Influence of incubation temperature and embryonic motility on the growth of members of Caiman yacare (Daudin, 1802) / Influência da temperatura de incubação e da motilidade embrionária sobre o crescimento dos membros de Caiman yacare (Daudin, 1802)

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate whether skeletal development of the Pantanal Caiman (Caiman yacare) is similarly influenced by temperature variation and controlled increases in embryo motility. All eggs were incubated at 90% humidity and 29 °C for the first 45 days. Thereafter, the incubation temperature was either maintained at 29 °C and embryos were treated with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on days 46, 47, 48, and 49 (Group I, 29 °C 4-AP, n = 15); maintained at 29 °C (n = 14; Group II); or at 33 °C (n = 14, Group III). Embryonic movement was measured using an Egg Buddy® digital monitor on days 30, 35, 42, 49, 56, and 60, at which point embryos were euthanized and samples were collected for analysis. No differences were observed between groups with varying incubation temperatures. In contrast, embryonic motility was greater in embryos treated with 4-AP (P < 0.001) on day 49, and this was associated with higher proportions of snout-vent and hand lengths. This study demonstrates for the first time that pharmacologically induced increases in embryo motility result in phenotypic changes to the proportion of elements during prenatal ontogeny, thereby effectively altering the adaptation of the species to specific environments.

Resumo Este estudo objetivou avaliar os efeitos da temperatura e motilidade embrionária sobre o desenvolvimento esquelético de jacaré-do-pantanal (Caiman yacare). Os ovos foram incubados com 90% de umidade e empregou-se a temperatura de 29°C por 45 dias. Após, para a incubação do Grupo I a temperatura continuou em 29°C, mas associou-se à injeção de 4-aminopiridina (29°C-4AP, n = 15) aplicada nos dias 46, 47, 48 e 49, do Grupo II permaneceu em 29°C (n = 14) e do Grupo III elevou-se para 33°C (n = 14). A movimentação foi mensurada através do monitor digital Egg Buddy® nos dias 30, 35, 42, 49, 56 e 60 dias. Aos 60 dias, os embriões foram eutanasiados e coletadas amostras embrionárias. Na análise estatística não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos para o fator temperatura sobre a motilidade embrionária no desenvolvimento esquelético. Em contraste, a motilidade evidenciou diferença estatística no dia 49 para o Grupo I (P < 0,001) e apresentou maiores proporções de nariz e mão. Esses dados demonstraram pela primeira vez que o aumento na motilidade, induzidos farmacologicamente resultam em divergências fenotípicas na proporção de segmentos anatômicos durante a ontogenia pré-natal, podendo alterar efetivamente a adaptação dos animais em ambientes específicos.

Influence of incubation temperature and embryonic motility on the growth of members of Caiman yacare (Daudin, 1802)

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate whether skeletal development of the Pantanal Caiman (Caiman yacare) is similarly influenced by temperature variation and controlled increases in embryo motility. All eggs were incubated at 90% humidity and 29 °C for the first 45 days. Thereafter, the incubation temperature was either maintained at 29 °C and embryos were treated with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on days 46, 47, 48, and 49 (Group I, 29 °C 4-AP, n = 15); maintained at 29 °C (n = 14; Group II); or at 33 °C (n = 14, Group III). Embryonic movement was measured using an Egg Buddy® digital monitor on days 30, 35, 42, 49, 56, and 60, at which point embryos were euthanized and samples were collected for analysis. No differences were observed between groups with varying incubation temperatures. In contrast, embryonic motility was greater in embryos treated with 4-AP (P 0.001) on day 49, and this was associated with higher proportions of snout-vent and hand lengths. This study demonstrates for the first time that pharmacologically induced increases in embryo motility result in phenotypic changes to the proportion of elements during prenatal ontogeny, thereby effectively altering the adaptation of the species to specific environments.

Resumo Este estudo objetivou avaliar os efeitos da temperatura e motilidade embrionária sobre o desenvolvimento esquelético de jacaré-do-pantanal (Caiman yacare). Os ovos foram incubados com 90% de umidade e empregou-se a temperatura de 29°C por 45 dias. Após, para a incubação do Grupo I a temperatura continuou em 29°C, mas associou-se à injeção de 4-aminopiridina (29°C-4AP, n = 15) aplicada nos dias 46, 47, 48 e 49, do Grupo II permaneceu em 29°C (n = 14) e do Grupo III elevou-se para 33°C (n = 14). A movimentação foi mensurada através do monitor digital Egg Buddy® nos dias 30, 35, 42, 49, 56 e 60 dias. Aos 60 dias, os embriões foram eutanasiados e coletadas amostras embrionárias. Na análise estatística não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos para o fator temperatura sobre a motilidade embrionária no desenvolvimento esquelético. Em contraste, a motilidade evidenciou diferença estatística no dia 49 para o Grupo I (P 0,001) e apresentou maiores proporções de nariz e mão. Esses dados demonstraram pela primeira vez que o aumento na motilidade, induzidos farmacologicamente resultam em divergências fenotípicas na proporção de segmentos anatômicos durante a ontogenia pré-natal, podendo alterar efetivamente a adaptação dos animais em ambientes específicos.

The Influence of the Synthesis Method on the Characteristics of BaTiO3.

In this work, barium titanate powders were produced by sol-gel and sol-precipitation methods from metal alkoxides. In the sol-gel method, tetraisopropyl orthotitanate was mixed with 2-propanol, acetic acid and barium acetate, and the gel samples obtained were calcined at 600 °C, 800 °C and 1000 °C. Through the sol-precipitation method, tetraisopropyl orthotitanate was mixed with acetic acid and deionized water and precipitated by the addition of a concentrated solution of KOH. The products were calcined at various temperatures, and the microstructural and dielectric properties of the BaTiO3 prepared for the two processes were analyzed and compared. The results of these analyses allowed us to observe an increase in the tetragonal phase and the dielectric constant (15-50 at 20 kHz) with increasing temperatures in the samples produced by the sol-gel method, while the sample obtained by sol precipitation was cubic. The presence of BaCO3 is more evident in the sample produced by sol-precipitation, and the band gap of the products obtained did not show significant variation, changing the synthesis method (3.363-3.594 eV).

Dynamics of coreless defects during winding up transitions in confined chiral nematic liquid crystals.

Twist-coupled elastic deformations are ubiquitous and in the limelight of interest for next-generation self-shaping materials. Here, we describe how twist dynamics under fixed anchoring lead to bend deformation and defect dynamics in a field-unwound chiral liquid crystal material. We use the Q-tensor dynamics under the Landau-de Gennes formalism in a finite-element mesh to explore the texture pathways from the unwound (homeotropic) to the helical planar structure. Our simulations describe well previously reported experiments and confirm that the process occurs by forming pairs of coreless defects that interact with each other and create quadrupolar structures called Lehmann clusters. The dynamics and coarsening of dipoles and quadrupoles of defects are described. This numerical study describes the full dynamics, which has been sought for several years.

Growth regulators and their reflection on different hop genotypes cultivated under in vitro conditions / Reguladores de crescimento e seu reflexo em diferentes genótipos de lúpulo cultivados in vitro

Hops is a new culture in Brazil. Tissue culture can be an important technique for rapid hop propagation. This paper aims to characterize responses from different genotypes under different growth regulators through the interrelationship of response variables important to hop in vitro growth. Three genotypes were cultivated in six culture media with different combinations of growth regulators, BAP (6-benzylaminopurine), IAA (3-indolacetic acid) and GA3 (gibberellic acid). The means were compared by orthogonal contrasts and the interrelationship of the response variables was performed by path analysis. American genotypes showed favorable root development under the BAP + IAA combination, while the use of IAA improved shoot development. The origin of genotypes was important for defining the best protocol for in vitro cultivation. The path coefficient showed that the variable number of shoots has stronger direct effect on the number of nodal segments. Additionally, in tissue culture assays, the use of a covariable and proper error distribution significantly increased experimental accuracy.(AU)

O lúpulo é uma nova cultura no Brasil. A cultura de tecidos pode ser uma técnica importante para a propagação rápida do lúpulo. Este artigo tem como objetivo caracterizar respostas de diferentes genótipos sob diferentes reguladores de crescimento através da inter-relação de variáveis de resposta importantes para o crescimento in vitro. Três genótipos foram cultivados em seis meios de cultura com diferentes combinações de reguladores de crescimento, BAP (6-benzilaminopurina), AIA (ácido 3-indolacético) e GA3 (ácido giberélico). As médias foram comparadas por contrastes ortogonais e a inter-relação das variáveis de resposta foi realizada por análise de trilha. Os genótipos americanos apresentaram desenvolvimento radicular favorável sob a combinação BAP + AIA, enquanto o uso do AIA melhorou o desenvolvimento da parte aérea. A origem dos genótipos foi importante para definir o melhor protocolo para o cultivo in vitro. O coeficiente de trilha mostrou que a variável número de brotos tem um efeito direto mais forte no número de segmentos nodais. Adicionalmente, em experimentos com cultura de tecidos, o uso de uma covariável e distribuição de erro adequada aumentou significativamente a precisão experimental.(AU)

Growth regulators and their reflection on different hop genotypes cultivated under in vitro conditions / Reguladores de crescimento e seu reflexo em diferentes genótipos de lúpulo cultivados in vitro

Hops is a new culture in Brazil. Tissue culture can be an important technique for rapid hop propagation. This paper aims to characterize responses from different genotypes under different growth regulators through the interrelationship of response variables important to hop in vitro growth. Three genotypes were cultivated in six culture media with different combinations of growth regulators, BAP (6-benzylaminopurine), IAA (3-indolacetic acid) and GA3 (gibberellic acid). The means were compared by orthogonal contrasts and the interrelationship of the response variables was performed by path analysis. American genotypes showed favorable root development under the BAP + IAA combination, while the use of IAA improved shoot development. The origin of genotypes was important for defining the best protocol for in vitro cultivation. The path coefficient showed that the variable number of shoots has stronger direct effect on the number of nodal segments. Additionally, in tissue culture assays, the use of a covariable and proper error distribution significantly increased experimental accuracy.

O lúpulo é uma nova cultura no Brasil. A cultura de tecidos pode ser uma técnica importante para a propagação rápida do lúpulo. Este artigo tem como objetivo caracterizar respostas de diferentes genótipos sob diferentes reguladores de crescimento através da inter-relação de variáveis de resposta importantes para o crescimento in vitro. Três genótipos foram cultivados em seis meios de cultura com diferentes combinações de reguladores de crescimento, BAP (6-benzilaminopurina), AIA (ácido 3-indolacético) e GA3 (ácido giberélico). As médias foram comparadas por contrastes ortogonais e a inter-relação das variáveis de resposta foi realizada por análise de trilha. Os genótipos americanos apresentaram desenvolvimento radicular favorável sob a combinação BAP + AIA, enquanto o uso do AIA melhorou o desenvolvimento da parte aérea. A origem dos genótipos foi importante para definir o melhor protocolo para o cultivo in vitro. O coeficiente de trilha mostrou que a variável número de brotos tem um efeito direto mais forte no número de segmentos nodais. Adicionalmente, em experimentos com cultura de tecidos, o uso de uma covariável e distribuição de erro adequada aumentou significativamente a precisão experimental.

Growth regulators and their reflection on different hop genotypes cultivated under in vitro conditions

Abstract Hops is a new culture in Brazil. Tissue culture can be an important technique for rapid hop propagation. This paper aims to characterize responses from different genotypes under different growth regulators through the interrelationship of response variables important to hop in vitro growth. Three genotypes were cultivated in six culture media with different combinations of growth regulators, BAP (6-benzylaminopurine), IAA (3-indolacetic acid) and GA3 (gibberellic acid). The means were compared by orthogonal contrasts and the interrelationship of the response variables was performed by path analysis. American genotypes showed favorable root development under the BAP + IAA combination, while the use of IAA improved shoot development. The origin of genotypes was important for defining the best protocol for in vitro cultivation. The path coefficient showed that the variable number of shoots has stronger direct effect on the number of nodal segments. Additionally, in tissue culture assays, the use of a covariable and proper error distribution significantly increased experimental accuracy.

Resumo O lúpulo é uma nova cultura no Brasil. A cultura de tecidos pode ser uma técnica importante para a propagação rápida do lúpulo. Este artigo tem como objetivo caracterizar respostas de diferentes genótipos sob diferentes reguladores de crescimento através da inter-relação de variáveis de resposta importantes para o crescimento in vitro. Três genótipos foram cultivados em seis meios de cultura com diferentes combinações de reguladores de crescimento, BAP (6-benzilaminopurina), AIA (ácido 3-indolacético) e GA3 (ácido giberélico). As médias foram comparadas por contrastes ortogonais e a inter-relação das variáveis de resposta foi realizada por análise de trilha. Os genótipos americanos apresentaram desenvolvimento radicular favorável sob a combinação BAP + AIA, enquanto o uso do AIA melhorou o desenvolvimento da parte aérea. A origem dos genótipos foi importante para definir o melhor protocolo para o cultivo in vitro. O coeficiente de trilha mostrou que a variável número de brotos tem um efeito direto mais forte no número de segmentos nodais. Adicionalmente, em experimentos com cultura de tecidos, o uso de uma covariável e distribuição de erro adequada aumentou significativamente a precisão experimental.

Growth regulators and their reflection on different hop genotypes cultivated under in vitro conditions / Reguladores de crescimento e seu reflexo em diferentes genótipos de lúpulo cultivados in vitro

Hops is a new culture in Brazil. Tissue culture can be an important technique for rapid hop propagation. This paper aims to characterize responses from different genotypes under different growth regulators through the interrelationship of response variables important to hop in vitro growth. Three genotypes were cultivated in six culture media with different combinations of growth regulators, BAP (6-benzylaminopurine), IAA (3-indolacetic acid) and GA3 (gibberellic acid). The means were compared by orthogonal contrasts and the interrelationship of the response variables was performed by path analysis. American genotypes showed favorable root development under the BAP + IAA combination, while the use of IAA improved shoot development. The origin of genotypes was important for defining the best protocol for in vitro cultivation. The path coefficient showed that the variable number of shoots has stronger direct effect on the number of nodal segments. Additionally, in tissue culture assays, the use of a covariable and proper error distribution significantly increased experimental accuracy.

O lúpulo é uma nova cultura no Brasil. A cultura de tecidos pode ser uma técnica importante para a propagação rápida do lúpulo. Este artigo tem como objetivo caracterizar respostas de diferentes genótipos sob diferentes reguladores de crescimento através da inter-relação de variáveis de resposta importantes para o crescimento in vitro. Três genótipos foram cultivados em seis meios de cultura com diferentes combinações de reguladores de crescimento, BAP (6-benzilaminopurina), AIA (ácido 3-indolacético) e GA3 (ácido giberélico). As médias foram comparadas por contrastes ortogonais e a inter-relação das variáveis de resposta foi realizada por análise de trilha. Os genótipos americanos apresentaram desenvolvimento radicular favorável sob a combinação BAP + AIA, enquanto o uso do AIA melhorou o desenvolvimento da parte aérea. A origem dos genótipos foi importante para definir o melhor protocolo para o cultivo in vitro. O coeficiente de trilha mostrou que a variável número de brotos tem um efeito direto mais forte no número de segmentos nodais. Adicionalmente, em experimentos com cultura de tecidos, o uso de uma covariável e distribuição de erro adequada aumentou significativamente a precisão experimental.

Influence of incubation temperature and embryonic motility on the growth of members of Caiman yacare (Daudin, 1802).

This study aimed to evaluate whether skeletal development of the Pantanal Caiman (Caiman yacare) is similarly influenced by temperature variation and controlled increases in embryo motility. All eggs were incubated at 90% humidity and 29 °C for the first 45 days. Thereafter, the incubation temperature was either maintained at 29 °C and embryos were treated with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on days 46, 47, 48, and 49 (Group I, 29 °C 4-AP, n = 15); maintained at 29 °C (n = 14; Group II); or at 33 °C (n = 14, Group III). Embryonic movement was measured using an Egg Buddy® digital monitor on days 30, 35, 42, 49, 56, and 60, at which point embryos were euthanized and samples were collected for analysis. No differences were observed between groups with varying incubation temperatures. In contrast, embryonic motility was greater in embryos treated with 4-AP (P < 0.001) on day 49, and this was associated with higher proportions of snout-vent and hand lengths. This study demonstrates for the first time that pharmacologically induced increases in embryo motility result in phenotypic changes to the proportion of elements during prenatal ontogeny, thereby effectively altering the adaptation of the species to specific environments.

Occurrence of Meloidogyne Arenaria in Black Pepper (Piper Nigrum L.) in the Extreme South of the State of Bahia, Brazil.

Samples of black pepper root with the presence of galls from the most southern region of the State of Bahia, Brazil, were characterized biochemically and morphologically using three criteria: i) observation of the anterior region of the males; ii) analysis of female perineal configuration and iii) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique. Meloidogyne arenaria was found. This is the first report of this pathosystem in the State.

Growth regulators and their reflection on different hop genotypes cultivated under in vitro conditions.

Hops is a new culture in Brazil. Tissue culture can be an important technique for rapid hop propagation. This paper aims to characterize responses from different genotypes under different growth regulators through the interrelationship of response variables important to hop in vitro growth. Three genotypes were cultivated in six culture media with different combinations of growth regulators, BAP (6-benzylaminopurine), IAA (3-indolacetic acid) and GA3 (gibberellic acid). The means were compared by orthogonal contrasts and the interrelationship of the response variables was performed by path analysis. American genotypes showed favorable root development under the BAP + IAA combination, while the use of IAA improved shoot development. The origin of genotypes was important for defining the best protocol for in vitro cultivation. The path coefficient showed that the variable number of shoots has stronger direct effect on the number of nodal segments. Additionally, in tissue culture assays, the use of a covariable and proper error distribution significantly increased experimental accuracy.

Development and characterization of a carvacrol nanoemulsion and evaluation of its antimicrobial activity against selected food-related pathogens.

Carvacrol has been recognized as an efficient growth inhibitor of food pathogens. However, carvacrol oil is poorly water-soluble and can be oxidized, decomposed or evaporated when exposed to the air, light, or heat. To overcome these limitations, a carvacrol nanoemulsion was developed and its antimicrobial activity against food pathogens evaluated in this study. The nanoemulsion containing 3% carvacrol oil, 9% surfactants (HLB 11) and 88% water, presented good stability over a period of 90 days. In general, the carvacrol nanoemulsion (MIC: 256 µg ml-1 for E. coli and Salmonella spp., 128 µg ml-1 for Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) exhibited improved antimicrobial activity compared to the free oil. The carvacrol nanoemulsion additionally displayed bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli, P. aeruginosa and Salmonella spp. Therefore, the results of this study indicated that carvacrol oil nanoemulsions can potentially be incorporated into food formulations, wherein their efficacy for the prevention and control of microbial growth could be evaluated.

Effect of Ni content in PdNi/C anode catalysts on power and methanol co-generation in alkaline direct methane fuel cell type.

PdNi electrocatalysts supported on carbon were used as anode materials for methane oxidation in alkaline direct methane fuel cells (ADMEFCs). The electrocatalysts were successfully synthesized by the NaBH4 reduction method. X-ray diffraction measurements showed the formation of non-alloyed Pd in the face- centered cubic (FCC) structure for all materials and formation of NiO and Ni(OH)2 species. TEM images showed that the metal particles are well dispersed on the support with small agglomeration regions. Information about the surface structure of the catalyst were obtained by Raman spectra, mainly confirming the presence of Ni(OH)2. The species observed by DEMS, that is, methanol (m/z = 32), CO2 (m/z = 44) and potassium formate (m/z = 84) were confirmed by FTIR, which also showed the presence of a high amount of carbonate in the methane oxidation products of the ADMEFC with Pd50Ni50/C as the anode catalyst. Tests in ADMEFCs showed that the dependence of the maximum power density on nickel content in the catalysts goes through a maximum value of 13.5 µW cm-2 at 50 at% Ni. Moreover, the amount of produced methanol decreases with increasing Ni content in the PdNi/C catalysts. Both these results can be explained by the enhanced methanol oxidation in the presence of nickel.

Anxiogenesis induced by social defeat in male mice: Role of nitric oxide, NMDA, and CRF1 receptors in the medial prefrontal cortex and BNST.

Nitric oxide (NO) release in the right medial prefrontal cortex (RmPFC) produces anxiogenesis. In the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a region that receives neuronal projections from the mPFC, NO provokes anxiety, an effect that is blocked by local injections of corticotrophin-releasing factor type 1 receptor (CRF1) or n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) antagonist. Anxiety is also enhanced by social defeat stress, and chronic stress impairs and facilitates, respectively, PFC and BNST roles in modulating behavioral responses to aversive situations. This study investigated whether the (i) chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) increases NO signaling in the mPFC; and/or (ii) anxiogenic effects provoked by the intra-RmPFC injection of NOC-9 (an NO donor) or by CSDS are prevented by intra-BNST injections of AP-7 (0.05 nmol) or CP 376395 (3.0 nmol), respectively, NMDAr and CRF1 antagonists, in male Swiss-Webster mice exposed to the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Results showed that (a) CSDS increased anxiety (i.e., reduced open-arm exploration) and repeatedly activated nNOS-containing neurons, as measured by ΔFosB (a stable nonspecific marker of neural activity) + nNOS double-labeling, in the right (but not left) mPFC, (b) NOC-9 in the RmPFC also increased anxiety, and (c) both CSDS and NOC-9 effects were reversed by injections of AP-7 or CP 376395 into the BNST. These results suggest that NMDA and CRF1 receptors located in BNST play an important role in the modulation of anxiety provoked by NO in the RmPFC, as well as by chronic social defeat in mice.

Age-related changes in the articular cartilage of the mandible of rats.

This study investigated the effects of aging on the articular cartilage of the mandible. Wistar rats were divided in two groups (n = 10/per group): 3-months-old group (young group); and 13-months-old group (aged group). After euthanasia, the head of the mandible was collected and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) to evaluate the thickness of the articular layer and cartilage. Sections stained with Picrosirius red and Safranin O were used to evaluate the collagen and proteoglycans deposition, respectively. First, aging has decreased the articular layer thickness. Second, the results suggest a decrease of chondrocytes followed by an increase of the matrix to maintain the mandible homeostasis. Finally, both collagen and proteoglycans increased with aging. Aging displayed important effects to the mandible of aged rats.

Ultrastructural effects of diabetes in the right atrium cardiomyocytes of elderly Wistar rats

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of diabetes on quantitative parameters of right atrial cardiomyocytes of elderly rats. Wistar rats (14-mo of age) were divided into two groups: streptozotocin-diabetic rats (DG); and control rats (CG). The groups were sacrificed at 16 months. Ultrafine sections of the right atrium were analyzed by electron microscopy. In elderly diabetic animals, histograms of the frequency distribution of natriuretic peptides according to their size showed increased number of small and medium peptides in relation to large peptides, which increased its numerical density leading to a decrease in the mean diameter of both natriuretic peptides. However, elderly diabetic animals remained normotensive. No significant difference was observed between the groups for the volume density of mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. In conclusion, elderly diabetic rats showed increased functional activity of atrial cardiomyocytes with greater production of natriuretic peptides in association with a quantitative maintenance of cytoplasmic components. (AU)

Estimating physical properties from liquid crystal textures via machine learning and complexity-entropy methods.

Imaging techniques are essential tools for inquiring a number of properties from different materials. Liquid crystals are often investigated via optical and image processing methods. In spite of that, considerably less attention has been paid to the problem of extracting physical properties of liquid crystals directly from textures images of these materials. Here we present an approach that combines two physics-inspired image quantifiers (permutation entropy and statistical complexity) with machine learning techniques for extracting physical properties of nematic and cholesteric liquid crystals directly from their textures images. We demonstrate the usefulness and accuracy of our approach in a series of applications involving simulated and experimental textures, in which physical properties of these materials (namely: average order parameter, sample temperature, and cholesteric pitch length) are predicted with significant precision. Finally, we believe our approach can be useful in more complex liquid crystal experiments as well as for probing physical properties of other materials that are investigated via imaging techniques.

Effect of dynamically changing the substrate's easy axis on the response time of nematic samples.

Recent discoveries of advanced photocontrolled materials have kindled a great deal of interest on their use as command surfaces that switch easy axis under light radiation. One noticeable point when using switchable surfaces on any application is how the dynamical process propagates to the bulk directors. In this paper, we theoretically study the effect of a relaxing easy axis over time on a nematic sample when finite anchoring energy and surface viscosity are included. We first consider the case where just one of the substrates decay over time in an initially distorted director organization. Next, we assume that both substrates can be switched simultaneously. From the calculated director we obtained the optical profile and finally the molecular response time of the material. The response time depends on both the materials and the surfaces properties including its decay time. Our results might be used for understanding and engineering liquid crystal displays and other electro-optical devices with photocontrolled alignment layers.

Family health and conditional cash transfer in Brazil and its effect on tuberculosis mortality.

BACKGROUND: Social protection can reduce poverty and act on the determinants of tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) and the Bolsa Família Programme on TB-related mortality in Brazil. METHODS: This was an ecological study in which the units of analysis were Brazilian municipalities between 2001 and 2012. The principal independent variables were the levels of coverage of the primary health care system and the conditional cash transfer programme. The dependent variable was TB mortality rate (obtained from national databases). Descriptive analysis and negative binomial regression based on panel data using fixed-effects models were performed. Crude and adjusted estimates were calculated for continuous and categorical variables. RESULTS: A high FHS coverage was significantly associated with a reduction in the TB mortality rate (RR 0.80, 95%CI 0.72-0.89). An increase in the coverage of the Brazilian cash transfer programme was significantly associated with a reduction in the TB mortality rate (RR 0.87, 95%CI 0.81-0.96). CONCLUSION: FHS and the Bolsa Família conditional cash transfer programme had a positive impact on the TB mortality rate in Brazil. Public policies should include economic support combined with health promotion.