Showing papers by "State University of Campinas published in 1995"

Propolis: chemical composition, biological properties and therapeutic activity

Abstract: Summary — The plant sources and chemical composition of propolis are reviewed. The chemical constituents that may be relevant to its biological and therapeutic activity are discussed. The cytotoxic activity and antimicrobial and pharmacological properties of propolis are presented. Propolis components, which cause allergy and are responsible for anticancer activity, eg, caffeic acid derivatives, are reported. The therapeutic efficacy of propolis in treating diseases caused by microorganisms is described. Some recent concepts about propolis and its use in medicine are presented.

A modified expectation maximization algorithm for penalized likelihood estimation in emission tomography

Abstract: The maximum likelihood (ML) expectation maximization (EM) approach in emission tomography has been very popular in medical imaging for several years. In spite of this, no satisfactory convergent modifications have been proposed for the regularized approach. Here, a modification of the EM algorithm is presented. The new method is a natural extension of the EM for maximizing likelihood with concave priors. Convergence proofs are given. >

Transtornos do humor em enfermaria de clínica médica e validação de escala de medida (HAD) de ansiedade e depressão

Abstract: Para estimar a prevalencia de transtornos do humor, foram utilizadas a entrevista estruturada, "Clinical Interview Schedule" (CIS-R), e a escala "Hospital Anxiety and Depression" (HAD) em 78 pacientes internados em uma enfermaria geral de adultos (43 homens e 35 mulheres, media de idade = 43,2 anos). Foi encontrada prevalencia instantânea de 39% de transtornos do humor. Dezesseis (20,5%) pacientes preencheram criterios para ansiedade, a maioria dos casos sendo de gravidade leve. Vinte e seis (33%) casos de depressao foram detectados, 7 dos quais de gravidade moderada. Observou-se uma combinacao de sintomas de preocupacao, depressao, ansiedade e insonia. A HAD mostrou-se de facil compreensao pelos pacientes. As subescalas de ansiedade e de depressao tiveram consistencia interna de 0,68 e 0,77, respectivamente. A correlacao dos itens com as respectivas subescalas sugere que essas possuem validades convergentes, nao discriminantes. Com ponto de corte 8/9, a sensibilidade e a especificidade foram 93,7% e 72,6%, para ansiedade, e 84,6% e 90,3%, para depressao. Na pratica clinica, a utilizacao da HAD poderia auxiliar na deteccao de casos de transtornos do humor que necessitam de tratamento.

1H nuclear magnetic resonance determination of the yield of the transesterification of rapeseed oil with methanol

Abstract: The formation of fatty acid methyl esters by transesterification with methanol can be monitored by1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; this accurate determination is simpler than chromatographic methods

Mood disorders among inpatients in ambulatory and validation of the anxiety and depression scale HAD

Abstract: The revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale were used to estimate the prevalence of mood disorders among 78 consecutive admissions to a general medical ward in a university general hospital in Brazil (43 males and 35 females; mean age = 43.2yr). Interviewers also completed a 5-point symptom severity scales for anxiety and depression. The definition of cases of anxiety [and depression] was based on two criteria: a. score > or = 2 on the CIS-R section of anxiety [> or = 4 on the CIS-R sections of depression and depressive ideas]; and b. score > or = 2 on the clinical severity scale for anxiety [score > or = 2 on the clinical severity scale for depression]. A 39% prevalence rate of affective disorders was found. Sixteen (20.5%) patients met criteria for anxiety, most of the disorders being of mild severity. Twenty-sic patients (33%) were depressed, 7 of them in a moderate degree. The HAD was easily understood by the patients. Anxiety and depression subscales had internal consistency of 0.68 and 0.77, respectively. At a cut-off point of 8/9 sensibility and specificity were 93.7% and 72.6% for anxiety, and 84.6% and 90.3% for depression. HAD items correlated positively with the respective subscales. To a lesser degree, they also correlated with the alternative subscale. Our findings confirm the high prevalence of mood disorders among medical in-patients. In clinical practice, the HAD may have a useful role in detecting those patients requiring further psychological care.

Transmission system expansion planning by simulated annealing

Abstract: This paper presents a simulated annealing approach to the long term transmission expansion planning problem which is a hard, large scale combinatorial problem. The proposed approach has been compared with a more conventional optimization technique based on mathematical decomposition with a zero-one implicit enumeration procedure. Tests have been performed on three different systems. Two smaller systems for which optimal solutions are known have been used to tune the main parameters of the simulated annealing process. The simulated annealing method has then been applied to a larger example system for which no optimal solutions are known: as a result an entire family of interesting solutions have been obtained with costs about 7% less than the best solutions known for that particular example system.

Elliptic Equations in R2 with Nonlinearities in the Critical Growth Range

Abstract: In this paper we study the solvability of problems of the type \( - \Updelta u = f(x,u)\;{\text{in}}\;\Upomega ,\;u = 0\;{\text{on}}\;\partial \Upomega , \) where \( \Upomega \) is some bounded domain in R 2, and the function f(x, s) has the maximal growth on s which allows to treat problem variationally in \( H_{0}^{1} (\Upomega ) \).

Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Brazilian Propolis

Abstract: Four samples of Brazilian propolis were investigated by GC/MS of different fractions. 32 volatile compounds, (10 of them new for propolis), as well as 12 more polar compounds (one of them new for propolis) were identified. Antibacterial activity was found in some propolis fractions.

Magnetic properties and giant magnetoresistance of melt-spun granular Cu-100-x Co-x alloys

Abstract: Room-temperature measurements of magnetization and giant magnetoresistance were performed on rapidly solidified granular ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{100\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Co}}_{x}$ systems ($x=5, 10, 15$). The magnetoresistance of melt-spun ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{100\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Co}}_{x}$ ribbons was enhanced either by suitable furnace annealings or by exploiting the dc Joule-heating technique in the attempt of precipitating smaller magnetic particles. The particle-size distribution, the particle density, and mean distance are obtained for all compositions and heat treatments through a suitable analysis of the magnetic behavior of samples. The magnetoresistance is plotted as a function of the reduced magnetization, and a significant deviation from the quadratic behavior predicted by the independent-moment approach is observed at low fields. A simple theory taking explicitly into account the correlation existing among the magnetic particles is proposed. A general expression for the magnetoresistance in granular magnetic systems is obtained, and shown to accurately fit all the experimental curves, indicating that this effect is basically determined by the ratios between two distinct correlation ranges for the magnetic-moment fluctuations and the electronic mean free path.

Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial membrane permeabilization: role of coenzyme Q redox state

Abstract: Rotenone-poisoned rat liver mitochondria energized by succinate addition, after a 5-min period of preincubation in presence of 10 microM Ca2+, produce H2O2 at much faster rates, undergo extensive s...

Exclusive breast-feeding duration is associated with attitudinal, socioeconomic and biocultural determinants in three Latin American countries

Abstract: International health organizations have recommended exclusive breast feeding (EBF; i.e. breast milk as the only source of food) as the optimal infant feeding method during the first four to six months of life. Therefore it is important to document the determinants of EBF in different populations. Low-income urban women from Brazil (n = 446 2 maternity wards) Honduras (n = 1582 3 maternity wards) and Mexico (n = 765 3 maternity wards) were interviewed at birth and in their homes at one month and two to four months after delivery. Multivariate survival analyses (Cox model) indicated that planned duration of EBF (all three countries) having a female infant and not being employed (Brazil and Honduras) lower socioeconomic status (Honduras and Mexico) and higher birth weight (control hospital in Brazil and Honduras) were positively associated (p or= 18 years old and having a partner living (Brazil) or not (Mexico) living at home were positively associated with EBF. These findings can contribute toward the design of EBF promotion efforts in Latin America. (authors)

A perda do principio "evite pronome" no portugues brasileiro

Abstract: O portugues brasileiro passa por um processo de mudanca na representacao do sujeito pronominal referencial, o que claramente o separa do portugues europeu e das outras linguas romanicas pro-drop. Essa mudanca pode ser relacionada a reducao do paradigma flexional, que evoluiu de seis formas distintivas (acrescidas de duas formas extras de tratamento) para um paradigma que exibe nao mais que tres formas, como resultado da substituicao de nos por a gente. Perdeu-se, pois, o Principio Evite Pronome, que leva a nao representacao fonologica do sujeito sempre que sua plena identificacao for possivel, e o sujeito nulo deixa de ser obrigatorio, tomando-se uma opcao cada vez menos utilizada. Este trabalho, baseado na fala de 13 informantes com formacao superior, distribuidos em tres faixas etarias, procura seguir o caminho recente dessa perda e permite (a) identificar os contextos que mais prontamente foram derrotados pela variante do pronome pleno, assim como os que ainda resistem a ele; (b) confirmar a implementacao da mudanca atraves da comparacao entre os tres grupos etarios; (c) encontrar evidencias do encaixamento da mudanca no sistema, representada pelo uso irrestrito das construcoes de deslocamento a esquerda do sujeito, uma estrutura . completamente ausente nas Ifnguas pro-drop; e (d) defender o estatuto de pro para a categoria vazia sujeito Abstract

Alkylguanidines as catalysts for the transesterification of rapeseed oil

Abstract: The transesterification of rapeseed oil with methanol has been studied in the presence of eight substituted cyclic and acyclic guanidines and compared with unsubstituted guanidine. The catalytic activity of the guanidines depends mainly on their intrinsic base strength. With a long alkyl chain on the guanidine, no lipophilic effect is observed. The best catalyst found is commercial 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0] dec-5-ene which, when used at 1 mol%, produces a 90% yield of methyl esters with 1 h of reaction time.

Adjustable phase control in stabilized interferometry.

Abstract: We report an optoelectronic feedback loop that permits the active stabilization of an interferometric setup for any chosen value of the phase between the interfering beams. This method is based on phase modulation and homodyne detection techniques. The phase can be stabilized with a precision of better than 1 deg for our experimental conditions.

Effect of the Heat‐Moisture Treatment on the Enzymatic Susceptibility of Corn Starch Granules

Abstract: Normal and waxy corn starches were isolated, adjusted to different levels of moisture and heated at 100°C for 16h. The heat treated starches were hydrolysed with α-amylase and amyloglucosidase. The starch samples were studied by determining their water-binding capacity, pasting properties, X-ray diffraction and by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the heat-moisture treatment produced an increase in the degree of crystallinity of normal and waxy corn starches at the level of 18% moisture. This result, in conjunction with a significant decrease in the enzymatic susceptibility, suggested a rearrangement of the starch molecules with strengthening of the linkages within the granules. On the other hand, the heat-moisture treatment caused a rupture with further rearrangment of linkages within the granules for normal and waxy corn starches adjusted to the 27% moisture level. This produced a certain degree of starch degradation increasing the accessible regions of the granule to amylolysis. Einflus der Hitze-Feuchtigkeitsbehandlung auf die enzymatische Angreifbarkeit von Maisstarkekornern. Normal und wachsige Maisstarken wurden isoliert, auf verschiedene Feuchtigkeitsgehalte eingestellt und 16h bei 100°C erhitzt. Die hitzebehandelten Starken wurden mit α-Amylase und Amyloglucosidase hydrolysiert. Die Starkeproben wurden untersucht durch Bestimmung ihrer Wasserbindungs-Kapazitat, Verkleisterungseigenschaften, Rontgenbeugung und durch optische und raster-elektronische Mikroskopie. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, das die Hitze-Feuchtigkeitsbehandlung eine Erhohung des Kristallinitatsgrades von normalen und wachsigen Maisstarken bei 18% Feuchtigkeit hervorrief. Dieses Ergebnis in Verbindung mit einer signifikanten Verringerung der enzymatischen Angreifbarkeit last eine Ruckordnung der Starkemolekule vermuten mit einer Festigung der Bindungen innerhalb der Korner. Andererseits verursachte die Ruckordnung der Bindungen innerhalb der Korner bei normalen und wachsigen Maisstarken, die auf 27% Feuchtigkeit eingestellt waren, ein Zerreisen. Dies fuhrte zu einem bestimmten Grad des Starkeabbaues mit Vergroserung der erreichbaren Regionen des Korns gegenuber der Amylolyse.

A comparative study of severe scorpion envenomation in children caused by Tityus bahiensis and Tityus serrulatus

Abstract: From January 1984 to May 1994, 17 of 239 children under 15 years old stung by Tityus serrulatus (15.1%) or Tityus bahiensis (84.9%) presented severe envenoming. Of these 17 patients (1-11 years old; median=2 yr) 14 were stung by T.serrulatus and three by T.bahiensis. All of them received scorpion antivenom i.v. at times ranging from 45 min. to 5 h after the accident (median=2h). On admission, the main clinical manifestations and laboratory and electrocardiographic changes were: vomiting (17), diaphoresis (15), tachycardia (14), prostration (10), tachypnea (8), arterial hypertension (7), arterial hypotension (5), tremors (5), hypothermia (4), hyperglycemia (17), leukocytosis (16/16), hypokalemia (13/17), increased CK-MB enzyme activity (>6% of the total CK, 11/12), hyperamylasemia (11/14), sinusal tachycardia (16/17) and a myocardial infarction-like pattern (11/17). Six patients stung by T.serrulatus had depressed left ventricular systolic function assessed by means of echocardiography. Of these, five presented pulmonary edema and four had shock. A child aged two-years old presented severe respiratory failure and died 65 h after being stung by T.serrulatus. Severe envenomations caused by T.serrulatus were 26.2 times more frequent than those caused by T.bahiensis (p<0.001).

Semigroup actions on homogeneous spaces

Abstract: LetG be a connected semi-simple Lie group with finite center andS⊄G a subsemigroup with interior points. LetG/L be a homogeneous space. There is a natural action ofS onG/L. The relationx≤y ify ∈Sx, x, y ∈G/L, is transitive but not reflexive nor symmetric. Roughly, a control set is a subsetD ⊄G/L, inside of which reflexivity and symmetry for ≤ hold. Control sets are studied inG/L whenL is the minimal parabolic subgroup. They are characterized by means of the Weyl chambers inG meeting intS. Thus, for eachw ∈W, the Weyl group ofG, there is a control setDw.D1 is the only invariant control set, and the subsetW(S)={w:Dw=D1} turns out to be a subgroup. The control sets are determined byW(S)/W. The following consequences are derived: i)S=G ifS is transitive onG/H, i.e.Sx=G/H for allx ∈G/H. HereH is a non discrete closed subgroup different fromG andG is simple. ii)S is neither left nor right reversible ifS #G iii)S is maximal only if it is the semigroup of compressions of a subset of some minimal flag manifold.

Floristic comparison of mesophytic semideciduous forests of the interior of the state of sao paulo, southeast brazil

Abstract: The floristic composition (trees) of 26 forests in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, was compared using cluster analysis and Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCO) with simple Euclidean distance. The results obtained indicate the existence of two floristically distinct groups of forests. One group contains forests from higher areas (above 700 m) with a colder climate (Cfa and Cfb) and includes surveys from Angatuba, Atibaia, Guarulhos, Jundiai, Sao Jose dos Compos and Sao Paulo. The second group is floristically less homogeneous and includes forests of the central and western parts of the state, usually at lower altitudes (500–700 m) and subject to hotter climatic conditions (Cwa).

HPLC Quantitation of Major Carotenoids of Fresh and Processed Guava, Mango and Papaya

Abstract: The major carotenoids in 52 samples of guava, mango, papaya and some of their processed products were quantitated by HPLC, using both external standardisation and standard addition calibration techniques. The results, submitted to theFandttests, demonstrated that the precision and the means obtained by the two calibration procedures were not significantly different. The concentrations of β-carotene and lycopene in guava, β-carotene in mango and β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene in papaya samples were coherent with those obtained previously with open column chromatography. The major problem in the HPLC quantitation of carotenoids is still obtaining and maintaining pure standards.

Composition and dynamics of the bird community of mata de Santa Genebra, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract: A quali-quantitative survey of avifauna was earried out at the Santa Genebra forest reserve (MSG) in order to evaluate the current state of conservation of this important conservation area in the interior of Sao Paulo Stale. The qualilative survey recorded 134 species and the quantitativo survey through unlimited distance point counts recorded the abundance of 97 species. The low number of species recorded in both surveys was due to the small size (251 ha) and the high degree of isolation of the MSG. These factors plus the extensivo degradation of the forest cover prevent recolonization of extinct species and allow the expansion of some species tolerant to disturbance. The quantitative survey showed some species with an unusually high abundance index. The abundance of most species at MSG is higher whon compared with other areas of similar vegetation which are not fragmented and isolated, There was no striking seasonal variation in the number of birds recorded. These caracteristics could be interpreted as resulting from the density compensation phenomenon. The structure of the bird community of MSG resembles that from an island with low number of species but overall density similar to that of the mainland, leading to a higher density per species. The process responsible for these patterns seems to be related to the habitat appropriateness, mainly because the MSG is completely isolated from other forest arcas.

15N natural abundance of vascular rainforest epiphytes: Implications for nitrogen source and acquisition

Abstract: The foliar natural abundance of N was analysed to compare the potential nitrogen sources of vascular rainforest epiphytes and associated soil‐rooted trees. Leaves of epiphytes collected from six rainforest communities in Brazil, Australia and the Solomon Islands were depleted in N relative to the trees at each site. Epiphyte δN was as low as ‐6.4%, while trees were generally enriched in N (0.7 to 3.5%). These results indicate either that epiphytes use nitrogen sources depleted in N or that discrimination against N is an intrinsic function of epiphyte physiology. At three sites, epiphytes could be grouped into those having both low δN and low leaf‐nitrogen content and those possessing both high δN and high leaf‐nitrogen content. The second group had δN values in the range sometimes attributable to N fixation (‐2 to 0%o). There was no correlation between growth form and δN. It is concluded that epiphytes may utilize N‐depleted nitrogen from atmospheric deposition and N fixation. Copyright