Search

This study aimed to monitor estrous cycle parameters of a human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF)-transgenic founder female goat and to perform superovulation and embryo recovery (surgical or transcervical method) for further transfer to recipients to quickly obtain offspring. Two experiments were performed using a transgenic (TF) and a non-transgenic (NTF) female. In experiment 1, three estrous cycles were monitored for the following parameters: estrus behavior, progesterone concentration and ovarian activity. In experiment 2, two superovulation/embryo recovery sessions were performed and the recovered embryos were transferred to previously prepared recipients. Data were compared by either t test or Fisher's exact test. The mean interval between natural estrus was 20.7 ± 0.6 and 19.7 ± 0.6 (P > 0.05) days for the TF and NTF, respectively. Progesterone concentrations and ovarian activity were normal and similar between goats. The ovulation rate was similar between TF and NTF (12.0 ± 1.4 vs. 18.0 ± 4.2 CL; P > 0.05). No significant differences in embryo recovery rate (P > 0.05) were observed between the surgical and transcervical methods for TF (69.2 vs. 72.7%) or NTF (100.0 vs. 86.7%). Sixteen embryos from the TF were transferred to recipients, and eight kids were born. Among these kids, the transgene was identified in three (two males and one female), resulting in a transgenesis rate of 37.5%. In summary, the TF is a true founder, since she proved fertility and capacity of transmitting the hG-CSF transgene to progeny, suggesting that the analyzed reproductive traits were not compromised by the presence of the transgene.

Crotamine is a natural cationic polypeptide isolated from the venom of South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus) capable of forming complexes with DNA molecules by means of electrostatic interactions and translocating them across biological membranes. With such properties, crotamine can act as a transfection agent for several cell types but mainly in a stage of proliferation. However, to improve the biological use of this peptide, it is interesting to better characterize the formation and stability of crotamina-DNA complex. Thus, the present study aimed to analyze the stoichiometry, formation kinetics and protease stability of crotamina-EGFP complex using high sensitive fluorescent methodology, based on fluorophore exclusion assay. The best DNA:crotamine mass proportion for complex formation ranges between 1:10 to 1:40 as mass ratio. In 1:10 group, crotamine was able to complex about 75% of the available DNA as fast as in 20 seconds, and after 10 min of reaction crotamine reached its maximum complexation capacity, being able to complex 80% of total amount of DNA available. Under these conditions, we have determined that 1μg of crotamine can complex 80 ng of circular plasmid DNA (~4700 bp). Crotamine-DNA complex was resistant to proteinase K degradation even after twelve hours of enzymatic incubation. Additionally, the complex was sufficiently stable to trypsin digestion for a long incubation time: more than 73% of crotamine-DNA condensates maintained the integrity after 60 min, whereas 55% was intact after 180 min. Crotamine-DNA complexes were resistant to physiological temperatures, as well as stable for 15 days at 4°C and for two months when stored at -20°C. These results lead us to think that, in the best conditions of preparation proposed here, crotamine-DNA condensates can be used in an efficient and standardized manner as a potential agent of transfection in a transgenesis programme

International audience

International audience; Rendement des réseaux d'adaptation d'impédances accordables

International audience; Conception d'un Réseau d'Adaptation Accordable

International audience

In this study, 2 methods for age estimation of Crangon crangon were compared: one based on total length, the other based on the number of segments in the antennules, as suggested by Tiews’ findings (1954: Ber Deut Wiss Kommiss 13:235-269). Shrimps from populations near the species’ geographic edges, from Valosen Estuary (Norway) in the north and the Minho Estuary (Portugal) in the south, were used. These showed great individual variability in shrimp size growth and in antennule segment number increment, due to the presence of fast- and slow-growing shrimps in the 2 populations, implying that shrimps of different ages may have similar sizes, as well as similar segment numbers. Additionally, the origin of shrimp population, sex, length and segment number, and water temperature were found to influence growth, both in the length- and the segment-increment models, often being interacting parameters. Both methods resulted in growth curves similar to a typical von Bertalanffy growth curve. The growth rate was higher for females than for males and positively related to temperature; the maximum size was also larger for females. In contrast, maximum segment number was larger for males than for females, as has also been found by Tiews (1954). The 2 models resulted in considerably different age estimates, particularly for older shrimps (i.e. shrimps of larger size or with more antennule segments). The models also suggest site-specific growth rates. Any age estimation approach will therefore need to be validated for each population.

International audience; Circuit de conversion RF-DC à 2,45 GHz à fort rendement pour les applications de récupération d'énergie RF

A ventilação constitui uma parcela significativa das perdas térmicas, no período de inverno, o que conduz a uma necessidade de minimizar os caudais. No entanto, é absolutamente necessária para garantir a qualidade do ar interior, a segurança dos utilizadores e o controlo dos riscos de condensações. Em Portugal, tem-se evoluído no sentido de reduzir a permeabilidade ao ar das caixilharias e da instalação de dispositivos de extração de ar nas cozinhas e instalações sanitárias que, muitas vezes não sendo acompanhados das necessárias admissões de ar novo, não podem garantir o número mínimo de renovações de ar necessárias. Recentemente realizaram-se, entre outros, ensaios de caracterização da permeabilidade ar dos componentes do sistema de ventilação e obtenção dos coeficientes de pressão de um edifício multifamiliar. Estes dados são necessários para, nomeadamente, conceber tendências de melhoria da envolvente (ex.: janelas e caixas de estores) e realizar simulações com dados fiáveis. Esta comunicação apresenta os resultados dos ensaios realizados. 9 0 10 DE/NOE 2011 28-30 de Novembro

Ventilation represents a significant part of heat loss in winter, leading to the need to minimize airflow. However, it is absolutely necessary to ensure indoor air quality and the safety of the users and to control the risk of condensation. Ventilation is responsible on average for 30%e40% of energy consumption in air conditioning in Western European buildings. There is great variability in air change rates (ACH [h 1]) from country to country and the minimum value takes into account comfort, sensory and hygrothermal criteria. In Portugal improvements have been made in the air permeability of window frames, but despite the improvements also made in installing mechanical extraction ventilation devices in kitchens and toilets, these often do not guarantee the minimum number of air change rates required. Air permeability tests were recently carried out in five flats with identical construction characteristics, in the same building, with the aim of characterizing the air permeability of buildings and components, in Portugal. These data are particularly useful for improving the design of building components (e.g., windows and roller shutter boxes) and to perform simulations with reliable data. School of Technology, Viseu Polytechnic Institute - National Laboratory of Civil Engineering - Building Physics Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto 13 9 10p 46 (2011) DED/NAICI Building and Environment

National audience

In this study a new theoretical model is developed for the popular Rapid Chloride Migration test (NT Build 492). This model can in a proper way predict the transport of chlorides due to application of the electrical field. In order to improve the traditional chloride transport model, the non-linear binding of chlorides and non-equilibrium between free- and bound- chlorides are introduced. The new system of equations is solved numerically and applied to experimental data obtained elsewhere. From these simulations several parameters are obtained, namely: the effective chloride diffusion coefficient, the non-linear binding constants and the chloride mass transfer coefficient. This opens the new possibility of obtaining the effective chloride diffusion coefficient (usually derived from long-term, laborious techniques) from the short-term migration tests. The obtained binding constants are in line with experimental data found in literature. The chloride mass transfer coefficient shows a tendency to decrease in time during the application of electrical field, which can give evidence of changes in the microstructure and/or in the pore solution of concrete.

Resumo não disponível.

Esta tese consiste em focar, para al?m da hist?ria de vida de Dr. Mozart, os processos marcantes sofridos do ponto de vista cultural, pol?tico e econ?mico da regi?o de Palmeira das Miss?es. A obra e a representatividade de Dr. Mozart, no cen?rio ga?cho, contribuem para a constru??o de uma identidade pr?pria para Palmeira das Miss?es e aponta um contexto hist?rico e cotidiano da vida no campo, as transforma??es da vida urbana no interior. Esse novo espa?o de investiga??o hist?rica torna-se importante, a partir das pr?ticas, desse intelectual como a preserva??o do meio ambiente, erudi??o demonstrada atrav?s do estudo nas diversas ?reas do conhecimento, o positivismo e a sua preocupa??o com a posteridade quando em 1987 concluia o curso de Direito. A literatura regional ganha import?ncia com sua obra po?tica, possuindo um car?ter cient?fico, hist?rico, pol?tico denotando os aspectos relacionados a cultura local vivenciada pelo autor em sua inf?ncia, revelando assim grandes perspectivas hist?ricas.

Os compostos cerâmicos BiFeO3 puro e modificado (Bi0,95R0,05FeO3), com terras raras R = Gd ou Eu, foram sintetizados por moagem em altas energias. As amostras foram analisadas por difração de raios X, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e espectroscopia por energia dispersiva de raios X. A difração de raios X indicou que as amostras modificadas com Eu são monofásicas, enquanto que as amostras puras e modificadas com Gd apresentaram majoritariamente a fase BiFeO3, com uma pequena quantidade de outras fases. A espectroscopia por energia dispersiva de raios X revelou a presença dos átomos modificantes na amostra e o mapeamento destes átomos indicou uma distribuição homogênea deles em toda a amostra. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura mostrou uma significante diminuição no tamanho das partículas, estando estas com dimensões sub-micrométricas e com diâmetro médio em torno de 500 nm. Estudos de densificação dos corpos cerâmicos indicaram compostos altamente densos, com densidades relativas acima de 0,9 sendo que o composto modificado com Eu alcançou a densidade relativa ρ/ρ0 = 0,98. The, pure and rare earth modified (Bi0.95R0.05FeO3 / R = Gd or Eu) BiFeO3 compounds were synthesized by high-energy ball milling. The samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction results indicated single phase Eu modified samples, while the pure and Gd modified ones presented the BiFeO3 as majority phase, and small amount of the spurious phase. The energy dispersive spectroscopy revealed the presence of the modifiers atoms in the sample and the mapping of these atoms indicated the homogeneous distribution of them in the whole samples. The scanning electron microscopy showed a decrease significant on the particle size, with medium diameter around 500 nm. Densification studies indicated high-dense ceramics body, with relative density above of 0.9, were Eu modified compound reached relative density ρ/ρ0 = 0.98.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar e discutir biotécnicas da reprodução e o uso delas como práticas de manejo reprodutivo na exploração racional de ovinos de corte. Ressalta-se a importância do manejo da alimentação-nutrição e sanitário, do ambiente e da programação, organização e gestão da unidade produtiva. Ainda, da sobrevivência e desenvolvimento ponderal das crias e do intervalo entre partos. Estes são aspectos importantes para a produtividade dos ovinos de corte e a rentabilidade da exploração. Biotechniques of reproduction as techniques of reproductive management in sheep. Abstract: The aim of this work is to present and discuss biotechniques of reproduction as reproductive management practices to explore sheep to meat production.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-06T01:01:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ID278701.pdf: 688017 bytes, checksum: d1e9cd1f8a3c6a2ff0059e4a30bec727 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-01-16

O objetivo desse trabalho é apresentar a implementação de uma biblioteca composta por um conjunto de classes genéricas para busca de soluções em problemas de busca informada e não-informada. Tais classes fornecem soluções rápidas para a implementação de busca em largura, busca em profundidade, busca em profundidade limitada, busca com aprofundamento iterativo, busca “gulosa” e busca A* ao programador sem que esse tenha o trabalho de “reinventar a roda”, bastando para isso apenas definir algumas informações intrínsecas ao problema a ser resolvido. A fim de verificar a funcionalidade dessas classes o problema do quebra-cabeça de 16 peças foi escolhido para ser solucionado, fornecendo informações importantes para a realização desse trabalho.