Resumo O ácido valproico associado ao valproato de sódio (VPA) é um importante agente anticonvulsivo usado há décadas no tratamento de distúrbios neurológicos. Também atua como um modulador epigenético ao inibir as desacetilases de histonas, permitindo a acetilaçao de histonas, afetando o estado de metilação do DNA e das histonas e a expressão gênica, e induzindo a remodelação da cromatina. Os insetos representam um importante modelo animal para estudos em diversas áreas da ciência e dada a sua alta plasticidade fenotípica os torna modelos alternativos para estudos epigenéticos e de resposta a agentes moduladores epigenéticos. Esta breve revisão enfatiza relatos recentes sobre epigenética em insetos e a contribuição de estudos sobre a ação do VPA nesse grupo animal, incluindo efeitos sobre marcadores epigenéticos, estendendo a compreensão farmacológica do potencial desta droga e demonstrando a utilidade dos insetos como um modelo animal alternativo para estudos de drogas.

Abstract Valproic acid in association with sodium valproate (VPA) is an important anticonvulsant drug used for decades to treat neurological disorders. VPA also acts as an epigenetic modulator by inhibiting histone deacetylases, permitting histone acetylation, affecting the DNA and histone methylation status and gene expression, and inducing chromatin remodeling. Insects represent an important animal model for studies in several areas of science. Their high phenotypic plasticity makes them alternative models for epigenetic studies. This brief review emphasizes recent reports on insect epigenetics and the contribution of studies on the VPA action in insects, including effects on epigenetic markers, extending the pharmacological understanding of the potential of this drug, and demonstrating the usefulness of insects as an alternative animal model to drug studies.

Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) in API 5L X70 steel was investigated by testing notched and unnotched uniaxial tensile specimens and single-edge tension specimen, SE(T). Apparent hydrogen diffusivity (Dapp = 1.4 x 10-10 m2/s) and solubility (Sapp = 4.9 mol H/m3) were determined by electrochemical hydrogen permeation tests. Through mathematical fitting, it was possible to separate the strong traps present at the beginning of the first permeation curve (φ = 0.43 mol H/m3). Uniaxial tensile tests showed a loss of ductility of up to 33% in the hydrogenated condition. Fracture mechanics tests exhibited a toughness decrease of 14% after exposure to hydrogen. The high resistance to HE was presented suggesting that these microalloyed steels can solubilize hydrogen in the matrix with low segregation, reducing the impact on embrittlement. A mix of ductile and quasi-cleavage fracture was observed in the hydrogenated samples with an increased stress triaxiality.

RESUMODiversos fatores predisponentes são descritos para as afecções mamárias ou distúrbios secundários que comprometem a qualidade e produtividade de leite de fêmeas nas diferentes espécies. As características fenotípicas do úbere são consideradas na avaliação econômica de uma fêmea caprina, tanto pelo potencial de produção como pelo registro genealógico dessa fêmea. A limitação de estudos correlacionando essas características com a saúde do úbere gera a dúvida a respeito do significado da conformação do mesmo à saúde e produtividade da glândula mamária. Sendo assim, este estudo teve como objetivo relacionar os parâmetros da conformação do úbere com a celularidade da glândula mamária aferida pelo teste California Mastitis Test (CMT) e contagem de células somáticas (CCS) em 80 cabras da raça Saanen sem alterações no exame clínico da glândula mamária nem no teste de Tamis. Observou-se que a maioria dos parâmetros fenotípicos de úbere não influenciou a CCS, sendo considerados puramente estéticos. A circunferência e profundidade de úbere demonstraram correlação negativa com a celularidade e, por serem características de herdabilidade moderada a alta, podem ser parâmetros considerados para seleção genética de caprinos.

ABSTRACTSeveral predisposing factors are described for mammary diseases or secondary disorders that compromise the quality and productivity of milk from females in different species. The phenotypic characteristics of the udder are considered in the economic evaluation of a female goat, whether for production potential, or as the genealogical record for these females. The limitation of studies correlating these features with the udder health raises doubt about the meaning of the conformation to the health and productivity of the mammary gland. Therefore, this study aimed to list the parameters of the udder conformation with the cellularity of the mammary gland checked by California Mastitis Test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC) in 80 Saanen goats without alterations in the clinical examination of the mammary gland or the Tamis test. It was observed that most of the phenotypic parameters of the udder did not influence the CCS, being considered purely esthetic. The circumference and udder depth showed negative correlation with the cellularity and moderate to high heritability traits can be considered parameters for genetic selection of goats.

Asparaginases are the cornerstone therapy of many successful combination regimens for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common malignancy in children and adolescents. The aim of this work was to produce recombinant Erwinia carotovora L-asparaginase II in Escherichia coli fed-batch cultures. Using a robust fed-batch technique with pre-determined exponential feeding rates, our bioreactor culture system yielded 30.7 grams of dry cell weight and 0.9 grams of soluble rErAII protein per liter of culture broth. The homogeneous rErAII activity was determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The enzyme Km values for the main substrates L-Asn and L-Gln were 33x10-6 M and 10x10-3 M, respectively. Our work shows that it is possible to produce an active homogeneous rErAII enzyme in the soluble cell fraction through IPTG-induced E. coli fed-batch cultivation.

Three different Ti-based alloys with bcc structure and Laves phase were studied. The TiCr1.1V0.9, TiCr1.1V0.45Nb0.45 and TiCr1.1V0.9 + 4%Zr7Ni10 alloys were melted in arc furnace under argon atmosphere. The hydrogen absorption capacity was measured by using aparatus type Sievert's. Crystal structures, and the lattice parameters were determined by using X-ray diffraction, XRD. Microestructural analysis was performed by scanning electron microscope, SEM and electron dispersive X-ray, EDS. The hydrogen storage capacity attained a value of 3.6 wt. (%) for TiCr1.1V0.9 alloy in a time of 9 minutes, 3.3 wt. (%) for TiCr1.1V0.45Nb0.45 alloy in a time of 7 minutes and 3.6 wt. (%) TiCr1.1V0.9 + 4%Zr7Ni10 with an increase of the hydrogen absorption kinetics attained in 2 minutes. This indicates that the addition of Nb and 4%Zr7Ni10 to the TiCrV alloy acts as catalysts to accelerate the hydrogen absorption kinetics.