Resonance of vector vortex beams in a triangular optical cavity.

We experimentally demonstrate resonance of first-order vector vortex beams (VVB) with a triangular optical cavity. We also show that, due to their symmetry properties, the VVBs commonly known as radial and azimuthal beams do not resonate at the same cavity length, which could be explored to use the triangular resonator as a mode sorter. In addition, an intracavity Pancharatnam phase shifter (PPS) is implemented in order to compensate for any birefringent phase that the cavity mirrors may introduce.

Use of blood residue as alternative source of phosphorus in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. ) cultivation / [Utilização de resíduo de sangue como fonte alternativa de fósforo no cultivo de girassol (Helianthus annuus L. )]

The aim of this work was to increase the aerial part, biometry, and yield of achenes from sunflower plants on the effect of increasing doses of blood residue, as an alternative source of phosphorus (P), in a clayey-textured red Oxisol. The experimental design used was randomized blocks, with six treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of five doses of blood residue (0, 6, 12, 24 and 48m3 ha-1) and a control treatment that received phosphate chemical fertilization, 80kg ha-1 of P2O5. The increasing doses of blood residue and chemical fertilization do not show disproportionality for P concentration in soil, leaf, plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), chapter diameter (CD) and achene production. The analysis of the principal component (PC) revealed that the first PC presents the greatest accumulated variation (74%). Based on the first PC, the dose of 12m-3 ha-1 has greater influence for PH, SC, and CD. Due to the greater influence on the biometric characteristics of sunflower plants, the blood residue (12m-3 ha-1 = 98.4kg P ha-1), can be used as an alternative source of phosphorus for the cultivation of sunflower in clayey oxisols.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho verificar biometria de parte aérea, rendimento de aquênios de plantas de girassol sobre o efeito de doses crescentes de resíduo de sangue, como fonte alternativa de fósforo (P), em um Latossolo vermelho de textura argilosa. O delineamento experimento utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, com seis tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por cinco doses de resíduo de sangue (0, 6, 12, 24 e 48m3 ha-1) e um tratamento que recebeu a adubação fosfatada química, 80kg ha-1 de P2O5. As doses crescentes de resíduo de sangue e adubação química não demostram desproporcionalidade para a concentração de P no solo, folha, altura de planta (AP), diâmetro de caule (DC), diâmetro de capítulo (DCP) e produção de aquênios. A análise de componentes (CP) principais revelou que o primeiro CP apresenta maior variação acumulada (74%). Baseado no primeiro CP, a dose de 12 m-3 ha-1exibe maior influência para AP, DC e DCP. Devido a maior influência sobre as características biométricas em plantas de girassol, o resíduo de sangue (12m-3 ha-1 = 98,4kg P ha-1), pode ser utilizado como fonte alternativa de fósforo para o cultivo de girassol em Latossolos de textura argilosa.

Productivity and nutrient extraction by Paiaguás palisadegrass, single and intercropping with pigeon pea, submitted to doses of nitrogen / Produtividade e extração de nutrientes pelo capim paiaguás submetido a doses de nitrogênio em cultivo solteiro e consorciado com feijão guandu

The objective of this work was to evaluate the productivity and extraction of macronutrients by Urochloa brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguás (Syn. Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguás) single and intercropped with pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan cv. BRS Mandarim), subjected to four doses of nitrogen applied in topdressing (0, 80, 160 and 240 kg ha¨¹). The experiment was carried out in São Luís de Montes Belos, GO, in soil classified as dystrophic red latosol, under Cerrado conditions. Plant height and dry mass of pigeon pea, plant height, number of tillers, dry mass, and macronutrient extraction by Paiaguás palisadegrass were evaluated. Higher mass production was observed in the pasture intercropped with the legume, requiring a lower amount of N. Based on the results exposed, the cultivation of Paiaguás palisadegrass reaches higher productivity when intercropped with a legume such as pigeon pea, in addition to providing greater efficiency in the use of nutrients such as N, P and K. Nitrogen fertilization has a negative influence on the production of dry mass and height of pigeon pea plants.

Objetivou-se, com o trabalho, avaliar a produtividade e a extração de macronutrientes pelo capim-solteiro e consorciado com feijão-guandu, submetidos a quatro doses de nitrogênio aplicadas em cobertura (0, 80, 160 e 240kg ha). O experimento foi conduzido em São Luís de Montes Belos, GO, em solo classificado como Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico, sob condições de Cerrado. Foram avaliados a altura de plantas e massa seca do guandu, a altura de plantas, os números de perfilhos, a massa seca e a extração de macronutrientes pelo capim-paiaguás. Foi observada maior produção de massa na pastagem consorciada com a leguminosa, demandando menor quantidade de N. Com base nos resultados expostos, o cultivo de capim-paiaguás atinge maiores produtividades quando consorciado com uma leguminosa, como o feijão-guandu, além de proporcionar maior eficiência no uso de nutrientes, como N, Pe K. A adubação nitrogenada tem influência negativa sobre a produção de massa seca e a altura das plantas de feijão-guandu.

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of phonophoresis in animal models: a randomized experimental study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of ultrasound (US)-mediated phonophoresis alone or in association with diclofenac diethylammonium (DCF) administered topically in animal models of inflammation. A pre-clinical, prospective, and randomized experimental study of quantitative and qualitative nature was carried out. Phonophoresis was performed using a therapeutic ultrasound apparatus in two distinct models of acute inflammation. Edema was induced by an intraplantar injection of carrageenan and measured by plethysmography. The Hargreaves test was used to evaluate the antinociceptive activity and investigate the action of phonophoresis on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production. A histological analysis with hematoxylin-eosin was used to evaluate tissue repair, and the expression of COX-2 was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. At the peak of inflammatory activity (3 h), treatment with US, US+DCF, and DCF significantly reduced edema formation compared to the control group. Treatment with US+DCF was more effective than treatment with US alone at both analyzed times. In the analysis of the antinociceptive activity, the treatments significantly increased the latency time in response to the thermal stimulus. Histopathological analysis revealed a reduction of the inflammatory infiltrates and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the association was effective in reducing COX-2 expression compared to the control group. The association of DCF with US produced anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects in rat models of inflammation, which may be associated with inhibition of COX-2 and TNF-α production.

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of phonophoresis in animal models: a randomized experimental study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of ultrasound (US)-mediated phonophoresis alone or in association with diclofenac diethylammonium (DCF) administered topically in animal models of inflammation. A pre-clinical, prospective, and randomized experimental study of quantitative and qualitative nature was carried out. Phonophoresis was performed using a therapeutic ultrasound apparatus in two distinct models of acute inflammation. Edema was induced by an intraplantar injection of carrageenan and measured by plethysmography. The Hargreaves test was used to evaluate the antinociceptive activity and investigate the action of phonophoresis on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production. A histological analysis with hematoxylin-eosin was used to evaluate tissue repair, and the expression of COX-2 was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. At the peak of inflammatory activity (3 h), treatment with US, US+DCF, and DCF significantly reduced edema formation compared to the control group. Treatment with US+DCF was more effective than treatment with US alone at both analyzed times. In the analysis of the antinociceptive activity, the treatments significantly increased the latency time in response to the thermal stimulus. Histopathological analysis revealed a reduction of the inflammatory infiltrates and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the association was effective in reducing COX-2 expression compared to the control group. The association of DCF with US produced anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects in rat models of inflammation, which may be associated with inhibition of COX-2 and TNF-α production.

Review: Nutrigenomics of marbling and fatty acid profile in ruminant meat.

The present review will present the recent published results and discuss the main effects of nutrients, mainly fatty acids, on the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism. In this sense, the review focuses in two phases: prenatal life and finishing phase, showing how nutrients can modulate gene expression affecting marbling and fatty acid profile in meat from ruminants. Adiposity in ruminants starts to be affected by nutrients during prenatal life when maternal nutrition affects the differentiation and proliferation of adipose cells enhancing the marbling potential. Therefore, several fetal programming studies were carried out in the last two decades in order to better understand how nutrients affect long-term expression of genes involved in adipogenesis and lipogenesis. In addition, during the finishing phase, marbling becomes largely dependent on starch digestion and glucose metabolism, being important to create alternatives to increase these metabolic processes, and modulates gene expression. Different lipid sources and their fatty acids may also influence the expression of genes responsible to encode enzymes involved in fat tissue deposition, influencing meat quality. In conclusion, the knowledge shows that gene expression is a metabolic factor affecting marbling and fatty acid profile in ruminant meat and diets and their nutrients have direct effect on how these genes are expressed.

Genetic ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577X polymorphisms and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

The etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis remains unknown. Angiotensin-converting enzyme and α-actinin-3 polymorphisms influence the characteristics of muscle fibers. The aim of this study was to examine the association between idiopathic scoliosis and genetic polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme and α-actinin-3. Ninety-seven females with scoliosis, and 137 healthy, age-matched control females were studied. The presence of polymorphisms was determined by PCR. A χ2 test was used to analyze differences, and odds ratios were estimated. The frequencies of ACE genotypes in the scoliotic group were 46.4% DD, 45.4% ID, and 8.2% II, while in the control group they were 40.1% DD, 43.8% ID, and 16.1% II (P = 0.197). The D allele had a frequency of 69.1% in patients with idiopathic scoliosis and 62% in the control group (P = 0.116). The frequencies of ACTN3 genotypes in females with scoliosis were 31.8% RR, 49.4% RX, and 18.8% XX, while in the control group they were 35% RR, 49% RX, and 16% XX (P = 0.810). The frequency of the R allele was 56.4% in the scoliotic group and 59.6% in the control group (P = 0.518). There was no statistically significant association between angiotensin-converting enzyme or α-actinin-3 polymorphisms and the presence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in females.

Integrated approach in the assessment of skin compatibility of cosmetic formulations with green coffee oil.

OBJECTIVE: Green coffee oil (GCO) has been used in cosmetic formulations due to its emollient and anti-ageing properties. However, there are insufficient studies about its safety when applied in cosmetic formulations. METHODS: Cytotoxicity of GCO and of formulations containing 2.5-15% of GCO was evaluated by the MTT reduction assay, in human keratinocytes. Formulations containing 15% of GCO and the vehicle were applied under in use conditions in the volar forearm of human volunteers during 3 days. Transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum water content and erythema index were evaluated each 24 h using biophysical techniques. The same formulations were probed for skin tolerance through a patch test. RESULTS: Neither pure GCO nor its formulations showed cytotoxic effects in concentrations up to 100 µg mL(-1) . Transepidermal water loss values showed a slight reduction when the formulation containing GCO was applied. Stratum corneum water content and erythema index did not show significant differences, as the results observed in the first day of the study were maintained throughout 3 days. None of the volunteers display any reaction after using an occlusive patch. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in the study indicate that GCO seems to be safe for topical applications and showed good skin compatibility under the experimental conditions of the study.

[Second Consensus of Granada on pharmacotherapy failure. Cross-cultural translation from Spanish to Portuguese (European)]. / Segundo Consenso de Granada sobre problemas relacionados com medicamentos. Tradução intercultural de Espanhol para Português (Europeu).

The cross-cultural translation from spanish to portuguese (european) of the Second Consensus of Granada on Pharmacotherapy failure has the objective to provide clinicians and researchers, working in drug therapy follow-up, with a working tool translated with the accuracy and the reliability that a biomedical document requires. The common origin of the spanish and portuguese languages emphasizes the need to do a cross-cultural translation. Errors of translation or wrong interpretations can be due to falses cognates. The cross-cultural translation followed three steps: translation, back-translation and review of the translation of the original text of the Second Consensus of Granada on Pharmacotherapy failure. The result was the portuguese version of the Second Consensus of Granada on Pharmacotherapy failure, presented in the annex I.