Tunable band gap of boron nitride interfaces under uniaxial pressure.

In this work we show, by means of a density functional theory formalism, that the interaction between hydrogen terminated boron nitride surfaces gives rise to a metallic interface with free carriers of opposite sign at each surface. A band gap can be induced by decreasing the surface separation. The size of the band gap changes continuously from zero up to 4.

In vivo protein quality of new sorghum genotypes for human consumption.

The in vivo protein qualities were evaluated in flours from raw sorghum grains (RF) and flours from sorghum grains subjected to heat treatment in an oven (HTF) from the hybrids BRS 305, BRS 309 and BRS 310, developed by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa). There were no differences in feed efficiency ratios among experimental groups. Heat-treated flour from BRS 309 and BRS 310 genotypes had higher protein efficiency ratios and net protein ratio values; however, they did not differ from those of flour from raw grain of BRS 310 genotype.

Cross-species amplification of microsatellites reveals incongruence in the molecular variation and taxonomic limits of the Pilosocereus aurisetus group (Cactaceae).

The Pilosocereus aurisetus group contains eight cactus species restricted to xeric habitats in eastern and central Brazil that have an archipelago-like distribution. In this study, 5-11 microsatellite markers previously designed for Pilosocereus machrisii were evaluated for cross-amplification and polymorphisms in ten populations from six species of the P. aurisetus group.

Children and adolescents with mild intermittent or mild persistent asthma: aerobic capacity between attacks.

Objective: To assess children and adolescents diagnosed with mild intermittent or mild persistent asthma, in terms of their aerobic capacity between attacks.

Methods: We included 33 children and adolescents recently diagnosed with asthma (mild intermittent or mild persistent) and 36 healthy children and adolescents. Those with asthma were evaluated between attacks.

Linear and nonlinear measures of fetal heart rate patterns evaluated on very short fetal magnetocardiograms.

We analyzed the effectiveness of linear short- and long-term variability time domain parameters, an index of sympatho-vagal balance (SDNN/RMSSD) and entropy in differentiating fetal heart rate patterns (fHRPs) on the fetal heart rate (fHR) series of 5, 3 and 2 min duration reconstructed from 46 fetal magnetocardiograms. Gestational age (GA) varied from 21 to 38 weeks. FHRPs were classified based on the fHR standard deviation.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase genetic variant associated with the risk of Alzheimer's disease in a Brazilian population.

The aim of the present study was to examine the association between polymorphism in the catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) gene and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a Brazilian population. The case-control method was used to study the association between AD and genetic variants of COMT. Six tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in the COMT gene were genotyped by RT-PCR.

The buccal fat pad flap: an option to prevent and treat complications regarding complex zygomatic implant surgery. Preliminary report.

Purpose: To evaluate the use of the buccal fat pad flap (BFPF) technique as an option to prevent complications in the treatment of patients with atrophic maxillae rehabilitated after complex zygomatic implant surgery.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was made of completely edentulous patients submitted to zygomatic implant surgery between May 2005 and November 2007. Patients with severely atrophic maxillae received conventional and zygomatic implants and were followed after the implants were loaded.

Disease-specific expression of the serotonin-receptor 5-HT(2C) in natural killer cells in Alzheimer's dementia.

Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is a degenerative brain disorder characterized mainly by cholinergic failure, but other neuro-transmitters are also deficient especially at late stages of the disease. Misfolded β-amyloid peptide has been identified as a causative agent, however inflammatory changes also play a pivotal role. Even though the most prominent pathology is seen in the cognitive functions, specific abnormalities of the central nervous system (CNS) are also reflected in the periphery, particularly in the immune responses of the body.

Evaluation of diagnostic methods for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsy specimens of dyspeptic patients.

Helicobacter pylori infects nearly 50% of the world's population. This microorganism is accepted as the most important agent of gastritis and as a risk factor for peptic ulcer disease and gastric adenocarcinoma. Currently many diagnostic methods exist for detecting H.

Ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene reduce oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines in mononuclear cells of Alzheimer's disease patients.

Objectives: The in vitro effect of a vitamin complex in generating and reducing oxidative species in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) and plasma of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and healthy subjects (HS) was evaluated.

Methods: Two concentrations of a vitamin complex ([A] and [20A]) with ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene were incubated with either mononuclear cells or plasma. The generation of oxidizing species was measured in a luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay and the reducing response by the MTT dye reduction assay.

Evaluating language comprehension in Alzheimer's disease: the use of the Token test.

Objective: To analyze the psychometric properties of the Token test (TT), a verbal comprehension test, and its applicability to the diagnosis of mild Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: One hundred and sixty participants (80 AD and 80 controls) performed the TT and a short battery of neuropsychological tests designed to evaluate general cognitive status, working memory and executive functions. Internal consistency, factor structure, correlation with other measures and group comparisons were evaluated.

The Tower of London Test: different scoring criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.

The Tower of London (TOL) is used for evaluating planning skills, which is a component of the executive functions. Different versions and scoring criteria were developed for this task, and some of them present with different psychometrical properties. This study aimed to evaluate two specific scoring methods of the TOL in diagnosing Mild Cognitive Impairment and probable Alzheimer's disease.

Angiotensin-(1-7) induces peripheral antinociception through mas receptor activation in an opioid-independent pathway.

The G protein-coupled receptor Mas was recently described as an angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] receptor. In the present study, we demonstrate an antinociceptive effect of Ang-(1-7) for the first time. Additionally, we evaluated the anatomical localization of Mas in the dorsal root ganglia using immunofluorescence.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in slaughtered pigs in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.

The object of this study was to investigate Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and parasite DNA in pigs in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 305 slaughtered pigs in 11 municipalities, and their sera were tested for T. gondii antibodies using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, cutoff 1:64); 38 (12.

Comparison between immediate and delayed laser-treated implants surface with switching platform: a clinical retrospective study.

The aim of the present study was to compare immediate (Im) versus delayed (De) placement of laser-treated implants surface with switching platform to confirm the predictability and performance of this type of implant. The implants were placed in pos exodontia and healed sites at the incisor, canine, premolar, and molar regions of the maxilla or the mandible. A protocol was prepared in which patient age, sex, implant length, diameter, and use of bone graft were recorded.

Three dimensional anatomy of the anterior cruciate ligament: a new approach in anatomical orthopedic studies and a literature review.

Background: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important structure in the knee. The ACL does not heal following lesions, and surgical reconstruction is the standard treatment among athletes. Some steps of ACL reconstruction remain controversial.

Instruction in developmental psychiatry: preliminary findings at the undergraduate level in Brazil.

Background: Although knowledge on developmental psychiatry is fundamental for the early recognition, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders, this subject has not been incorporated into the medical curriculum or psychiatric practice in Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a short course on developmental psychiatry for undergraduate students and to expand education policies concerning developmental psychiatry in Brazil.

Methods: Before and after attending an extracurricular 12-hour, 4-day course on the fundamentals of developmental psychiatry, undergraduate health sciences students were tested regarding their knowledge of the subject.

Factors influencing possible delay in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: Findings from a tertiary Public University Hospital.

Unlabelled: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by impairment in memory and autonomy, causing excessive pressure on family and an overburdened health care system. Early diagnosis, with the appropriate treatment, is important to reduce the pattern of disease progression.

Objective: The study sought to identify the most probable causes of delay in diagnosis.

High-dose oral fluconazole therapy effective for cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (Vianna) braziliensis.

We report for the first time the successful use of fluconazole to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania braziliensis. We used escalating doses from 5 to 8 mg/kg per day. At a dose of 5 mg/kg per day, 75% patients were cured, and at 8 mg/kg per day, the cure rate was 100%.

Association between tryptophan hydroxylase-2 gene and late-onset depression.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between polymorphisms (SNP) in the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) gene and late-onset depression (LOD) in the Brazilian population.

Methods: We genotyped 8 tag SNPs in the TPH2 gene in 84 outpatients with LOD and 79 individuals belonging to the comparison group to investigate an association between the TPH2 gene and LOD.

Results: Our findings suggested an association between tag SNP rs4565946 heterozygous C/T (p = 0.

Isolation, characterization, and cross-species amplification of polymorphic microsatellite markers for Pilosocereus machrisii (Cactaceae).

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite primers were developed in Pilosocereus machrisii, a columnar cactus with a patchy distribution in eastern tropical South America, to assess its genetic diversity and population structure.

Methods And Results: Eleven microsatellite markers were developed, of which one was monomorphic among 51 individuals from two populations. The number of alleles per polymorphic locus ranged from two to eight, and the total number of alleles was 57.

[Geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic differences in quality of data on cause of death in Brazilian elders].

This study identifies geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic differences in the quality of data on underlying causes of death in the Brazilian elderly population. We used three quality indicators: the proportion of ill-defined causes, the proportion of unspecified causes, and the two proportions combined. We analyzed the main ill-defined and unspecified causes and the association between these indicators and individual characteristics on death certificates (DC) and characteristics of the municipalities.