The achievable level of precision on photospheric abundances of stars is a major limiting factor on investigations of exoplanet host star characteristics, the chemical histories of star clusters, and the evolution of the Milky Way and other galaxies. While model-induced errors can be minimized through the differential analysis of spectrally similar stars, the maximum achievable precision of this technique has been debated. As a test, we derive differential abundances of 19 elements from highquality asteroid-reflected solar spectra taken using a variety of instruments and conditions. We treat the solar spectra as being from unknown stars and use the resulting differential abundances, which are expected to be zero, as a diagnostic of the error in our measurements. Our results indicate that the relative resolution of the target and reference spectra is a major consideration, with use of different instruments to obtain the two spectra leading to errors up to 0.04 dex. Use of the same instrument at different epochs for the two spectra has a much smaller effect (∼0.007 dex). The asteroid used to obtain the solar standard also has a negligible effect (∼0.006 dex). Assuming that systematic errors from the stellar model atmospheres have been minimized, as in the case of solar twins, we confirm that differential chemical abundances can be obtained at sub-0.01 dex precision with due care in the observations, data reduction and abundance analysis.

The subcellular and regional distribution of endo-oligopeptidase (EC 3.4.22.19), an enzyme capable of generating enkephalin by single cleavage from enkephalin-containing peptides, was determined by an enzymatic assay using metorphamide and by immunochemical techniques in the CNS of the rat. The rat CNS contains a membrane-associated form of endo-oligopeptidase, an enzyme predominantly associated with the soluble fraction of brain homogenates. Subcellular fractionation showed that approximately 17% of the total activity of the enzyme is associated with membrane fractions including synaptosomes. Synaptosomal membranes were prepared from neocortex, striatum, hypothalamus, medulla, spinal cord, and cerebellum. The amount of EC 3.4.22.19 activity solubilized by 3-[( 3-cholamidopropyl]dimethylammonio)-1-propanesulfonate from synaptosomal membranes was similar in neocortex, striatum, and hypothalamus, being three- to 10-fold greater than in spinal cord, cerebellum, and medulla. A polyclonal antibody exhibiting high affinity for endo-oligopeptidase was raised in rabbits against the purified rat brain enzyme and used to localize endo-oligopeptidase by Western blotting and by immunoperoxidase techniques. A strong band corresponding to the Mr of EC 3.4.22.19 was found in solubilized proteins obtained from synaptosomal membranes prepared from hypothalamus, neocortex, and striatum when subjected to Western blotting. The immunohistochemical localization of endo-oligopeptidase indicated that the immunoreactivity was confined to gray matter in regions known to be rich in peptide-containing neurons such as the striatum. In the cerebellum, a region poor in peptides, no staining could be detected. The nonuniform distribution of endo-oligopeptidase in rat brain suggests a role in neurotransmitter processing in the CNS.

ABSTRACT. MORPHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND OVARY HISTOLOGY OF K1LLl.1PSEU-DES SCHUBARTI MANE-GARZON (CRUSTACEA, TANAIDACEA) FROM SÃO SEBASTIÃO CIIAN-NEL, SÃO PAULO, BRASIL. The 1l10rphological slages of lhe Kolliapseudes schuborti Mafíe-Garzon, 1949 females were easil y delcnninated and they were similar, but the male stages show distint forms probably due to the ambient stimuli . The descriplion ofthe male slages demonstrate lhal K giO//ucoi (Bacescu, 1979) is anolher male slage of K. schuborti, probably a secondary copulatory slage. The morphology and development of the ovary is related both with the malurity and with the morphological modificalions of females slages.

RESUMOConvulsões sociais associadas a catástrofes como enchentes, terremotos e ataques aéreos apresentam maior incidência de infarto do miocárdio. A morte prematura de personagens da mídia com forte apelo popular podem representar fenômenos semelhantes. OBJETIVOS. Analisar o impacto da mídia sobre o serviço de atendimento de emergência do InCor. MÉTODOS. Através do banco de dados do InCor, foi analisado o perfil demográfico dos pacientes atendidos nos dias subseqüentes às repercussões na imprensa leiga da morte por infarto agudo do miocárdio de um importante personagem da mídia (Grupo Bussunda). Esses pacientes foram comparados com um Grupo Controle representado pelos atendimentos no primeiro semestre de 2006. RESULTADOS. Comparado ao Grupo Controle, o grupo Bussunda (Grupo B) apresentou mudanças que foram estatisticamente significativas e foram representadas pela redução da faixa etária e pelo aumento do número de homens atendidos em relação a mulheres. Este achado refletiu uma aproximação do primeiro grupo com o perfil do personagem em questão (homem, 43 anos de idade). Estas mudanças persistiram por quatro dias em relação à idade e por um dia em relação ao gênero. Apesar do aumento absoluto dos atendimentos, não ocorreu aumento do número de óbitos e de internações por infarto do miocárdio. CONCLUSÃO. A divulgação pela mídia das circunstâncias e da morte prematura por infarto agudo do miocárdio de um personagem importante provocou aumento do número de atendimentos e alterações do perfil demográfico dos pacientes que procuram o serviço de emergência cardiológica, sem que houvesse interferência no número de óbitos ou de internações.UNITERMOS: Infarto do miocárdio. Pronto-socorro. Emergência. Mídia. *Correspondência INTRODUÇÃOA relação entre a mídia e a saúde tem sido objeto de debate na literatura. Tanto de um lado, valorizando demasiadamente resultados sem significado médico, quanto de outro, divulgando tratamentos sem comprovação científica [1][2] . A ocorrência de um aumento de atendimentos por queixas cardiológicas foi um fenômeno citado freqüentemente na imprensa leiga (veiculado a cerca de 22 milhões de indivíduos) quando da morte de um importante personagem da televisão [3][4] . Entretanto, um estudo com dados concretos associados a uma análise estatística adequada e a uma interpretação dos mecanismos envolvidos ainda não foi publicado. Este estudo teve por objetivo analisar as características do atendimento cardiológico de urgência no maior pronto-socorro especializado em cardiologia do país no período próximo à morte de um personagem da mídia televisiva e compará-lo aos períodos anteriores.

No abstract

The distribution of reaction sites for esteroproteases has been assessed in 'resting' salivary glands from rats, guinea-pigs, cats, dogs and rabbits using the new substrate N-acetyl-L-methionine alpha-naphthyl ester (Lexow et al. 1979). Two main types of activity were observed in the parenchyma. 1) Condensed staining was present on the luminal sides of certain ducts in some, but not all, glands, and this type of staining was always most conspicuous in the submandibular glands of each species. It is likely that this periluminal esteroprotease activity arises from secretory enzymes that will pass into the saliva. Their greater presence in submandibular glands may have association with specialised licking activities. 2) Variable diffuse cytoplasmic staining was present in certain acinar cells from some, but not all, glands. This was most pronounced in the mucous cells of zygomatic glands from dogs. It is considered that the enzymes demonstrated in acinar cells are involved in processing secretory products rather than in being secretory themselves. The possibility that this includes 'signal peptidase' is discussed. Ductal activity in rats, cats and guinea-pigs had some relationship with sites of tryptophan staining but not in rabbits or dogs. Any relationship with acinar staining was less evident. Mast cells, showing strong esteroprotease staining, were present in variable numbers in the different glands. Preliminary attempts to qualify the enzymes being demonstrated were made by using the inhibitor E600. This substance inhibited all activity in acinar cells from each species, and in rabbits and dogs it also inhibited the ductal activity as well. However, in rats and guinea-pigs it had little or no effect on the ductal activity and in cats it had only a small inhibitory effect on the ductal activity. E600 had no obvious inhibitory effects on mast cell activity.