCLUSION: The indirect method is a feasible alternative to the direct method in assessing the radiographic gray levels of biomaterials, insofar as significant reproducibility was observed between groups for the exposure times of 0.2 to 0.5 seconds.