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Selection can affect growth, changing performance and asymptotic values. However, there is little information about the growth of families in fish breeding programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and growth of families of Nile tilapia AquaAmérica. Twenty AquaAmérica families cultivated in a net cage (13.5 m3) for 181 days were evaluated. The nonlinear Gompertz regression model was fitted to the data by the weighted least squares method, taking the inverse of the variance of weight in different families and at different ages as the weighting variable. The model was adjusted to describe the growth in weight and morphometric characteristics. Two families showed highest (P

Scope Early weaning (EW) is associated with an impairment of offspring development and leads to overweight and higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in adulthood, which can be corrected by calcium supplementation, potentially via vitamin D regulation of adipogenesis. Methods and results We examined vitamin D status in adipose tissue in EW obese rats, treated with calcium. Dams were separated into: EW- dams were wrapped with a bandage to interrupt lactation (last 3 days), and C- pups with free access to milk. At PN120, EW pups were divided in: EW- standard diet, and EWCa- calcium supplementation (10 g of calcium carbonate/kg of chow). On PN21, EW group has hypocalcemia. On PN180, EW group showed lower intestinal calbidin, higher adiposity, and 25(OH)D. In adipose tissue, Cyp27b1/1alpha-Hydroxylase, C/EBPB, PPAR-γ, IL6, TNF-A, and MCP1 were increased, while VDR and IL10 were decreased. Calcium increased calbidin, VDR and prevented adipose tissue dysfunction. EW group has a long-term effect of vitamin D on adipocyte, contributing to pro-inflammatory status and obesity. Conclusion We propose that in obese rat adipocytes, 1,25(OH)2 D down-regulates VDR, resulting in vitamin D resistance, characterized by higher Cyp27b1/1α-Hydroxylase and adipogenesis. Calcium therapy appears to be an outstanding strategy for weight loss and improving endocrine metabolic disorders that are obesity associated.

Bisphenol S (BPS) has replaced bisphenol A (BPA), a known non-persistent endocrine disrupting chemical, in several products. Considering that little is known regarding BPS effects, especially during critical windows of ontogenetic development, and that BPA, which is quite similar to BPS, is know to be transferred to the offspring via the placenta and milk, in the present study we investigated the behavioral, biochemical and endocrine profiles of Wistar rats born from dams that were BPS-exposed [groups: BPS10 (10 μg/kg/day), BPS50 (50 μg/kg/day)] during pregnancy and lactation. Due to the non-monotonic dose-response effect of bisphenol, the data of both BPS groups were directly compared with those of the controls, not to each other. Males and females were analyzed separately. At weaning, male BPS50 offspring had hypotriglyceridemia and hyperthyroxinemia, whereas BPS50 females showed higher 25(OH)D levels. At adulthood, BPS offspring of both sexes had lower food intake. BPS males showed lower visceral adiposity. BPS50 females had smaller fat droplets in brown adipocytes. BPS males showed higher anxiety and higher locomotor activity, while BPS10 females showed lower exploration. During a food challenge test at adulthood, BPS males consumed more high-fat diet at 30 min. BPS10 females initially (at 30 min) consumed more high-fat diet but, after 12 h, less of this diet was consumed. BPS50 males had hypertriglyceridemia and lower plasma T3, while BPS females showed lower plasma T4. BPS10 females had lower progesterone, whereas BPS50 females had higher plasma 25(OH)D. Maternal BPS exposure has adverse effects on the triacylglycerol, hormones levels and behavior of the progeny. Furthermore, the increased preference for the fat-enriched diet suggests an increased risk for obesity and its health consequences in the long term.

Maternal smoking is a risk factor for progeny obesity. We have previously shown, in a rat model of neonatal tobacco smoke exposure, a mild increase in food intake and a considerable increase in visceral adiposity in the adult offspring. Males also had secondary hyperthyroidism, while females had only higher T4. Since brown adipose tissue (BAT) hypofunction is related to obesity, here we tested the hypothesis that higher levels of thyroid hormones are not functional in BAT, suggesting a lower metabolic rate. We evaluated autonomic nerve activity in BAT and its function in adult rats that were exposed to tobacco smoke during lactation. At birth, litters were adjusted to 3 male and 3 female pups/litter. From postnatal day (PND) 3 to 21, Wistar lactating rats and their pups were divided into SE group, smoke-exposed in a cigarette smoking machine (4 times/day) and C group, exposed to filtered air. Offspring were sacrificed at PND180. Adult SE rats of both genders had lower interscapular BAT autonomic nervous system activity, with higher BAT mass but no change in morphology. BAT UCP1 and CPT1a protein levels were decreased in the SE groups of both genders. Male SE rats had lower β3-AR, TRα1, and TRβ1 expression while females showed lower PGC1α expression. BAT Dio2 mRNA and hypothalamic POMC and MC4R levels were similar between groups. Hypothalamic pAMPK level was higher in SE males and lower in SE females. Thus, neonatal cigarette smoke exposure induces lower BAT thermogenic capacity, which can be obesogenic at adulthood.

Cosmology relies on the Cosmological Principle, i.e., the hypothesis that the Universe is homogeneous and isotropic on large scales. This implies in particular that the counts of galaxies should approach a homogeneous scaling with volume at sufficiently large scales. Testing homogeneity is crucial to obtain a correct interpretation of the physical assumptions underlying the current cosmic acceleration and structure formation of the Universe. In this Letter, we use the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey to make the first spectroscopic and model-independent measurements of the angular homogeneity scale $\theta_{\rm h}$. Applying four statistical estimators, we show that the angular distribution of galaxies in the range 0.46 < z < 0.62 is consistent with homogeneity at large scales, and that $\theta_{\rm h}$ varies with redshift, indicating a smoother Universe in the past. These results are in agreement with the foundations of the standard cosmological paradigm., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, Version accepted by MNRAS

Astrocytes and microglia, the immune competent cells of central nercous system, can be activated in response to metabolic signals such as obesity and hyperleptinaemia. In rats, maternal exposure to nicotine during lactation leads to central obesity, hyperleptinaemia, leptin resistance and alterations in hypothalamic neuropeptides in the offspring during adulthood. In the present study, we studied the activation of astrocytes and microglia, as well as the pattern of inflammatory mediators, in adult offspring of this experimental model. On postnatal day 2 (P2), osmotic minipumps releasing nicotine (NIC) (-6 mg/kg/day) or saline for 14 days were s.c. implanted in dams. Male offspring were killed on P180 and hypothalamic immunohistochemistry, retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (WAT) polymerase chain reaction analysis and multiplex analysis for plasma inflammatory mediators were carried out. At P180, NIC astrocyte cell number was higher in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) (medial: +82%; lateral: +110%), in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) (+144%) and in the lateral hypothalamus (+121%). NIC glial fibrillary acidic protein fibre density was higher in the lateral ARC (+178%) and in the PVN (+183%). Interleukin-6 was not affected in the hypothalamus. NIC monocyte chemotactic protein 1 was only higher in the periventricular nucleus (+287%). NIC microglia (iba-1-positive) cell number was higher (+68%) only in the PVN, as was the chemokine (C-X3-C motif) receptor 1 density (+93%). NIC interleukin-10 was lower in the WAT (-58%) and plasma (-50%). Thus, offspring of mothers exposed to nicotine during lactation present hypothalamic astrogliosis at adulthood and microgliosis in the PVN.

Key points Childhood obesity is associated with precocious oxidative stress, which can contribute to future diseases. Early overfed rats have increased oxidative stress in liver and plasma at weaning. The model of litter size reduction causes adipocyte hypertrophy and lower PPARγ at weaning, suggesting a decrease in adipocyte proliferation. Abstract Neonatal overfeeding induced by litter size reduction leads to further obesity and other metabolic disorders, such as liver oxidative stress and microsteatosis at adulthood. We hypothesized that overfeeding causes an early redox imbalance at weaning, which could programme the animals to future liver dysfunction. Thus, we studied lipogenesis, adipogenesis, catecholamine status and oxidative balance in weaned overfed pups. To induce early overfeeding, litters were adjusted to three pups at the 3rd day of lactation (SL group). The control group contained 10 pups per litter until weaning (NL group). Peripheral autonomic nerve function was determined in vivo at 21 days old. Thereafter, pups were killed for further analysis. Differences were considered significant when P

The quasar sample of the fourteenth data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV DR14) is used to determine the cosmic homogeneity scale in the redshift range $0.80, Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRAS

The optimum time interval for 10 ml boluses of bupivacaine 0.0625% + fentanyl 2 μg.ml

Recently, we demonstrated high serum leptin and 25(OH)D (calcidiol) in obese animals, with high C/EBP β and PPAR γ expression in adipose tissue. Since the role of vitamin D in adipogenesis remains controversial and hyperleptinemia is found in obesity, we asked if leptin could interfere in vitamin D action on adipocytes. Here, we studied the direct effect of these two hormones upon 3T3L1 preadipocytes incubated with or without 1,25(OH)2D (100 nM, 24 h) and with leptin (10 −7 M, 4 h later). RT-PCR (VDR and Cyp27b1/1α-hydroxylase ), western blotting (VDR, Cyp27b1/1α-hydroxylase, ObR-b, C/EBP β , PPAR γ and Bax content), a cell proliferation assay and an Annexin V-FITC binding assay were performed. Incubation with 1,25(OH)2D decreased Cyp27b1/1α-hydroxylase and VDR. Co-incubation of 1,25(OH)2D and leptin did not change Cyp27b1/1α-hydroxylase and had no additive effect upon the decreased VDR mRNA. Incubation with 1,25(OH)2D decreased C/EBP β and PPARγ. In the cell proliferation assay, 1,25(OH)2D decreased the number of 3T3L1 cells. No changes in OBR-b or apoptotic parameters (Bax and annexin-V) were observed. The 1,25(OH)2D decreased pro-adipogenic factors and proliferation of adipocytes. However, since it inhibits the conversion of 25(OH)D to 1,25(OH)2D and VDR mRNA long-term, it could decrease the vitamin D response in adipocytes, leading to greater adipogenesis. The co-incubation of both hormones, simulating what occurs in obesity, even neutralizing the effect on Cyp27b1/ 1α- hydroxylase , did not change the vitamin D sensitivity but decreased SOCS-3 and pSTAT-3. Thus, an excess of vitamin D and hyperleptinemia could decrease vitamin D sensitivity in adipocytes, contributing to increased adipogenesis.

Children from smoking mothers have a higher risk of developing obesity and associated comorbidities later in life. Different experimental models have been used to assess the mechanisms involved with this increased risk. Using a rat model of neonatal nicotine exposure via implantation of osmotic minipumps in lactating dams, we have previously shown marked sexual dimorphisms regarding metabolic and endocrine outcomes in the adult progeny. Considering that more than four thousand substances are found in tobacco smoke besides nicotine, we then studied a rat model of neonatal tobacco smoke exposure: adult male offspring had hyperphagia, obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, secondary hyperthyroidism and lower adrenal hormones. Since litters were culled to include only males and since sexual dimorphisms had already been identified in the nicotine exposure model, here we also evaluated the effects of tobacco smoke exposure during lactation on females.Wistar rat dams and their pups were separated into two groups of 8 litters each: SMOKE (4 cigarettes per day, from postnatal day 3 to 21) and CONTROL (filtered air). Offspring of both sexes were euthanized at PN21 and PN180.Changes in male offspring corroborated previous data. At weaning, females showed lower body mass gain and serum triglycerides, but no alterations in visceral fat and hormones. At adulthood, females had higher body mass, hyperphagia, central obesity, hyperleptinemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypercorticosteronemia, but no change in serum TSH and T3, and adrenal catecholamine CONCLUSIONS: Sexual dimorphisms were observed in several parameters, thus indicating that metabolic and hormonal changes due to smoke exposure during development are sex-dependent.

In humans, complementary feeding should be started after 6 months-old; the introduction of any food or water before this time is considered early weaning, which is associated with health problems in adulthood. Cow's milk is a common food introduced to children less than 6 months that has inadequate nutritional composition mainly due to a worse casein: whey protein ratio compared to human milk. We hypothesized that suckling rats fed with cow's milk, rich in bioactive peptides, develop further metabolic dysfunctions. From postnatal day (PN) 14 to 20, Wistar rat pups were divided into 3 groups: rat milk (RM) - pups received rat milk orally in a syringe; cow's milk (CM), pups received cow's milk; CM with high protein (CM-H), CM with twice protein amount of rat milk. Pups were killed on PN21 and PN180. At PN21, CM males had lower visceral fat mass compared with other groups. Serum corticosterone was higher in CM-H males, despite no change in glucocorticoid metabolism in liver and visceral fat. At PN180, CM and CM-H females had greater fat depots and hyperphagia, although no alteration in leptinemia and leptin signaling in hypothalamus. CM-H females had a trend of hypoinsulinemia and significant decrease in HOMA-β, suggesting lower insulin secretion. Males from CM-H group had only lower total body protein mass. CM males had hypercorticosteronemia associated with lower expression of 11βHDS1 in visceral fat. In conclusion, early introduction of cow's milk in neonate rats leads to gender-dependent differences in metabolic and endocrine parameters in the short- and long-term.

The existing degeneracy between different dark energy and modified gravity cosmologies at the background level may be broken by analysing quantities at the perturbative level. In this work, we apply a non-parametric smoothing (NPS) method to reconstruct the expansion history of the Universe ($H(z)$) from model-independent cosmic chronometers and high-$z$ quasar data. Assuming a homogeneous and isotropic flat universe and general relativity (GR) as the gravity theory, we calculate the non-relativistic matter perturbations in the linear regime using the $H(z)$ reconstruction and realistic values of $\Omega_{m0}$ and $\sigma_8$ from Planck and WMAP-9 collaborations. We find a good agreement between the measurements of the growth rate and $f\sigma_8(z)$ from current large-scale structure observations and the estimates obtained from the reconstruction of the cosmic expansion history. Considering a recently proposed null test for GR using matter perturbations, we also apply the NPS method to reconstruct $f\sigma_8(z)$. For this case, we find a $\sim 2\sigma$ tension (good agreement) with the standard relativistic cosmology when the Planck (WMAP-9) priors are used., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, LaTeX

Breastfeeding is associated with obesity prevention. We showed previously that prolactin inhibition at the end of lactation causes hyperleptinemia at weaning (PN21) and programs for obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and leptin resistance (PN180). Here, we evaluate the source of neonatal hyperleptinemia and how it develops during the nutritional transition from milk through solid food. Lactating rats were treated with bromocriptine (BRO), a prolactin inhibitor, 0.5 mg twice a day, or saline (CON) for the last 3 days of lactation. All parameters were studied at PN22 and PN30. At PN22, BRO-treated rats showed lower food intake, body mass, and body length. At PN30, only body length and mesenteric fat mass were lower. Despite normal plasma leptin levels at PN22, the adipose tissue leptin mRNA expression was lower, while plasma leptin was higher in PN30, possibly due to a higher adipose mesenteric tissue production. At PN22, the hypothalamus seems to be more sensitive to leptin, since OBR and STAT3 are higher. Conversely, at PN30 leptin signaling pathway is suggestive of leptin resistance with lower STAT3 and higher SOCS3 in hypothalamus and consequently higher NPY. Glycemia was lower at PN22 and higher at PN30, without changes in plasma insulin levels. At PN30, BRO-treated rats had other metabolic changes such as higher plasma cholesterol, lower HDL-c, higher hepatic cholesterol and AST, suggesting a liver dysfunction. Our data show that milk supply can exert a crucial role in the imprinting of a second leptin peak, which is important for survival adaptation to adverse nutritional conditions.

Aims Studies have demonstrated that early weaning can promote metabolic syndrome during adulthood and that obesity increases oxidative stress. Thus, we aimed to evaluate redox status in a pharmacological early weaning rodent model programmed for metabolic syndrome at adulthood. Main methods Lactating dams were randomly assigned into 2 groups: the early weaning group (BRO), which was treated intraperitoneally with bromocriptine (1 mg/day) to inhibit prolactin secretion for the last 3 days of lactation, and the control group (C), which received the BRO diluent for the same time period. The offspring were killed at 90 (PN90) and 180 (PN180) days after birth. Key findings Early weaning induced greater visceral adiposity and dyslipidemia. At PN90, the BRO offspring showed glucose intolerance with normoinsulinemia and increased plasma and liver superoxide dismutase, and liver glutathione peroxidase activities, which reduced the liver malondialdehyde but not the increased plasma malondialdehyde levels. However, the BRO offspring showed insulin resistance at PN180 and increased plasma glutathione peroxidase, liver superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities. These changes reduced the plasma and liver malondialdehyde levels, which aided in hepatocyte architecture preservation. Additionally, we observed that sirtuin 1 was overexpressed in the BRO group at PN90, but the increased expression was not maintained through PN180, which suggests unfavorable metabolic conditions in the older offspring. Significance Despite the observed obesity and glucose homeostasis dysfunction, our data suggest that the early weaning programming induced by bromocriptine can improve the offspring's redox status and may prevent liver damage during adulthood.

Non-pharmacological early weaning (NPEW) leads offspring to obesity, higher liver oxidative stress and microsteatosis in adulthood. Pharmacological EW (PEW) by maternal treatment with bromocriptine (BRO) causes obesity in the adult progeny but precludes hepatic injury. To test the hypothesis that BRO prevents the deleterious changes of NPEW, we injected BRO into the pups from the NPEW model on late lactation. Lactating rats were divided into 2 groups: dams with an adhesive bandage around the body to prevent breastfeeding on the last 3 days of lactation and dams whose pups had free suckling (C). Offspring from both groups were subdivided into 2 groups: pups treated with BRO (ip 4 mg/kg/day) on the last 3 days of lactation (NPEW/BRO and C/BRO) or pups treated with the vehicle (NPEW and C). At PN120, offspring were challenged with a high fat diet (HFD), and food intake was recorded after 30 min and 12 h. Rats were euthanized at PN120 and PN200. At PN120, adipocyte size was greater in the NPEW group but was normal in the NPEW/BRO group. At PN200, the NPEW group presented hyperphagia, higher adiposity, adipocyte hypertrophy, hyperleptinemia, glucose intolerance and increased hepatic triglycerides. These parameters were normalized in the NPEW/BRO group. In the feeding test, BRO groups showed lower HFD intake at 30 min than did their controls; however, at 12 h, the NPEW group ate more HFD. The treatment with BRO can preclude some deleterious effects of the NPEW model, which prevented the development of overweight and its comorbidities. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Rats overfed during lactation show higher visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass and metabolic dysfunctions at adulthood. As both vitamin D and glucocorticoids change adipogenesis, parameters related to metabolism and action of these hormones in the adipocyte can be altered in rats raised in small litters (SL). We also studied the antiobesity effects of high calcium diet since it decreases visceral fat in obesity models. On postnatal day (PN) 3, litter size was adjusted to 3pups/dam (SL) to induce overfeeding. Control litters (NL) remained with 10pups/dam until weaning. From PN120 to PN180, half of the SL rats were fed standard chow (SL) and the other half was fed a calcium-supplemented chow (SL-Ca, 10g CaCO3/kg). Both SL groups were heavier and hyperphagic when compared with the NL group; however, SL-Ca rats ate less than SL. SL-Ca rats had decreased VAT mass and adipocyte size, associated with lower hypothalamic NPY content, VAT fat acid synthase content and leptinemia. At PN120, SL rats had increased plasma 25(OH)D3, Cyp27b1 mRNA and glucocorticoid receptor (GR-α) in the VAT, but lower vitamin D receptor (Vdr) mRNA. At PN180, Cyp27b1 and GR-α remained higher, while Vdr normalized in SL rats. SL-Ca rats had normal VAT Cyp27b1 and GR-α, but lower Vdr. Thus, higher body mass and glucocorticoid receptors in the VAT of SL rats are normalized by calcium-enriched diet, and Vdr expression in this tissue is reduced, suggesting a possible role of glucocorticoids and vitamin D in calcium action in the adipocyte.

We evaluated maternal flaxseed oil intake during lactation on body composition, lipid profile, glucose homeostasis and adipose tissue inflammation in male and female progeny at adulthood. Lactating rats were divided into the following: control 7% soybean oil (C), hyper 19% soybean oil (HS) and hyper 17% flaxseed oil+2% soybean oil (HF). Weaned pups received a standard diet. Offspring were killed in PN180. Male HF presented higher visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and triacylglycerol, and female HF showed insulin resistance. Both male and female HF had hyperleptinemia, and only male HF had hyperprolactinemia. In VAT, male HF presented lower PPAR-γ expressions and higher TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and IL-10 expressions; in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), they presented lower PPAR-γ and TNF-α expressions. Female HF presented higher leptin, as well as lower adiponectin, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β expressions in VAT and lower TNF-α in SAT. Flaxseed oil during lactation leads to gender-specific effects with more adiposity and dyslipidemia in male and insulin resistance in female. Higher prolactin and inflammatory cytokines in male could play a role in these gender differences. We suggest that the use of flaxseed oil during lactation increases metabolic syndrome risk in the adult progeny.

We investigate the prospects for determining the accelerating history of the Universe from upcoming measurements of the expansion rate $H(z)$. In our analyses, we use Monte Carlo simulations based on $w$CDM models to generate samples with different characteristics and calculate the evolution of the deceleration parameter $q(z)$. We show that a cosmographic (and, therefore, model-independent) evidence for cosmic acceleration ($q(z

This study's objective is to evaluate the photosynthates partitioning and source-sink relationships, in vegetative and reproductive twigs of sweet passion fruit, using the carbon-13, stable isotope of carbon. The leaves of vegetative and reproductive twigs were placed in a sealed chamber and 13 C0 2 were injected for 30 minutes. After six hours, the different organs of the twig were collected and immersed in liquid nitrogen (-196°C). All plant samples were oven-dried, powdered and combusted in an elemental analyzer. The results showed that the methodology was efficient to evaluate the partitioning of photosynthates. In the vegetative twigs, the new open leaves, the closed leaves and growth meristem were the principal sink for the source leaves enriched with 13 CO 2 . In the reproductive twigs with only flowers buds, the source-sink relationship was changed and the flowers buds turn to be the principal sink and the growing leaves were secondary sinks. The presence of young fruits changed again the source-sink relationship of the twig, and they were the principal sinks. The apical leaves, with 60% of final leaf area were also a sink for photosynthates.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a capacidade dos cimentos obturadores endodônticos AH Plus (AH), MTA Fillapex (MTAF) e SmartPaste Bio (SPB) em liberar íons hidroxila (OH-), cálcio (Ca2+) e fosfato (PO43-). Foram utilizados tubos de polietileno preenchidos com os cimentos e imersos em água deionizada (n5). Imediatamente após preenchidos foram levados à estufa a 37 ºC onde permaneceram por todo o período experimental. O líquido no qual estiveram imersos os espécimes foi avaliado quanto ao pH com o auxílio de um pHmetro, quanto a presença de cálcio por meio de um espectrofotômetro de absorção atômica e quanto a quantidade de fosfato por meio da técnica de cromatografia de íons nos períodos de 03, 24, 72 e 168 horas onde, a cada período, os espécimes eram trocados de recipiente. O SPB ofereceu os maiores valores de pH e de liberação de Ca2+ em todos os períodos, alcançando valores máximos de 10,79 (72h) e 6,76 mg/L (24h), respectivamente. A análise de PO43- mostrou liberação por parte dos cimentos AH e SPB, este último alcançando 0,34 mg/L (03h) o MTAF não apresentou liberação. Conclui-se que o SmartPaste Bio (SPB) foi o material que apresentou maiores valores de alcalinidade e que mais liberou íons Ca2+ e PO43-.Palavras-chave: Endodontia. Materiais Obturadores. pH, Íons Cálcio e Fosfato.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo determinar a alteração volumétrica de três cimentos obturadores endodônticos AH Plus (AH), MTA Fillapex (MTAF) e SmartPaste Bio (SPB). Foram utilizados 30 dentes de acrílico obturados com os cimentos associados à guta-percha cada grupo contendo 10 espécimes (n10). Após a obturação realizada pela técnica da compressão hidráulica os espécimes foram escaneados em microtomógrafo (microCT) e, em seguida, imersos em água deionizada e mantidos em estufa a 37º durante o período experimental de 07 dias. Os espécimes obturados foram novamente escaneados permitindo a determinação de alterações volumétricas entre os dados coletados antes e após o período experimental. Os resultados do teste de alteração volumétrica realizados nos respectivos cimentos apontaram valores que corresponderam à norma da ANSI/ADA especificação 57/2000. Os cimentos AH e MTAF apresentaram uma leve expansão, 0,78% e 0,22%, respectivamente, enquanto o SPB contraiu 2,94, no entanto, os resultados não apresentaram diferença estatisticamente significantes (P > 0,05). Nas condições do estudo pode-se concluir que os materiais testados reúnem condições de emprego clínico, entretanto, enquanto os cimentos AH e MTAF apresentaram leve expansão, o SPB experimentou contração, todavia, sem diferenças significantes.Palavras-chave: Endodontia. Materiais Obturadores. Propriedades Físicas e Químicas.

Perturbative quantities, such as the growth rate ($f$) and index ($\gamma$), are powerful tools to distinguish different dark energy models or modified gravity theories even if they produce the same cosmic expansion history. In this work, without any assumption about the dynamics of the Universe, we apply a non-parametric method to current measurements of the expansion rate $H(z)$ from cosmic chronometers and high-$z$ quasar data and reconstruct the growth factor and rate of linearised density perturbations in the non-relativistic matter component. Assuming realistic values for the matter density parameter $\Omega_{m0}$, as provided by current CMB experiments, we also reconstruct the evolution of the growth index $\gamma$ with redshift. We show that the reconstruction of current $H(z)$ data constrains the growth index to $\gamma=0.56 \pm 0.12$ (2$\sigma$) at $z = 0.09$, which is in full agreement with the prediction of the $\Lambda$CDM model and some of its extensions., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, LaTeX

A lise das hemácias, de causa imune ou não imune, pode provocar a elevação da hemoglobina plasmática induzindo efeitos deletérios principalmente nos rins e no sistema cardiovascular. Este trabalho objetiva evidenciar o possível efeito hemolítico induzido pelo trauma mecânico provocado pela passagem das hemácias em diferentes modelos de bombas de infusão de soluções, em concentrados de hemácias com até dez dias de armazenamento, preparados com Sag-Manitol. Foram utilizados três modelos de bombas (Nutrimat, Infusomat Compact e Volumed), com quatro aparelhos de cada modelo, testados em três velocidades de infusão (120 mL/h, 240 mL/h e 360 mL/h). Os parâmetros utilizados para evidenciar o grau de hemólise foram o percentual de hemólise e os níveis de hemoglobina e potássio livres no plasma. As amostras foram coletadas antes da passagem do concentrado de hemácias pelas bombas, na metade do tempo de infusão e no final da infusão, nas diferentes velocidades. Não ocorreu variação significativa entre os valores dos parâmetros analisados nas amostras controle e naquelas coletadas nas diferentes velocidades, marcas de bombas, mecanismos de infusão entre as bombas da mesma marca e entre os diferentes tempos de infusão. A principal variação encontrada foi relacionada com o potássio livre, devido à variação inerente aos próprios concentrados, o que foi evidenciado ao se compararem os valores obtidos nas amostras controle e nas amostras colhidas nos tempos médio e final em cada bomba. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, não houve alteração estatisticamente significativa do percentual de hemólise após a passagem pelas bombas de infusão nos modelos analisados.The lyses of red blood cells, both for immune or non-immune reasons, can cause an elevation in plasmatic hemoglobin, inducing harmful effects mainly in the kidneys and cardiovascular system. This work aims at identifying the possible hemolytic effect, related to mechanical trauma due to the use of different models of infusion pumps, on red blood cells transfused after up to ten days of storage. Three models of pumps were studied (Nutrimat, Infusomat Compact and Volumed), (four devices of each model) with three infusion speeds being tested (120 mL/h, 240 mL/h and 360 mL/h). The parameters used to report the degree of hemolysis were the percentile of hemolysis, hemoglobin levels and free potassium in the plasma. Samples were collected before infusion of red blood cells using the pumps, half way through infusion (1/2 T) and at the end of infusion (T), for the three different speeds. Significant variations were not seen in the analyzed parameters between the control samples and those collected at different speeds, using different models of pumps and infusion mechanisms and among pumps of the same brand and at different infusion times. The greatest variation found involved free potassium, probably due to the different levels found in red blood cell concentrates seen when control samples were compared to values obtained half way through and at the end of infusion for each pump. In agreement with the obtained results changes in the percentile of hemolysis were not found after infusion of the cells using the different infusion pumps.

The great majority of analytical models for extragalactic radio sources suppose self-similarity and can be classified into three types. We have developed a model that represents a generalization of most models found in the literature and show that these three types are particular cases. The model assumes that the area of the head of the jet varies with the jet size according to a power law and the jet luminosity is a function of time. As is usually done, the basic hypothesis is that there is an equilibrium between the pressure exerted both by the head of the jet and the cocoon walls and the ram pressure of the ambient medium. The equilibrium equations and energy conservation equation allow us to express the size and width of the source and the pressure in the cocoon as a power law and find the respective exponents. Once we find these exponents, we can determine the initial values of the source size, the cocoon radius and of the pressure inside the cocoon. We also suppose that, near the nucleus, the jet propagates in a constant density atmosphere and, as it leaves the central region of the host galaxy, it propagates in a decaying atmosphere. All these assumptions can be used to calculate the evolution of the source radio luminosity allowing us to draw a P-D diagram. This can then be compared with the observed P-D diagram of both compact (GPS and CSS) and extended sources from the 3CR catalogue. The comparison makes it possible to determine the various parameters of the model and understand the physical processes involved in the evolution of extragalactic radio sources.

The angular diameter versus redshift relation in the standard FRW model is rediscussed. The present data imply that the standard FRW flat cosmology (q0 = 1/2) cannot be the best-fit model when evolution is absent. By using a simple analytical model to describe the expansion of jets in extended radio sources, a redshift dependence of the proper length of the sources is obtained. For these sources, we show that evolution contributes in such a way that the models can be compatible with the observations of the angular diameter versus redshift cosmological test.

In recent years, there has been some renewed interest in cosmological models in which the constants of nature vary with time. In one of these, one supposes a dependence on the redshift of the fine structure constant as suggested by some astronomical observations of quasars. This has led, among others, to the proposal that the speed of light varies with the cosmological time. A Varying Speed of Light (VSL) would be able to solve some long standing problems of the standard cosmological model, without the need for inflation. In this work we study two models in which (1) c varies according to a power law of the scale factor c(t) ∝ a-r and (2) c is proportional to the Hubble parameter c(t) ∝ Hu. We present solutions for these two types of VSL cosmologies. We find that for a flat (k = 0) Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) universe, the variation of c is coupled to a cosmological Λ-term and both singular and non-singular solutions are possible.

Observations of compact (GPS) and semi-compact (CSS) extragalactic radio sources indicate the existence of an alignment between radio and optical emission. In this work, we study the interaction between the expanding lobes of radio sources and the interstellar medium. We develop a simple analytical model to calculate the expansion speed of the radio lobes and calculate the optical luminosity of the compressed gas cloud. Qualitative maps of the optical and radio emission are produced for a variety of clouds and ambient gas density and jet power. The maps show the observed alignment and the trailing of the optical emission relative to the radio. It is proposed that a more detailed comparison between the model results and the observed data will allow the use of these calculations as a diagnostic of the diffuse and clump gas surrounding the nucleus of active galaxies.

The thermodynamics of cosmological matter creation has been extensively investigated in the literature. In the context of general relativity, the particle production in the cosmological models is due to mechanisms such as an imperfect fluid with bulk viscosity or the decaying vacuum. Another interesting proposal is matter creation in cosmologies with variation of fundamental constants. In this work, we study the nonlinearity of the electrodynamics as a source of matter creation in cosmological models with flat Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) line geometry. We write the energy conservation law arising from Einstein field equations with cosmological term Λ, solve the field equations, and study how particles are created as the magnetic field B changes with cosmic epoch. We obtain solutions for the adiabatic particle creation rate, the total number of particles, and the scale factor as a function of time in three cases: Λ = 0, Λ = constant and Λ ∝ H2 (cosmological term proportional to the Hubble parameter). We find the constraints imposed by the second law of thermodynamics upon the cosmological solutions.

A protocol to monitor respiration as O2 consumption in soil slurries using the Strathtox® respirometer was developed and tested on four soils from brownfield sites. Respiration rates (mg l−1 h−1) of soil slurries in the Strathtox® were compared with rates (μl min−1) of field moist soils analysed using the Columbus Oxymax® ER10 respirometer. One of the soils (99612B), historically contaminated with diesel, was further studied by monitoring the effect of inorganic NH4NO3 liquid nutrient on enhancing respiration rate. Soil microcosms were monitored continuously on the Oxymax® or sampled at 24, 48 and 72 h intervals, prepared as soil slurries, and analysed on the Strathtox®. On the full-scale remediation project (∼6000 m3) soil 99612B was treated as a biopile with spent mushroom compost (SMC) amendment and respiration rates monitored in samples over an 8-week period. In the laboratory microcosm experiment and full-scale bioremediation treatment described, correlation was found for respiration rates between the two respirometry systems.

Previously, we demonstrated that maternal prolactin inhibition at the end of lactation, using bromocriptine (BRO), leads to an increase in leptin transfer via milk and induces the adult progeny to present hypothyroidism, leptin resistance and metabolic syndrome (obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, lower HDL). To test if these alterations are due to direct BRO action on the pups, in the present study we evaluated the long-term effects of direct injection of BRO (0.1μg/once daily) in male Wistar rats from postnatal (PN) day 1 to 10 (early treatment) or from PN11 to 20 (late treatment) on: food intake, body mass, cardiovascular parameters, hormone profile, hypothalamic leptin signaling, glucose homeostasis and thyroid hormone-dependent proteins. The respective controls were injected with methanol-saline. Offspring were killed at adulthood (PN180). Adult PN1-10 BRO-treated animals had lower food intake, hypoprolactinemia, lower leptin action (lower OBR-b, STAT-3 and SOCS-3 mRNA levels in the arcuate nucleus), lower TRH-TSH-thyroid axis as well as lower thyroid hormone markers. On the other hand, adult animals that were BRO-treated during the PN11-20 period showed hyperphagia, higher blood pressure, higher prolactinemia and OBR-b, higher TRH and plasma T3, hypercorticosteronemia as well as higher Dio2 and UCP1 mRNA expression in the brown adipose tissue. Glucose homeostasis was not changed treatment in either period. Our data show that early and late dopamine overexposure during lactation induces diverse metabolic disturbances later in life, increasing the risk of thyroid dysfunction and, consequently, changes in prolactinemia.

In humans, bromocriptine (BRO) is used as a treatment for many disorders, such as prolactinomas, even during pregnancy and lactation. Previously we demonstrated that maternal BRO treatment at the end of lactation programs offspring for obesity and several endocrine dysfunctions. Here, we studied the long-term effects of direct BRO injection in neonatal Wistar rats on their dopaminergic pathway, anxiety-like behavior and locomotor activity at adulthood. Male pups were either s.c. injected with BRO (0.1μg/once daily) from postnatal day (PN) 1 to 10 or from PN11 to 20. Controls were injected with methanol-saline. Body mass, food intake, neuropeptides, dopamine pathway parameters, anxiety-like behavior and locomotor activity were analyzed. The dopamine pathway was analyzed in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and dorsal striatum (DS) at PN180. PN1-10 BRO-treated animals had normal body mass and adiposity but lower food intake and plasma prolactin (PRL). This group had higher POMC in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), higher tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the VTA, higher dopa decarboxylase (DDc), higher D2R and μu-opioid receptor in the NAc. Concerning behavior in elevated plus maze (EPM), BRO-treated animals displayed more anxiety-like behaviors. PN11-20 BRO-treated showed normal body mass and adiposity but higher food intake and plasma PRL. This group had lower POMC in the ARC, lower TH in the VTA and lower DAT in the NAc. BRO-treated animals showed less anxiety-like behaviors in the EPM. Thus, neonatal BRO injection, depending on the time of treatment, leads to different long-term dysfunctions in the dopaminergic reward system, food intake behavior and anxiety levels, findings that could be partially due to PRL and POMC changes.

Rats raised in small litters (SL) are obese and hyperphagic. In the present study, we evaluated whether obesity is associated with changes in the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic reward system in these animals at adulthood. We also assessed the anti-obesity effects of dietary calcium supplementation. To induce early overfeeding, litters were adjusted to three pups on postnatal day (PN)3 (SL group). Control litters were kept with 10 pups each until weaning (NL group). On PN120, SL animals were subdivided into two groups: SL (standard diet) and SL-Ca [SL with calcium supplementation (10 g calcium carbonate/kg rat chow) for 60 days]. On PN175, animals were subjected to a food challenge: animals could choose between a high-fat (HFD) or a high-sugar diet (HSD). Food intake was recorded after 30 min and 12 h. Euthanasia occurred on PN180. SL rats had higher food intake, body mass and central adiposity. Sixty days of dietary calcium supplementation (SL-Ca) prevented these changes. Only SL animals preferred the HFD at 12 h. Both SL groups had lower tyrosine hydroxylase content in the ventral tegmental area, lower dopaminergic transporter content in the nucleus accumbens, and higher type 2 dopamine receptor (D2R) content in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC). They also had higher neuropeptide Y (NPY) and lower pro-opiomelanocortin contents in the ARC. Calcium treatment normalised only D2R and NPY contents. Precocious obesity induces long-term effects in the brain dopaminergic system, which can be associated with an increased preference for fat at adulthood. Calcium treatment prevents this last alteration, partially through its actions on ARC D2R and NPY proteins.

It is shown that the expressions of five fundamental masses appearing in physics and cosmology can be written in terms of the constants of nature. We study the time variation of them in the context of a generalized Dirac’s cosmology based on the large number hypothesis (LNH). This generalization allows one to have the gravitational constant not depending upon time contrary to Dirac’s original theory. It also allows the rest mass of the particle to vary with cosmological time. Further, we show that there exist simple algebraic relations between them and that their ratios can be expressed as powers of the large dimensionless number 1040.

This paper presents the results of large-scale flume tests to assess the performance of different types of nonwoven geotextile in silt fences. Four types of geotextile and three types of soil were used in the tests, under varying values of runoff discharges. The flow rate passing through the geotextile and the upstream slurry level rising with time were measured, as well as the slurry concentration, the sizes of the soil particles that piped through the geotextile, and the permittivity of the geotextiles after the tests. The results showed the great effects of the geotextile on sediment retention and slurry concentration reduction. A greater than expected geotextile retention capacity was observed. The results also suggest that a lighter and cheaper nonwoven geotextile may be used in a silt fence if the other requirements for relevant material properties for this type of application are satisfied.

In this work we investigate matter creation in the context of two types of varying speed of light (VSL) cosmologies. We write the energy conservation law arising from Einstein equations for a Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) line element in a flat universe, solve the field equations and study how particles are created as c changes with cosmic epoch. We calculate the "adiabatic" particle creation rate, the total number of particle as a function of time and find the constrains imposed by the second law of thermodynamics upon the models.

Insect embryo development is a complex process which requires nuclear and cellular division, cell shape alteration, and cell movement. This process needs to be orchestrated in a specific spatial and temporal fashion. Different insect species, despite similarities, present distinct morphogenetic pathways. We used the dipteran R. americana as a comparative model for embryo morphogenesis studies, following embryo development with different histochemical and immunohistochemical procedures. Despite the phylogenetic proximity with D. melanogaster, R. americana presents a peculiar morphogenesis. We show that at the initial phases of development, from egg fertilization to blastoderm formation, R. americana is similar to Drosophila. The first cleavages are nuclear and cellularization only begins after nuclei spread throughout the egg’s cortex. However after this stage a series of cell movements establishes a short compact germ band anlage, which gastrulates in a pattern quite different from Drosophila. After gastrulation the germ band elongates anterior–posteriorly and segmentation occurs simultaneously along the embryo. Embryo development from egg fertilization to larva hatching takes about 12 days. Our results show that R. americana presents a different morphogenetic pathway which does not fit in the current short, intermediate or long germ band classification.

We apply the concept of wave quantum theory in an astronomical scale and discuss the periodic distribution of the galaxies red shift. A generalization of the commutation relation is used to write down the wave equation and the redshift spectrum is calculated.

An interesting approach to the cosmological coincidence problem is to allow dark matter and dark energy interact with each other also nongravitationally. We consider two general Ans\"{a}tze for such an interaction and appraise their ability to address the coincidence problem. We determine the average accuracy required on the cosmic expansion rate data to distinguish interacting cosmological models from the conventional $\Lambda$CDM scenario. We find that among the planned surveys the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope has the best chance to detect an interaction, though at a low significance level. To unambiguously determine the existence of an interaction one must, therefore, combine the said expansion data with other probes., Comment: 10 pages

A phenomenological attempt at alleviating the so-called coincidence problem is to allow the dark matter and dark energy to interact. By assuming a coupled quintessence scenario characterized by an interaction parameter $\epsilon$, we investigate the precision in the measurements of the expansion rate $H(z)$ required by future experiments in order to detect a possible deviation from the standard $\Lambda$CDM model ($\epsilon = 0$). We perform our analyses at two levels, namely: through Monte Carlo simulations based on $\epsilon$CDM models, in which $H(z)$ samples with different accuracies are generated and through an analytic method that calculates the error propagation of $\epsilon$ as a function of the error in $H(z)$. We show that our analytical approach traces simulations accurately and find that to detect an interaction {using $H(z)$ data only, these must reach an accuracy better than 1%., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, LaTeX

A homogeneous and isotropic cosmological model of the universe is studied in which the parameter gamma of the “gamma-law” equation of statep=(γ−1)ρ varies continuously with cosmological time. A unified description of the early evolution of the universe is given in which an inflationary period is followed by a radiation dominated phase. Comparing the dynamics of the model with those models endowed with matter creation or vacuum energy decay, allows us to establish the time dependence of the creation rate and of the cosmological constant in terms of the varying γ index.

PbMg{sub 1/3}Nb{sub 2/3}O{sub 3} (PMN) prepared by organic solution of citrates was analyzed by Rietveld method to determine the influence of seeds and dopants on the perovskite and pyrochlore phase formation. In was observed that pyrochlore phase formation increases with an increase in calcination time when no additives are included during the preparation. It was also observed that a greater amount of perovskite phase appeared in doped or seeded samples. The fraction of perovskite phase increased from 88 mol{percent} in pure sample to {approximately}95 mol{percent} in doped and seeded samples calcined at 800{degree}C for 1 h. It is clear that the addition of dopants or seeds during PMN preparation can enhance the formation of perovskite phase. {copyright} {ital 1996 Materials Research Society.}

We use current measurements of the expansion rate $H(z)$ and cosmic background radiation bounds on the spatial curvature of the Universe to impose cosmological model-independent constraints on cosmic opacity. To perform our analyses, we compare opacity-free distance modulus from $H(z)$ data with those from two supernovae Ia compilations: the Union2.1 plus the most distant spectroscopically confirmed SNe Ia (SNe Ia SCP-0401 $z=1.713$) and two Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) subsamples. The influence of different SNe Ia light-curve fitters (SALT2 and MLCS2K2) on the results is also verified. We find that a completely transparent universe is in agreement with the largest sample in our analysis (Union 2.1 plus SNe Ia SCP-0401). For SDSS sample a such universe it is compatible at $< 1.5\sigma$ level regardless the SNe Ia light-curve fitting used., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, LaTeX

The age of the universe is computed for spatially homogeneous and isotropic cosmological models of the relativistic Wesson's 5D variable mass theory of gravity. It is shown that if the pressure in the mass dimension is negligible, ages old enough to agree with the observations can only be obtained if the cosmological constant is different from zero. In addition, unlike the standard FRW models in Einstein's 4D theory, the age value itself is not affected by the nature of the matter content (matter and radiation dominated models give the same age).

A class of non-vacuum expanding cosmological solutions of Wesson's 5D theory of gravity with variable rest mass is derived. The models are spatially homogeneous and isotropic and the source of gravitation is a pressureless fluid (dust) plus a cosmological constant term. The general and unified solution is found for the equations and some properties of different limiting cases are studied. Particularly, it is shown that for null cosmological constant the predicted age of the universe is smaller than the ones of the 4D FRW models.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world and is related to the etiology of cervical cancer. The most common high-risk HPV types are 16 and 18; however, the second most prevalent type in the Midwestern region of Brazil is HPV-33. New vaccine strategies against HPV have shown that virus-like particles (VLP) of the major capsid protein (L1) induce efficient production of antibodies, which confer protection against the same viral type. The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris is an efficient and inexpensive expression system for the production of high levels of heterologous proteins stably using a wild-type gene in combination with an integrative vector. It was recently demonstrated that P. pastoris can produce the HPV-16 L1 protein by using an episomal vector associated with the optimized L1 gene. However, the use of an episomal vector is not appropriate for protein production on an industrial scale. In the present study, the vectors were integrated into the Pichia genome and the results were positive for L1 gene transcription and protein production, both intracellularly and in the extracellular environment. Despite the great potential for expression by the P. pastoris system, our results suggest a low yield of L1 recombinant protein, which, however, does not make this system unworkable. The achievement of stable clones containing the expression cassettes integrated in the genome may permit optimizations that could enable the establishment of a platform for the production of VLP-based vaccines.