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Glasgow Mathematical Journal, nº 47 (2005), pg. 413-424 This paper is mainly dedicated to describing the congruences on certain monoids of transformations on a finite chain Xn with n elements. Namely, we consider the monoids ODn and PODn of all full, respectively partial, transformations on Xn that preserve or reverse the order, as well as the submonoid POn of PODn of all its order-preserving elements. The inverse monoid PODIn of all injective elements of PODn is also considered. We show that in POn any congruence is a Rees congruence, but this may not happen in the monoids ODn, PODIn and PODn. However in all these cases the congruences form a chain. This work was developed within the activities of Centro de ´Algebra da Universidade de Lisboa, supported by FCT and FEDER, within project POCTI ”Fundamental and Applied Algebra”

In this paper we calculate presentations for some natural monoids of transformations on a chain X n = {1

Following the recent introduction of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) into several European university programs, a new interest has developed in determining students’ workload. ECTS credits are numerical values describing the student workload required to complete course units; ECTS has the potential to facilitate comparison and create transparency between institutional curricula. ECTS credits are frequently listed alongside institutional credits in course outlines and module summaries. Measuring student workload has been difficult; to a large extent, estimates are based only upon anecdotal and casual information. To gather more systematic information, we asked students at the Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, to estimate the actual total workload they committed to fulfill their coursework obligations for specific subjects in the veterinary degree program by reporting their attendance at defined contact hours and their estimated time for outside study, including the time required for examinations and other activities. Students also reported the final grades they received for these subjects. The results show that certain courses require much more work than others, independent of credit unit assignment. Generally, the courses with more contact hours tend also to demand more independent work; the best predictor of both actual student workload and student success is the amount of contact time in which they participate. The data failed to show any strong connection between students’ total workload and grades they received; rather, they showed some evidence that regular presence at contact hours was the most positive influence on grades. Less frequent presence at lectures tended to indicate less time spent on independent study. It was also found that pre-clinical and clinical courses tended to require more work from students than other, more general subjects. While the present study does not provide conclusive evidence, it does indicate the need for further inquiry into the nature of the relationship between teaching and learning in higher education and for evaluation of the benefits (or otherwise) of more “self-directed” study.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o desempenho técnico do aspersor canhão do tipo turbina, modelo "Mercury", fabricado pela Società Hidromecânica Emiliana (SIME) na Itália e importado pela indústria Metal Lavras Ltda. Para este estudo, foram testados três bocais ( 16, 20 e 22 mm), com pressões de serviço de 250, 300, 350, 400, 450 e 500 kPa, pelo método de ensaio radial, com a finalidade de verificar a influência dessas variáveis na uniformidade de distribuição, intensidade de aplicação, diâmetro médio das gotas, raio de alcance e uniformidade de rotação. Tabelas contendo os valores de intensidade média de precipitação, espaçamentos recomendados e coeficientes de uniformidade foram criadas, cobrindo uma deficiência demonstrada no catálogo do fabricante. Observou-se que o diâmetro médio das gotas aumentou à medida que se reduziu a pressão de serviço, e o comportamento do mesmo não se adapta ao modelo clássico de aumento gradual do diâmetro médio das gotas, pois foram constatados vários diâmetros de gotas ao longo do raio molhado. A equação potencial ajustou-se bem aos dados de vazão versus pressão, e o bocal 16 mm mostrou-se mais susceptível às variações de pressão de serviço. O perfil de distribuição demonstrado é do tipo "doughnut" e retangular. Os dados de uniformidade de rotação demonstraram a eficiência do sistema de rotação do tipo turbina. Pelas tabelas geradas, recomenda-se o uso delas em substituição ao catálogo do fabricante.This work intended to evaluate the technical performance of a gun sprinkler of the type turbine model "Mercury" manufactured by Società Hidromecânica Emiliana (SIME) in Italy and imported by the Brazilian company Metal Lavras Ltda. The study was developed with three nozzles (16, 20 and 22 mm), with service pressures of 250, 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 kPa by the radial method test, with the purpose of verifying the influence of these parameters on distribution uniformity, application intensity, medium diameter of drops, reach radius and rotation uniformity. Tables with values of average precipitation intensity, recommended spacing and values of uniformity coefficient were created, overcoming a deficiency demonstrated by manufacturer's catalog. It was verified that the medium diameter of drops increased with the decrease of the service pressure, and its behavior did not adapt to the classic model of gradual increase of the medium diameter of drops because several diameters were verified along of the wet radius. The potential equation was adjusted to the data of discharge versus pressure, with the nozzle of 16 mm being the most susceptible to the variations of service pressure. The water distribution profile followed the type "doughnut" and rectangular. The data of rotation uniformity demonstrated the efficiency of the rotation system of the turbine type. It was recommended the use of the tables produced, in substitution to the manufacturer's catalog.

Semigroup Forum vol. 68 (2004), p. 335–356 We compute the abelian kernels of some monoids of partial transformations. More precisely, the cases of the symmetric inverse monoid, monoids of order-preserving or order-reversing transformations and monoids of orientationpreserving or orientation-reversing transformations are treated.

The present paper considers the reliability of finite-element analysis where non-linear planar structural problems (large strains and plasticity) are concerned. Error estimators of the flux-projection type, based on strain power density, are used. A study of the various components of error discretization is made as a function of parameters such as load step or the number of degrees of freedom of the finite-element model. Two numerical examples are selected so that certain properties of these estimators are demonstrated. Conclusions of practical use can be drawn from the results expressed in tables and charts.

The effect of high pressure processing (HPP), at different combinations of pressure and time, on dry fermented sausages (DFS) was evaluated by chemical, microbiological and sensory analyses. Lipid composition and stability were also assessed. HPP (> 400 MPa and longer than 154 s) produced a reduction in spoilage microbiota, without negative effect on fermentative microbiota, that will be able to continue their role. Total fatty acids and lipid stability were not affected. Only a small effect on fatty acid (FA) composition was observed. Nutritional value of the lipid fraction was only affected by the ratio n − 6/n − 3 FA. Treatments at 400 MPa for 154 s or 960 s resulted in DFS being detected as different from control by sensory analysis. Those differences did not depreciate the product; on the contrary it seems to improve the bright aspect of the whole sausage, the cohesion and firmness and the correctly dried aspect of slices. Industrial relevance Dry fermented meat sausages are very popular ready-to-eat meat based products. This study assesses the effects of HPP on this much appreciated traditional products. The results showed that HPP can be successfully applied to these Mediterranean fermented products without losses of sensory and nutritional characteristics. The modelling and optimization of the HPP process applied on dry fermented sausages demonstrated in this study are an advantage to industry efficiency. The utilisation of HPP by the industry can significantly increase dry fermented meat sausage shelf life and safety, providing it an opportunity to reach the global market.

Fiber orientation in composite materials is an important feature since the arrangement or orientation of the fibers relative to one another has a significant influence on the strength and other properties of fiber-reinforced composites. In this paper we present a method to assess the fiber orientation on the surface of carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. More specifically, a diode-laser beam is used to locally heat a small spot on the surface of the sample and observation of the heat pattern in the infrared spectrum enables to assess fiber orientation. Different samples and different regions on the surface of the samples are tested in order to estimate the precision of the method.

Diabetes mellitus encompasses a group of metabolic conditions embracing the dysfunction and failure of various tissues and organs, including bone. Sustained bone alterations seem to result from anabolic, rather than catabolic processes, and suggest a decreased osteoblastic recruitment and activity. Current knowledge on the cellular and molecular mechanisms were provided by studies performed with osteogenic populations cultured in diabetic-simulated conditions, and osteogenic-induced precursor populations harvested from diabetic animals, sustaining an impaired cellular behavior in terms of osteogenic responsiveness and function. However, the reasons leaning to this impairment remain essentially unknown, as the priming capability and functionality of undifferentiated precursors, developed within the diabetic environment, have not been addressed. Accordingly, this work aims to evaluate the functionality and osteogenic priming capability of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), harvested from animals with experimental diabetes, and grown in the absence of any given differentiation factor. MSCs developed within a diabetic microenvironment displayed an impaired behavior, with diminished cell viability and proliferation, altered cytoskeleton organization, impaired osteogenic priming, and increased adipogenic activation. Further, the osteogenic induction of diabetic MSCs resulted in an impaired osteogenic commitment. The modified cell phenotype may be related, at least in part, with altered activity of ERK WNT and p38 signaling pathways in diabetic-derived cultures. Specific strategies, aiming the modulation of the verified hindrances, may be of therapeutic value to enhance the functionality of diabetic MSCs and sustain an improved outcome in the metabolism and regeneration of the bone tissue in diabetic conditions.

Alcoholism and obesity are strongly associated with several disorders including heart and liver diseases. This study evaluated the effects of rutin treatment in serum, heart and liver tissues of rats subjected to a combination of hypercaloric diet (HD) and chronic ethanol consumption. Rats were divided into three groups: Control: rats fed a standard diet and drinking water ad libitum; G1: rats fed the HD and receiving a solution of 10% (v/v) ethanol; and G2: rats fed the HD and ethanol solution, followed by injections of 50 mg/kg(-1) rutin as treatment. After 53 days of HD and ethanol exposure, the rutin was administered every three days for nine days. At the end of the experimental period (95 days), biochemical analyses were carried out on sera, cardiac and hepatic tissues. Body weight gain and food consumption were reduced in both the G1 and G2 groups compared to control animals. Rutin effectively reduced the total lipids (TL), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), VLDL, LDL-cholesterol and glucose levels, while it increased the HDL-cholesterol in the serum of G2 rats, compared to G1. Although rutin had no effect on total protein, albumin, uric acid and cretinine levels, it was able to restore serum activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatine kinase (CK) in animals fed HD and receiving ethanol. Glycogen stores were replenished in both hepatic and cardiac tissues after rutin treatment. Moreover, rutin consistently reduced hepatic levels of TG and TC and cardiac AST, ALT and CK activities. Thus, rutin treatment was effective in reducing the risk factors for cardiac and hepatic disease caused by both HD and chronic ethanol consumption.

Let $X$ be a finite or infinite chain and let $O(X)$ be the monoid of all endomorphisms of $X$. In this paper, we describe the largest regular subsemigroup of $O(X)$ and Green's relations on $O(X)$. In fact, more generally, if $Y$ is a nonempty subset of $X$ and $O(X,Y)$ the subsemigroup of $O(X)$ of all elements with range contained in $Y$, we characterize the largest regular subsemigroup of $O(X,Y)$ and Green's relations on $O(X,Y)$. Moreover, for finite chains, we determine when two semigroups of the type $O(X,Y)$ are isomorphic and calculate their ranks., To appear in Semigroup Forum

Desde a antiguidade, a relacao entre as exposicoes ocupacionais e o aparecimento de doencas e conhecida. A descricao da inalacao de poeira nos ambientes de trabalho como agente causador de sintomas respiratorios e doencas pulmonares, ja data de460 a. C., feita por Hipocrates. Dados da Organizacao Internacional do Trabalho de 2005 apontam que as substâncias perigosas matam em torno de 480 mil trabalhadores anualmente. Estima-se que 10% dos cânceres de pele sao causados pela exposicao a substâncias perigosas nos postos de trabalho. Assim, este trabalho tem por objetivo principal abordar os problemas associados a exposicao ao cadmio em trabalhadores. Para isso, sao feitos relatos de alguns acidentes envolvendo o metal com trabalhadores e por fim sao discutidas maneiras de melhorar as condicoes de trabalho, minimizando o risco da contaminacao ocupacional.

BACKGROUND In the remote northern region of Mozambique the ratio of doctors to patients is 1:50,000. In 2007, Lurio University initiated an innovative, "One Student/One Family" program of teaching and learning for health professions students, to complement their traditional core curriculum. All students of each of the school's six health degree programs complete a curriculum in "Family and Community Health" in each year of their training. METHODS Groups of six students from six different health professions training programs make weekly visits to communities, where each student is allocated to a family. Students learn from their families about community life and health issues, within a community where 80% of the population still lacks access to modern health care and rely on indigenous doctors and traditional remedies. In turn, students transmit information to families about modern health care and report to the faculty any major health problems they find. The educational/experiential approach is interprofessional and community-oriented. RESULTS The main perceived advantages of the program are that it is applied and problem-based learning for students, while simultaneously providing needed healthcare services to the community. The major disadvantages include the complexity of coordinating multidisciplinary groups, the time and distance required of students in traveling to communities, and interpretation of multiple reports with variable data. DISCUSSION This community-oriented education program involving students from six disciplines uses nontraditional teaching/learning methods is the basis of the ex libris of Lurio University.

In this paper we present a division theorem for the pseudovariety of semigroups OP generated by all semigroups of orientation preserving full transformations on a finite chain, which is achieved by using a natural representation of a certain monoid of transformations of a set X as a monoid of transformations of a subset of X.

Finite generation and presentability of general unions of semigroups, as well as of bands of semigroups, bands of monoids, semilattices of semigroups and strong semilattices of semigroups, are investigated. For instance, it is proved that a band Y of monoids S α (α∈ Y ) is finitely generated/presented if and only if Y is finite and all S α are finitely generated/presented. By way of contrast, an example is exhibited of a finitely generated semigroup which is not finitely presented, but which is a disjoint union of two finitely presented subsemigroups.

O óxido nítrico (NO) é um gás que transmite sinais no interior do organismo. Essa transmissão de sinal se dá através de sua síntese e liberação em diferentes tipos celulares. Após ser liberado difunde-se através da membrana da célula vizinha regulando a função da mesma. Esse mecanismo representa um princípio totalmente novo no que se refere a sistemas biológicos de tradução de sinal. Os pesquisadores responsáveis pela descoberta do NO como uma molécula sinalizadora foram agraciados com o Prêmio Nobel de Medicina e Fisiologia de 1998. Esta descoberta vem revolucionando a medicina dando origem a novos tratamentos para problemas antigos. Neste trabalho revisamos a participação do NO em algumas patologias, dentre elas a sepse, hipertensão arterial e hipertensão pulmonar. Serão abordados ainda, aspectos importantes sobre a prestação de cuidados de enfermagem à pacientes submetidos à essas terapias. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas that transmits signals in the organism. Such signal transmission takes place by means of the gas synthesis and release in different cell types. After it is released, the gas penetrates the membrane of a neighboring cell and regulates its function. Such mechanism represents an entirely new signaling principle in biological systems. The discoverers of NO as a signaling molecule were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 1998. This discovery has revolutionized medicine and originated new treatments for old problems. In this study, we review the role of NO in some pathologies such as sepsis, arterial hypertension and pulmonary hypertension and Nitric Oxide is explained in terms of its current merit for treatment and its impact on nursing care. El óxido nítrico (NO) es un gas que transmite señales dentro del organismo. La transmisión de la señal del gas producido en una célula atraviesa la membrana de la célula vecina y regula su función. Este mecanismo constituye un principio innovador de señalización de sistemas biológicos. Los descubridores del óxido nítrico como molécula señalizadora ganaran el Premio Nobel en 1998. Este gas ha creado una revolución en la medicina, solucionando antiguos problemas. El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar la participación del (NO) en patologías tales como la sépsis, hipertensión e hipertensión pulmonar. Son abordados también, aspectos importantes sobre la prestación de cuidados de enfermería a los pacientes tratados con esta terapia.

In this paper we compute the abelian kernels of the monoids POI n and POPI n of all injective order preserving and respectively, orientation preserving, partial transformations on a chain with n elements. As an application, we show that the pseudovariety POPI generated by the monoids POPI n (n epsilon N) is not contained in the Mal'cev product of the pseudovariety POI generated by the monoids POI n (n epsilon N) with the pseudovariety Ab of all finite abelian groups.

Hydrolysis of the plant cell wall polysaccharides cellulose and xylan requires the synergistic interaction of a repertoire of extracellular enzymes. Recently, evidence has emerged that anaerobic bacteria can synthesize high levels of periplasmic xylanases which may be involved in the hydrolysis of small xylo-oligosaccharides absorbed by the micro-organism. Cellvibrio mixtus, a saprophytic aerobic soil bacterium that is highly active against plant cell wall polysaccharides, was shown to express internal xylanase activity when cultured on media containing xylan or glucose as sole carbon source. A genomic library of C. mixtus DNA, constructed in λZAPII, was screened for xylanase activity. The nucleotide sequence of the genomic insert from a xylanase-positive clone that expressed intracellular xylanase activity in Escherichia coli revealed an ORF of 1137 bp (xynC), encoding a polypeptide with a deduced M r of 43413, defined as xylanase C (XylC). Probing a gene library of Pseudomonas fluorescens subsp. cellulosa with C. mixtus xynC identified a xynC homologue (designated xynG) encoding XylG; XylG and xynG were 67% and 63% identical to the corresponding C. mixtus sequences, respectively. Both XylC and XylG exhibit extensive sequence identity with family 10 xylanases, particularly with non-modular enzymes, and gene deletion studies on xynC supported the suggestion that they are single-domain xylanases. Purified recombinant XylC had an M r of 41000, and displayed biochemical properties typical of family 10 polysaccharidases. However, unlike previously characterized xylanases, XylC was particularly sensitive to proteolytic inactivation by pancreatic proteinases and was thermolabile. C. mixtus was grown to late-exponential phase in the presence of glucose or xylan and the cytoplasmic, periplasmic and cell envelope fractions were probed with anti-XylC antibodies. The results showed that XylC was absent from the culture media but was predominantly present in the periplasm of C. mixtus cells grown on glucose, xylan, CM-cellulose or Avicel. These data suggest that C. mixtus can express non-modular internal xylanases whose potential roles in the hydrolysis of plant cell wall components are discussed.

Clostridium thermocellum produces a consortium of plant-cell-wall hydrolases that form a cell-bound multi-enzyme complex called the cellulosome. In the present study two similar xylanase genes, xynU and xynV, were cloned from C. thermocellum strain YS and sequenced. The deduced primary structures of both xylanases, xylanase U (XylU) and xylanase V (XylV), were homologous with the previously characterized xylanases from C. thermocellum strain F1. Truncated derivatives of XylV were produced and their biochemical properties were characterized. The xylanases were shown to be remarkably thermostable and resistant to proteolytic inactivation. The catalytic domains hydrolysed xylan by a typical endo-mode of action. The type VI cellulose-binding domain (CBD) homologue of XylV bound xylan and, to a smaller extent, Avicel and acid-swollen cellulose. Deletion of the CBD from XylV abolished the capacity of the enzymes to bind polysaccharides. The polysaccharide-binding domain was shown to have a key role in the hydrolysis of insoluble substrates by XylV. The C-terminal domain of XylV, which is absent from XylU, removed acetyl groups from acetylated xylan and acted in synergy with the glycosyl hydrolase catalytic domain of the enzyme to elicit the hydrolysis of acetylated xylan.

Department of Physics and Chemistry Sao Paulo State University UNESP-ILHA SOLTEIRA, Av. Brasil 56, 15.385.000 Ilha Solteira (SP)

The rank of a semigroup, an important and relevant concept in Semigroup Theory, is the cardinality of a least-size generating set. Semigroups of transformations that preserve or reverse the order or the orientation as well as semigroups of transformations preserving an equivalence relation have been widely studied over the past decades by many authors. The purpose of this article is to compute the ranks of the monoid 𝒪ℛ m×n of all orientation-preserving or orientation-reversing full transformations on a chain with mn elements that preserve a uniform m-partition and of its submonoids 𝒪𝒫 m×n of all orientation-preserving transformations and 𝒪𝒟 m×n of all order-preserving or order-reversing full transformations. These three monoids are natural extensions of 𝒪 m×n , the monoid of all order-preserving full transformations on a chain with mn elements that preserve a uniform m-partition. Given m, n ≥ 2, we show that the rank of 𝒪𝒫 m×n is equal to , for m > 2, and equal to , for m = 2, the rank of 𝒪𝒟 m×n is equal...

Over the years, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has evolved beyond simple amplification and detection, and several variations have been described. For the most part, DNA amplicons generated by PCR can be detected and quantified in real time using a variety of fluorescently labeled primers and probes or they can be interrogated to provide more detailed genomic information. The post-PCR technologies that are used to provide information are selected based on the objective of the assay and they range from simple indirect size-based approaches such as gel electrophoresis to high-resolution sequence-based analyses of the entire genome. Post-PCR detection technologies are amenable to providing information on the presence, the amount, and the composition of single and multiple genes. For example, electrophoresis confirms the presence of the gene that can be quantified by real-time PCR and further deciphered by sequencing. Similarly, array comparative genome hybridization is designed to get an overview of major genomic alterations that can be fine-tuned with technologies such as next-generation sequencing. This article discusses approaches for the detection and detailed interrogation of amplicons generated by PCR.

Molecular diagnostics has expanded medical genomics in a major way. Molecular assays complement results obtained from serology, microbiology, and hematology tests. They provide supplemental information to anatomical pathologists for the diagnosis and classification of cancers. Oncologists use mutation analysis obtained from molecular assays to select first-line therapy for cancers and rely on specialized tests to provide prognostic information for assessment of residual tumor cells that may still be present in very small amounts after therapy – minimal residual disease. Infectious disease specialists use molecular assays for diagnosis, monitoring, and therapeutic management of patients. Clinical geneticists depend on molecular data for screening and diagnosis of inherited and rare diseases. Technologically advanced tests interrogate an array of genetic variants and microorganisms to provide a panel-like interpretation of the host genome and diseases that steer clinicians toward a personalized approach to patient management. This technology-driven discipline utilizes the principle of complementarity to amplify, hybridize, and sequence DNA. Development, verification, and validation as well as training personnel for testing and interpretation are critical for establishing the performance characteristics of molecular diagnostics.

In this paper we aim to prove that every semigroup of the pseudovariety generated by all semigroups of partial, injective and order preserving transformations on a finite chain belongs to the pseudovariety generated by all semigroups of order preserving mappings on a finite chain.

The widespread presence of cellulose-binding domains in cellulases from aerobic bacteria and fungi suggests the existence of a strong selective pressure for the retention of these non-catalytic modules. The complete nucleotide sequence of the cellulase gene, celA, from the aerobic soil bacterium Cellvibrio mixtus, was determined. It revealed an open reading frame of 1089 bp that encoded a polypeptide, defined as cellulase A (CelA), of M(r) 41,548. CelA displayed features characteristic of an endo-beta-1,4-glucanase, rapidly decreasing the viscosity of the substrate while releasing only moderate amounts of reducing sugar. Deletion studies in celA revealed that removal of 78 nucleotides from the 5' end or 75 from the 3' end of the gene led to the complete loss of cellulase activity of the encoded polypeptides. The deduced primary structure of CelA revealed an N-terminal signal peptide followed by a region that exhibited significant identity with the catalytic domains of cellulases belonging to glycosyl hydrolase family 5. These data suggest that CelA is a single-domain endoglucanase with no distinct non-catalytic cellulose-binding domain. Analysis of the biochemical properties of CelA revealed that the enzyme hydrolyses a range of soluble cellulosic substrates, but was inactive against Avicel, xylan or any other hemicellulose. CelA was resistant to proteolytic inactivation by pancreatic proteinases and surprisingly, in view of its mesophylic origin, was shown to be thermostable. The significance of these findings in relation to the role of single-domain cellulases in plant cell wall hydrolysis by aerobic microorganisms is discussed.

Tijucameria gen. nov. e T. mame sp. nov., são descritos e ilustrados. O material foi encontrado em solo e "litter" retidos entre raízes, sobre barranco, no Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.Tijucameria gen. nov. and T. mame sp. nov., are described and illustrated. The material was found on a ravine, in soil and retained litter among roots, at Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This study sought to determine the prevalence of PALB2 mutations in a cohort referred for diagnostic testing for hereditary breast cancer.Sanger sequencing was used to analyze the entire coding region and flanking introns of PALB2 in anonymized DNA samples from 1479 patients. Samples were stratified into a "high-risk" group, 955 samples from individuals predicted to have a high probability of carrying a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 based on their personal and family history, and a "lower-risk" group consisting of 524 samples from patients with breast cancer, but fewer risk factors for being a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carrier. All patients were known to be negative for deleterious sequence mutations and large rearrangements in BRCA1 and BRCA2.We identified 12 disease-associated PALB2 mutations among the 1479 patients (0.8%). The PALB2 mutations included 8 nonsense, 3 frameshift mutations and a splice-site mutation. The mutation prevalence for the high-risk population was 1.05% (95% CI = 0.5-1.92), whereas that for the lower-risk population was 0.38% (95% CI = 0.05-1.37). We identified 59 PALB2 variants of uncertain significance (VUS) among 57 of the 1479 patients (3.9%).These results suggest that PALB2 mutations occur at a frequency of ~1% in patients with hereditary breast cancer.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-12-07T19:49:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license.txt: 2154 bytes, checksum: 4b0f01eb19f34a0ae8b22225f6f5120c (MD5) Nanoporous ceramic hybrid materials synthesized by organically modified ceramic precursor with terminal amine group_.pdf: 643914 bytes, checksum: 0cc04b648d4ae2eb92760f70ab291687 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013

The next step in the Wendelstein stellarator line is the large superconducting device Wendelstein 7-X, currently under construction in Greifswald, Germany. Steady-state operation is an intrinsic feature of stellarators, and one key element of the Wendelstein 7-X mission is to demonstrate steady-state operation under plasma conditions relevant for a fusion power plant. Steady-state operation of a fusion device, on the one hand, requires the implementation of special technologies, giving rise to technical challenges during the design, fabrication and assembly of such a device. On the other hand, also the physics development of steady-state operation at high plasma performance poses a challenge and careful preparation. The electron cyclotron resonance heating system, diagnostics, experiment control and data acquisition are prepared for plasma operation lasting 30 min. This requires many new technological approaches for plasma heating and diagnostics as well as new concepts for experiment control and data acquisition.

The food industry aims to produce dry fermented sausages (DFS) with high quality, but Alentejano or Iberian pork has a high price, which might jeopardize the sustainability of traditional producers. Considering this fact, the objective of this work was to evaluate the quality and acceptability of DFS made with low value pork raw material from Alentejano purebred sows and a crossbred Iberian × Duroc pigs. The nutritional fat values, microbial and sensorial quality of DFS with different diameters were assessed and the texture and fatty acids (FA) profiles were correlated with sensory attributes. Pork raw material did not influence pH, aw and microbial characteristics of both DFS, but those produced with Alentejano sows presented the highest content of polyunsaturated FA and less saturated FA. Both DFS presented satisfactory appreciations regarding sensorial quality. Practical Applications This work aims to increase knowledge about dry fermented sausage processed with an alternative crossbreed Iberian × Duroc pigs less expensive than the Iberian pigs. This alternative in traditional processing of dry fermented sausages with the maintenance of their quality and consumer acceptability will contribute to the sustainability of all traditional small meat industries and of an economic sector with great importance on the Mediterranean region.

Neurospora crassa has been widely used as a model organism and contributed to the development of biochemistry and molecular biology by allowing the identification of many metabolic pathways and mechanisms responsible for gene regulation. Nuclear proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm and need to be translocated to the nucleus to exert their functions which the importin-α receptor has a key role for the classical nuclear import pathway. In an attempt to get structural information of the nuclear transport process in N. crassa, we present herein the cloning, expression, purification and structural studies with N-terminally truncated IMPα from N. crassa (IMPα-Nc). Circular dichroism analysis revealed that the IMPα-Nc obtained is correctly folded and presents a high structural conservation compared to other importins-α. Dynamic light scattering, analytical size-exclusion chromatography experiments and molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the IMPα-Nc unbound to any ligand may present low stability in solution. The IMPα-Nc theoretical model displayed high similarity of its inner concave surface, which binds the cargo proteins containing the nuclear localization sequences, among IMPα from different species. However, the presence of non-conserved amino acids relatively close to the NLS binding region may influence the binding specificity of IMPα-Nc to cargo proteins.

The study of the semigroups OPn, of all orientation-preserving transformations on an n-element chain, and ORn, of all orientation-preserving or orientation-reversing transformations on an n-element chain, has began in [17] and [5]. In order to bring more insight into the subsemigroup structure of OPn and ORn, we characterize their maximal subsemigroups.

SummaryWe compared the rate of DST non-suppression in two samples of 26 Brazilian and 26 Belgian female depressive patients, matched for age, diagnostic subtype and severity of depression. This rate was significantly lower in São Paulo than in Liège (P = 0.04). The differences observed in DST can be explained by the complexity of familial, personal and clinical factors. A role of a latitude effect through melatonin secretion on adrenocortical function of depressed patients is also suggested.

eoi/doi Deposit-Electronic Object Identifierhttp://eoi.citefactor.org/10.11248/ehum.v4i1.430RESUMO: Este trabalho apresenta uma discussão que se desprende da prática cênica contemporânea no intuito de verificar o quanto vicioso pode estar o texto teatral advindo de um processo colaborativo, no que de pressuposto e subentendido guarda a dramaturgia da cena. O presente texto procura através da obra O livro de Jó, de Luís Alberto de Abreu, e do que mais relevante pode-se considerar sobre a intervenção do Teatro da Vertigem, verificar no texto, posto que publicado, traços de uma completude semântica que significaria a literariedade plena. Por fim, busca-se refletir sobre a importância do gênero dramático quando ainda possível à publicação. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Teatro, processo colaborativo, dramaturgia, literariedade.ABSTRACT: This essay presents a discussion that stemmed from the contemporary scenic environment, aiming at to verify how vicious the theatrical text from a collaborative process, taking into consideration all the assumption concerning the ‘dramaturgy’ of te scene. From the play O livro de Jó by Luís Alberto de Abreu and also from what's most relevant about the Teatro da Vertigem intervention, it tries to verify in the text, since it is published, traces of a semantic completeness that'll mean full literacy. Finally, reflect on the importance of the dramatic genre while still possible publication. KEYWORDS: Theathre, collaborative process, ‘dramaturgy’, literacy.Recebido: 24/02/2011 Aceito: 07/04/2011

The role of IL-10 on the in vitro growth of B cells from patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was investigated. Previous work on a murine model of CLL demonstrated that the malignant B-l cells produce significantly higher levels of IL-10 mRNA than normal B-1 or B cells and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides specific for IL-10 mRNA inhibited their growth. In the present study, peripheral blood cells from CLL patients were found to be varied in the amount of IL-10 mRNA present. Several CLL samples underwent apoptosis in response to culturing in the presence of antisense IL-10. There was a correlation between the levels of IL-IO mRNA and the sensitivity to growth inhibition by antisense IL-10. This may indicate that, antisense IL-10 inhibits cell growth in a sub-population of CLL in which IL-10 is an autocrine cytokine.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) is caused by mutations in the IDS gene, which encodes the lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase. In ∼20% of MPS II patients the disorder is caused by gross IDS structural rearrangements. We identified two male cases harboring complex rearrangements involving the IDS gene and the nearby pseudogene, IDSP1, which has been annotated as a low-copy repeat (LCR). In both cases the rearrangement included a partial deletion of IDS and an inverted insertion of the neighboring region. In silico analyses revealed the presence of repetitive elements as well as LCRs at the junctions of rearrangements. Our models illustrate two alternative consequences of rearrangements initiated by non-allelic homologous recombination of LCRs: resolution by a second recombination event (that is, Alu-mediated recombination), or resolution by non-homologous end joining repair. These complex rearrangements have the potential to be recurrent and may be present among those MSP II cases with previously uncharacterized aberrations involving IDS.

Objective: Fibroblasts appear to modulate osteoclastogenesis, but their precise role in this process remains unclear. In this work, paracrine‐mediated osteoclastogenic potential of different human fibroblasts was assessed. Materials and methods: Fibroblast‐conditioned media (CM) from foetal skin (CM1), adult skin (CM2) and adult gingiva (CM3) were used to promote osteoclastogenesis of osteoclast precursor cells. Cultures supplemented with macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (M‐CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor‐κB ligand (RANKL) were used as controls. Results: All fibroblast cultures expressed FSP‐1, M‐CSF and RANKL and produced osteoprotegerin (OPG); gingival fibroblasts presented lowest expression of osteoclastogenic genes and higher production of OPG. All fibroblast CM were able to induce osteoclastogenesis. CM1 showed behaviour similar to positive controls, and slightly higher osteoclastogenic potential than CM, from adult ones. Gingival fibroblasts revealed lowest osteoclastogenic ability. Presence of anti‐MCSF or anti‐RANKL partially inhibited osteoclastogenesis promoted by CM, although the former antibody revealed higher inhibitory response. Differences among the osteoclastogenic effect of CM were noted, mainly in expression of genes involved in differentiation and activation of osteoclast precursor cells, c‐myc and c‐src, and less regarding functional related parameters. Conclusions: Fibroblasts are able to induce osteoclastogenesis by paracrine mechanisms, and age and anatomical location affect this ability. Other factors produced by fibroblasts, in addition to M‐CSF and RANKL, appear to contribute to observed osteoclastogenic potential.

Made available in DSpace on 2013-08-28T14:09:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WOS000287030600017.pdf: 404283 bytes, checksum: 450777f0dd004bb5a79860aa79c303e0 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2013-09-30T18:37:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 WOS000287030600017.pdf: 404283 bytes, checksum: 450777f0dd004bb5a79860aa79c303e0 (MD5) WOS000287030600017.pdf.txt: 17377 bytes, checksum: 285d34c9ab8f06ab2c7e92f88cc04083 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-01 Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-20T13:49:39Z No. of bitstreams: 2 WOS000287030600017.pdf: 404283 bytes, checksum: 450777f0dd004bb5a79860aa79c303e0 (MD5) WOS000287030600017.pdf.txt: 17377 bytes, checksum: 285d34c9ab8f06ab2c7e92f88cc04083 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-20T13:49:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 WOS000287030600017.pdf: 404283 bytes, checksum: 450777f0dd004bb5a79860aa79c303e0 (MD5) WOS000287030600017.pdf.txt: 17377 bytes, checksum: 285d34c9ab8f06ab2c7e92f88cc04083 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron (LNLS) Phospholipases A(2) (PLA(2)s) are one of the main components of bothropic venoms; in addition to their phospholipid hydrolysis action, they are involved in a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities, including neurotoxicity, myotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. Caffeic acid is an inhibitor that is present in several plants and is employed for the treatment of ophidian envenomations in the folk medicine of many developing countries; as bothropic snake bites are not efficiently neutralized by conventional serum therapy, it may be useful as an antivenom. In this work, the cocrystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the Lys49-PLA(2) piratoxin I from Bothrops pirajai venom in the presence of the inhibitor caffeic acid (CA) are reported. The crystals diffracted X-rays to 1.65 angstrom resolution and the structure was solved by molecular-replacement techniques. The electron-density map unambiguously indicated the presence of three CA molecules that interact with the C-terminus of the protein. This is the first time a ligand has been observed bound to this region and is in agreement with various experiments previously reported in the literature. Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Dept Fis & Biofis, Inst Biociencias, Botucatu, SP, Brazil USP, FCFRP, Dept Anal Clin Toxicol & Bromatol, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Dept Fis & Biofis, Inst Biociencias, Botucatu, SP, Brazil

Phospholipases A₂ (PLA₂s) are enzymes responsible for membrane disruption through Ca(2+) -dependent hydrolysis of phospholipids. Lys49-PLA₂s are well-characterized homologue PLA₂s that do not show catalytic activity but can exert a pronounced local myotoxic effect. These homologue PLA₂s were first believed to present residual catalytic activity but experiments with a recombinant toxin show they are incapable of catalysis. Herein, we present a new homologue Asp49-PLA₂ (BthTX-II) that is also able to exert muscle damage. This toxin was isolated in 1992 and characterized as presenting very low catalytic activity. Interestingly, this myotoxic homologue Asp49-PLA₂ conserves all the residues responsible for Ca(2+) coordination and of the catalytic network, features thought to be fundamental for PLA₂ enzymatic activity. Previous crystallographic studies of apo BthTX-II suggested this toxin could be catalytically inactive since a distortion in the calcium binding loop was observed. In this article, we show BthTX-II is not catalytic based on an in vitro cell viability assay and time-lapse experiments on C2C12 myotube cell cultures, X-ray crystallography and phylogenetic studies. Cell culture experiments show that BthTX-II is devoid of catalytic activity, as already observed for Lys49-PLA₂s. Crystallographic studies of the complex BthTX-II/Ca(2+) show that the distortion of the calcium binding loop is still present and impairs ion coordination even though Ca(2+) are found interacting with other regions of the protein. Phylogenetic studies demonstrate that BthTX-II is more phylogenetically related to Lys49-PLA₂s than to other Asp49-PLA₂s, thus allowing Crotalinae subfamily PLA₂s to be classified into two main branches: a catalytic and a myotoxic one.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T21:24:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-05-01 In recent years, increasing attention has been directed to the use of renewable resources, particularly of sugarcane bagasse. Considering the abundant availability of such lignocellulosic materials, relatively few attempts have been made regarding their utilization. Studies about properties and morphology, heavy metal adsorption, and membranes preparation have been conduced by this research group in order to use these materials. In this paper, cellulose fibers obtained from sugarcane bagasse were bleached and modified by hydrous niobium phosphate. Hybrids (cellulose/NbOPO4.nH2O) were prepared from metallic niobium dissolved in a fluoridric/nitric (10:1) mixture, to which cellulose sugarcane bagasse was added. Afterwards a concentrated orthophosphoric acid (85mL, 85% w/w) was added to precipitate hydrous niobium phosphate particles. This material was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses, as well as scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) coupled to an energy dispersive spectrophotometer (EDS). Morphological studies of bleached cellulose revealed different sizes and arrangement of cells, showing that NbOPO4.nH2O was present in the cellulose structure. Thermal stability of the hybrid was observed up to approximately 200C, and the cellulose decomposed at 300°C. These data will help finding new uses for these materials. Department of Materials and Technology UNESP/FEG, Guaratinguetá/SP Department of Chemical Engineering USP/EEL, Lorena/SP Department of Materials and Technology UNESP/FEG, Guaratinguetá/SP

To evaluate the potential interaction/contribution of inductive and deleterious effects of tobacco compounds on human osteoblastic cells cultured on plasma-sprayed titanium implants exposed to combinations of nicotine, acrolein, and acetaldehyde. Cell response was assessed as proliferation and function.Titanium implants, seeded with human bone marrow-derived cells (first subculture), were cultured in osteogenic-inducing conditions for 28 days in the absence (control) and in the presence of tobacco compounds to assess (1) the dose-dependent profile of acrolein (0.01 to 0.12 mmol/L) and acetaldehyde (0.1 to 6 mmol/L) and (2) the effect of the simultaneous exposure to combinations of nicotine, acrolein, and acetaldehyde. In later experiments, seeded implants were exposed to two different concentrations of nicotine (1.2 mmol/L, known to have inductive effects on cell behavior, and 2.4 mmol/L, reported to elicit deleterious effects on cell behavior) with acrolein, acetaldehyde, or both, at a concentration that inhibits 50% (IC50).Acrolein and acetaldehyde caused dose-dependent inhibitory effects at levels similar to and greater than 0.03 and 0.1 mmol/L, respectively; IC50 regarding cell viability/proliferation and alkaline phosphatase was 0.06 mmol/L for acrolein and 0.3 mmol/L for acetaldehyde. Matrix mineralization was prevented at levels higher than 0.03 mmol/L acrolein and 0.1 mmol/L acetaldehyde. Exposure to a combination of nicotine 1.2 mmol/L with acrolein (0.06 mmol/L), acetaldehyde (0.3 mmol/L), or both resulted in a cell behavior intermediate to that observed in nicotine-treated cultures (induced cell response) and aldehyde-treated cultures (deleterious cell response). On the other hand, exposure to nicotine 2.4 mmol/L with acrolein (0.06 mmol/L), acetaldehyde (0.3 mmol/L), or both caused cumulative cytotoxic responses.Results suggest that interactions of tobacco compounds on osteoblasts might contribute to the overall effects of tobacco use on implant osseointegration and long-time survival.

Made available in DSpace on 2013-08-28T14:13:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WOS000276794600064.pdf: 10665920 bytes, checksum: 2065c1e2b8bc90936d42269ec7398a0e (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2013-09-30T18:11:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 WOS000276794600064.pdf: 10665920 bytes, checksum: 2065c1e2b8bc90936d42269ec7398a0e (MD5) WOS000276794600064.pdf.txt: 26453 bytes, checksum: 2cb59e20975687c4d556727ea014e05e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-01 Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-20T13:28:02Z No. of bitstreams: 2 WOS000276794600064.pdf: 10665920 bytes, checksum: 2065c1e2b8bc90936d42269ec7398a0e (MD5) WOS000276794600064.pdf.txt: 26453 bytes, checksum: 2cb59e20975687c4d556727ea014e05e (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-20T13:28:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 WOS000276794600064.pdf: 10665920 bytes, checksum: 2065c1e2b8bc90936d42269ec7398a0e (MD5) WOS000276794600064.pdf.txt: 26453 bytes, checksum: 2cb59e20975687c4d556727ea014e05e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-01 This work generates, through a sample of numerical simulations of the restricted three-body problem, diagrams of semimajor axis and eccentricity which defines stable and unstable zones for particles in S-type orbits around Pluto and Charon. Since we consider initial conditions with 0