Custo de produção do gado puro sangue Charolês.

Foi estimado o custo da criação do rebanho Charolês, mantido para fim de pesquisa na UEPAE de São Carlos, com o objetivo de colher subsidios para o estudo da economicidade da pesquisa e de registrar incidências de custo aplicáveis a criação a nível de empresa

Turnip crinkle virus coat protein mediates suppression of RNA silencing in nicotiana benthamiana

AbstractAll of the protein products of Turnip crinkle virus (TCV; Tombusviridae, Carmovirus) were tested for their ability to suppress RNA silencing of a reporter gene after transient expression in Agrobacterium-infiltrated Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Only the capsid protein, P38, showed suppression activity, although this was not obvious when P38 was expressed as part of a TCV infection of the same tissues. When P38 was expressed from a PVX vector, symptoms with enhanced severity that correlated with increased PVX RNA accumulation were observed. This contradiction between ectopic expression of P38 and TCV infection could be accounted for if the active determinant of suppressor activity within P38 was sequestered within the capsid protein structure. The N-terminal 25 amino acids were shown to be important for this activity. This region forms part of the unexposed R-domain that interacts with the RNA within the virus particle. This observation throws light on some of the complex biology exhibited by TCV

Unraveling flp-11/flp-32 dichotomy in nematodes

AbstractFMRFamide-like peptide (FLP) signalling systems are core to nematode neuromuscular function. Novel drug discovery efforts associated with nematode FLP/FLP receptor biology are advanced through the accumulation of basic biological data that can reveal subtle complexities within the neuropeptidergic system. This study reports the characterisation of FMRFamide-like peptide encoding gene-11 (flp-11) and FMRFamide-like peptide encoding gene-32 (flp-32), two distinct flp genes which encode the analogous peptide, AMRN(A/S)LVRFamide, in multiple nematode species – the only known example of this phenomenon within the FLPergic system of nematodes. Using bioinformatics, in situ hybridisation, immunocytochemistry and behavioural assays we show that: (i) flp-11 and -32 are distinct flp genes expressed individually or in tandem across multiple nematode species, where they encode a highly similar peptide; (ii) flp-11 does not appear to be the most widely expressed flp in Caenorhabditis elegans; (iii) in species expressing both flp-11 and flp-32, flp-11 displays a conserved, restricted expression pattern across nematode clades and lifestyles; (iv) in species expressing both flp-11 and flp-32, flp-32 expression is more widespread and less conserved than flp-11; (v) in species expressing only flp-11, the flp-11 expression profile is more similar to the flp-32 profile observed in species expressing both; and (vi) FLP-11 peptides inhibit motor function in multiple nematode species. The biological significance and evolutionary origin of flp-11 and -32 peptide duplication remains unclear despite attempts to identify a common ancestor; this may become clearer as the availability of genomic data improves. This work provides insight into the complexity of the neuropeptidergic system in nematodes, and begins to examine how nematodes may compensate for structural neuronal simplicity. From a parasite control standpoint, this work underscores the importance of basic biological data, and has wider implications for the utility of C. elegans as a model for parasite neurobiology

Rapid Monitoring of Bacteria and Fungi aboard the International Space Station (ISS)

Microorganisms within spacecraft have traditionally been monitored with culture-based techniques. These techniques involve growth of environmental samples (cabin water, air or surfaces) on agar-type media for several days, followed by visualization of resulting colonies or return of samples to Earth for ground-based analysis. Data obtained over the past 4 decades have enhanced our understanding of the microbial ecology within space stations. However, the approach has been limited by the following factors: i) Many microorganisms (estimated > 95%) in the environment cannot grow on conventional growth media; ii) Significant time lags (3-5 days for incubation and up to several months to return samples to ground); iii) Condensation in contact slides hinders colony counting by crew; and iv) Growth of potentially harmful microorganisms, which must then be disposed of safely. This report describes the operation of a new culture-independent technique onboard the ISS for rapid analysis (within minutes) of endotoxin and beta-1, 3-glucan, found in the cell walls of gramnegative bacteria and fungi, respectively. The technique involves analysis of environmental samples with the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay in a handheld device, known as the Lab-On-a-Chip Application Development Portable Test System (LOCAD-PTS). LOCADPTS was launched to the ISS in December 2006, and here we present data obtained from Mach 2007 until the present day. These data include a comparative study between LOCADPTS analysis and existing culture-based methods; and an exploratory survey of surface endotoxin and beta-1, 3-glucan throughout the ISS. While a general correlation between LOCAD-PTS and traditional culture-based methods should not be expected, we will suggest new requirements for microbial monitoring based upon culture-independent parameters measured by LOCAD-PTS

LOCAD-PTS: Operation of a New System for Microbial Monitoring Aboard the International Space Station (ISS)

Microorganisms within the space stations Salyut, Mir and the International Space Station (ISS), have traditionally been monitored with culture-based techniques. These techniques involve growing environmental samples (cabin water, air or surfaces) on agar-type media for several days, followed by visualization of resulting colonies; and return of samples to Earth for ground-based analysis. This approach has provided a wealth of useful data and enhanced our understanding of the microbial ecology within space stations. However, the approach is also limited by the following: i) More than 95% microorganisms in the environment cannot grow on conventional growth media; ii) Significant time lags occur between onboard sampling and colony visualization (3-5 days) and ground-based analysis (as long as several months); iii) Colonies are often difficult to visualize due to condensation within contact slide media plates; and iv) Techniques involve growth of potentially harmful microorganisms, which must then be disposed of safely. This report describes the operation of a new culture-independent technique onboard the ISS for rapid analysis (within minutes) of endotoxin and -1, 3-glucan, found in the cell walls of gram-negative bacteria and fungi, respectively. This technique involves analysis of environmental samples with the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay in a handheld device. This handheld device and sampling system is known as the Lab-On-a-Chip Application Development Portable Test System (LOCAD-PTS). A poster will be presented that describes a comparative study between LOCAD-PTS analysis and existing culture-based methods onboard the ISS; together with an exploratory survey of surface endotoxin throughout the ISS. It is concluded that while a general correlation between LOCAD-PTS and traditional culture-based methods should not necessarily be expected, a combinatorial approach can be adopted where both sets of data are used together to generate a more complete story of the microbial ecology on the ISS

Infrared optical properties of the spin-1/2 quantum magnet TiOClTiOCl

We report results on the electrodynamic response of $TiOCl$, a low-dimensional spin-1/2 quantum magnet that shows a spin gap formation for T$<T_{c1}$= 67 $K$. The Fano-like shape of a few selected infrared active phonons suggests an interaction between lattice vibrations and a continuum of low frequency (spin) excitations. The temperature dependence of the phonon mode parameters extends over a broad temperature range well above $T_{c1}$, indicating the presence of an extended fluctuation regime. In the temperature interval between 200 $K$ and $T_{c1}$ there is a progressive dimensionality crossover (from two to one), as well as a spectral weight shift from low towards high frequencies. This allows us to identify a characteristic energy scale of about 430 $K$, ascribed to a pseudo spin-gap

Orbital order in the low-dimensional quantum spin system TiOCl probed by ESR

We present electron spin resonance data of Ti$^{3+}$ (3$d^1$) ions in single crystals of the novel layered quantum spin magnet TiOCl. The analysis of the g tensor yields direct evidence that the d_{xy} orbital from the t_{2g} set is predominantly occupied and owing to the occurrence of orbital order a linear spin chain forms along the crystallographic b axis. This result corroborates recent theoretical LDA+U calculations of the band structure. The temperature dependence of the parameters of the resonance signal suggests a strong coupling between spin and lattice degrees of freedom and gives evidence for a transition to a nonmagnetic ground state at 67 K.Comment: revised version, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B, Rapid Com

Next Generation LOCAD-PTS Cartridge Development

Future astrobiology exploration missions will require rapid, point-of-use techniques for surface science experiments and contamination monitoring. The Lab-On-a-Chip Application Development (LOCAD) team is developing operational instruments that advance spaceflight technologies to molecular-based methods. Currently, LOCAD-Portable Test System (PTS) is quantifying levels of the bacterial molecule endotoxin onboard the Internatioal Space Station. Future research and development will focus on more sensitive molecular techniques that expand the number of compounds detected to include beta-glucan from fungal cell walls