Federal University of São Carlos

About: Federal University of São Carlos is a education organization based out in São Carlos, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Microstructure. The organization has 16471 authors who have published 34057 publications receiving 456654 citations. The organization is also known as: UFSCar & Federal University of São Carlos.

Effect of copper on liver key enzymes of anaerobic glucose metabolism from freshwater tropical fish Prochilodus lineatus.

Abstract: We investigated the effect of copper on liver key enzymes of the anaerobic glucose metabolism (hexokinase, HK; phosphofructokinase, PFK; pyruvate kinase, PK; lactate dehydrogenase, LDH) as well as of the pentose pathway (glycose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, G6PDH) from the fish Prochilodus lineatus. The fish were acclimated at either 20 degrees C or 30 degrees C at pH 7.0, transferred to water at pH 4.5 or 8.0, and exposed to 96 h-CL(50) copper concentrations. Copper accumulation in liver was higher in fish acclimated at 20 degrees C and maintained in water pH 8.0. Three-way analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of temperature on all enzymes, a significant effect of pH on all enzymes except for PK, and a significant effect of copper on only PFK, and LDH in pH 4.5 at 20 degrees C and, at 30 degrees C, on PFK and PK at pH 4.5 and 8.0, HK at pH 4.5 and G6PDH at pH 8.0. There were significant interactions between treatments for many enzymes. These changes suggest that the activity of enzymes in question is modified by a change in ambient water. At least at 30 degrees C, the overall reduction in the glycolytic enzyme activities of copper-exposed fish seems to reduce energy availability via glucose metabolism, thereby contributing to enhance copper toxic effects.

Fitoterapia popular: a busca instrumental enquanto prática terapêutica

Abstract: Trata-se de um estudo etnobotânico e pesquisa de opiniao, cujo objetivo e ampliar o conhecimento sobre a utilizacao de plantas medicinais pela comunidade do municipio de Cascavel - PR, visando subsidiar a implantacao dos fitoterapicos na rede publica de saude. A amostra correspondeu a 50 familias da area de abrangencia de uma Unidade Basica de Saude, selecionadas por amostragem estratificada proporcional. Para a obtencao dos dados optou-se pela pesquisa exploratorio-descritiva, utilizando-se entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Como resultado, observou-se que 96% da populacao amostrada indicou fazer uso de plantas; 271 referencias etnobotânicas foram registradas, englobando 75 etnoespecies; 40 propriedades terapeuticas estavam relacionadas ao uso domestico. A utilizacao de plantas e bastante difundida e a transferencia do conhecimento etnobotânico segue os padroes de comunidades tradicionais, nao havendo bloqueios neste processo. Constatou-se que as plantas medicinais para esta comunidade representam um fator importante para a manutencao das condicoes de saude, fazendo parte de um saber local preservado.

Urea–Montmorillonite-Extruded Nanocomposites: A Novel Slow-Release Material

Abstract: The present study describes the preparation and characterization of a novel urea slow-release nanocomposite, based on urea intercalation into montmorillonite clay by an extrusion process at room temperature. Nanocomposites with urea contents ranging from 50 to 80 wt % were successfully produced and characterized. Analyses by XRD, DTA, and SEM-EDX confirmed the effectiveness of this simple process to exfoliate the clay lamellae into the urea matrix, forming a product that can be classified as a nanocomposite, due to the exfoliation degree attained. Diametral compression tests showed that the samples were very deformable, and the release rate of active components in water showed that the nanocomposite showed a slow release behavior for urea dissolution, even in low montmorillonite amounts (20% in weight).