The effects of ultrasound during maize nixtamalization at different temperatures on the properties of nixtamal, masa and tortilla were evaluated. White maize; was nixtamalized at 85 and 95 °C, with and without ultrasound (843 W-m-2). Pericarp removal, the water and calcium absorption kinetics, and the apparent diffusion coefficients (D A) from Fick's second law, the thermal and structural properties of the nixtamalized flours and thee texture of the masa and tortillas were; determined. The ultrasound and temperature affected significantly the water and calcium absorptions kinetics, showing linear and asymptotic tendencies during cooking and steeping , respectively. These were described adequately by Fick's model, and the ultrasound significantly increased the D A of water (2.54-3.93x 10-10m².s-1). Over 80% of the pericarp was removed during cooking. The gelatinization enthalpy showed a decreaseat 95 °C. Microscopy images showed spherical and polygonal granules at 85 °C, and a shape loss with increasing diameter by ultrasound effect (95 °C). Nixtamalization assisted by ultrasound reduced the processing time compared with traditional or industrial process.

Se evaluó el efecto del ultrasonido durante la nixtamalización a diferentes temperaturas en las propiedades de nixtamal, masa y tortilla. Se nixtamalizó maíz; blanco a 85 y 95 °C, con y sin ultrasonido (843 W-m-2). Se determinaron cinéticas de remoción de pericarpio, de absorción de agua y calcio, coeficientes de difusión aparente (D A) a partir de la segunda ley de Fick, propiedades térmicas y estructurales de las harinas nixtamalizadas y textura de masa y tortillas. El ultrasonido y la temperatura afectaron significativamente a las cinéticas de absorción de agua y calcio, mostrando una tendencia lineal y asintótica durante la cocción y el reposo, respectivamente. Estas fueron descritas adecuadamente por el modelo de Fick, y el ultrasonido incrementó significativamente el D A de agua (2.54-3.93x10-10m².s-1). Más del 80% del pericarpio fue removido durante la cocción. La entalpia de gelatinización mostró una disminución a 95 °C. Las imágenes de microscopía mostraron gránulos esféricos y poligonales a 85 °C, y una pérdida de su forma con incrementos en el diámetro por efecto del ultrasonido (95 °C). La nixtamalización asistida con ultrasonido redujo el tiempo de proceso comparado con un proceso tradicional o industrial.

Essential oils of galled and non-galled leaves of Clusia lanceolataCambess., Clusiaceae, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The chemical composition of both oils was similar, with a predominance of sesquiterpene caryophyllenes. The extracts from the leaves were evaluated regarding total phenols, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins. Galled leaves showed higher levels of phenolics and proanthocyanidins, since the content of flavonoids was higher in non-galled leaves. The chromatographic profiles of extracts were obtained by using HPLC/DAD and LC-ESI-MS. Electrospray ionisation (ESI) in positive and negative ion mode was used to identify four flavones C-glycosides in both extracts. The study constitutes a first report on the chemical research of C. lanceolata.The extract from galled leaves had a higher antioxidant activity.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar diferenças e semelhanças nas características motivacionais de atletas brasileiros com base na Teoria da Autodeterminação (Deci & Ryan, 1985), comparando desportistas de diferentes idades, modalidades coletivas e individuais, de ambos os sexos, em distintos níveis de rendimento. A amostra foi constituída por 344 atletas, com uma idade média de 24.3 ± 6.0 anos. A maioria era do sexo masculino (64.5%), de desportos coletivos (59.9%) e que competiam em nível nacional e internacional (64.1%). Aplicou-se o Sport Motivation Scale (SMS), validado em português (SMS-Br) para medir os níveis de motivação. Foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas nas dimensões Motivação Extrínseca de Introjeção, Motivação Extrínseca de Regulação Externa e Amotivação, na comparação feita por género. Também foram encontradas diferenças estatísticas nas dimensões Motivação Intrínseca para Conseguir e Motivação Extrínseca de Introjeção, ao comparar o tipo de desporto. Os resultados sugerem que atletas brasileiros possuem características motivacionais únicas ao serem comparados com atletas de diferentes países.

The aim of this study was to determine differences and similarities in the motivational characteristics of Brazilian athletes based on Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). It was analyzed differences between gender (male and female) and type of sport (individual and collective). The sample consisted of 344 athletes, mean age 24.3 ± 6.0. The most subjects were males (64.5%), engaged in team sports (59.9%) and competing at national and international level (64.1%). It was applied the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS), validated in Portuguese (Br-SMS) to measure levels of motivation. There were significant differences in the dimensions Extrinsic Motivation to Introjection, Extrinsic Motivation to External Regulation and Amotivation, according to gender. It was also found significant differences in the dimensions Intrinsic Motivation to Toward Accomplish and Extrinsic Motivation the Introjection according to the sport. The results suggest that Brazilian athletes have unique motivational characteristics when compared with athletes from other countries.

The amino acid arginine (Arg) is a recognized secretagogue of growth hormone (GH), and has been shown to induce GH gene expression. Arg is the natural precursor of nitric oxide (NO), which is known to mediate many of the effects of Arg, such as GH secretion. Arg was also shown to increase calcium influx in pituitary cells, which might contribute to its effects on GH secretion. Although the mechanisms involved in the effects of Arg on GH secretion are well established, little is known about them regarding the control of GH gene expression. We investigated whether the NO pathway and/or calcium are involved in the effects of Arg on GH gene expression in rat isolated pituitaries. To this end, pituitaries from approximately 170 male Wistar rats (~250 g) were removed, divided into two halves, pooled (three hemi-pituitaries) and incubated or not with Arg, as well as with different pharmacological agents. Arg (71 mM), the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 1 and 0.1 mM) and a cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) analogue (8-Br-cGMP, 1 mM) increased GH mRNA expression 60 min later. The NO acceptor hemoglobin (0.3 µM) blunted the effect of SNP, and the combined treatment with Arg and L-NAME (a NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, 55 mM) abolished the stimulatory effect of Arg on GH gene expression. The calcium channel inhibitor nifedipine (3 µM) also abolished Arg-induced GH gene expression. The present study shows that Arg directly induces GH gene expression in hemi-pituitaries isolated from rats, excluding interference from somatostatinergic neurons, which are supposed to be inhibited by Arg. Moreover, the data demonstrate that the NOS/NO signaling pathway and calcium mediate the Arg effects on GH gene expression.

Determinou-se valor médio do vertebral heart size (VHS) em cães da raça Yorkshire Terrier. Foram selecionados 30 cães clinicamente normais, com média de peso de 2,42±0,64kg e idades entre um e seis anos. Os animais foram submetidos ao exame radiográfico do tórax nas projeções lateral direita, ventrodorsal e dorsoventral. Foram feitas mensurações para avaliação cardíaca e da profundidade e largura torácicas. O valor médio de VHS foi de 9,9±0,6 vértebras na projeção lateral, 10,1±0,6 vértebras na projeção ventrodorsal e 10,0±0,6 vértebras na projeção dorsoventral. Não houve diferença entre esses valores. Cinco animais (16,7%) apresentaram VHS acima de 10,5 vértebras, valor sugerido como limite superior para a maioria das raças, em projeção lateral. Os valores de VHS correlacionaram-se com peso corporal nas projeções lateral e ventrodorsal. A razão profundidade:largura torácica apresentou valor médio de 0,75±0,06. Não foi observada correlação entre a qualidade do tórax e o VHS.

The mean vertebral heart size (VHS) was established for Yorkshire Terrier dogs. Thirty clinically normal dogs with mean weight of 2.42±0.64kg and ages varying from one to six years of age, were studied. The animals were submitted to right lateral, ventrodorsal and dorsoventral thoracic radiographs. The Buchanan e Bücheler method was applied to the cardiac silhouette and thoracic depth and width. The VHS was 9.9±0.6 vertebrae on lateral, 10.1±0.6 on ventrodorsal and 10.0±0.6 on dorsoventral radiographs. There was no difference among these values. Five animals (16.7%) presented VHS values exceeding 10.5, the value suggested as upper limit for most breeds in lateral view. However, 95% of the animals in this study provide VHS values below the upper limit, and this should be equal to 11 vertebrae. The VHS values had significant correlation with body weight on lateral and VD radiographs. The mean depth:width ratio was 0.75±0.06. There was no correlation among VHS and depth:width ratios.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success of treatment with periurethral collagen injections in patients suffering from stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with bladder neck hypermobility and intrinsic sphincter deficiency MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty women suffering from (SUI) were selected and divided into GI (consisting of 13 women with SUI and bladder neck hypermobility) and GII (consisting of 27 women with SUI and intrinsic sphincter deficiency). Periurethral collagen was injected followed by a subjective evaluation (the need for urinary protectors) and an objective evaluation through urodynamic study before and after the treatment RESULTS: It was noticed that after 9 months there was a decrease in the need of urinary protectors in the two groups. It was observed through the urodynamic study that either cure or improvement was achieved in 46% in GI and 40.7% in GII. There was a significant increase in the leak pressure in GII. Moreover, there was a decrease in the volume of urine leak in the two groups, being the results in GII statistically significant CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the periurethral collagen injection is useful for the treatment of the SUI. The results in hypermobility are similar to those in intrinsic sphincter deficiency. In fact, it is a very simple out patient's procedure, with little side effects.

Dezenove amostras do vírus da diarréia viral bovina (BVDV) foram caracterizadas geneticamente através do seqüenciamento parcial de nucleotídeos da Região 5'UTR. As amostras foram agrupadas em BVDV-1 (11/19), BVDV-2 (6/19) e num terceiro grupo de amostras denominadas "atípicas" (2/19). Das onze amostras genotipadas como BVDV-1, oito amostras foram sub-genotipadas como BVDV-1a, enquanto que a maioria (4/6) das amostras de BVDV-2 foi agrupada como BVDV-2b. Duas amostras provenientes de fetos bovinos abortados foram classificadas como atípicas, não BVDV-1 e 2. A presença da diversidade genética de BVDV detectada nas amostras estudadas pode ser responsável por falhas vacinais e de diagnóstico e deve influenciar nas estratégias de controle do BVDV aplicadas nas diferentes regiões brasileiras.

Nineteen isolates of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) from Brazil were genetically characterized through partial nucleotide sequencing and analysis of the 5'UTR region. The isolates were grouped as BVDV-1 (11/19), BVDV-2 (6/19) or "atypical" pestivirus (2/19). Among the BVDV-1, eight isolates were classified as subgenotype BVDV-1a, whereas most (4 out of 6) BVDV-2 belonged to subgenotype 2b. Two isolates from aborted fetuses were not classified into any genetic group, being considered atypical BVDVs. Genetic diversity among Brazilian BVDV isolates may be responsible for vaccination and diag-nostic failure and therefore may influence the control strategies for BVDV infection in the country.

Objetivou-se avaliar a produtividade de cálices de Hibiscus sabdariffa L., planta medicinal, em quatro épocas de plantio em Lavras - M.G. Os tratamentos foram quatro épocas de plantio (18 de outubro; 15 de novembro; 18 de dezembro de 2001 e 15 de janeiro de 2002) e realizada uma colheita quando praticamente não existiam cálices em desenvolvimento, quase no final do ciclo da planta. Foram considerados os números de cálices por planta, as fitomassas frescas e secas dos cálices e a qualidade. Concluiu-se que a época de plantio influenciou o rendimento por planta e as fitomassas frescas e secas dos cálices, diferindo entre si pelo teste de Tukey a 5%. No plantio de outubro, houve maior rendimento (2.522 kg/ha), com produção de 5,24 vezes a mais em relação ao plantio do mês de janeiro (481 kg/ha). Os plantios nos meses de novembro e dezembro tiveram produções de 1.695 e 1.093 kg.ha-1 de cálices secos, respectivamente, e em relação ao mês de janeiro, a produção foi 3,52 e 2,27 vezes a mais. Deve-se realizar a colheita assim que os cálices estiverem maduros, a fim de preservar a qualidade.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the yield of calyxes of Hibiscus sabdariffa L, a medicinal plant, at four planting times in Lavras - MG. The treatments were four planting times (October 18th, November 15th, December 18th 2001 and January 15th 2002) and a harvest was proceeded when practically there were no developing calyxes, almost at the end of the plant cycle. The numbers of calyxes per plant, the fresh and dry biomasses of calyxes and quality were taken into account. It follows that planting time influenced yield per plant and the fresh and dry biomasses of calyxes, differing from each other by Tukey test at 5%. In October planting, there was a higher yield (2,522kg/ha) with a yield 5.24 as high relative to the planting of the month of January (481 kg/ha). The planting s in the month of November to December showed yields of 1,695 and 1,093 kg/ha of dry calyxes, respectively and in relation to the same months of January, yield was of 3.52 to 2.27 times more. Harvest must be done as soon as the calyxes are ripe in order to preserve quality.

We have demonstrated that central administration of zinc in minute amounts induces a significant antidipsogenic action in dehydrated rats as well as in rats under central cholinergic and angiotensinergic stimulation. Here we show that acute third ventricle injections of zinc also block water intake induced by central ß-adrenergic stimulation in Wistar rats (190-250 g). Central inhibition of opioid pathways by naloxone reverses the zinc-induced antidipsogenic effect in dehydrated rats. After 120 min, rats receiving third ventricle injections of isoproterenol (160 nmol/rat) exhibited a significant increase in water intake (5.78 ± 0.54 ml/100 g body weight) compared to saline-treated controls (0.15 ± 0.07 ml/100 g body weight). Pretreatment with zinc (3.0, 30.0 and 300.0 pmol/rat, 45 min before isoproterenol injection) blocked water intake in a dose-dependent way. At the highest dose employed a complete blockade was demonstrable (0.54 ± 0.2 ml/100 g body weight). After 120 min, control (NaAc-treated) dehydrated rats, as expected, exhibited a high water intake (7.36 ± 0.39 ml/100 g body weight). Central administration of zinc blocked this response (2.5 ± 0.77 ml/100 g body weight). Naloxone pretreatment (82.5 nmol/rat, 30 min before zinc administration) reverted the water intake to the high levels observed in zinc-free dehydrated animals (7.04 ± 0.56 ml/100 g body weight). These data indicate that zinc is able to block water intake induced by central ß-adrenergic stimulation and that zinc-induced blockade of water intake in dehydrated rats may be, at least in part, due to stimulation of central opioid peptides.

We have demonstrated that acute third ventricle injections of lead acetate (PbAc) exert a powerful antidipsogenic effect and induce a significant increase in renal sodium excretion. In the present study we confirm the antidipsogenic effect of lead and demonstrate that central administration of this metal, in minute amounts, significantly reduces salt intake both during dehydration and after central angiotensinergic stimulation. Adult male Wistar rats had the third ventricle cannulated seven days before the experiments. During this period they had free access to distilled water and hypertonic saline solution (1.5%). After a 24-h period of fluid deprivation, experimental animals received third ventricle injections of PbAc (0.3, N = 8 and 3.0 nmol/rat, N = 14) while controls received sodium acetate (NaAc; 3.0 nmol/rat, N = 10). Rats treated with PbAc at the highest dose showed a significant reduction (P<0.05) both in water and hypertonic saline intake when compared to controls. When the effect of lead administration on angiotensin II-induced water and salt intake was studied, normohydrated animals received third ventricle injections of angiotensin II (9.6 nmol/rat) after pretreatment with 3.0 nmol/rat of PbAc (experimental group, N = 10) or NaAc (controls, N = 8). The group pretreated with PbAc presented a significant reduction (P<0.05) in both water and salt intake compared to controls. Thus, this study confirms the antidipsogenic effect of central lead injections and demonstrates that the presence of lead in the brain exerts a significant inhibition of sodium appetite.