Karyological study of Amphisbaena ridleyi (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae), an endemic species of the Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil

The karyotype of Amphisbaena ridleyi, an endemic species of the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, in State of Pernambuco, Brazil, is described after conventional staining, Ag-NOR impregnation and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a telomeric probe. The diploid number is 46, with nine pairs of macrochromosomes (three metacentrics, four subtelocentrics and two acrocentrics) and 14 pairs of microchromosomes. The Ag-NOR is located in the telomeric region of the long arm of metacentric chromosome 2 and FISH revealed signals only in the telomeric region of all chromosomes. Further cytogenetic data on other amphisbaenians as well as a robust phylogenetic hypothesis of this clade is needed in order to understand the evolutionary changes on amphisbaenian karyotypes.

Heavy metal concentrations in soils from a remote oceanic island, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

This paper examines the role of parent rock, pedogenetic processes and airborne pollution in heavy metal accumulation in soils from a remote oceanic island, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. We studied five soil profiles developed from different volcanic rocks. Mineralogical composition and total concentrations of major and trace elements were determined in 43 samples. The obtained concentrations range for heavy metals were: Co: 26-261 ppm; Cu: 35-97 ppm; Cr: 350-1446 ppm; Ni: 114-691 ppm; Zn: 101-374 ppm; Hg: 2-150 ppb. The composition of soils is strongly affected by the geochemical character of the parent rock. Pedogenesis appears to be responsible for the accumulation of Zn, Co, and, to a lesser extent, of Ni and Cu, in the upper, Mn- and organic carbon-enriched horizons of the soil profiles. Pedogenic influence may also explain the relationship observed between Cr and the Fe. Hg is likely to have been added to the soil profile by long-range atmospheric transport. Its accumulation in the topsoil was further favoured by the formation of stable complexes with organic matter. Clay minerals do not appear to play an important role in the fixation of heavy metals.

Confiabilidade do questionário Lista de Atividades Físicas em crianças

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a confiabilidade do questionário Lista de Atividades Físicas em crianças. MÉTODOS: O estudo é parte da adaptação transcultural do questionário, realizado com 83 escolares de sete a dez anos, matriculados do segundo ao quinto ano do ensino fundamental da cidade de São Paulo, SP, em 2008. O questionário foi respondido pela criança por meio de entrevista individual, apresenta lista com 21 atividades físicas moderadas a vigorosas realizadas no dia anterior, é dividido em períodos (antes, durante e após a escola) e possui seção de avaliação da entrevista. O questionário permite quantificar: tempo em atividades físicas e sedentárias; e custos metabólicos total e ponderado. A confiabilidade foi avaliada comparando-se duas entrevistas realizadas com intervalo médio de três horas. Para a seção C (avaliação da entrevista), compararam-se dados da primeira entrevista e de um avaliador externo. Utilizaram-se a proposta de Bland & Altman e os coeficientes de correlação intraclasse e de correlação de concordância de Lin na avaliação da confiabilidade. RESULTADOS: Os limites inferiores dos coeficientes de correlação intraclasse para os desfechos analisados variaram de 0,84 a 0,96. A precisão e concordância variaram, respectivamente, de 0,83 a 0,97 e de 0,99 a 1. A reta estimada a partir de pares de valores obtidos nas duas aplicações para atividade física indica elevada precisão dos dados. O item da entrevista com pior resultado foi a habilidade em estimar tempo (regular em 27,7% das entrevistas). Os itens da seção C apresentaram coeficientes de correlação intraclasse entre 0,60 e 0,70, exceto o nível de cooperação (0,46). CONCLUSÕES: A Lista de Atividades Físicas apresenta alta confiabilidade para aferir atividade física e sedentária do dia anterior em crianças.

Monitoramento por entrevistas telefônicas de fatores de risco para doenças crônicas: experiência de Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil

Este estudo descreve alguns resultados do sistema de monitoramento de fatores de risco para doenças crônicas por entrevistas telefônicas no Município de Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil, 2005. Foi estudada amostra probabilística (n = 2.002) da população adulta servida por linhas telefônicas residenciais fixas. Foram analisadas variáveis comportamentais (consumo alimentar, atividade física, tabagismo e consumo de bebida alcoólica), peso e altura referidos e referência a diagnóstico médico de doenças crônicas. Foram calculadas estimativas de prevalência e valores de qui-quadrado. Observou-se baixo consumo de frutas e hortaliças (47,1%), alta freqüência de inatividade física ocupacional (86,6%), no deslocamento para o trabalho (92,6%) e lazer (61,9%), consumo excessivo de bebidas alcoólicas (23,2%), excesso de peso (36,5%), obesidade (10,6%), hipertensão arterial (22,4%), dislipidemias (18,4%) e diabetes (4,4%). A maioria dos fatores de risco apresentou associação inversa com escolaridade e direta com idade, com diferenças significativas entre sexos (p < 0,05). Observou-se alta prevalência dos fatores de risco de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis e de auto-referidas. Aspectos positivos do sistema: baixo custo operacional, possibilidade de monitorar a carga e a tendência das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis no nível local.

Prevalência de fatores de risco para doenças crônicas: inquérito populacional mediante entrevistas telefônicas em Botucatu, São Paulo, 2004

OBJETIVO: Descrever resultados da aplicação de um sistema de monitoramento de fatores de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNT) por meio de entrevistas telefônicas (SIMTEL) no município de Botucatu/SP. MÉTODOS: Entrevistou-se amostra probabilística (n = 1.410) da população de indivíduos com 18 ou mais anos de idade residente em domicílios do município de Botucatu/SP, conectados à rede de telefonia fixa. A amostragem foi realizada em três etapas: sorteio de linhas do cadastro da companhia telefônica; seleção de linhas residenciais ativas; sorteio para entrevista de um morador com 18 ou mais anos de idade por linha elegível. A taxa de sucesso (entrevistas realizadas: linhas elegíveis sorteadas) foi de 86,9%, sendo de 5,8% a proporção de recusas. Foi aplicado um questionário com 74 questões sobre consumo alimentar, atividade física, tabagismo, consumo de bebidas alcoólicas, peso e estatura recordados e auto-referência a diagnósticos médicos de hipertensão arterial e diabetes. Apresentam-se estimativas brutas da prevalência de fatores de risco/proteção para DCNT e estimativas ajustadas que levam em conta a distribuição segundo idade, sexo e escolaridade da população adulta total do município no Censo Demográfico de 2000. RESULTADOS: Foram observadas altas prevalências de excesso de peso (46.7%) e sedentarismo (57.9%). Houve desvantagem para os homens quanto ao consumo excessivo de bebidas alcoólicas e vantagem no que se refere à prática de atividade física em 1 ou mais dias da semana. Nas mulheres, observou-se associação inversa entre escolaridade e os seguintes fatores de risco: obesidade, excesso de peso, sedentarismo, consumo de carnes com gordura e hábito de fumar. Resultado semelhante foi observado para homens, exceto com relação a obesidade e excesso de peso. CONCLUSÕES: A segunda experiência de aplicação do SIMTEL confirmou o desempenho satisfatório e a utilidade do sistema em nosso meio.

Avaliação da qualidade da atenção básica utilizando a doença respiratória da infância como traçador, em um distrito sanitário do município de São Paulo

OBJECTIVES: to assess quality of the primary care using respiratory diseases as a tracer. METHODS: the evaluative approach is based on Donabedian's referencial connected to Kessner's tracers methodology. The sample is formed by 768 children from 0 to 5 years old, presenting respiratory symptoms, attended at seven basic health units from the Sanitary District of Brasilândia, in the city of São Paulo, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Medical registrations and interviews with mothers or responsibles were the information sources. RESULTS: more accurate child medical examination evidences significant association with favorable evolution, mainly on moderate clinical forms. Although aspects related to the accessibility demonstrated by the health team seem to influence decisively on care quality evaluated by users, mainly the medical doctor. Mothers education level appears to have no influence in the favorable evolution. CONCLUSIONS: the tracer methodology has the potentiality to facilitate the critical analysis of the health care. It is important to focus on the outcome of the health care. The children respiratory diseases are important tracer for the quality assessment on health services.

Padrão de atividade física em adultos brasileiros: resultados de um inquérito por entrevistas telefônicas, 2006

O estudo descreve as características do padrão de atividade física da população adulta das capitais de Estados brasileiros e do Distrito Federal em 2006. Os dados foram coletados pelo sistema de vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas por inquérito telefônico (Vigitel) em uma amostra probabilística da população com 18 ou mais anos de idade (n=54.369). Foram analisados dois indicadores: ativo no lazer; e sedentário. Os indivíduos ativos no lazer foram 14,9%, a maioria homens. A caminhada é a modalidade mais comum, para ambos os sexos. A freqüência de ativos no lazer aumenta com a escolaridade e diminui com a idade. O sedentarismo já atingiu 29,2% da população adulta, com maior freqüência no sexo masculino, e aumenta com a idade e com a escolaridade. O perfil de atividade física é insatisfatório em todas as cidades, o que determina a necessidade de mais esforços no estímulo à prática da atividade física

Effectiveness of 980-mm Diode and 1064-nm Extra-Long-Pulse Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Lasers in Implant Disinfection

Objective: To evaluate the potential of 980-nm gallium aluminum arsenide (GaAlAs) and 1064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers to reduce bacteria after irradiation of implant surfaces contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis and Porphyromonas gingivalis and on irradiated implant surface morphology. Background: Despite the frequency of implant success, some implant loss is related to peri-implantitis because of difficulty in eliminating the biofilm. Methods: Implants (3.75 x 13 mm) with machined surfaces, surfaces sand blasted with titanium oxide (TiO(2)), and sand-blasted and acid-etched surfaces were exposed to P. gingivalis and E. faecalis cultures and irradiated with 980-nm GaAlAs or 1064-nm Nd: YAG lasers. After laser treatments, the number of remaining colony-forming units and implant surface morphology were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: The Nd: YAG laser was able to promote a total contamination reduction on all implants irradiated. The results with the GaAlAs laser showed 100% bacteria reduction on the implants irradiated with 3 W. Irradiation with 2.5 W and 3 W achieved 100% of bacteria reduction on P. gingivalis-contaminated implants. Decontamination was not complete for the sand-blasted TiO(2) (78.6%) and acid-etched surfaces (49.4%) contaminated with E. faecalis and irradiated with 2.5 W. SEM showed no implant surface changes. Conclusion: The wavelengths used in this research provided bacteria reduction without damaging implant surfaces. New clinical research should be encouraged for the use of this technology in the treatment of peri-implantitis.

Optimized harvest scheduling in eucalyptus plantations under operational, spatial and climatic constraints

The representation of sustainability concerns in industrial forests management plans, in relation to environmental, social and economic aspects, involve a great amount of details when analyzing and understanding the interaction among these aspects to reduce possible future impacts. At the tactical and operational planning levels, methods based on generic assumptions usually provide non-realistic solutions, impairing the decision making process. This study is aimed at improving current operational harvesting planning techniques, through the development of a mixed integer goal programming model. This allows the evaluation of different scenarios, subject to environmental and supply constraints, increase of operational capacity, and the spatial consequences of dispatching harvest crews to certain distances over the evaluation period. As a result, a set of performance indicators was selected to evaluate all optimal solutions provided to different possible scenarios and combinations of these scenarios, and to compare these outcomes with the real results observed by the mill in the study case area. Results showed that it is possible to elaborate a linear programming model that adequately represents harvesting limitations, production aspects and environmental and supply constraints. The comparison involving the evaluated scenarios and the real observed results showed the advantage of using more holistic approaches and that it is possible to improve the quality of the planning recommendations using linear programming techniques.

Bacterial community in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of wild type and transgenic eucalyptus

The rhizosphere is a niche exploited by a wide variety of bacteria. The expression of heterologous genes by plants might become a factor affecting the structure of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere. In a greenhouse experiment, the bacterial community associated to transgenic eucalyptus, carrying the Lhcb1-2 genes from pea (responsible for a higher photosynthetic capacity), was evaluated. The culturable bacterial community associated to transgenic and wild type plants were not different in density, and the Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis (ARDRA) typing of 124 strains revealed dominant ribotypes representing the bacterial orders Burkholderiales, Rhizobiales, and Actinomycetales, the families Xanthomonadaceae, and Bacillaceae, and the genus Mycobacterium. Principal Component Analysis based on the fingerprints obtained by culture-independent Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis analysis revealed that Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria communities responded differently to plant genotypes. Similar effects for the cultivation of transgenic eucalyptus to those observed when two genotype-distinct wild type plants are compared.

Checklist and morphometry of benthic cnidarians from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil

The Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (Pernambuco State, Brazil), a national marine park, is formed by 21 islands and islets of volcanic origin. An update of the checklist of the benthic cnidarians from some of the archipelago`s reef environments, as well as a study of their corals and calcified hydroids morphometry, was the major goal of this work. Fieldwork was undertaken in February 2005 and in April 2006 and observations were carried out at 13 stations during snorkeling and/or scuba diving up to 30 m deep. Thirty-four species of cnidarians were recorded, of which 17 are new occurrences for the studied area. When added to the species previously listed in the literature, the total number of benthic cnidarians recorded for the Archipelago increases to 57. Stephanocoenia michelini, a new occurrence of zooxanthellate coral, is worthy of mention, as well as the calcified hydroid Millepora braziliensis. Mussismilia hispida tenuisepta showed several variations among its skeletal characters that surpassed the limits of intraspecific morphological variation when compared to those of Mussismilia hispida.

A comparative study of cleaning activity of two reef fishes at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, tropical West Atlantic

Cleaner fishes are usually classified as obligate or facultative cleaners according to their diet and the extent to which their nutritional requirements in the different ontogenetic stages are gained from cleaning. While obligate cleaners clean throughout their lives and ingest mainly food taken from the clients` body surface, facultative cleaners clean only as juveniles and have a broader diet. In addition, some facultative cleaners may experience a relatively higher predation risk, and thus rarely interact with piscivorous fishes. Despite these acknowledged differences, there are very few studies that compare cleaning activity of obligate and facultative cleaners within the same area. Cleaning activity of the obligate cleaner goby Elacatinus cf. randalli and the facultative cleaner wrasse Thalassoma noronhanum were comparatively examined at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, tropical West Atlantic. The client assemblage attended by the two cleaners differed, as the goby attended a slightly greater diversity of species (22), mostly piscivores and zoobenthivores, and the wrasse attended fewer species (19), mostly planktivores. Chromis multilineata was the most common client species of both cleaners, although body size (which is expected to be positively correlated to clients` ectoparasite load) of C. multilineata individuals attended by the goby was larger than that of the individuals attended by the wrasse. Despite such differences, T. noronhanum showed a surprisingly species-rich client assemblage when compared with other cleaners of the genus Thalassoma. In addition, the frequency and time spent on cleaning interactions, as well as the number of client species attended per 10-min period, was similar for both cleaner species, which indicate that they have important yet complimentary ecological roles in the reef community at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago.

CCR2 Deficiency Results in Increased Osteolysis in Experimental Periapical Lesions in Mice

Introduction: Periapical lesions are chronic inflammatory disorders of periradicular tissues caused by etiologic agents of endodontic origin. The inflammatory chemokines are thought to be involved in the latter observed osteolysis. With a murine model of experimental periapical lesion, the objective of this study was to evaluate the role of the chemokine receptor CCR2 in the lesion progression, osteoclast differentiation and activation, and expression of inflammatory osteolysis-related mediators. Methods: For lesion induction, right mandibular first molars were opened surgically with a (1)/(4) carbine bur, and 4 bacterial strains were inoculated in the exposed dental pulp; left mandibular first molars were used as controls. Animals were killed at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after surgeries to evaluate the kinetics of lesion development. Results: CCR2 KO mice showed wider lesions than WT mice. CCR2 KO mice also expressed higher levels of the osteoclastogenic and osteolytic factors, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and cathepsin K, of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha, and of the neutrophil migration related chemokine, KC. Conclusions: These results suggest that CCR2 is important in host protection to periapical osteolysis. (J Endod 2010;36:244-250)

A geochemical and lead isotopic record from a small pond in a remote equatorial island, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

A 72 cm long core was collected from Lagoa da Viracao (LV), a small poind in the Fernando de Noronha island, northern Brazil. Sediments from the lower section of the core (20-72 cm depth) contain essentially mineral matter, while in the upper section (0-20 cm depth) mineral matter is mixed with organic matter. Lithogenic conservative elements - Si, Al, Fe, Ti, Co, Cr, Cu, Ba, Ga, Hf, Nb, Ni, Y, V, Zn, Zr and REE - exhibit remarkably constant values throughout the core, with concentrations similar to those of the bedrock. The vertical distribution of soluble elements - Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, Mn and Sr - is also homogeneous, but these elements are systematically depleted in relation to the bedrock. LOI, TOC, Br, Se, Hg and Pb, although showing nearly constant values in the lower section of the core, are significantly enriched in the upper section. The concentration profiles of Br and Se suggest that they may be accounted for by natural processes, related to the slight affinity of these elements for organic matter. On the other hand, the elevated levels of Hg and Pb in recent sediments may be explained by their long-range atmospheric transport and deposition. Furthermore, the isotopic composition of Pb clearly indicates that anthropogenic sources contributed to the Pb burden in the uppermost pond sediments.