Startracker – Um arcabouço computacional para localização de corpos celestes

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo fornecer um sistema simplificado e interativo para localização de alvos celestes através de um apontador laser sem a presença ou supervisão de um astrônomo treinado, ampliando o acesso ao ensino de Astronomia. Uma plataforma de prototipagem de código-aberto, o Arduino, foi utilizada para construir o hardware necessário para direcionar o apontador para um determinado corpo celeste em conjunto com um software de apoio específico

Synchronization time in a hyperbolic dynamical system with long-range interactions

We show that the threshold of complete synchronization in a lattice of coupled non-smooth chaotic maps is determined by linear stability along the directions transversal to the synchronization subspace. We examine carefully the sychronization time and show that a inadequate observation of the system evolution leads to wrong results. We present both careful numerical experiments and a rigorous mathematical explanation confirming this fact, allowing for a generalization involving hyperbolic coupled map lattices.Comment: 22 pages (preprint format), 4 figures - accepted for publication in Physica A (June 28, 2010

The effects of an osmoregulator, carbohydrates and polyol on maturation and germination of ‘Golden THB’ papaya somatic embryos

This study evaluated the effect of osmoregulators and carbohydrates on the maturation and germination of somatic embryos of papaya ‘Golden THB’. Cotyledon explants from papaya seedlings germinated in vitro on basal MS medium were cultured on somatic embryogenesis induction medium (IM) containing MS salts, myo-inositol, sucrose, agar and p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid. After 50 days, embryogenic calli were transferred onto maturation media (MM) for 45 additional days. For experiment 1, a MS-based medium supplemented with abscisic acid, activated charcoal and concentrations of PEG 6000 (0; 40; 50; 60 and 70 g L^-1) was used, whereas for experiment 2 malt extract concentrations (0; 0.1; 0.2; 0.3 and 0.4 g L^-1) were assessed. The normal cotyledonary somatic embryos produced in experiment 2 were transferred to the germination medium (GM). The GM consisted of full-strength MS medium, sucrose, agar and was supplemented with myo-inositol at varying concentrations (0; 0.275; 0.55 and 0.825 mM). The PEG concentrations tested impaired the maturation of ‘Golden THB’ papaya somatic embryos. The MM, supplemented with malt extract at 0.153 g L^-1, promoted the greatest development of normal somatic embryos (18.28 SE calli^-1), that is, two cotyledonary leaves produced 36.56 SE calli-1. The supplementation with 0.45 mM myo-inositol provided the highest germination percentage (47.42%) and conversion to emblings

A hybrid maintenance policy with fixed periodic structure and opportunistic replacement

We model a maintenance policy with fixed periodic structure that is a hybrid of periodic inspection and opportunistic replacement. The policy is applicable to geographically remote systems such as offshore wind farms. The policy has three phases. Initially, there is an inspection phase to identify early defects. This is followed by a wear out phase during which corrective replacements are performed. Preventive replacement occurs at the end of this phase. The novelty of the model is an opportunistic phase, which overlaps with the latter part of the corrective phase, when preventive replacement is executed early if an opportunity arises. In this way, we model the reality in which remote systems with high logistics costs and restricted access may benefit from opportunistic visits for maintenance. Using a numerical example, we analyse the behaviour of the decision variables for a range of values of the parameters common to such systems. These parameters relate to: component heterogeneity; restricted access; default (failure to execute a planned action); arrival of opportunities and other standard parameters in a maintenance cost model. Specifically, our results indicate when opportunities can have a significant impact on the cost-rate of the optimum policy, but that leveraging opportunities cannot achieve a very high availability. Generally, we demonstrate that maintenance planning should be flexible when factors beyond the control of the maintainer impact maintenance effectiveness

OCORRÊNCIA DE PATÓGENOS EM CARNÍVOROS SELVAGENS BRASILEIROS E SUAS IMPLICAÇÕES PARA A CONSERVAÇÃO E SAÚDE PÚBLICA

OCCURRENCE OF PATHOGENS IN BRAZILIAN WILD CARNIVORES AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH.  Several outbreaks caused by pathogens caused declines in wild carnivore populations in the last decades. In addition to the negative impact to wild populations, there is a concern about the transmission of some of these agents to humans and domestic  animals. In fact, environmental alterations have resulted in changes in the pathogen-host relation. Therefore, monitoring health of wild animals is considered an important component in programs for control or eradication of diseases and in the public and animal health politics and for the management and conservation of wild species. Considering the role of mammals of the order Carnivora in the trophic chain, they might be used as “sentinels”, working as strategic targets in programs of surveillance of important pathogens for public and animal health. We review in this paper case-studies of the main pathogens that occur in wild carnivores, emphasizing species of the Brazilian fauna. We also discuss laboratorial methods used in studies of exposure of Brazilian wild carnivores to pathogens, as well as strategies to minimize the impacts in these populations caused by that exposure, and methods for controlling the occurrence of zoonotic pathogens in wild carnivores. Key-words: Order Carnivora; conservation medicine; zoonosis; epidemiology; fauna management.OCURRENCIA DE PATÓGENOS EN CARNÍVOROS SALVAJES BRASILEÑOS Y SUS IMPLICACIONES PARA LA CONSERVACIÓN Y LA SALUD PÚBLICA. Diversos brotes epidémicos causados por agentes patógenos han provocado una severa reducción de las poblaciones de carnívoros salvajes en las últimas décadas. Además de este impacto sobre las poblaciones silvestres, existe la preocupación de que haya transmisión de algunos de estos agentes a la población humana y de animales domésticos. De hecho, las alteraciones ambientales han provocado cambios en la relación patógeno-hospedero. De esta forma, el monitoreo de la salud de animales silvestres es un componente importante en el establecimiento de programas de control y erradicación de enfermedades y en la elaboración de políticas de salud pública y animal y de manejo y conservación de especies salvajes. Considerando el papel de los mamíferos del orden Carnivora en la cadena trófica, éstos pueden ser usados como “centinelas”, siendo objetivos estratégicos en programas de vigilancia para detección de patógenos. Siendo así, en este artículo serán revisados estudios de caso de los principales patógenos que afectan a carnívoros salvajes, con énfasis en las especies de la fauna brasileña. Los métodos de laboratorio utilizados en los estudios de exposición de los carnívoros brasileños a patógenos serán discutidos así como consideraciones sobre estrategias para minimizar sus impactos sobre la fauna silvestre y los posibles métodos para el control de patógenos causantes de zoonosis en carnívoros. Palabras clave: Orden Carnivora; medicina de la conservación; zoonosis; epidemiología; manejo de fauna.Diversos surtos epidêmicos, causados por agentes patogênicos, provocaram severo declínio em populações de carnívoros selvagens. Além deste impacto às populações silvestres, há a preocupação da transmissão de alguns destes agentes à população humana e de animais domésticos. De fato, as alterações ambientais têm provocado mudanças na relação patógeno-hospedeiro. Desta forma, o monitoramento da saúde de animais silvestres é importante componente no estabelecimento de programas de controle e erradicação de doenças e na elaboração de políticas de saúde pública e animal e de manejo e conservação de espécies selvagens. Considerando o papel dos mamíferos da ordem Carnivora na cadeia trófica, estes podem ser usados como “sentinelas”, sendo alvos estratégicos em programas de vigilância para detecção de patógenos. Sendo assim, neste artigo revisamos estudos de caso dos principais patógenos que acometem carnívoros selvagens, com ênfase nas espécies da fauna brasileira. Discutimos ainda os métodos laboratoriais utilizados nos estudos de exposição dos carnívoros brasileiros e fazemos considerações sobre estratégias para minimizar os impactos da exposição à patógenos, bem como os possíveis métodos para controle de patógenos causadores de zoonoses em carnívoros

ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDE P34 INFLUENCES GENE EXPRESSION OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES GROWING IN SOFT CHEESE

Objective: To evaluate whether antimicrobial substances produced by autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from Minas Frescal cheese are able to enhance the activity of bacteriocin P34 against Listeria monocytogenes and investigate the influence of P34 in specific gene expression of this bacterium after the inoculation in Minas Frescal cheese.Methods: Bacillus sp. P34 and L. monocytogenes ATCC 7644 were used in this study. The antimicrobial peptide P34 was purified and applied (0, 800 or 6400 AU/ml) to cheese surface before inoculation with L. monocytogenes. Antimicrobial activity and synergism were detected using the agar diffusion technique. Expression levels of D-Alanine-D-alanyl carrier protein ligase (dltA), Putative phospholipid lysinylation (Imo 1695) and EIIABMan of mannose-specific PTS (mptA) mRNAs in bacteriocin-treated L. monocytogenes growing in Minas Frescal cheese were determined using real-time PCR.Results: The peptide P34 showed increased antilisterial activity when combined with culture supernatants of some selected LAB isolated from Minas Frescal cheese. The addition of peptide P34 to cheese caused a decrease of up to 3 log cycles in viable counts of artificially inoculated L. monocytogenes. The influence of peptide P34 on the expression of genes associated with components of the cell surface of L. monocytogenes was investigated by real-time PCR. A significant increase in the expression of the genes dltA, Imo 1695 and mptA was observed after 96 h in the presence of peptide P34.Conclusion: These results suggest that the peptide P34 influences the expression of genes involved in D-alanylation of teichoic acids and lipoteichoic acids and lysination of the cell membrane of phospholipids

Soyuretox, an intrinsically disordered polypeptide derived from soybean (Glycine max) ubiquitous urease with potential use as a biopesticide

Ureases from different biological sources display non-ureolytic properties that contribute to plant defense, in addition to their classical enzymatic urea hydrolysis. Antifungal and entomotoxic effects were demonstrated for Jaburetox, an intrinsically disordered polypeptide derived from jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) urease. Here we describe the properties of Soyuretox, a polypeptide derived from soybean (Glycine max) ubiquitous urease. Soyuretox was fungitoxic to Candida albicans, leading to the production of reactive oxygen species. Soyuretox further induced aggregation of Rhodnius prolixus hemocytes, indicating an interference on the insect immune response. No relevant toxicity of Soyuretox to zebrafish larvae was observed. These data suggest the presence of antifungal and entomotoxic portions of the amino acid sequences encompassing both Soyuretox and Jaburetox, despite their small sequence identity. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic data revealed that Soyuretox, in analogy with Jaburetox, possesses an intrinsic and largely disordered nature. Some folding is observed upon interaction of Soyuretox with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles, taken here as models for membranes. This observation suggests the possibility for this protein to modify its secondary structure upon interaction with the cells of the affected organisms, leading to alterations of membrane integrity. Altogether, Soyuretox can be considered a promising biopesticide for use in plant protection.Fil: Kappaun, Karine. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Martinelli, Anne H. S.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Broll, Valquiria. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Zambelli, Barbara. Universidad de Bologna; ItaliaFil: Lopes, Fernanda C.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Ligabue-Braun, Rodrigo. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Fruttero, Leonardo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Moyetta, Natalia Rita. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Bonan, Carla D.. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Carlini, Célia Regina R. S.. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Ciurli, Stefano. Universidad de Bologna; Itali

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry study of body composition in patients with lipodystrophy

Inst Estadual Diabet & Endocrinol, Metab Unit, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, São Paulo, BrazilDENSSO, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Endocrinol & Metab, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Overexpression of Adenosine A2A receptors in rats: effects on depression, locomotion, and anxiety

Copyright: © 2014 Coelho, Alves, Canas, Valadas, Shmidt, Batalha, Ferreira, Ribeiro, Bader, Cunha, do Couto and Lopes. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.Adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) are a sub-type of receptors enriched in basal ganglia, activated by the neuromodulator adenosine, which interact with dopamine D2 receptors. Although this reciprocal antagonistic interaction is well-established in motor function, the outcome in dopamine-related behaviors remains uncertain, in particular in depression and anxiety. We have demonstrated an upsurge of A2AR associated to aging and chronic stress. Furthermore, Alzheimer's disease patients present A2AR accumulation in cortical areas together with depressive signs. We now tested the impact of overexpressing A2AR in forebrain neurons on dopamine-related behavior, namely depression. Adult male rats overexpressing human A2AR under the control of CaMKII promoter [Tg(CaMKII-hA2AR)] and aged-matched wild-types (WT) of the same strain (Sprague-Dawley) were studied. The forced swimming test (FST), sucrose preference test (SPT), and the open-field test (OFT) were performed to evaluate behavioral despair, anhedonia, locomotion, and anxiety. Tg(CaMKII-hA2AR) animals spent more time floating and less time swimming in the FST and presented a decreased sucrose preference at 48 h in the SPT. They also covered higher distances in the OFT and spent more time in the central zone than the WT. The results indicate that Tg(CaMKII-hA2AR) rats exhibit depressive-like behavior, hyperlocomotion, and altered exploratory behavior. This A2AR overexpression may explain the depressive signs found in aging, chronic stress, and Alzheimer's disease.Joana E. Coelho, Vânia L. Batalha and Diana G. Ferreira were supported by a grant from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT); Paula M. Canas and Rodrigo A. Cunha were supported by FCT (PTDC/SAU-NSC/122254/2010) and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA, grant 09-68-ESR- FP-010). Luísa V. Lopes is an Investigator FCT, funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (PTDC-099853/2009) and Bial.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Petrographic and geochemical characterization of the magmatic sequence of Seival Mine, Hilario Formation (Neoproterozoic Camaquã Basin), Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

A Mina do Seival é constituída por rochas vulcânicas e diques de composição andesítica e traqui-andesítica, dispostas em duas sequências. A sequência I inclui rochas piroclásticas e efusivas, e a sequência II é representada pelos diques de composição andesítica. Ambas são incluídas na Associação Shoshonítica de Lavras do Sul. Este magmatismo é relacionado ao estágio pós-colisional do ciclo Brasiliano/Pan-Africano, situando-se estratigraficamente no Alogrupo Bom Jardim, pertencendo à Formação Hilário na Bacia do Camaquã (Neoproterozoico). A área possui intensa alteração hidrotermal e mineralizações de Cu. A mineralização e o magmatismo da Sequência II são controlados por estruturas tectônicas orientadas segundo N/NE e NO, que são relacionadas à distensão regional no período pós-colisional da Orogênese Brasiliano/Pan-Africana. Processos hidrotermais em diferentes temperaturas atuaram sobre estas rochas originando produtos de alteração pervasiva, principalmente clorita, corrensita e esmectita, com veios preenchidos por quartzo, carbonato, barita e minerais de cobre. Em ambas as sequências encaixantes da Mina do Seival é possível identificar a afinidade shoshonítica das rochas. Os elevados teores de Cu, Zn e Ni nos diques em relação às rochas piroclásticas e às efusivas, mesmo nas mais hidrotermalizadas, sugerem que as principais ocorrências de mineralização de Cu têm origem magmática. Os dados químicos de rocha total indicam que o enriquecimento dos elementos componentes da mineralização, Ag, Au, Cu e Zn, está relacionado aos diques da Sequência II. Os teores de Au e Cu são mais elevados nas amostras com menores concentrações de carbonatos, sugerindo que a carbonatação não tem relação com a deposição dos minérios.The Seival Mine consists of andesitic volcanic and trachy-andesitic volcanic and hipabissal rocks grouped into two volcanic sequences. The Sequence I is composed of pyroclastic rocks and effusive rocks, and sequence II by andesite dikes. The area shows intense hydrothermal alteration and Cu mineralization. This magmatism is related to the post-collisional stage of the cycle Brasiliano/Pan-African, and it is stratigraphically positioned in the Bom Jardim Allogroup, Hilário Formation, which is part of the Neoproterozoic Camaquã Basin. Sequence II magmatism and mineralization are controlled by tectonic structures with N/NE and NW orientation, which are related to regional extension during the post-collisional stage of Brasiliano/Pan-African Orogeny. Processes involving different temperatures caused pervasive alteration products, with generation of chlorite, corrensite and smectite, with veins filled by quartz, carbonate, barite and copper minerals. In both sequences of Seival Mine is possible to identify the shoshonitic affinity of host sequences, as pointed out by geochemical data. The higher contents of Cu, Zn, and Ni in andesite dikes in relation to pyroclastic and effusive rocks, even in the hydrothermally altered types, suggest that the main Cu mineralizations have magmatic origin. The Au and Cu contents are higher in samples with lower carbonate concentrations, which suggests than carbonate alteration have no relation with ore deposition