Failure of sexing by developmental arrest of bovine embryos in vitro produced with H-Y antisera

Embriões bovinos produzidos in vitro, em estádio de mórula, foram cultivados em meio contendo anticorpos anti H-Y de alto título proveniente de ratos por 24h e, após este tempo, classificados em dois grupos: 1) embriões inibidos em estádio de mórula (classificados como machos) e 2) embriões que se desenvolveram e formaram a blastocele (classificados como fêmeas). O sexo de 311 embriões, distribuídos em três grupos de concentração dos anticorpos, 3%, 5% ou 7%, foi identificado pela reação em cadeia da polimerase. Não houve desvio da proporção entre machos e fêmeas (P>0,05) nos grupos em que se utilizaram os anticorpos anti H-Y, quando comparadas ao grupo-controle, sem adição de anticorpos anti H-Y. Diferentemente dos resultados obtidos utilizando-se embriões bovinos produzidos in vivo, a sexagem com anticorpos anti H-Y de alto título em embriões produzidos in vitro não propiciou sucesso.In vitro produced bovine embryos at morula stage were cultured in medium containing high titer of rat H-Y antisera for 24h. The embryos were classified in two groups: 1) embryos arrested at morula stage (classified as males); and 2) embryos that developed and formed a blastocoele (classified as female). The sex of 311 embryos, divided in three groups of concentration of H-Y antisera, 3%, 5% or 7%, was identified by polimerase chain reaction. The results showed no difference (P>0.05) on sexual deviation in groups in which the H-Y antisera was added, in relation to control group, in which no H-Y antisera was added. In contrast with results obtained with in vivo produced bovine embryos, the sexing of in vitro produced bovine embryos with high H-Y antisera titer did not succed.CNP

Decoherence in trapped ions due to polarization of the residual background gas

We investigate the mechanism of damping and heating of trapped ions associated with the polarization of the residual background gas induced by the oscillating ions themselves. Reasoning by analogy with the physics of surface electrons in liquid helium, we demonstrate that the decay of Rabi oscillations observed in experiments on 9Be+ can be attributed to the polarization phenomena investigated here. The measured sensitivity of the damping of Rabi oscillations with respect to the vibrational quantum number of a trapped ion is also predicted in our polarization model.Comment: 26 pdf pages with 5 figures, http://www.df.ufscar.br/~quantum

Three-Dimensional Regional Displacements After Mandibular Advancement Surgery: One Year of Follow-Up

To evaluate the association of 3-dimensional changes in the position of the condyles, rami, and chin at splint removal and 1 year after mandibular advancement surgery

Entanglement Dynamics in Two-Qubit Open System Interacting with a Squeezed Thermal Bath via Quantum Nondemolition interaction

We analyze the dynamics of entanglement in a two-qubit system interacting with an initially squeezed thermal environment via a quantum nondemolition system-reservoir interaction, with the system and reservoir assumed to be initially separable. We compare and contrast the decoherence of the two-qubit system in the case where the qubits are mutually close-by (`collective regime') or distant (`localized regime') with respect to the spatial variation of the environment. Sudden death of entanglement (as quantified by concurrence) is shown to occur in the localized case rather than in the collective case, where entanglement tends to `ring down'. A consequence of the QND character of the interaction is that the time-evolved fidelity of a Bell state never falls below $1/\sqrt{2}$, a fact that is useful for quantum communication applications like a quantum repeater. Using a novel quantification of mixed state entanglement, we show that there are noise regimes where even though entanglement vanishes, the state is still available for applications like NMR quantum computation, because of the presence of a pseudo-pure component.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, REVTeX

Fibre reinforced mortar application for out-of-plane strengthening of schist walls

The aim of the present work is to assess the effectiveness of an innovative strengthening technique for the rehabilitation of masonry buildings deficiently prepared to resist to loading conditions typical of seismic events. This technique is based on the application of outer layers of fibre reinforced mortar (FRM) by spray technology and it is used for increasing the load carrying capacity and deformation ability of masonry elements. For this purpose three almost real scale schist walls prototypes were strengthened and tested. The experimental program is described and the relevant results are presented and discussed. For estimating the properties of the schist walls and FRM taking into account the application conditions, the tested prototypes were simulated with a FEM-based computer program that has constitutive models for the simulation of the nonlinear behaviour of these materials. By using the derived properties, a parametric study was conducted to identify the influence of the FRM properties on the performance of the proposed strengthening system.The author wish to acknowledge CiviTest, Lda (Jesufrei, Portugal) for supporting the experimental program, the sustain provided by INOTEC - Innovative material of ultra-high ductility for the rehabilitation of the built patrimony, QREN project number 23024, and the collaboration of the companies Owens Corning, Exporplas, Sika, Chryso and SECIL for providing, respectively, glass fibres, polypropylene fibres, superplasticizers, Viscous Modifier Agent, and Cement. The authors further wish to acknowledge the Erasmus Plus and Placement Mobility Programs among the University of Ferrara (Italy), the University of Minho (Portugal) and the CiviTest Lda (Portugal) which made this international cooperation possible

Quantificação do carbono das substâncias húmicas em diferentes sistemas de uso do solo e épocas de avaliação.

A quantificação do carbono nas diferentes frações da matéria orgânica do solo (MOS) torna-se necessária devido ao interesse de se conhecer o potencial de captura e armazenamento do carbono nos diferentes sistemas de uso do solo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar o carbono das substâncias húmicas em diferentes sistemas de uso do solo e épocas de avaliação e correlacioná-lo com algumas propriedades químicas e físicas do solo. Os sistemas selecionados foram: preparo convencional (PC-milho/feijão), plantio direto (PD-berinjela/milho), consórcio maracujá/Desmodium sp, cultivo com figo e sistema agroflorestal. As amostras de solo foram coletadas em duas profundidades (0-5 e 5-10 cm) e épocas (17/11/2005–verão e 23/6/2006-inverno). Foi determinado o carbono orgânico total (COT) e realizado o fracionamento químico da MOS, quantificando-se o carbono da fração humina (C-HUM), fração ácido húmico (C-FAH) e fração ácido fúlvico (C-FAF). O C-HUM constituiu a maior parte do COT, havendo correlação significativa com o COT em todos os sistemas avaliados e estações. Analisando o C-FAH foi possível identificar alterações no solo relacionadas aos sistemas de uso, na profundidade de 0-5 cm e no verão, destacando-se o PD com os maiores teores. Com o C-FAF ocorreu este mesmo comportamento, mas na profundidade de 5-10 cm e no inverno, destacando-se o PC com maiores valores. Foram verificadas correlações significativas entre Valor S, Valor T e DMP em todos os sistemas, com exceção da área de PC. O PD aumenta os teores de C-FAH, nas duas profundidades e nas duas estações, quando comparado ao PC do solo

Prevalence and risk factors for bovine leptospirosis in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Foi investigada a prevalência de anticorpos antileptospira em fêmeas bovinas com idade igual ou superior a 24 meses, provenientes de 178 rebanhos de 22 municípios do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, bem como identificados fatores de risco associados à infecção. Foram analisadas 2.573 amostras de soro sangüíneo por meio do teste de soroaglutinação microscópica perante 10 sorovares de leptospira. Títulos iguais ou superiores a 100 para um ou mais sorovares foram detectados em 1.801 fêmeas (98,8%) de 161 (96,5%) rebanhos. O sorovar Hardjo (65,6%) foi apontado como o mais provável, seguido do sorovar Wolffi (12,3%). Os resultados demonstram que a leptospirose bovina se encontra presente em todos os municípios estudados, com alta prevalência, tanto em animais como em rebanhos. Os fatores de risco identificados neste estudo e associados à infecção por bactérias do gênero lepstopira foram o tipo de exploração pecuária de corte e a raça Zebu. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe prevalence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies was estimated for female cattle aged 24 months or older. The sample comprised 178 herds from 22 counties in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The risk factors associated with the presence of infeccion were investigated. A total of 2,573 blood serum samples were tested against 10 leptospira serovars using the microagglutination test (MAT). Titers of 100 or higher for one or more serovars were detected in 1,801 females (98.8%) from 161 herds (96.5%). Serovar Hardjo (65.6%) was the most frequent, followed by serovar Wolffi (12.3%). These results suggest that bovine leptospirosis is widespread in all the counties under study, with a high prevalence both at the animal and the herd level. Beef farms and the Zebu breed were associated to the higher risk of herd infection by leptospiras

Evaluation of HBV-Like circulation in wild and farm animals from Brazil and Uruguay

The origin of the hepatitis B virus is a subject of wide deliberation among researchers. As a result, increasing academic interest has focused on the spread of the virus in different animal species. However, the sources of viral infection for many of these animals are unknown since transmission may occur from animal to animal, human to human, animal to human, and human to animal. The aim of this study was to evaluate hepadnavirus circulation in wild and farm animals (including animals raised under wild or free conditions) from different sites in Brazil and Uruguay using serological and molecular tools. A total of 487 domestic wild and farm animals were screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV) serological markers and tested via quantitative and qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect viral DNA. We report evidence of HBsAg (surface antigen of HBV) and total anti-HBc (HBV core antigen) markers as well as low-copy hepadnavirus DNA among domestic and wild animals. According to our results, which were confirmed by partial genome sequencing, as the proximity between humans and animals increases, the potential for pathogen dispersal also increases. A wider knowledge and understanding of reverse zoonoses should be sought for an effective One Health response