Spectral Classification; Old and Contemporary

Beginning with a historical account of the spectral classification, its refinement through additional criteria is presented. The line strengths and ratios used in two dimensional classifications of each spectral class are described. A parallel classification scheme for metal-poor stars and the standards used for classification are presented. The extension of spectral classification beyond M to L and T and spectroscopic classification criteria relevant to these classes are described. Contemporary methods of classifications based upon different automated approaches are introduced.Comment: To be published in "Principles and Perspectives in Cosmochemistry" Lecture Notes on Kodai School on Synthesis of Elements in Stars: Ed Aruna Goswami & Eswar Reddy, Springer Verlag, 2009, 17 pages, 10 figure

ACUTE HEPATOTOXICITY OF Crotalus durissus terrificus (SOUTH AMERICAN RATTLESNAKE) VENOM IN RATS

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Venom of the South American rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt), presents myotoxic and neurotoxic outcomes, but reports on its effects on the liver are scarce. This study examined the hepatotoxicity resulting from Cdt venom administration (100, 200 and 300 mu g/kg) in male Wistar rats. Animals were studies at 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours after venom injection. The hepatotoxicity was assessed through serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), bilirrubin and also by histopathological evaluation. All the different concentrations of Cdt venom resulted in increased levels of hepatic enzymes, when compared with the control group, except for the 100 mu g/kg dose, which presented normal levels at 9 and 12 hours after venom administration. Bilirrubin levels remained unchanged by Cdt venom. Histological analysis revealed endothelial damage, inflammatory cell infiltration, as well as sinusoidal and portal congestion. Based on these observations, we may conclude that Cdt venom causes dose- and time-dependent hepatic damage in rats, characterized by elevated hepatic enzyme levels and histological alterations.1516178Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FVE/UNIVAPFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Acute hepatotoxicity of Crotalus durissus terrificus (South American rattlesnake) venom in rats

Venom of the South American rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt), presents myotoxic and neurotoxic outcomes, but reports on its effects on the liver are scarce. This study examined the hepatotoxicity resulting from Cdt venom administration (100, 200 and 300 µg/kg) in male Wistar rats. Animals were studies at 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours after venom injection. The hepatotoxicity was assessed through serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), bilirrubin and also by histopathological evaluation. All the different concentrations of Cdt venom resulted in increased levels of hepatic enzymes, when compared with the control group, except for the 100 µg/kg dose, which presented normal levels at 9 and 12 hours after venom administration. Bilirrubin levels remained unchanged by Cdt venom. Histological analysis revealed endothelial damage, inflammatory cell infiltration, as well as sinusoidal and portal congestion. Based on these observations, we may conclude that Cdt venom causes dose- and time-dependent hepatic damage in rats, characterized by elevated hepatic enzyme levels and histological alterations

Childhood onset of Scheie syndrome, the attenuated form of mucopolysaccharidosis I

Scheie syndrome is the most attenuated and rarest form of mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I), an inherited lysosomal storage disorder. Only small patient series have previously been reported. Using natural history data from the uniquely large population of 78 Scheie patients enrolled in the MPS I Registry, we characterized the onset and prevalence of clinical manifestations and explored reasons for delayed diagnosis of the disease. Median patient age was 17.5 years; 46% of the patients were male, and 88% were Caucasian. Of 25 MPS I-related clinical features, cardiac valve abnormalities, joint contractures, and corneal clouding were each reported by >80% and all three by 53% of patients. Carpal tunnel syndrome, hernia, coarse facial features, and hepatomegaly were each reported by >50% of patients. Age at onset of the clinical features varied widely between individuals, but the median age at onset was 3 years for hernia and between 5 and 12 years for most features, including coarse facial features, hepatomegaly, joint contractures, bone deformities, cardiac valve abnormalities, cognitive impairment, and corneal clouding. Carpal tunnel syndrome, cardiomyopathy, and myelopathy arose more commonly during adolescence or adulthood. Delays up to 47 years intervened between symptom onset and disease diagnosis, and the longest delays were associated with later age at symptom onset and symptom onset before 1980. In summary, Scheie syndrome usually emerges during childhood, and recognition of attenuated MPS I requires awareness of the multisystemic disease manifestations and their diverse presentation. Given the availability of etiologic treatment, prompt diagnosis is important

Ganhos genéticos para caracteres de raiz em populações de cenoura nos sistemas orgânico e convencional de produção

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar os ganhos genéticos para caracteres de raiz em populações de cenoura cultivadas nos sistemas orgânico e convencional. Os experimentos foram conduzidos na Embrapa Hortaliças, Brasília (DF). Duas populações de cenoura derivadas da cultivar Brasília e de origem comum até 2002, foram subdivididas em duas populações, avaliadas e selecionadas, por oito gerações consecutivas, nos verões de 2000 a 2007. Em 2008, amostras de sementes das populações, provenientes de cada ciclo de seleção, foram semeadas em campo e conduzidas sob manejo orgânico e convencional de produção, em delineamento de blocos casualizados com nove tratamentos, quatro repetições e parcelas de 1 m². Aos 90 dias após a semeadura, 20 raízes por parcela foram colhidas para a avaliação dos caracteres comprimento, diâmetro do xilema e do floema; comprimento da extensão do ombro verde; massa fresca; presença de halo; formato de ponta e de ombro e coloração do xilema e floema. Foi realizada análise de variância com determinação da interação entre tratamentos e sistemas de produção, agrupamento de médias entre os tratamentos, e calculados os ganhos reais com a seleção. Pôde-se verificar que nos oito anos de seleção não houve ganhos significativos para os caracteres estudados nas duas populações. Com isso, conclui-se que os caracteres avaliados já se encontram fixados nas duas populações estudadas. Verificou-se que a seleção não precisa ser realizada nos dois sistemas de cultivo, orgânico e convencional, possibilitando diminuição de recursos financeiros e de mão-de-obra empregados no melhoramento.The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic gain with the selection of root characters of carrot populations cultivated in organic and conventional production systems. The experiments were carried out at Embrapa Hortaliças, Brasília, Brazil. Two carrot populations derived from Brasília cultivar and with common origin until 2002, were separate in two populations and evaluated for eight generations during 2000 to 2007. In 2008, seed samples of the population in each cycle of selection were sowed in the field in both organic and conventional production systems, in a randomized blocks design with four replications of nine treatments and plots of 1 m². After 90 days of sowing, 20 roots per plot were harvested for the evaluation of the length, xylem and phloem diameter, green shoulder length, fresh mass, presence of halo, tip and shoulder format, and the color parameters of xylem and phloem. Variance analysis was carried out to determine the interaction between treatments and production systems, grouping of means among treatments, and the real gain with the selection was estimated. In the last eight years of selection, a significant gain was not observed on the studied characters in the two populations. So we concluded that those traits are already quite developed and stabilized in both populations. The selection doesn't need to be accomplished in both areas of organic and conventional cultivation, making possible the decrease of financial and labor resources utilized in the breeding