The ICLARM-CLSU integrated animal-fish farming project: final report

Full results of 18 major livestock-fish farming experiments in which tilapia were grown using excreta from chickens, ducks and pigs over a 3-year period. Includes economic analyses and forecasts and 26 pages of raw and summary data.Integrated farming, Fish culture, Philippines, Oreochromis niloticus, Cyprinus carpio, Channa striata, Clarias batrachus

Comparative Bioavailability Of Two Quetiapine Formulations In Healthy Volunteers After A Single Dose Administration

The study was performed to compare the bioavailability of two quetiapine 25 mg tablet formulations: the test formulation was quetiapine fumarate (kitapen®) manufactured by Cobalt Pharmaceuticals, Canada/ Arrow Farmacêutica Ltda* (Erowlabs). Seroquel® (quetiapine) from Astrazeneca Brazil was used as reference formulation. The study was conducted open with randomized two period crossover design and one week wash out period in 64 volunteers of both sexes. Plasma samples were obtained over a 48 hour interval. Quetiapine was analyzed by LC-MS-MS in the presence of quetiapine-D8 as internal standard. Plasma samples were obtained over a 48 hour interval. Quetiapine was analyzed by LC-MS-MS in the presence of quetiapine-D8 as internal standard. The mean ratio of parameters Cmax and AUC 0-t and 90% confidence intervals of correspondents were calculated to determine the bioequivalence. The means AUC 0-t for test and reference formulation were 432.41 ng.h/mL and 412.20 ng.h/mL, for AUC 0-∞ were 440.06 ng.h/mL and 418.90 ng.h/mL and, for Cmax 126.94 ng/mL and 108.71 ng/mL, respectively. Geometric mean of quetiapine (kitapen®)/Seroquel® 25 mg individual percent ratio was 97.68% AUC 0-t, 97.47% for AUC 0-∞ and 90.68% for C max. The 90% confidence intervals were 92.67 - 102.96%, 92.53 - 102.67%, 83.37 - 98.64%, respectively. Since the 90% confidence intervals for C max, AUC 0-t and AUC 0-∞ were within the 80 - 125% interval proposed by Food and Drug Administration, it was concluded that quetiapine (kitapen®) 25 mg tablet was bioequivalent to Seroquel® 25 mg tablet according to both the rate and extent of absorption. © 2011 Junior EA, et al.38178181Barrett, B., Capek, H.M., Huclova, J., Borek-Dohalsky, V., Fejt, P., Validated HPLC-MS/MS method for determination of quetiapine in human plasma (2007) Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 44, pp. 498-505DeVane, C.L., Nemeroff, C.B., Clinical Pharmacokinetics of quetiapine: An Atypical Antipsychotic (2001) Clinical Pharmacokinet, 40, pp. 509-522Kasper, S., Müller-Spahn, F., Review of quetiapine and its clinical applications in schizophrenia (2000) Expert Opin Pharmacother, 1, pp. 783-801Tilden, D., Aristides, M., Meddis, D., Burns, T., An economic assessment of quetiapine and haloperidol in patients with schizophrenia only partially responsive to conventional antipsychotics (2002) Clin Ther., 24, pp. 1648-1667Mario, A., Michael, E., The Role of Quetiapine Extended Release in the Treatment of Bipolar Depression (2010) Adv Ther, 27, pp. 1-11Keck, P., McIntyre, R., Shelton, R., Bipolar depression: Best practices for the outpatient (2007) CNS Spectr., 12, pp. 1-16Judd, L., Akishal, H., Schettler, P., The long-term natural history of the weekly symptomatic status of bipolar I disorder (2002) Arch Gen Psychiatry., 59, pp. 530-537Goldstein, J.M., Atypical antipsychotic drugs: Beyond acute psychosis, new directions (1999) Emerging Drugs, 4, pp. 127-151Abi-Dargham, A., Laruelle, M., Aghajanian, G.K., Charney, D., Krystal, J., The role of serotonin in the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia (1997) J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, 9, pp. 1-17Kapur, S., Remington, G., Serotonin-dopamine interaction and its relevance to schizophrenia (1996) Am J Psychiatry, 153, pp. 466-476Calabrese, J.R., Keck Jr., P.E., McFadden, W., Minkwitz, M., Ketter, T.A., Weisler, R.H., Cutler, A.J., Mullen, J., A randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled trial of quetiapine in the treatment of bipolar I or II depression (2005) Am J Psychiatry, 162, pp. 1351-1360Copolov, D.L., Kowalcyk, B., A multicentre, double-blind, randomized comparison of quetiapine and haloperidol in schizophrenia (2000) Psychol Med, 30, pp. 95-105Figueroa, C., Brecher, M., Hamer-Maansson, J., Pharmacokinetic profiles of extended release quetiapine fumarate compared with quetiapine immediate release (2009) Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry, 33, pp. 199-204Goldstein, J.M., Litwin, L.C., Sutton, E.B., Malick, J.B., Seroquel: Electrophysiological profile of a potential atypical antipsychotic (1993) Psychopharmacology, 112, pp. 293-298Kasper, S., Tauscher, J., Küfferle, B., Barnas, C., Pezawas, L., Dopamine and serotonin-receptors in schizophrenia: Results of imaging-studies and implications for pharmacology in schizophrenia (1999) Eur. Arch. Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci., 249, pp. 83-89Peuskens, J., A comparison of quetiapine and chlorpromazine in the treatment of schizophrenia (1997) Acta Psychiatr Scand, 96, pp. 265-273Saller, F., Salama, A.I., Seroquel: Biochemical profile of a potential atypical antipsychotic (1993) Psychopharmacology, 112, pp. 285-292Thase, M.E., McFadden, W., Weisler, R., Efficacy of quetiapine monotherapy in bipolar I and II depression: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study (2006) J Clin Psychopharmacol, 26, pp. 600-609Vieta, E., Mullen, J., Brecher, M., Paulsson, B., Jones, M., Quetiapine monotherapy for mania associated with bipolar disorder: Combined analysis of two international, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled studies (2005) Curr Med Res Opin, 21, pp. 923-93

Evaluation of the growth-inhibitory effect of trifluralin analogues on in vitro cultured Babesia bovis parasites

Bovine babesiosis, caused by Babesia bovis, is a global tick borne hemoprotozoan parasite disease characterized by fever, anemia, weight losses and ultimately death. Several babesicidal drugs that have been in use in cattle for years have proven to be only partially effective and the development of alternative chemotherapeutics that are highly specific and have low toxicity against babesiosis is needed. Trifluralin derivatives specifically bind alpha-tubulin in plants and protozoa parasites causing growth inhibition. A set of 12 trifluralin analogues (TFLA) has previously been shown to be inhibitory for the growth of Leishmania species. The conservation of several key amino acids involved in the trifluralin binding site of alpha-tubulin among Leishmania sp. and B. bovis provides rationale for testing these compounds also as babesiacides. The previously tested Leishmania inhibitory, TFLA 1-12 minus TFLA 5, in addition to three novel TFLA (termed TFLA 13-15), were tested against in vitro cultured B. bovis parasites. While all of the TFLA tested in the study showed inhibition of B. bovis growth in vitro TFLA 7, TFLA 10 and TFLA 13, were the most effective inhibitors with estimated IC50 (μM) at 72h of 8.5±0.3; 9.2±0.2; 8.9±0.7, respectively for the biologically attenuated cloned B. bovis Mo7 strain, and 13.6±1.5; 18.7±1.6; 10.6±1.9, respectively for the virulent B. bovis T3Bo strain. The differences found between the two strains were not statistically significant. Importantly, these drugs displayed low levels of toxicity for the host erythrocytes and bovine renal arterial endothelial cells at the doses tested. The demonstrated ability of trifluralin analogues to inhibit in vitro growth of B. bovis parasites combined with their low toxicity for host cells suggests that these compounds may be further developed as novel alternatives for the treatment of bovine babesiosis.publishersversionpublishe

Immunoparasitological Diagnosis Of Strongyloides Stercoralis In Garbage Collectors In Uberlândia, Mg, Brazil

The objective of this study was to determine the presence of Strongyloides stercoralis in urban garbage collectors through the use of immunological and parasitological methods. A total of 92 individuals were evaluated from August, 1997, to June, 1998. For the parasitological diagnosis Baermann and Lutz' methods were applied. The immunological diagnosis involved the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect specific IgG antibodies. Of the 92 workers examined, six (6.5%) were infected with larvae of S. stercoralis. The IFAT detected 19 (16.3%) and the ELISA 17 (18.5%) positive serum samples. The differences between the results of parasitological and immunological methods were statistically significant (p<0.05). These results demonstrate that there is a need to improve the health conditions of this category of city employees.6203/04/15180182CONCHA, R., HARRINGTON, J.R.W., ROGERS, A.L., Intestinal strongyloidiasis: Recognition, management and determinants of outcome (2005) J Clin Gastroenterol, 39, pp. 203-211SIDDIQUI, A.A., BERK, S.L., Diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis infection (2001) Clin Infect Dis, 33, pp. 1040-1047FERREIRA, M., Strongyloidiasis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (2003) Enf Emerg, 5, pp. 18-26VADLAMUDI, R.S., CHI, D.S., KRISHANASWAMY, G., Intestinal strongyloidiasis and hyperinfection syndrome (2006) Clin Mol Allergy, 4, pp. 1-13BAERMANN G. Eine Einfache methode zur auffindung von Ankylostomum (Nematoden) larven in Erdproben. Mededeel mit h. Geneesk Lab Weltvreden Feestbundel, Batavia, 1917, p. 41-7LUTZ, A.V., Schistosoma mansoni e a schistosomose, Segundo observações feitas no Brasil. (1919) Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 11, pp. 121-125COSTA-CRUZ, J.M., BULLAMAH, C.B., GONÇALVEZ-PIRES, M.R.F., Cryo-microtome sections of coproculture larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis and Strongyloides ratti as antigen sources for the immunodiagnosis of human strongyloidiasis (1997) Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo, 39, pp. 313-317MACHADO, E.R., UETA, M.T., GONÇALVES-PIRES, M.R.F., Strongyloides venezuelensis alkaline extract for the diagnosis of human strongyloidiasis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (2003) Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 98, pp. 849-853MACHADO, E.R., COSTA-CRUZ, J.M., Strongyloides stercoralis and other enteroparasites in children at Uberlândia City, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil (1998) Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 93, pp. 161-164PAULA, F.M., CASTRO, E., GONÇALVES-PIRES, M.R.F., Parasitological and immunological diagnoses of strongyloidiasis in immunocompromised and nonimmunocompromised children at Uberlândia City, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil (2000) Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo, 42, pp. 51-55OLIVEIRA, L.C.M., RIBEIRO, C.T., MENDES, D.M., Frequency of Strongyloides stercoralis in alcoholics (2002) Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 97, pp. 119-121LINDO, J.F., CONWAY, D.J., ATKINS, N.S., Prospective evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot methods for the diagnosis of endemic Strongyloides stercoralis infection (1994) Am J Trop Med Hyg, 51, pp. 175-179CLARK, C.S., LINNEMANN Jr, C.C., CLARK, J.G., Enteric parasites in workers occupationally exposed to sewage (1984) J Occup Med, 26, pp. 273-275SCHLOSSER, O., RALL, D., LAURECEAU, M.-N., Intestinal parasite carriage in workers exposed to sewage (1999) Eur J Epidemiol, 15, pp. 261-265GOMES, T.C., ALMEIDA, M.F., MUIRA, L.A., Helmintoses intestinais em população de rua da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. (2002) Rev Soc Bras Med Trop, 35, pp. 531-53

l-Leucine supplemented whey protein. Dose–response effect on heart mTOR activation of sedentary and trained rats

AbstractThe aim of the study was to investigate the effect of leucine supplementation combined with exercise and whey protein in cardiac mTOR anabolic pathway. Ninety-six weanling male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups and fed diets containing either casein or WP plus increasing levels (0, 3, 4.5 and 6% of diet) of l-leucine for 30days. A parallel set of eight groups was exercised for comparison. Serum aspartate amino transferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and branched chain amino acids were determined by standard methods, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and p70S6K by the Western blot analysis. Chronic l-leucine supplementation was capable of increasing both mTOR and p70S6K phosphorylation in the heart in a dose-dependent fashion, independent of the type of dietary protein in both groups, sedentary and exercised, but the exercise potentialized the activation of the anabolic pathway. The content of protein in heart increase with l-leucine supplementation and the heart mass relativized by body mass did not change. In conclusion, the combination of l-leucine and milk proteins (casein or whey protein) has the potential to increase the mTOR pathway in the cardiac muscle without increasing the heart mass. The novelty of this study is to show the effectiveness of a blend of leucine and whey protein as a viable alternative to maximize the activation of the anabolic pathway of cardiac muscle and that the exercise can improve this process

Ultrastructural changes in chemically induced preneoplastic focal lesions in the rat liver: a stereological study

Ultrastructural changes were investigated and quantified, using a stereological approach, in early gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)-positive focal lesions, induced in the rat liver by treatment with a single initiating dose of diethylnitrosamine (DENA) followed by promotion with phenobarbitone (PB) for 30 weeks. Within the extra-hepato cyte environment of focal tissue, the mean volume occupied by Ito cells was markedly decreased, whilst that occupied by endothelial and Kupffer cells was increased, when compared to uninvolved tissue from the same rat livers. The bile canalicull were dilated, but nosignificant differences in the mean volume occupkd by the sinusoidal and Disse spaces were noted. In focal hepatocytes there was a striking overproduction of lipid droplets and proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (sER). Whorls of concentrically arranged, parallel ER membranes were found only in the hepatocytes of preneoplastic foci, in association with the proliferated sER, and never in the surrounding, uninvolved tissue. The Increase In mean volume of the sER, lipid droplet and cytoplasmic matrix compartments, together with the appearance of whorls, were the major contributing factors to the marked hypertrophy seen in focal hepatocytes. The mean volume of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial, lysosomal, peroxisomal and nuclear compartments per hepatocyte also Increased, but contributed to a lesser extent to the cellular hypertrophy. It is speculated that whorls may be structural adaptations, resulting from a possible alteration in the normalfeedback control of cholesterol synthesis, for the production of sterols and the biogenesis of sER in eosinophilic-type focal cells. The significance of changes observed in focal tissue, and the high biological variation noted between foci, is discussed in relation to the hepatocarcinogenic proces

Volcanic sequence in Late Triassic – Jurassicsiliciclastic and evaporitic rocks from Galeana, NE Mexico

In northeastern Mexico, volcanic rocks interbedded with Late Triassic–Jurassic siliciclastic and evaporitic strata have been linked to magmatic arcs developed in the Pangea western margin during its initial phase of fragmentation. This work provides new petrographic and geochemical data for volcanism included in the El Alamar and Minas Viejas formations outcropping in the Galeana region. Andesitic dykes and sills (n= 10) in the El Alamar redbeds show SiO2= 47.5–59.1% and MgO= 1.2–4.2%, as well as a geochemical affinity to island arc magmas. This work represents the first report of this tectonic setting in the region. Geological and petrographic evidence suggest that this arc system likely developed after ~220 and before ~193Ma. Trachy-andesitic and rhyodacitic domes (n= 20) associated with the Minas Viejas gypsum-carbonates sequence show SiO2= 61.8–82.7% and MgO= 0.1–4.0% with a tectonic affinity to continental arc. A rhyodacite sample from this region has been dated by U-Pb in zircon, yielding an age of 149.4 ± 1.2Ma (n= 21), being the youngest age related to this arc. Finally, we propose a threestep model to explain the tectonic evolution from Late Triassic island arc to Jurassic continental arc system in the northeastern Mexico

Procesadores de bajo coste y su aplicación en la docencia de Ingeniería de Computadores

La Informática evoluciona a gran velocidad y es necesario actualizar con frecuencia los recursos de aprendizaje para mantener el interés de los estudiantes. En la actualidad, hay una gran diversidad de plataformas de cómputo de bajo coste que son utilizadas como recursos en los estudios de Informática. Raspberry Pi y algunos modelos de Arduino (como Arduino Due), ambas basadas en procesadores ARM, son ejemplos representativos de este tipo de plataformas. Las arquitecturas ARM son ejemplos de procesadores RISC que actualmente gozan de gran popularidad por su buena relación entre potencia computacional, consumo y coste. De hecho, constituyen el núcleo de muchos de los teléfonos móviles y sistemas empotrados actuales. Al estar tan cerca de los estudiantes, el uso de este tipo de recursos en el aula representa una oportunidad para: (1) motivar a los alumnos de Bachillerato y Educación Secundaria para estudiar el Grado de Informática y (2) potenciar el interés de los alumnos de Grado de Informática por la Ingeniería de Computadores. Existe una serie de eventos consolidados que tienen una gran difusión social. En ellos, se muestran vistosos ejemplos de aplicación y funcionamiento de este tipo de plataformas. En este trabajo se describen el conjunto de sistemas interactivos y basados en plataformas computacionales de bajo coste que se han desarrollado para ser utilizadas en este tipo de eventos. De acuerdo con nuestra experiencia de participación, creemos que están sirviendo para despertar el interés del alumno de secundaria por la Informática en general, y más específicamente por la Ingeniería de Computadores. Por otra parte, un porcentaje de los alumnos que cursan el Grado de Ingeniería Informática no está interesado en el análisis de los componentes hardware y de su organización para construir un computador moderno. Piensan que la asignatura de Arquitectura de Computadores del Grado en Ingeniería Informática está lejos de su futura actividad profesional. En este contexto, nos planteamos seleccionar ARM como arquitectura de referencia para desarrollar los contenidos de la asignatura de Arquitectura de Computadores. Creemos que esta decisión mejora el interés del alumno por dos motivos: (1) el objeto de estudio se usa en multitud de plataformas muy cotidianas para el alumno y (2) es posible diseñar las actividades prácticas de las asignaturas basadas en elementos reales y no únicamente virtuales. Este trabajo muestra las distintas actividades tanto a nivel teórico como práctico que se plantean al alumno en el marco de la asignatura Arquitectura de Computadores.Computer Science is advancing rapidly and it is necessary to keep the educational resources up to date in order to keep the interest of students. Nowadays, there is a wide variety of low-cost computing platforms that are used as educational resources in the Computer Science degree. Raspberry Pi and some models of Arduino (such as Arduino Due), which are both based on ARM processors, are representative examples of this kind of platforms. ARM architectures are instances of RISC processors which nowadays have reached an important popularity due to their good relation between performance, consumption and cost. In fact, they constitute the core of numerous current mobile phones and embedded systems. Considering their proximity to the students, the use of this kind of resources in the classroom is an opportunity to: (1) encourage the high schools pupils to study the Computer Science degree and (2) to increase the interest of the students for the Computer Engineering. There are several consolidated informational events of great social outreach in which different examples of application of this kind of platforms are shown. In this work, the set of interactive systems designed to be used in this kind of events is described. According to our experience, we think that they arouse the interest of high schools pupils for the Computer Science in general, and, more specifically, for the Computer Engineering. Furthermore, a percentage of the students of the Computer Science degree is not interested in the analysis of hardware components and the architecture of modern computers. They think that the subject of Computer Architecture of the Computer Science Degree is far from his/her future career. In this context, we will select ARM as a reference architecture where the contents of the subject Computer Architecture will be developed on. We think this might improve the motivation of the students mainly for two reasons: (1) the object of study is being used in a lot of modern platforms; and (2) it is possible to design the practical activities of the subjects using real platforms and not only virtual ones. This work shows the activities proposed to the students in the context of the subject Computer Architecture, considering both practical and theoretical approaches

Biochemical and colour changes of watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) during freezing and frozen storage

The effects of water blanching, freezing, and frozen storage during 400 days at three different temperatures (-7, - 15 and -30 degrees C), on watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) colour Hunter Lab parameters, chlorophyll degradation, vitamin C content loss and peroxidase (POD) activity were evaluated. The blanching induced significant changes on colour values and chlorophylls and vitamin C contents. POD activity was reduced 85% from its initial value. Freezing did not affect chlorophylls and vitamin C levels, however, promoted significant differences in colour values and POD residual activity. During frozen storage, ascorbic acid (AA) and POD activity degradations followed first-order kinetics, and colour parameters (L(H) . a(H) . b(H), -a(H)/b(H,) L(H) . a(H)/b(H), L(H)/a(H) and hue (h(H)(0))) were Successfully described by zero-order kinetics. The Storage temperature effect Was Successfully described by the Arrhenius law. Chlorophylls and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) contents were kept constant during frozen storage. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Design Specifications for an Auxiliary Incision Retractor in Dacryocystorhinostomy Surgeries

It is presented the design specifications for a Retractor Robotic System (RRS) based on the surgical necessities in the incisions procedure for a dacryocystorhinostomy. The specifications are conformed by a mathematical model, the experimental data measured, a modular flexible architecture, energy supplier system, the mechanical group, and the safety system. The specifications suggest that the use of flexible polymeric materials for the RRS provide a mayor adaptability of the system with the biological tissue; so a pneumatic actuator could be a suitable option.This research was funded by CONACYT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología) Grant No. 86356