Sao Paulo State University

About: Sao Paulo State University is a education organization based out in São Paulo, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Large Hadron Collider. The organization has 55715 authors who have published 100436 publications receiving 1375332 citations.

Theoretical Models for Surface Forces and Adhesion and Their Measurement Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Abstract: The increasing importance of studies on soft matter and their impact on new technologies, including those associated with nanotechnology, has brought intermolecular and surface forces to the forefront of physics and materials science, for these are the prevailing forces in micro and nanosystems. With experimental methods such as the atomic force spectroscopy (AFS), it is now possible to measure these forces accurately, in addition to providing information on local material properties such as elasticity, hardness and adhesion. This review provides the theoretical and experimental background of afs, adhesion forces, intermolecular interactions and surface forces in air, vacuum and in solution.

Fish Migration, Dams, and Loss of Ecosystem Services in the Mekong Basin

Abstract: The past decade has seen increased international recognition of the importance of the services provided by natural ecosystems It is unclear however whether such international awareness will lead to improved environmental management in many regions We explore this issue by examining the specific case of fish migration and dams on the Mekong river We determine that dams on the Mekong mainstem and major tributaries will have a major impact on the basin’s fisheries and the people who depend upon them for food and income We find no evidence that current moves towards dam construction will stop, and consider two scenarios for the future of the fisheries and other ecosystems of the basin We conclude that major investment is required in innovative technology to reduce the loss of ecosystem services, and alternative livelihood strategies to cope with the losses that do occur

Molecular phylogeny of advanced snakes (Serpentes, Caenophidia) with an emphasis on South American Xenodontines: a revised classification and descriptions of new taxa

Abstract: Este trabalho apresenta uma analise filogenetica molecular das serpentes avancadas (Caenophidia), realizada com base na analise de sequencias de dois genes mitocondriais (rRNA 12S e 16S) e de um gene nuclear (c-mos; 1681 pares de bases no total) e com 131 taxons terminais, amostrados a partir das principais linhagens de Caenophidia, com enfase nos xenodontineos neotropicais. A analise de parcimonia dos dados mediante otimizacao direta resultou em uma arvore filogenetica bem resolvida que, por um lado, corrobora alguns dos clados identificados em analises anteriores e por outro, estabelece novas hipoteses sobre a composicao de outros grupos e do relacionamento entre eles. Os principais resultados obtidos salientam: (1) a alocacao de Achrochordus, xenodermatideos e pareatideos como grupos externos sucessivos de todos os demais cenofidios (incluindo viperideos, elapideos, atractaspidideos e todos os grupos de "colubrideos"); (2) que, em relacao ao ultimo grupo, viperideos e homalopsideos podem ser considerados como clados irmaos dos demais; (3) a existencia, dentro do grande grupo dos cenofidia, dos seguintes sub-grupos: psamophiideos afro-asiaticos (incluindo o genero Mimophis, de Madagascar), Elapidae (incluindo os hidrophiineos, mas excluindo Homoroselaps, associado aos atractaspidideos), Pseudoxyrhophiinae, Colubrinae, Natricinae, Dipsadinae e Xenodontinae. A analise sugere algumas alteracoes de cunho taxonomico dentro dos xenodontineos, incluindo realocacoes genericas para Alsophis elegans, Liophis amarali e modificacoes substanciais em relacao a Xenodontini e a radiacao dos xenodontineos das Antilhas. Tambem e a aqui apresentada uma revisao da classificacao de Caenophidia, baseada inicialmente nas analises moleculares, mas provendo diagnoses morfologicas para muitos dos clados incluidos, realcando os grupos que ainda merecem atencao especial no futuro. Sao aqui nomeados originalmente dois grandes clados dentro de Caenophidia, uma nova subfamilia dentro de Dipsadidae e, dentro de Xenodontinae, cinco novas tribos e seis novos generos, sendo ainda dois generos revalidados. Os generos Xenoxybelis e Pseudablabes sao considerados sinonimos de Philodryas; Erythrolamprus, sinonimo de Liophis; Lystrophis e Waglerophis, sinonimos de Xenodon.

Flavonoids with gastroprotective activity.

Abstract: Peptic ulcers are a common disorder of the entire gastrointestinal tract that occurs mainly in the stomach and the proximal duodenum. This disease is multifactorial and its treatment faces great difficulties due to the limited effectiveness and severe side effects of the currently available drugs. The use of natural products for the prevention and treatment of different pathologies is continuously expanding throughout the world. This is particularly true with regards to flavonoids, which represent a highly diverse class of secondary metabolites with potentially beneficial human health effects that is widely distributed in the plant kingdom and currently consumed in large amounts in the diet. They display several pharmacological properties in the gastroprotective area, acting as anti-secretory, cytoprotective and antioxidant agents. Besides their action as gastroprotectives, flavonoids also act in healing of gastric ulcers and additionally these polyphenolic compounds can be new alternatives for suppression or modulation of peptic ulcers associated with H. pylori. In this review, we have summarized the literature on ninety-five flavonoids with varying degrees of antiulcerogenic activity, confirming that flavonoids have a therapeutic potential for the more effective treatment of peptic ulcers.