Resumo Achatina fulica é um molusco terrestre conhecido como caramujo gigante africano que está relacionado a problemas ambientais, econômicos, urbanos e de saúde pública. Como medidas de controle para esse molusco, são utilizados sal de cozinha (NaCl) e óxido de cálcio (CaO), e as iscas são compostas de metaldeído. No entanto, essas medidas têm toxicidade ambiental e impactam o solo. Desta forma, produtos naturais foram testados neste molusco para descobrir e desenvolver uma substância para combater esta praga urbana e agrícola. Este artigo tem como objetivo avaliar estudos envolvendo produtos naturais para controle da população de Achatina fulica. Artigos e trabalhos publicados em livros foram incluídos no presente trabalho. Um total de 1.103 trabalhos foram encontrados durante a pesquisa. Destes, 14 trabalhos atendiam ao objetivo desta revisão e foram incluídos neste artigo. Os testes não possuem padronização metodológica, não possuem concentração máxima para serem considerados ativos ou tempo máximo de exposição. Observou-se uma falta de padronização na metodologia de testes em A. fulica. A realização de testes em outras fases da vida do molusco, bem como testes que analisem outros parâmetros, são essenciais. Apenas um artigo analisado apresentou análise fitoquímica. Também não foram relatados testes de ecotoxicidade. Alguns extratos apresentaram resultados promissores, com destaque para o extrato aquoso de Capsicum frutescens. Mais estudos investigando a atividade molusquicida de produtos naturais sobre A. fulica são necessários. É muito relevante que os novos estudos apresentem uma análise fitoquímica dos extratos testados, bem como estudos de ecotoxicidade.

Abstract Achatina fulica is a terrestrial mollusk known as the giant African snail that is related to environmental, economic, urban, and public health problems. As control measures for this mollusk, cooking salt (NaCl) and calcium oxide (CaO) are used, and baits are composed of metaldehyde. However, these measures have environmental toxicity and impact the soil. In this way, natural products have been tested on this mollusk to discover and develop a substance to combat this urban and agricultural pest. This article aims to evaluate studies involving natural products to control the population of Achatina fulica. Articles and works published in books were included in the present work. A total of 1,103 works were found during the search. Of these, 14 works met the objective of these review and were included in this article. The tests do not possess methodological standardization, do not have a maximum concentration to be considered active, or a maximum exposure time. A lack of standardization in the methodology of tests on A. fulica was observed. The performance of tests on other life stages of the mollusk, as well as tests that analyze other parameters, are essential. Only one article analyzed presented phytochemical analysis. No ecotoxicity tests were reported either. Some extracts showed promising results, highlighting the aqueous extract of Capsicum frutescens. More studies investigating the molluscicidal activity of natural products on A. fulica are needed. It is very relevant that the new studies present a phytochemical analysis of the tested extracts, as well as ecotoxicity studies.

Resumo Perovskitas do tipo La1-xSrxNiO3 (x= 0,0, 0,3 ou 0,7) foram sintetizadas utilizando o método do gel proteico modificado e usando colágeno como precursor orgânico. Catalisadores do tipo La1-xSrxNiO3/Al2O3 foram obtidos utilizando-se o método da impregnação úmida. Os catalisadores sintetizados foram caracterizados por difratometria de raios X, área superficial e redução à temperatura programada. Os catalisadores foram avaliados na reação de oxidação parcial do metano, e os níveis de seletividade ao CO, CO2, H2 e H2O foram determinados. Dentre os catalisadores estudados, o catalisador LaNiO3/Al2O3 foi o que apresentou maior nível de conversão de metano (78%) e maior seletividade ao H2 (55%).

Abstract La1-xSrxNiO3 (x= 0.0, 0.3 or 0.7) perovskite-type oxides were synthesized using the modified proteic gel method and using collagen as an organic precursor. Catalysts of La1-xSrxNiO3/Al2O3 were obtained using the wet impregnation method. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, surface area and temperature-programmed reduction. The catalysts were evaluated in the partial oxidation reaction of methane, and the levels of selectivity to CO, CO2, H2 and H2O were determined. Among the catalysts studied, the catalyst LaNiO3/Al2O3 had the highest methane conversion level (78%) and higher H2 selectivity (55%).

The authors pay homage to the three founders of the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research Profs. Lewis Joel Greene, Sérgio Henrique Ferreira and Eduardo Moacyr Krieger for their vision and commitment to divulge the scientific production of developing countries.

Resumo Diversos aspectos da troca de sexo em peixes recifais vem sendo estudados, incluindo comportamentos e organização social. Entretanto, a histologia das gônadas continua sendo a maneira mais robusta para se identificar padrões sexuais em peixes. Alguns tecidos incomuns, tais como as estruturas anexas a gônada encontradas em espécies da família Gobiidae e raras em outras espécies são pouco estudados. Este trabalho é a primeira descrição da glândula testicular em Gramma brasiliensis e para a família Grammatidae. Entre abril de 2011 e fevereiro de 2012, oitenta espécimes foram coletados durante quatro amostragens no recife de Taipus de Fora (13°56’20”S 38°55’32”W), Bahia, Brasil, e tiveram seus sexos determinados. Treze por cento das fêmeas ativas e noventa por cento dos machos ativos apresentaram tecido da glândula testicular em suas gônadas. Esta descoberta levou ao estudo da características dessa estrutura e sua relação com a maturação gonadal. Foram identificados três padrões de desenvolvimento da glândula testicular nas gônadas do Gramma brasiliensis. Tanto as gônadas produtoras de espermatozoides quanto as de oócitos apresentaram tecido da glândula testicular, e o surgimento desse tecido parece ser a primeira modificação gonadal do início da troca de sexo protogínica em G. brasiliensis.

Abstract Many aspects of sex change in reef fishes have been studied, including behavior and social organization. However, gonad histology remains the most robust way to identify sexual patterns in fishes. Some uncommon tissues remain poorly described, such as the accessory gonadal structures found in species from the Gobiidae family, which are rare in other bony fishes. This is the first report of the testicular gland in Gramma brasiliensis and for the Grammatidae family. Between April 2011 and February 2012 eighty specimens were collected during four dive campaigns on the Taipus de Fora reef (13°56’20”S 38°55’32”W), Bahia, Northeast Brazil, and their sex was determined. Thirteen per cent of the active-females and 90% of the active-males had testicular gland tissue in their ovotestis. This discovery led to additional research into the characteristics of the gland tissue and its relationship with gonadal maturation. Three patterns of testicular gland development were found in Brazilian basslet ovotestis. Both ova and sperm-producing gonad contained testicular gland tissue, and the appearance of this tissue seems to be the first modification of ovotestis tissue marking the beginning of the protogynous sex-change process in G. brasiliensis.

NMDAR (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor) is one subtype of ionotrophic glutamate receptor which is extensively distributed in the central nervous system (CNS). In the mammalian CNS, NMDAR serves prominent roles in the pathophysiologic process of cerebral ischemia. This study aimed to investigate the pattern of expression of protein and gene of the excitatory neurotransmitter NMDAR in experimental focal cerebral ischemia and the hole of neuroprotection with hypothermia and ketoprofen. 120 rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (20 animals each): control - no surgery; sham - simulation of surgery; ischemic - focal ischemia for 1 hour, without reperfusion; ischemic + intraischemic hypothermia; ischemic + previous intravenous ketoprofen, and ischemic + hypothermia and ketoprofen. Ten animals from each experimental group were used to establish the volume of infarct. Transient focal cerebral ischemia was obtained in rats by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery with an intraluminal suture. The infarct volume was measured using morphometric analysis of infarct areas defined by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride and the patterns of expression of the protein and gene NMDA were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively. Increases in the protein and gene NMDA receptor in the ischemics areas were observed and these increases were reduced by hypothermia and ketoprofen. The increase in the NMDA receptor protein and gene expression observed in the ischemic animals was reduced by neuroprotection (hypothermia and ketoprofen). The NMDA receptor increases in the ischemic area suggests that the NMDA mediated neuroexcitotoxicity plays an important role in cell death and that the neuroprotective effect of both, hypothermia and ketoprofen is directly involved with the NMDA.

NMDAR (N-metil-D-aspartato) es un tipo de receptor de glutamato ionotrópico y está ampliamente distribuido en el sistema nervioso central (SNC). En el SNC de mamíferos, NMDAR se destaca de manera importante en el proceso fisiopatológico de la isquemia cerebral. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar el patrón de expresión de proteínas y genes para el NMDA neurotransmisor excitatorio experimental de la isquemia cerebral focal y el vacío en la neuroprotección con hipotermia y ketoprofeno. Se dividieron 120 ratas aleatoriamente en grupos de 6 animales cada uno (20): Control - sin cirugía; Sham - simulación de cirugía; isquémicas - isquemia focal durante 1 hora, sin reperfusión isquémica; hipotermia intra-isquémica; isquemia; previa aplicación de ketoprofeno intravenoso, e hipotermia isquémica y ketoprofeno. Diez animales de cada grupo experimental fueron utilizados para establecer el volumen de infarto.La isquemia cerebral focal transitoria fue obtenida en ratas mediante oclusión de la arteria cerebral media con una sutura intraluminal. El volumen de infarto fue medido mediante análisis morfométrico de las áreas de infarto definidas por cloruro de trifenil tetrazolio y patrones de expresión de la proteína y el gen de NMDA, fueron evaluados por inmunohistoquímica y PCR cuantitativa en tiempo real, respectivamente. Se observaron aumentos en la proteína y en el gen del receptor de NMDA en las áreas isquémicas y estos aumentos fueron reducidos por la hipotermia y ketoprofeno. El aumento de la proteína del receptor de NMDA y la expresión génica observada en los animales isquémicos fue reducido mediante hipotermia y ketoprofeno. Los aumentos del receptor de NMDA en el área isquémica sugiere que la neuro excitotoxicidad mediada por NMDA desempeña un papel importante en la muerte celular y que el efecto neuroprotector de ambos, hipotermia y ketoprofeno está directamente relacionado al NMDA.

Este trabalho apresenta uma abordagem utilizando sistemas Fuzzy para o monitoramento de saúde de um paciente em ambientes de computação pervasiva. Um modelo de decisão considera três classes de variáveis que constituem as informações de contexto sendo coletadas: ambientais, fisiológicas e comportamentais. Um estudo de caso de monitoramento da pressão arterial foi desenvolvido para identificar situações críticas com base em conhecimento médico. A solução mantém a interpretabilidade de um conjunto de regras definidas, mesmo após uma fase de aprendizado que propõe ajustes nessas regras. Nessa fase, a técnica de agrupamento Fuzzy C-Means foi escolhida para o ajuste das funções de pertinência, usando os centros dos agrupamentos. Uma equipe médica avaliou dados de monitoramento de 24 horas de 30 pacientes e esta avaliação foi comparada com os resultados do sistema. A abordagem proposta demonstrou ser individualizada, identificando situações críticas em pacientes com diferentes níveis de pressão arterial, com uma acurácia de 90% e baixa taxa de falsos negativos.

This paper presents a Fuzzy approach to monitor the health of a patient in pervasive computing environments. A decision model considers three classes of variables that represent the context information being collected: environmental, physiological and behavioral. A case study of blood pressure monitoring was developed to identify critical situations based on medical knowledge. The solution maintains the interpretability of a set of defined rules, even after a learning phase that proposes adjustments to them. In this phase, the Fuzzy C-Means clustering was chosen to adjust membership functions, using the cluster centers. A medical team evaluated data from 24-hour monitoring of 30 patients and the rating was compared with the results of the system. The proposed approach proved to be individualized, identifying critical events in patients with different levels of blood pressure with an accuracy of 90% and low rate of false negatives.

Na produção de revestimentos cerâmicos para parede e piso, são usadas misturas com matérias-primas de diversas regiões com características físicas e químicas diferentes. Essas mudanças de matérias-primas alteram as qualidades do produto final, o que implica em constante reformulação na composição de massas cerâmicas através de tentativas e erros, consumindo tempo e material. Isso configura a circunstância ideal para aplicar as técnicas de projeto de experimentos, freqüentemente usadas em outras áreas para modelar as propriedades mecânicas de corpos cerâmicos. No presente estudo, 21 formulações foram desenvolvidas a partir de seis matérias-primas utilizadas como fator de controle no projeto de experimento: talco, quartzo, calcário, filito, dolomita e argila. Essas misturas foram processadas em condições semelhantes aquelas usadas na indústria cerâmica: preparação da massa (moagem a úmido, secagem, granulação) preparação do corpo verde (prensagem e secagem) aquecimento (a 1180 ºC) e caracterização. Com os resultados experimentais foram calculados os modelos de regressão relacionando resistência à flexão, retração linear e absorção de água. Depois da análise estatística e verificação dos experimentos, o nível de significância e validades dos modelos foram confirmados, e uma técnica para otimização dos corpos cerâmicos foi desenvolvida, com expressões matemáticas denominadas função perda de qualidade.Os modelos de regressão e a técnica desenvolvida de perda de qualidade podem então ser usados para a melhor combinação daquelas seis matérias-primas para produzir um corpo cerâmico com propriedades específicas.

In the production of wall and floor ceramic tiles, mixtures of raw materials from several origins with different physical and chemical characteristics are used. Those changes of raw materials alter the quality of the finished product, what implicates in the constant reformulation in the composition of the ceramic mass through try and error, consuming time and materials. This configures the ideal circumstance to apply the techniques of experiments design, often used in many areas to model properties of such ceramic bodies. In the present study, 21 formulations of six raw materials, namely talc, quartz, calcareous, phyllite, dolomite and clay were selected and used as control factors in the experiments design. Those formulations were processed under conditions similar to those used in the ceramics industry: powder preparation (wet grinding, drying, granulation and drying), green body preparation (pressing and drying), firing (at 1180 ºC) and characterization. With the experimental results, regression models were calculated, relating bending strength, linear firing shrinkage and water absorption. After statistical analysis and verification experiments, the significance and validity of the models were confirmed, and one technique for optimization of ceramic bodies was developed: a mathematical expressions denominated loss of quality function. The regression models and the developed technique of the loss quality can then be used for the best combination of those six raw materials to produce a ceramic body with specified properties.

Myosin Va is an actin-based, processive molecular motor protein highly enriched in the nervous tissue of vertebrates. It has been associated with processes of cellular motility, which include organelle transport and neurite outgrowth. The in vivo expression of myosin Va protein in the developing nervous system of mammals has not yet been reported. We describe here the immunolocalization of myosin Va in the developing rat hippocampus. Coronal sections of the embryonic and postnatal rat hippocampus were probed with an affinity-purified, polyclonal anti-myosin Va antibody. Myosin Va was localized in the cytoplasm of granule cells in the dentate gyrus and of pyramidal cells in Ammon's horn formation. Myosin Va expression changed during development, being higher in differentiating rather than already differentiated granule and pyramidal cells. Some of these cells presented a typical migratory profile, while others resembled neurons that were in the process of differentiation. Myosin Va was also transiently expressed in fibers present in the fimbria. Myosin Va was not detected in germinative matrices of the hippocampus proper or of the dentate gyrus. In conclusion, myosin Va expression in both granule and pyramidal cells showed both position and time dependency during hippocampal development, indicating that this motor protein is under developmental regulation.

It is an exploratory and descriptive study with a qualitative approach. Objectives: To identify the senior nursing students' knowledge of the Hearing Conservation Program (HCP). Additionally to analyze this knowledge and discuss its implications and emphasize the necessary information for nursing performance in the HCP. The subjects were senior nursing students in an institution of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The data collection was carried out from March to August 2005 through a semi-structured interview given to 43 graduating nurses. An analysis showed 69 % consisted of females. In regard toage, 27 % were found to be of age 40 or more. Of the sample 49 % work in nursing and of these 37% work in the nursing rooms of medical clinics and 10 % in worker health. Regarding the knowledge about HCP, only 7 % said they knew about the program and the answers are not coherent. It is of great importance that nurses and future nurses are aware of the importance of HCP in hearing preservation and conservation for the worker, because with this it is possible to ensure their hearing integrity, improving their life quality and general health of the worker.

Trata-se de estudo descritivo-exploratório com abordagem quantitativa. Objetivos: identificar o conhecimento de graduandos do último período sobre o Programa de Conservação Auditiva (PCA) e analisar tal conhecimento, discutindo suas implicações e enfatizando informações necessária para atuação do enfermeiro em PCA. Os sujeitos/cenário foram acadêmicos de enfermagem, do último período, de uma instituição particular do Rio de Janeiro. Os dados foram coletados de março a agosto de 2005 no primeiro, através de um questionário semi-estruturado, a 43 graduandos. Encontraram-se 69% de sujeitos do sexo feminino. Com relação a idade, encontrou-se 27% com idade superior a 40 anos. Trabalham na enfermagem 49% da amostra e destes, 37% em enfermarias de clínica médica e 10% com a saúde do trabalhador. Em relação ao conhecimento do PCA apenas 7% responderam conhecer, sendo as respostas, inconsistentes. Considera-se profícuo que o enfermeiro bem como o futuro enfermeiro, tenha consciência da importância do PCA na preservação e conservação auditiva para o trabalhador, pois através deste, pode-se prevenir a integridade auditiva dos mesmos, melhorando assim, a qualidade de vida e saúde geral do trabalhador.

Se trata de estudio descriptivo-exploratorio con abordaje cuantitativo. Objetivos: Identificar el conocimiento de los alumnos de último periodo acerca del Programa de Conservación Auditiva (PCA) y analizar este conocimiento, discutiendo sus implicaciones y enfatizando las informaciones necesarias para la actuación del enfermero en el PCA. Los sujetos/escena habían sido estudiantes de enfermería del último periodo de una institución de Río de Janeiro. Los datos se recolectaron en el periodo de marzo a agosto de 2005, a través de un cuestionario semi-estructurado, dado a 43 graduandos. Se ha encontrado 69% de los sujetos del sexo femenino. Con respecto a la edad, se ha encontrado 27% con más de 40 años de edad. Trabajan en enfermería 49% de la muestra y de estos, 37% en las enfermerías de clínica médica y 10% con la salud del trabajador. En relación al conocimiento del PCA sólo 7% respondió conocer el Programa, y las respuestas son incoherentes. Se considera útil que el enfermero, así como el futuro enfermero, tenga consciencia de la importancia del PCA en la preservación y conservación auditiva para el trabajador, porque a través de este, se puede prevenir la integridad auditiva de ellos, mejorando así la calidad de vida y la salud general del trabajador.

Photoluminescence and photoreflectance measurements have been used to determine excitonic transitions in the ternary Al xGa1-xAs alloy in the temperature range from 2 to 300 K. The effect of the thermal expansion contribution on the temperature dependence of excitonic transitions for different aluminum concentrations in the Al xGa1-xAs alloy is presented. Results from this study have shown that the negative thermal expansion (NTE) in the Al xGa1-xAs alloy, in the low temperature interval, induces a small blueshift in the optical transition energy. In the temperature range from ~23 to ~95 K there is a competition between the NTE effect and the electron-phonon interaction. Using the thermal expansion coefficient in the 2 - 300 K temperature range, the thermal expansion contribution to GaAs, at room temperature, represents 21% of the total shift of the excitonic transition energy. After subtracting the thermal expansion contribution from the experimental temperature dependence of the excitonic transitions, in the Al xGa1-xAs alloy, the contribution to the electron-phonon interaction of the longitudinal optical phonon increases, relatively to the longitudinal acoustical phonon, with increasing Al concentration.

The electronic, structural, and thermodynamic properties of cubic (zinc blende) group-III nitride ternary In xGa1-xN and quaternary Al xIn yGa1-x-yN alloys are investigated by combining first-principles total energy calculations and cluster expansion methods. External biaxial strain on the alloys are taken into account in the calculations. While alloy fluctuations and strain effects play a minor role in the physical properties of AlGaN, due to the small lattice-mismatch, in the InGaN alloys we found a remarkable influence of strain on the phase separation. The effect of biaxial strain on the formation of ordered phases has been also investigated, and the results are used to clarify the origin of the light emission process in In xGa1-xN based optoelectronic devices. The dependence of the lattice constant and energy bandgap in quaternary Al xIn yGa1-x-yN alloys was obtained as function of the compositions x and y. PACS: 61.66.Dk, 64.75.+g, 71.20.Nr

The utilization of the quantum properties of the electron spin wave function will allow the development of a new class of devices. The problem is still controversial and unsettled, even qualitatively, especially for concentrated spin systems such as 3d metals and their alloys. The variety of crystal structures of 3d metals makes difficult the direct comparison between the experimental results and the theoretical conclusions. On the account of this difficulty, substitutional alloys with the same crystal structure, especially face-centered cubic alloys, have been investigated extensively. In this work the properties of diluted Ga1-xMn xN (x = 0.0630; 0.0315) alloys are calculated in the zinc-blende phase, within the framework of the density functional theory, using the fullpotential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) method and the local density approximation (LDA). The alloys are simulated using 32-atom and 64-atom large unit cells, containing one substitutional Mn atom for a Ga atom. The calculations are spin-polarized and we analyze band structures, density of states and total magnetizations. A half-metallic state is predicted at a0 ~ 4:45Å. The majority-spin band has a rather sharp peak, characteristic of a narrow band, while the minority-spin has a gap. The total magnetization of the cell is 4.00muB which does not change with the Mn concentration. The valence band is ferromagnetically coupled with the Mn atoms, and the spin splitting is not linearly dependent on the Mn concentration.

We calculated the classical electron dynamics of three-dimensional electrons in a billiard system in tilted magnetic field and analyzed the evolution of trajectories in phase space by means of Poincaré space of sections. The low field magnetoresistance rhoxx was calculated through linear response theory and found that nonlinear resonances between the cyclotron radius Rc, the antidot lattice period a, and the well width W, are reflected in the observed magnetoresistance peaks.

We report ab-initio all electrons density- functional calculations for the electronic structure of the compounds MnAs and MnN, in the zinc-blende phase. They are potential materials for use in fabrication of new functional semiconductors taking advantage of the spin degree of freedom. The aim is the establishing of the semiconductor spin electronics (spintronics) as a practical technology [H. Ohno, Semiconductor Science and Technology 17, 4 (2002).]. We compare results obtained using the theoretical approaches LDA (Local Density Approximation) and GGA (Generalized Gradient Approximation). The calculations are spin-polarized and we follow the evolution of the band structures as a function of lattice parameter. We compare also the evolution of the density of states of the majority-spins and of the minority-spins. We conclude that, depending on the lattice parameter, both materials may be half-metallic, therefore showing conduction by charge carriers of one spin direction exclusively: the majority- spin band is continuous, while the minority-spin has a gap. Both materials reach a total magnetization of the order of 4 mB. MnN changes from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic with the increase of the lattice parameter.