CeO2 nanoparticles synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method: evolution from nanospheres to nanorods

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

Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 May 2009-31 July 2009

This article documents the addition of 512 microsatellite marker loci and nine pairs of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) sequencing primers to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Alcippe morrisonia morrisonia, Bashania fangiana, Bashania fargesii, Chaetodon vagabundus, Colletes floralis, Coluber constrictor flaviventris, Coptotermes gestroi, Crotophaga major, Cyprinella lutrensis, Danaus plexippus, Fagus grandifolia, Falco tinnunculus, Fletcherimyia fletcheri, Hydrilla verticillata, Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus, Leavenworthia alabamica, Marmosops incanus, Miichthys miiuy, Nasua nasua, Noturus exilis, Odontesthes bonariensis, Quadrula fragosa, Pinctada maxima, Pseudaletia separata, Pseudoperonospora cubensis, Podocarpus elatus, Portunus trituberculatus, Rhagoletis cerasi, Rhinella schneideri, Sarracenia alata, Skeletonema marinoi, Sminthurus viridis, Syngnathus abaster, Uroteuthis (Photololigo) chinensis, Verticillium dahliae, Wasmannia auropunctata, and Zygochlamys patagonica. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Chaetodon baronessa, Falco columbarius, Falco eleonorae, Falco naumanni, Falco peregrinus, Falco subbuteo, Didelphis aurita, Gracilinanus microtarsus, Marmosops paulensis, Monodelphis Americana, Odontesthes hatcheri, Podocarpus grayi, Podocarpus lawrencei, Podocarpus smithii, Portunus pelagicus, Syngnathus acus, Syngnathus typhle,Uroteuthis (Photololigo) edulis, Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvauceli and Verticillium albo-atrum. This article also documents the addition of nine sequencing primer pairs and sixteen allele specific primers or probes for Oncorhynchus mykiss and Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; these primers and assays were cross-tested in both species.

Additive genetic relationships between scrotal circumference, heifer pregnancy, and stayability in Nellore cattle

Scrotal circumference data from 47,605 Nellore young bulls, measured at around 18 mo of age (SC18), were analyzed simultaneously with 27,924 heifer pregnancy (HP) and 80,831 stayability (STAY) records to estimate their additive genetic relationships. Additionally, the possibility that economically relevant traits measured directly in females could replace SC18 as a selection criterion was verified. Heifer pregnancy was defined as the observation that a heifer conceived and remained pregnant, which was assessed by rectal palpation at 60 d. Females were exposed to sires for the first time at about 14 mo of age (between 11 and 16 mo). Stayability was defined as whether or not a cow calved every year up to 5 yr of age, when the opportunity to breed was provided. A Bayesian linear-threshold-threshold analysis via Gibbs sampler was used to estimate the variance and covariance components of the multitrait model. Heritability estimates were 0.42 +/- 0.01, 0.53 +/- 0.03, and 0.10 +/- 0.01, for SC18, HP, and STAY, respectively. The genetic correlation estimates were 0.29 +/- 0.05, 0.19 +/- 0.05, and 0.64 +/- 0.07 between SC18 and HP, SC18 and STAY, and HP and STAY, respectively. The residual correlation estimate between HP and STAY was -0.08 +/- 0.03. The heritability values indicate the existence of considerable genetic variance for SC18 and HP traits. However, genetic correlations between SC18 and the female reproductive traits analyzed in the present study can only be considered moderate. The small residual correlation between HP and STAY suggests that environmental effects common to both traits are not major. The large heritability estimate for HP and the high genetic correlation between HP and STAY obtained in the present study confirm that EPD for HP can be used to select bulls for the production of precocious, fertile, and long-lived daughters. Moreover, SC18 could be incorporated in multitrait analysis to improve the prediction accuracy for HP genetic merit of young bulls.

The Effects of Piece Size and Storage Temperatures on Minimally Processed 'Aurora-1' Peaches

The production of minimally processed fruit has increased significantly in the last few years due to the high nutritional value, convenience and safety of minimally processed fruit. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the conservation temperature and processing conditions on the quality and shelf-life of minimally processed peaches. The processing procedure consisted of washing, sanitization, peeling and stone removal. To remove the stone, the fruit was cut longitudinally, and three types of products were obtained, including halves, quarters and one-eighth segments. The fruit pieces were immersed in 2% ascorbic acid for 3 min and were packed in rigid polystyrene trays (Meiwa (c) M-54) coated with 14 mu m PVC film (Omnifilm (TM)) (about 200 g per pack). The pieces were stored at 65% RH at 3, 6 or 9 degrees C for 12 days, and were evaluated every four days. The appearance, fresh mass loss, color, O-2 and CO2 concentration, acidity, total soluble solids, total and soluble pectin content and ascorbic acid concentration were measured. Minimally processed peaches stored at 3 degrees C maintained higher quality due to control of ripening and senescence Moreover, an interaction effect between one-eighth segments and a temperature of 3 degrees C was observed, and fruit with a superior appearance and higher soluble solids content was obtained.

Work and technological innovation in organic agriculture

Organic agriculture is a sustainable cultivation ecologically, economically and socially. Several researches in organic agriculture have been made from technical perspectives, economic traits or related to ecological aspects. There are practically no investigations into the nature of the technology used in organic agriculture, especially from an ergonomic perspective. From the activity analysis, this study aimed to map the technology used in the production of organic vegetables. Properties producing organic vegetables were selected representing the State of São Paulo. It was applied an instrument (questionnaire and semi-structured interview) with their managers and it was made visual records to identify adaptations, innovations and technological demands that simultaneously minimize the workload and the difficulties in performing the tasks and increase work productivity. For some of the technological innovations a digital scanner was used to generate a virtual solid model to facilitate its redesign and virtual prototyping. The main results show that organic farmers have little technology in product form. The main innovations that enable competitive advantage or allow higher labor productivity occur in the form of processes, organization and marketing.

Methods to estimate the number of surface nucleation sites on glass particles

Based on the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov (JMAK) theory, we propose two new models to describe the crystallisation kinetics of glass particles and use them to determine the density of nucleation sites, N(s), on glass powders. We tested these models with sintered compacts of diopside glass particles using sinter-crystallisation treatments at 825 degrees C (T(g)similar to 727 degrees C), that covered from null to almost 100% crystallised volume time fraction. We measured and compared the evolution of the crystallised volume fractions by optical microscopy and x-ray diffraction. Then we fit our expressions to experimental data using Ns and R (the average particle radius) as adjustable parameters. For comparison, we also fit to our data existing expressions that describe the crystallised volume fraction in glass powders. We demonstrate that all the methods allow one to estimate N(s) with reasonable accuracy. For our ground and water washed diopside glass powder, N(s) is between 10(10)-10(11) sites.m(-2). The reasonable agreement between experimental and adjusted R confirms the consistency of all five models tested. However, one of our equations does not require taking into account the change of crystallisation mode from 3-dimensional to 1-dimensional, and this is advantageous.

Potencial alelopático de extrato etanólico de Anadenanthera macrocarpa e Astronium graveolens

The objective of this study was to evaluate the allelophatic potential ethanol extract of leaves of Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth.) Brenan (angico) and Astronium graveolens Jacq (aroeira) on the biomonitor germination of Brassica chinensis (Malaysia's cabbage) and Lactuca sativa (lettuce). For the test of allelopathy was the bioassay of germination of B. chinensis and L. sativa using solutions of ethanol extracts in different concentrations (5, 10 and 20 mg / mL) with continuous light for 11 days. The experimental and control groups were divided into the Petri dish containing 50 seeds of B. chinensis and L. sativa each. Were performed six replicates for each concentration of extract of leaves of A. macrocarpa and A. graveolens and the negative control (water). The rolling action of the treatments was performed by quantitative observation and monitoring of germination every six hours. The results show that the ethanol extract of A. macrocarpa and A. graveolens presents allelopathic potential, regardless of the concentration used, but with answers dose-dependent, and thus able to interfere directly in germination, average speed and time of germination biomonitor of B. chinensis and L. sativa.

Evaluation of Different Methods of Optical Impression Making on the Marginal Gap of Onlays Created with CEREC 3D

Objectives: This study evaluated the marginal gaps on several surfaces of onlays created with the Cerec 3D system using one intraoral and two extraoral optical impression methods. Methods: A human molar (#19) was mounted with its adjacent teeth on a typodont (Frasaco) and prepared for a MODL onlay. The typodont was assembled in the mannequin head in order to simulate clinical conditions. The same operator took 36 individual optical impressions using a CEREC 3D camera. For group 1 (IP), a thin layer of titanium dioxide powder (CEREC powder-VITA) was applied directly onto the surface of the preparation for imaging (n=12). For group 2 (EP), a sectional impression was taken with hydrocolloid Identic Syringable (Dux Dental), a die made with polyvinylsiloxane KwikkModel Scan (R-dental Dentalerzeugnisse GmbH) and powdered with titanium dioxide for imaging (n=12). For group 3 (ES), a sectional impression was taken with PVS and a sectional stock tray, a die fabricated in stone (Diamond die- HI-TEC Dental Products) and the die being imaged without powdering (n=12). One operator designed and machined the onlays in Vita Blocks Mark II for Cerec (VITA) using a CEREC 3D. The marginal gaps (pm) were measured with an optical microscope (50x) at 12 points, three on each surface of the MODL. The results were analyzed by two-way ANOVA/Tukey's (p=0.05). Results: The overall mean marginal gaps (mu m) for the three methods were: IP=111.6 (+/- 34.0); EP=161.4 (+/- 37.6) and ES=116.8 (+/- 42.3). IP and ES were equal, but both were significantly less than EP. The pooled mean marginal gaps (mu m) for the occlusal = 110.5 (+/- 39) and lingual = 111.5 (+/- 30.5) surfaces were equivalent and significantly less than the distal = 136.5 (+/- 42.5) and mesial = 161.1 (+/- 43.3). Conclusion: The marginal gap of CEREC 3D onlay restorations was not different when the optical impression was taken intraorally vs extraorally using a stone cast that does not require powdering. The lingual and occlusal surfaces showed the lowest gaps.

Spiroplasma in Drosophila melanogaster Populations: Prevalence, Male-Killing, Molecular Identification, and No Association with Wolbachia

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Aircraft accident in Brazil: Boeing vs. Legacy?

Air accidents represent a small proportion of the flights registered worldwide. Airplane collisions in the air are rare. In September of 2006, a Boeing 737-800 collided in midair with a Legacy Jet. It was the largest accident registered in the history of Brazilian aviation until that time. The present study explores aspects of press coverage of the accident. Data and information reported in the media about the accident from September 2006 to August 2007 were collected and discussed. Media coverage called attention to two unusual aspects: politicisation of the discussion, culminating in the opening of congressional inquiries, and equally the concomitance of police investigations interfering in the work of agencies responsible for the official accident investigation. Emphasis on assigning guilt and establishing penalties may close the windows of opportunity an accident had opened for discussions on the improvement of air safety. In Brazil, political imperatives and organizational pressures have interfered and the possibilities of organizational learning from the accident have been drastically curtailed.

Acquisition and transmission of Hepatozoon canis (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) by the tick Amblyomma ovale (Acari: Ixodidae)

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

Conjugated linoleic acid and cardiac health: Oxidative stress and energetic metabolism in standard and sucrose-rich diets

Studies on conjugated linoleic acid ingestion and its effect on cardiac tissue are necessary for the safe utilization of this compound as supplement for weight loss. Male Wistar 24-rats were divided into four groups (n = 6):(C)given standard chow, water and 0.5 ml saline, twice a week by gavage; (C-CLA)receiving standard chow, water and 0.5 ml of conjugated linoleic acid, twice a week, by gavage; (S)given standard chow, saline by gavage, and 30% sucrose in its drinking water; (S-CLA)receiving standard chow, 30% sucrose in its drinking water and conjugated linoleic acid. After 42 days of treatment S rats had obesity with increased abdominal-circumference, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and myocardial lower citrate synthase(CS) and higher lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activities than C. Conjugated linoleic acid had no effects on morphometric parameters in C-CLA, as compared to C, but normalized morphometric parameters comparing S-CLA with S. There was a negative correlation between abdominal adiposity and resting metabolic rate. Conjugated linoleic acid effect, enhancing fasting-VO2/surface area, postprandial-carbohydrate oxidation and serum lipid hydroperoxide resembled to that of the S group. Conjugated linoleic acid induced cardiac oxidative stress in both fed conditions, and triacylglycerol accumulation in S-CLA rats. Conjugated linoleic acid depressed myocardial LDH comparing C-CLA with C, and beta-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme-A dehydrogenase/CS ratio, comparing S-CLA with S. In conclusion, dietary conjugated linoleic acid supplementation for weight loss can have long-term effects on cardiac health. Conjugated linoleic acid, isomers c9, t11 and t10, c12 presented undesirable pro-oxidant effect and induced metabolic changes in cardiac tissue. Nevertheless, despite its effect on abdominal adiposity in sucrose-rich diet condition, conjugated linoleic acid may be disadvantageous because it can lead to oxidative stress and dyslipidemic profile. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.