Search Results - (Author, Cooperation:S. Almeida)

2018-10-04

Nature Publishing Group (NPG)

2045-2322

Natural Sciences in General

2018-02-24

Wiley-Blackwell

0300-9475

1365-3083

Medicine

2015-08-27

Nature Publishing Group (NPG)

0028-0836

1476-4687

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Medicine

Natural Sciences in General

Physics

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus/*genetics ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/genetics/pathology ; Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; DNA Repeat Expansion/*genetics ; Drosophila melanogaster/*cytology/genetics/*metabolism ; Eye/metabolism ; Female ; Frontotemporal Dementia/genetics/pathology ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/cytology/metabolism ; Male ; Muscles/cytology/metabolism ; Neurons/cytology/metabolism ; Nuclear Pore/genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Open Reading Frames/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Proteins/*genetics ; RNA/genetics/metabolism ; RNA Transport/*genetics ; Salivary Glands/cytology/metabolism/pathology

1365-3083

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Immunostimulatory effects of P. brasiliensis DNA and CpG-oligodeoxyribonucleotides (CpG-ODN) have shown a Th2–Th1 immunomodulation of the isogenic murine model of susceptibility, which develops a progressive and disseminating disease. In this study, we investigated the optimum time interval and doses of CpG-ODN which are able to induce Th2–Th1 immunomodulation. The optimum concentrations for the induction of a decrease in antibody production were 0.5 and 1 µg. Mice immunized twice with CpG-ODN and gp43 (5 and 7 days before the challenge) showed a 60% higher chance of survival compared with the control group (nonimmunized), and an increase in Th1 isotype (IgG2a) was also observed. In vitro assays of naive and preimmunized mice showed discrete cellular proliferation when stimulated by suitable concentrations of CpG-ODN. Type 1 cytokines interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-γ were increased in cell culture supernatants, but no significant difference was found in Th2 IL-4 cytokines in stimulated or nonstimulated cell cultures. Concerning the Th2–Th1 kinetics in experimental PCM models by adjuvant effect of CpG-ODN, there are still many questions to be answered and clarified. However, the gathering of data obtained in this investigation has led us to suggest that the modulation of Th2–Th1 in experimental PCM depends on time and CpG-ODN concentration.

Electronic Resource

1365-3083

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

Paracoccidioidomycosis, endemic in Latin America, is a progressive systemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The infection can evolve into different clinical forms that are associated with various degrees of suppressed cell-mediated immunity. Assuming that the effector immune response is a consequence of the preferential activation of either Th1 or Th2 subsets, in the present work we evaluated whether the nature of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) can influence the Th1/Th2 balance in vivo. It was observed that the injection of mature dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages and B cells primed the mice and induced a proliferation of T cells in vitro. It was seen that DCs from resistant mice stimulated predominantly interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), whereas macrophages activated IL-10, IL-4 and IFN-γ-secreting T cells and B cells IL-4 and IL-10 only. Results presented here clearly demonstrate that DC drives the development of cells secreting Th1-derived cytokines, whereas B cells induce the differentiation of a Th2 phenotype in vivo.

Electronic Resource

1365-3083

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

Th1 immune responses afford protection against some pathogens like the fungus P. brasiliensis (P.b.), ethiological agent of Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). It is well known that nonmethylated CpG sequences from bacterial DNA have immunomodulatory properties and can be used as a Th1-promoting adjuvant. By analyzing the available gene sequences of P.b. we observed a high number of unmethylated CpG dinucleotides. In a murine model of the PCM infection, the isogenic mouse strain known to be susceptible presents a predominant Th2 pattern. In order to access the possibility of the genomic DNA to act as a Th1-promoting adjuvant, in vitro assays were made and indicated a significant increase in phagocytosis when the macrophages were stimulated with DNA from P.b. and in vivo assays of a decreased production of antibodies antigp43, the main antigen of the PCM system. The analysis of the antibody isotypes and the cytokine production suggested a Th1 modulation in the susceptible animals. Thus, when mice were infected with fungus plus synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), made from the available sequence of gp43, a decrease in the fungus dissemination was observed. Results herein described suggest that genomic DNA from P.b. could have a immunostimulatory function as a Th-1-promoting adjuvant in susceptible mice.

Electronic Resource

1095-8649

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Biology

The two clingfish species studied occupied similar habitats but occurred at different depths. When compared with the subtidal species Lepadogaster candollei, the intertidal species Lepadogaster l. purpurea was less active, spent more time in shelters, visited fewer shelters, showed more site fidelity, and spent less time swimming. Feeding, swimming, and agonistic behaviours were performed mainly in close contact with the substrate in this species. It is hypothesized that these contrasts in behaviour may have evolved under different levels of turbulence.

Electronic Resource

1095-8649

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Biology

Agonistic behaviour of captive Lepadogaster lepadogaster purpurea, was described, forming the first record of such behaviour in the family Gobiesocidae. Both male and female engaged in similar behaviours. The agonistic interactions were related mainly to the control of shelter sites and larger fish tended to chase away and take over the shelter of smaller fish.

Electronic Resource

1752-1688

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Architecture, Civil Engineering, Surveying

Geography

: The discriminating capability of a coherent optical processor in identifying diatom species was tested using 25 species selected by diatom taxonomists. A 25 × 25 matrix of auto- and cross-correlations was used for this purpose. In no case did cross-correlation signals approach the intensity of auto-correlations indicating that false identifications were extremely improbable. Shape and height differences of the cross-correlation signals can be attributed to variations in diatom shapes, sizes, and cell wall morphology.

Electronic Resource

0005-2736

(Kinetics) ; ATPase activity ; Calcium transport ; Dystrophic muscle ; Sarcoplasmic reticulum

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Medicine

Physics

Electronic Resource

0020-1693

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Electronic Resource

0021-9673

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Electronic Resource

0021-9673

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Electronic Resource

0006-291X

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Physics

Electronic Resource

1749-6632

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Natural Sciences in General

Electronic Resource

1432-0630

42.30 ; 42.80

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics

Physics

Abstract A method of image enhancement and real-time input of 3-D, microscopic phase objects into a coherent optical pattern recognition system is described. The method consists of directing a low-power laser beam into a microscope objective to produce a real, magnified, coherent image of the specimen under test. The image plane is followed by two successive Fourier transform (FT) planes. In the first FT plane, low and high frequency spatial filters, one of which is photographically produced, are used as pre-processing filters to enhance the image quality. The enhanced signal is imaged from the first FT plane to the second FT plane which contains a matched spatial filter used for specimen identification. The system does not require an expensive incoherent-to-coherent light transducer and in addition, is capable of utilizing both phase and amplitude information from 3-D objects. Examples of results are given.

Electronic Resource

1432-1939

Key words Amazon ; Vegetation ; Forest ; Stable carbon isotope ; Rondônia

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Abstract Leaves of 208 trees were collected for isotopic analysis together with wood from 36 tree boles and 18 samples of fine litter from a terra-firme forest located at Samuel Ecological Reserve, Rondônia State, in the southwestern Amazon region. The range of δ13C values in leaves was from −28 to −36‰, with an average (±1 SD) of −32.1 ± 1.5‰, which was more negative than the δ13C values of bole samples (−28.4 ± 2.0‰) and fine litter (−28.7 ± 2.0‰). These values are within the range found for tropical and subtropical forests. Pooling the δ13C values for leaf samples from trees of the same height gave averages which were positively correlated with plant height at a highly significant level, with a slope of 0.06 and an intercept of −33.3‰ and a correlation coefficient r 2=0.70 (P〈0.001).

Electronic Resource

1432-2072

Early protein malnutrition ; Elevated plusmaze ; Diazepam ; Non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics ; 5-HT ; Rat

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Medicine

Abstract In order to investigate whether protein malnutrition in early life causes lasting changes in reactivity to anxiolytic drugs, exploration of the elevated plus-maze was used. Rat dams during lactation (21 days) and pups after weaning until day 49 of life were fed on 8% casein diet (M rats), while their well-nourished controls received 25% casein (W rats). From day 50 on all animals ate the same balanced diet. Experiments started on day 70. Under the non-drug condition, M rats tended to explore the open arms of the maze relatively more than W rats. Diazepam (0.5–5 mg/kg, IP) dose-dependently increased the percentage of open/total arm entries without significantly affecting the total number of arm entries in W rats. This selective anxiolytic effect of diazepam was considerably smaller in M rats. Ipsapirone (0.5–5 mg/kg) caused a similar though less pronounced anxiolytic effect in W rats, whereas the drug decreased both the % open/total and total arm entries in M rats. In contrast, ritanserin (0.05–1 mg/kg) significantly increased the % open/total arm entries in M rats only, though not in a dose-dependent way. Isamoltane (2.5–20 mg/kg) was ineffective on both M and W rats. These results indicate that early protein malnutrition causes long-lasting alterations in brain systems regulating emotional behaviour.

Electronic Resource

1572-8943

counterion effect ; DSC ; membrane ; Nafion-H ; Nafion salts ; TG

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Abstract The thermal behavior of Nafion-117 membranes was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). TG measurements revealed that the mechanism of thermal degradation of a Nafion membrane in the acid form is different from that of Nafion in the sodium form. The DSC curves for the first heating, for both acid and salt forms, display two endothermic peaks, near 120 and 230°C. The high-temperature peak was assigned to the crystalline domains melting in Nafion, and the low-temperature peak was attributed to a transition into ionic clusters, since this transition exhibits significant changes depending on the nature of the counterion and the degree of hydration.

Electronic Resource

1741-2765

Strain gages ; weighted residuals ; strain gradients ; measurements

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics

Abstract A theoretical approach is presented that uses multiple strain gages to accurately measure complicated strain distributions. The technique is based on the method of weighted residuals in conjunction with measured strain data and is applicable for arbitrary in-plane strain distributions. Conventional measurements using strain gages are shown to represent a particular case of the approach presented. The experimental characterization of unidimensional strain fields is discussed in detail. Two approaches are presented; these are based on linear and quadratic approximations of the strain field. The strain distribution for two important practical problems is evaluated assuming ideal conditions to assess the performance of the proposed approach. In both cases, the simulated results demonstrate that measurement error resulting from the finite size of a strain gage may be reduced. That is, a larger strain gage may be used for a given maximum admissible error. The method also allows a minimal error of measured nonlinear strains.

Electronic Resource