Utilização de peptídeos sintéticos derivados de moléculas imunodominantes de Toxoplasma gondii para diagnóstico sorológico da toxoplasmose em ovinos e galinhas caipiras

Chapter I - The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a disease that affects humans and generates economic losses in farm animals. When prevention fails disease refers to the diagnosis and subsequent treatment if the individual is diagnosed as positive. Therefore, the development of new accurate diagnostic tools for detecting T. gondii infection is a need in particular to determine the environmental source of infection which can result in more appropriate public health policies against different routes of infection and prevent potential damage that toxoplasmosis can cause when animals are infected. Chapter II - The domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) are considered epidemiological sentinels, still representing a major source of recombinant strains when predated by cats, it is common to find them with multiple infections. We evaluate the diagnostic potential of six synthetic peptides (SAG2Y, MIC1, M2AP, GRA10, ROP2 and ROP7) predicted in silico from tachyzoites immunodominant markers of T. gondii in samples from naturally infected chickens, comparing synthetic peptides with antigen total soluble (STAg). In general, our results demonstrated that reactivity rates and positivity for these peptides are similar to the STAg, and the ROP7 peptide and the combination of peptides MIC1+ROP2 have significant sensitivity, confirming them as potential diagnostic tools for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in chickens. Chapter III - Sheep (Ovis aries) are commonly infected with Toxoplasma gondii due to his eating habits. Infection in pregnant sheep can have serious consequences such as embryonic death, fetal resorption, mummification, and neonatal death. One concern regarding the infection in these animals is that the meat can be a source of contamination to humans and other carnivores. Therefore perform accurate diagnosis in these animals is of fundamental importance. In the present study we evaluated the potential of new synthetic peptides as a diagnostic tool. Synthetic peptides (SAG2Y, SRS52A, MIC14, GRA4, GRA10 and GRA15) were predicted in silico from immunodominant proteins of T. gondii. We determine the levels of IgG antibodies using sera obtained from two farms in the city of Uberlândia. Analyzing the results together, the peptide combination GRA10+GRA15 (Accuracy = 0,82) showed better characteristics compared with the other mixtures. This preparation could be better analyzed with an antigenic mixture potential use in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in sheep and other species.

Ação pública na formação e transformação do destino turístico de Porto de Galinhas: um estudo dos referenciais no período de 1970 a 2010

The central interest of this thesis is to comprehend how the public action impels the formation and transformation of the tourist destinies. The research was based on the premise that the public actions are the result of the mediation process of state and non-state actors considered important in a section, which interact aiming for prevailing their interests and world visions above the others. The case of Porto de Galinhas beach, in Pernambuco, locus of the investigation of this thesis, allowed the analysis of a multiplicity of actors on the formation and implementation of local actions toward the development of the tourism between the years 1970 and 2010, as well as permitted the comprehension of the construction of the referential on the interventions made. This thesis, of a qualitative nature, has as theoretical support the cognitive approach of analysis of the public policies developed in France, and it has as main exponents the authors Bruno Jobert and Pierre Muller. This choice was made by the emphasis on the cognitive and normative factors of the politics, which aspects are not very explored in the studies of public policies in Brazil. As the source of the data collection, documental, bibliographic and field researches were utilized to the (re)constitution of the formation and transformation in the site concerned. The analysis techniques applied were the content and the documental analysis. To trace the public action referential, it started by the characterization of the touristic section frontiers and the creation of images by the main international body: the World Tourism Organization, of which analysis of the minutes of the meetings underscored guidelines to the member countries, including Brazil, which compounds the global-sectorial reference of the section. As from the analysis of the evolution of the tourism in the country, was identified that public policies in Brazil passed by transformations in their organization over the years, indicating changes in the referential that guided the interventions. These guidelines and transformations were identified in the construction of the tourist destination of Porto de Galinhas, of which data was systematized and presented in four historical periods, in which were discussed the values, the standard, the algorithms, the images and the important mediators. It has been revealed that the State worked in different roles in the decades analyzed in local tourism. From the 1990s, however, new actors were inserted in the formulation and implementation of policies developed, especially for local hotelkeepers. These, through their association, establishes a leadership relation in the local touristic section, thereby, they could set their hegemony and spread their own interest. The leadership acquired by a group of actors, in the case of Porto de Galinhas, does not mean that trade within the industry were neutralized, but that there is a cognitive framework that confronts the actors involved. In spite of the advances achieved by the work of the mediators in the last decades, that resulted in an amplification and diversification of the activity in the area, as well as the consolidation at the beach, as a tourist destiny of national standout, the position of the place is instable, concerned to the competitiveness, once that there is an situation of social and environmental unsustainability

Ação pública na formação e transformação do destino turístico de Porto de Galinhas: um estudo dos referenciais no período de 1970 a 2010

The central interest of this thesis is to comprehend how the public action impels the formation and transformation of the tourist destinies. The research was based on the premise that the public actions are the result of the mediation process of state and non-state actors considered important in a section, which interact aiming for prevailing their interests and world visions above the others. The case of Porto de Galinhas beach, in Pernambuco, locus of the investigation of this thesis, allowed the analysis of a multiplicity of actors on the formation and implementation of local actions toward the development of the tourism between the years 1970 and 2010, as well as permitted the comprehension of the construction of the referential on the interventions made. This thesis, of a qualitative nature, has as theoretical support the cognitive approach of analysis of the public policies developed in France, and it has as main exponents the authors Bruno Jobert and Pierre Muller. This choice was made by the emphasis on the cognitive and normative factors of the politics, which aspects are not very explored in the studies of public policies in Brazil. As the source of the data collection, documental, bibliographic and field researches were utilized to the (re)constitution of the formation and transformation in the site concerned. The analysis techniques applied were the content and the documental analysis. To trace the public action referential, it started by the characterization of the touristic section frontiers and the creation of images by the main international body: the World Tourism Organization, of which analysis of the minutes of the meetings underscored guidelines to the member countries, including Brazil, which compounds the global-sectorial reference of the section. As from the analysis of the evolution of the tourism in the country, was identified that public policies in Brazil passed by transformations in their organization over the years, indicating changes in the referential that guided the interventions. These guidelines and transformations were identified in the construction of the tourist destination of Porto de Galinhas, of which data was systematized and presented in four historical periods, in which were discussed the values, the standard, the algorithms, the images and the important mediators. It has been revealed that the State worked in different roles in the decades analyzed in local tourism. From the 1990s, however, new actors were inserted in the formulation and implementation of policies developed, especially for local hotelkeepers. These, through their association, establishes a leadership relation in the local touristic section, thereby, they could set their hegemony and spread their own interest. The leadership acquired by a group of actors, in the case of Porto de Galinhas, does not mean that trade within the industry were neutralized, but that there is a cognitive framework that confronts the actors involved. In spite of the advances achieved by the work of the mediators in the last decades, that resulted in an amplification and diversification of the activity in the area, as well as the consolidation at the beach, as a tourist destiny of national standout, the position of the place is instable, concerned to the competitiveness, once that there is an situation of social and environmental unsustainability

Contributo para o parqueamento móvel de galinhas da raça Preta Lusitânica no controlo de infestantes em vinhas, pomares e hortas em Agricultura Biológica

Resumo O presente trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de apresentar propostas de estruturas de parqueamento (elétrico e mecânico), para o controlo de infestantes com galinhas. No estudo usaram-se aves da raça Preta Lusitânica para controlar infestantes nas linhas da vinha em agricultura biológica. Na elaboração das propostas de parqueamento esteve sempre presente a obrigatoriedade de promover o bem-estar das aves e avaliar os possíveis constrangimentos e perturbações causados pelas estruturas de confinamento na manifestação dos comportamentos naturais das aves. O trabalho foi dividido em seis fases. A primeira fase do trabalho foi dedicada à definição das caraterísticas das estruturas de parqueamento. A segunda fase foi dedicada à apresentação das propostas de estruturas de parqueamento das galinhas. Na terceira fase foram realizados os testes de eficácia do parqueamento das galinhas; do controlo das infestantes no que se refere à durabilidade do efeito, comparativamente ao corte mecânico e ainda uma breve análise do comportamento das galinhas. Seguiu-se a análise dos resultados dos ensaios realizados e por último elaborámos um esboço de uma estrutura de parqueamento móvel  GMÓVEL  para que possa ser eficaz no confinamento das galinhas nas linhas e entrelinhas de vinhas e pomares e entrelinhas das hortas em agricultura biológica. Os resultados demonstraram que a proposta com cerca elétrica não foi eficaz no confinamento. O controlo com galinhas da raça Preta Lusitânica revelou-se o mais eficaz no controlo das infestantes e de efeito mais longo no que se refere ao tempo de regeneração dessas infestantes. Palavras-Chave: controlo de infestantes; galinhas; agricultura biológica; preta lusitânica. 2 Abstract The present work was carried out in order to present proposals for parking structures (electrical and mechanical), for weed control. In the study they used chickens of the breed “Preta Lusitânica” to control weeds in the rows of vines in organic farming. During the preparation of the parking proposals, was always present the obligation to promote birds welfare and assess the possible constraints and disturbances caused by the containment structures in birds natural behavior. The work was split into six phases. The first phase of work was devoted to defining the characteristics of parking structures. The second phase was devoted to the presentation of the proposal parking structures for chickens. In the third phase, chickens parking effectiveness tests were made; the weed control with regard to the durability of effect, compared to the mechanical cutting and also a brief analysis of chickens behaviour. The analysis of the results of tests was carried out and finally we made a sketch of the mobile parking structure - GMÓVEL - for it to be effective in the confinement of chickens in the rows and between lines of vineyards and orchards and between lines of gardens in Organic Farming. The results demonstrated that the electric fence proposal was not effective in confinement. The weed control, using the chickens of the breed “Preta Lusitânica”, was way more effective. The effect is longer too, in relation to the regeneration time of these weeds. Key-words: Weed control; Chickens; Organic Farming; Preta Lusitânica.

O efeito do peso vivo às 17 semanas de idade de galinhas poedeiras nos parâmetros produtivos e de qualidade do ovo durante a fase de postura

Dissertação de Mestrado em Engenharia Zootécnica/Produção Animal

A Low Radar Cross Section Dipole Antenna Simulation

This paper reports a new method for reducing theRadar Cross-Section (RCS) of a metal backed dipole antenna. Numerical simulations are used to show that when the Perfect Electrical Conductor (PEC) is replaced by a carefully designedFrequency Selective Surface (FSS), the electromagnetic performanceof the antenna is similar in band, but the RCS of the structure is significantly lower out of band. The design of the FSSand the return loss, radiation patterns and RCS are presentedfor an antenna which operates at a center frequency of 4 GHzand the results are compared with a conventional metal backed arrangement

Analysis of the Second Harmonic Effect on Power Amplifier Intermodulation Products

A theoretical analysis is reported in this paper to investigate the effect that a second harmonic signal which might be present at an amplifier’s input has on generating additional intermodulation products, particularly the third-order intermodulation (IM3) products. The analysis shows that the amplitude of an extra generated IM3 component is equal to the product of the fundamental amplitude, the second harmonic amplitude, and the second order Taylor series coefficient. The effect of the second order harmonic on the IM3 is examined through a simulated example of a 2.22-GHz 10-W Class-EF amplifier whereby the IM3 levels have been reduced by 2-3 dB after employing a second harmonic termination stub at the input.

Towards generalized Doherty power amplifier design for multiband operation

This paper presents a new variant of broadband Doherty power amplifier that employs a novel output combiner. A new parameter ∝ is introduced to permit a generalized analysis of the recently reported Parallel Doherty power amplifier (PDPA),and hence offer design flexibility. The circuit prototype of the new DPA fabricated using GaN devices exhibits maximum drain efficiency of 85% at 43-dBm peak power and 63% at 6-dB backoff power (BOP). Measured drain efficiency of >60% at peak power across 500-MHz frequency range and >50% at 6-dB BOP across 480-MHz frequency range were achieved, confirming the  theoretical wideband characteristics of the new DPA.

Chick heart/hemangioblast progenitor 12 (chep 12: study of a novel gene expressed in the heart/hemangioblast percursors cells

Dissertação de mest., Ciências Biomédicas, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2009

PCR em tempo real para caracterização de fontes alimentares de flebotomíneos (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Os flebotomíneos são insetos hematófagos de grande importância médica e veterinária atuando como vetores de parasitas como Leishmania. O estudo do padrão alimentar desses vetores pode ajudar a compreender a sua interação com potenciais reservatórios de Leishmania. Neste estudo, desenvolvemos ensaios de PCR em tempo real para identificação de sangue em flebotomíneos. Seis pares de primers foram desenhados com base no gene citocromo b de sequencias disponíveis no GenBank dos seguintes hospedeiros potenciais: cão, gato, cavalo, galinha, rato e humano. Primeiramente, os ensaios de PCR em tempo real utilizando SYBR Green foram conduzidos usando uma curva padrão com oito concentrações diferentes (i.e., 10 ng, 1 ng, 100 pg, 10 pg, 1 pg, 100 fg, 10 fg e 1 fg por 2 µl) de amostras do DNA extraído do sangue com EDTA a partir de cada espécie de animal. Em seguida, o DNA foi extraído de 100 fêmeas de flebotomíneos ingurgitadas de campo pertencentes a três espécies (i.e., Lutzomyia longipalpis, L. migonei e L. lenti) foram testadas pelos protocolos aqui padronizados. Fêmeas de flebotomíneos foram experimentalmente alimentadas em um rato (Rattus rattus) e utilizadas para avaliar a detecção do ensaio. Os protocolos funcionaram de forma eficiente com limites de detecção de 10 pg a 100 fg. Fêmeas de flebotomíneos ingurgitadas coletadas no campo estavam alimentadas de humanos (73 por cento), galinhas (23 por cento), cães (22 por cento), cavalos (15 por cento), ratos (11 por cento) e gatos (2 por cento). Curiosamente, 76,1 por cento das fêmeas de L. longipalpis foram positivas para o sangue humano. No total, 48 por cento das fêmeas testadas estavam alimentadas em uma única fonte, 31 por cento em duas e 12 por cento em três. A análise do curso de tempo mostrou que a técnica de PCR em tempo real visando o DNA de roedor foi capaz de detectar pequenas quantidades de DNA do hospedeiro até 5 dias após o repasto sanguíneo. Esses protocolos representam ferramentas promissoras para a identificação da fonte alimentar de flebotomíneos de campo

Implementação da tecnologia de IgY para o diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral canina

Os métodos de diagnóstico sorológico são ainda as ferramentas mais realistas e aplicáveis para identificação de cães com leishmaniose visceral. A pesquisa por métodos sorológicos mais eficientes e de produção simplificada é importante para a identificação do reservatório canino, ação primordial para o controle da doença. Este estudo teve por objetivo o desenvolvimento e a avaliação do desempenho de um ELISA para leishmaniose visceral canina, utilizando como conjugado enzimático uma IgY anti-IgG canina. Para isto, galinhas poedeiras foram imunizadas com IgG canina purificada e a IgY anti-IgG foi isolada das gemas dos ovos por precipitação com polietilenoglicol e purificada por meio de adsorção tiofílica. A especificidade frente ao antígeno imunizante foi verificada por imunodifusão radial dupla, ELISA e western-blot. O ELISA foi desenvolvido utilizando IgY conjugada a enzima peroxidase, tendo seus parâmetros de acurácia avaliados e comparados com o ELISA utilizando IgG de mamíferos conjugada a peroxidase. A concentração total de IgY isolada nas gemas foi constante, sem diferença significativa nos meses analisados (...), com média de 97,55 mg de IgY/ gema. A IgY produzida reconheceu a IgG canina, demonstrando uma forte sensibilidade e especificidade no ELISA, porém na imunodifusão não foi detectada ligação da IgY produzida a IgG canina. Após a imunização, houve um aumento significante da produção de IgY específica do primeiro para o segundo mês (...) onde ocorreu um pico estável sem queda de produção até o final do período analisado (...). A IgY demonstrou ainda, forte reatividade no western-Blot frente a IgG canina purificada e a presente no soro de cão clinicamente saudável, não sendo capaz de reconhecer IgG de outras espécies animais.