Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Central Plateau, Southeastern, and Southern Brazil

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is an increasing health problem in Brazil because of encroachment of sprawling urban, agricultural, and cattle-raising areas into habitats of subfamily Sigmodontinae rodents, which serve as hantavirus reservoirs. From 1993 through June 2007, a total of 884 cases of HIPS were reported in Brazil (case-fatality rate 39%). To better understand this emerging disease, we collected 89 human serum samples and 68 rodent lung samples containing antibodies to hantavirus from a 2,500-km-wide area in Brazil. RNA was isolated from human samples and rodent lung tissues and subjected to reverse transcription-PCR. Partial sequences of nucleocapsid protein and glycoprotein genes from 22 human and 16 rodent sources indicated only Araraquara virus and Juquitiba virus lineages. The case-fatality rate of HPS was higher in the area with Araraquara virus. This virus, which may be the most virulent hantavirus in Brazil, was associated with areas that have had greater anthropogenic changes.

TESTING THE DISTANCE-DUALITY RELATION WITH GALAXY CLUSTERS AND TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE

In this Letter, we propose a new and model-independent cosmological test for the distance-duality (DD) relation, eta = D(L)(z)(1 + z)(-2)/D(A)(z) = 1, where D(L) and D(A) are, respectively, the luminosity and angular diameter distances. For D(L) we consider two sub-samples of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) taken from Constitution data whereas D(A) distances are provided by two samples of galaxy clusters compiled by De Filippis et al. and Bonamente et al. by combining Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect and X-ray surface brightness. The SNe Ia redshifts of each sub-sample were carefully chosen to coincide with the ones of the associated galaxy cluster sample (Delta z < 0.005), thereby allowing a direct test of the DD relation. Since for very low redshifts, D(A)(z) approximate to D(L)(z), we have tested the DD relation by assuming that. is a function of the redshift parameterized by two different expressions: eta(z) = 1 + eta(0)z and eta(z) = 1 +eta(0)z/(1 + z), where eta(0) is a constant parameter quantifying a possible departure from the strict validity of the reciprocity relation (eta(0) = 0). In the best scenario (linear parameterization), we obtain eta(0) = -0.28(-0.44)(+0.44) (2 sigma, statistical + systematic errors) for the De Filippis et al. sample (elliptical geometry), a result only marginally compatible with the DD relation. However, for the Bonamente et al. sample (spherical geometry) the constraint is eta(0) = -0.42(-0.34)(+0.34) (3 sigma, statistical + systematic errors), which is clearly incompatible with the duality-distance relation.

Kinematic constraints to the transition redshift from supernovae type Ia union data

The kinematic approach to cosmological tests provides direct evidence to the present accelerating stage of the Universe that does not depend on the validity of general relativity, as well as on the matter-energy content of the Universe. In this context, we consider here a linear two-parameter expansion for the decelerating parameter, q(z)=q(0)+q(1)z, where q(0) and q(1) are arbitrary constants to be constrained by the union supernovae data. By assuming a flat Universe we find that the best fit to the pair of free parameters is (q(0),q(1))=(-0.73,1.5) whereas the transition redshift is z(t)=0.49(-0.07)(+0.14)(1 sigma) +0.54-0.12(2 sigma). This kinematic result is in agreement with some independent analyses and more easily accommodates many dynamical flat models (like Lambda CDM).

Deep weathering and landscape evolution in a tropical plateau

The thick weathering profiles of humid tropical areas are an important, yet generally neglected, source of information on landscape evolution. Six complete profiles of the weathering mantle were sampled by drilling on the three stepped levels of the Campos do Jordao Plateau, on the NW flank of the Continental Rift of Southeastern Brazil. Mineralogical and micromorphological analyses of drill core samples, complemented by geochemical interpretations and by previous data on the upper saprolite, indicate continuity of a general lateritic trend during the entire process of mantle formation. Lateritization phases of different intensity were defined and considered to reflect adjustment to changes in environmental conditions created by the gradual uplift of the plateau to its present position. Older and more superficial materials related to intense lateritic weathering are characterized by allitization with direct formation of gibbsite from silicates, probably related to tropical climates existing immediately before the formation of the continental rift, during the Paleogene, and also before any significant increase in altitude. Monosialitization phase with general kaolinitization and restricted indirect formation of gibbsite from silicates could be associated to less aggressive climates that followed the Neogene (Miocene?) accentuation of uplift rates along the continental rift. The changes produced by uplift in the tropical climate eventually favored the development of a podzolization trend in soils above 1800m. (C) 2011 Elsevier BM. All rights reserved.

Toward sustainable soil and water resources use in China`s highly erodible semi-arid loess plateau

The water-wind crisscross region of the Loess Plateau in China is comprised of 17.8 million hectares of highly erodible soil under limited annual rainfall. This requires a sustainable water balance for the restoration of dryland ecosystems to reduce and manage soil erosion. In this region, alfalfa has been one of the main legumes grown to minimize soil erosion. However, alfalfa yields were significantly lower in years of reduced rainfall suggesting that high water use and deep rooting alfalfa make it an unsustainable crop due to the long-term decline in soil water storage and productivity. Our objectives in this Study were to evaluate the soil water balance of Loess Plateau soils during vegetative restoration and to evaluate practices that prevent soil desiccation and promote ecosystem restoration and sustainability. Field observations of soil moisture recovery and soil erosion were carried out for five years after alfalfa was replaced with different crops and with bare soil. Soil water content changes in cropland, rangeland, and bare soil were tracked over several years, using a water balance approach. Results indicate that growing forages significantly reduced runoff and sediment transport. A forage-food-crop rotation is a better choice than other cropping systems for achieving sustainable productivity and preventing soil erosion and desiccation. However, economic considerations have prevented its widespread adoption by local farmers. Alternatively, this study recommends consideration of grassland crops or forest ecosystems to provide a sustainable water balance in the Loess Plateau of China. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impacts of land-use pattern on soil water-content variability on the Loess Plateau of China

Long-term vegetation restoration carried out on the slopes of the Loess Plateau of China employed different spatial and temporal land-use patterns but very little is known about the effects of these patterns on soil water-content variability. For this study the small Donggou catchment was selected to investigate soil water-content distributions for three spatial scales, including the entire catchment area, sampling transects, and land-use systems. Gravimetric soil water contents were determined incrementally to a soil depth of 1.20 m, on 10 occasions from April to October, 2007, at approximately 20-day intervals. Results indicated that soil water contents were affected by the six land-use types, resulting in four distinct patterns of vertical distribution of soil moisture (uniform, increasing, decreasing, and fluctuating with soil depth). The soil water content and its variation were also influenced in a complex manner by five land-use patterns distributed along transects following the gradients of five similar slopes. These patterns with contrasting hydrological responses in different components, such as forage land (alfalfa)-cropland-shrubland or shrubland-grassland (bunge needlegrass)-cropland-grassland, showed the highest soil water-content variability. Soil water at the catchment scale exhibited a moderate variability for each measurement date, and the variability of soil water content decreased exponentially with increasing soil water content. The minimum sample size for accurate data for use in a hydrological model for the catchment, for example, required many more samples for drier (69) than for wet (10) conditions. To enhance erosion and runoff control, this study suggested two strategies for land management: (i) to create a mosaic pattern by land-use arrangement that located units with higher infiltration capacities downslope from those with lower soil infiltrabilities; and (ii) raising the soil-infiltration capacity of units within the spatial mosaic pattern where possible.

A plateau detected in lead accumulation in subsurface deciduous enamel from individuals exposed to lead may be useful to identify children and regions exposed to higher levels of lead

In a previous study, we showed 4 times more lead in surface deciduous enamel (1.9-5.9 mu m) of a notoriously contaminated area (Bauru, Sao Paulo State, Brazil) in comparison to samples from a region with no lead contamination described (Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo State, Brazil). The samples from the more superficial enamel (1.9-3.18 mu m) showed higher amounts of lead and the highest variability, while in the subsurface enamel (3.18-5.9 mu m) a plateau in lead content was detected in children living in the contaminated environment (around 600 mu g/g). Here we expand our previous study, and use only samples obtained from subsurface enamel (Ribeirao Preto, n = 186; Bauru, n = 20). We tried to distinguish regions with more children with lead above the threshold of 600 mu g/g of lead in enamel. We tested whether differences in the percentage of children with ""high"" lead (>= 600 mu g/g) could be observed among the different Kindergartens studied in Ribeirao Preto. We also tested whether these results were different from the ones provided by conventional comparison of the data. Ribeirao Preto showed almost 4 times less lead than Bauru (p < 0.0001), and a statistically significant difference was found only in Ribeirao Preto between Kindergarten 2 and 5 (p<0.01). Twelve percent of the children from Ribeirao Preto had ""high"" lead, while 55% of the children from Bauru did so. However, when we looked at the percentages of children with ""high"" lead in each Kindergarten, and compared them, a whole new picture emerged, in which we could see children with ""high"" lead concentrated mainly in 3 Kindergartens from Ribeirao Preto, with Kindergarten 5 with 33% of the children with ""high"" lead, being statistically different from all Kindergartens, except 4 and 6. The threshold of 600 mu g/g of lead in subsurface enamel was tentatively settled here after the plateau seen in exposed children, and enabled us to identify locations with more children exposed to a higher amount of lead. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of frequency and inspiratory plateau pressure during recruitment manoeuvres on lung and distal organs in acute lung injury

To evaluate the effects of frequency and inspiratory plateau pressure (Pplat) during recruitment manoeuvres (RMs) on lung and distal organs in acute lung injury (ALI). We studied paraquat-induced ALI rats. At 24 h, rats were anesthetized and RMs were applied using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP, 40 cmH(2)O/40 s) or three-different sigh strategies: (a) 180 sighs/h and Pplat = 40 cmH(2)O (S180/40), (b) 10 sighs/h and Pplat = 40 cmH(2)O (S10/40), and (c) 10 sighs/h and Pplat = 20 cmH(2)O (S10/20). S180/40 yielded alveolar hyperinflation and increased lung and kidney epithelial cell apoptosis as well as type III procollagen (PCIII) mRNA expression. S10/40 resulted in a reduction in epithelial cell apoptosis and PCIII expression. Static elastance and alveolar collapse were higher in S10/20 than S10/40. The reduction in sigh frequency led to a protective effect on lung and distal organs, while the combination with reduced Pplat worsened lung mechanics and histology.

Transition redshift: new kinematic constraints from supernovae

The transition redshift (deceleration/acceleration) is discussed by expanding the deceleration parameter to first order around its present value. A detailed study is carried out by considering two different parametrizations, q = q(0) + q(1)z and q = q(0) + q(1)z(1 + z)(-1), and the associated free parameters (q(0), q(1)) are constrained by three different supernovae (SNe) samples. A previous analysis by Riess et al. using the first expansion is slightly improved and confirmed in light of their recent data (Gold07 sample). However, by fitting the model with the Supernova Legacy Survey (SNLS) type Ia sample, we find that the best fit to the redshift transition is z(t) = 0.61, instead of z(t) = 0.46 as derived by the High-z Supernovae Search (HZSNS) team. This result based in the SNLS sample is also in good agreement with the sample of Davis et al., z(t) = 0.60(-0.11)(+0.28) (1 sigma). Such results are in line with some independent analyses and accommodate more easily the concordance flat model (Lambda CDM). For both parametrizations, the three SNe Ia samples considered favour recent acceleration and past deceleration with a high degree of statistical confidence level. All the kinematic results presented here depend neither on the validity of general relativity nor on the matter-energy contents of the Universe.

Galactic outflows and the pollution of the galactic environment by supernovae

We here explore the effects of the SN explosions into the halo of star-forming galaxies like the Milky Way. Successive randomly distributed and clustered SNe explosions cause the formation of hot superbubbles that drive either fountains or galactic winds above the galactic disk, depending on the amount and concentration of energy that is injected by the SNe. In a galactic fountain, the ejected gas is re-captured by the gravitational potential and falls back onto the disk. From 3D non-equilibrium radiative cooling hydrodynamical simulations of these fountains, we find that they may reach altitudes up to about 5 kpc in the halo and thus allow for the formation of the so called intermediate-velocity-clouds (IVCs) which are often observed in the halos of disk galaxies. The high-velocity-clouds that are also observed but at higher altitudes (of up to 12 kpc) require another mechanism to explain their production. We argue that they could be formed either by the capture of gas from the intergalactic medium and/or by the action of magnetic fields that are carried to the halo with the gas in the fountains. Due to angular momentum losses to the halo, we find that the fountain material falls back to smaller radii and is not largely spread over the galactic disk. Instead, the SNe ejecta fall nearby the region where the fountain was produced, a result which is consistent with recent chemical models of the galaxy. The fall back material leads to the formation of new generations of molecular clouds and to supersonic turbulence feedback in the disk. (C) 2009 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Study of the relationship between roads, relief, land use, and natural vegetation in the Ibiuna Plateau - SP, focusing on landscape ecology

Roads facilitate access by deforestation agents, being relevant in studies approaching conservationist matters in rainforests. It is important to understand the relationship between road distribution, relief, land use, and forest coverage in order to evaluate where forests are more vulnerable. This study aimed at: 1) understanding the relationship between relief and density and road connectivity in three moments in time; and 2) evaluating the relationship between distance from roads and forest coverage, farmlands and rural and urban facilities in a fragmented Atlantic Forest landscape in three moments in time. Maps of roads, altitude, and land use and coverage were used. Chi-square tests showed that: 1) density and road connectivity did not present significant relationship with the relief; and 2) forest areas occupy areas distant from the roads, while farmlands and rural and urban facilities occupy areas nearer the roads. Roads and land use, regardless of relief, influence forest coverage distribution. Thus, we suggest that roads are taken into account in conservationist strategies and environmental planning.

Denudation history of the Bocaina Plateau, Serra do Mar, southeastern Brazil: Relationships to Gondwana breakup and passive margin development

The Bocaina Plateau, which is situated on the eastern flank of the continental rift of southeastern Brazil, is the highest part of the Serra do Mar. Topographic relief in this area is suggested to be closely related to its complex tectono-magmatic evolution since the breakup of Western Gondwana and opening of the South Atlantic Ocean. Apatite fission track ages and track length distributions from 27 basement outcrops were determined to assess these hypotheses and reconstruct the denudation history of the Bocaina Plateau. The ages range between 303 +/- 32 and 46 +/- 5 Ma, and are significantly younger than the stratigraphic ages. Mean track lengths vary from 13.44 +/- 1.51 to 11.1 +/- 1.48 mu m, with standard deviations between 1.16 and 1.83 mu m. Contrasting ages within a single plateau and similar ages at different altitudes indicate a complex regional tectonothermal evolution. The thermal histories inferred from these data imply three periods of accelerated cooling related to the Early Cretaceous continental breakup, Early Cretaceous alkaline magmatism, and the Paleogene evolution of the continental rift of southeastern Brazil. The oldest fission track ages (>200 Ma) were obtained in the Serra do Mar region, suggesting that these areas were a long-lived source of sediments for the Parana, Bauru, and Santos basins. (C) 2010 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Protocols for obtainment and isolation of two mesenchymal stem cell sources in sheep

PURPOSE: To evaluate different protocols to isolate stem cells from ovine umbilical cord blood and adipose tissue. METHODS: There were used 5 samples of umbilical blood and 5 samples of perirenal adipose tissue from 10 female sheep. All the samples were obtained through surgery, to harvest aseptic samples. There were used 3 protocols for obtainment and culture of umbilical cord blood stem cells and 4 protocols for ovine adipose tissue stem cells. RESULTS: It was possible to observe only one successful protocol for the obtainment of umbilical cord blood stem cells. When analyzing the techniques used to obtain adipose tissue stem cells, only one of the methods was effective as well. Through colony forming unit assay, there were obtained 58 colonies of cells after seven days in culture. Flow citometry tests revealed the cells were positive to CD44 and exhibited negative reaction to CD38, CD45, CD41/61. These cells showed a growth curve with very well defined phases LOG, LAG and PLATEAU. This phases are typically seem in mesenchymal stem cells growth curves. CONCLUSIONS: The isolation and culture of mesenchymal stem cells from ovine umbilical cord blood are complex and request more detailed assays. Stem cells from fat tissue sheep showed mesenchymal characteristics, according to their cell growth curve, ability to origin colonies of fibroblastoid cells and positive reactivity with the antibody CD44 by flow citometry.

Teoria para o trabalho de expansão aplicada às brisas do nordeste Brasileiro

Neste artigo investiga-se numericamente a interação entre brisas marítima-terrestre e de vale-montanha, que ocorrem no nordeste brasileiro devido à presença do Planalto da Borborema, aplicando o trabalho de expansão associado ao ramo inferior das circulações. Resultados da teoria da máquina térmica são comparados aos resultados 3D, obtidos com a versão brasileira do modelo RAMS. Os resultados indicaram que o efeito do contraste de temperatura no trabalho ligado às circulações (Wa), isoladamente, contribui para a formação de brisas marítimas mais intensas e de brisas terrestres menos intensas. Na realidade, o que se observa são brisas terrestres com intensidades iguais ou até maiores que das brisas marítimas. Assim, a contribuição da montanha para a intensidade das circulações de brisa no período noturno mostra-se extremamente não-linear. O trabalho de expansão que realmente está ligado às circulações, contribui em apenas 7% para o trabalho total. Dessa forma, a maior parte do trabalho total está associada ao trabalho de compressão que a atmosfera realiza para compensar a perda por resfriamento radiativo, e muito da energia disponibilizada para as circulações é gasta para vencer os processos dissipativos.

Estádio sucessional e fatores geográficos como determinantes da similaridade florística entre comunidades florestais no Planalto Atlântico, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

A análise das relações de similaridade florística entre comunidades geralmente conduz ao estabelecimento de padrões, condicionados por fatores diversos que determinam a ocorrência ou não das espécies em diferentes locais. Em busca de tais padrões, foram analisadas as relações de similaridade florística entre comunidades florestais localizadas na região do Planalto de Ibiúna, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Incluíram-se na análise 21 fragmentos florestais e seis sítios em uma Reserva Florestal contínua, sendo que a composição florística e a estrutura da comunidade arbórea (DAP mínimo 5 cm) em cada local foram amostradas pelo método de quadrantes. Aplicaram-se dois métodos de análises multivariadas: 1) Análise de Correspondência Destendenciada (DCA), com base no índice de similaridade de Sørensen; e 2) Divisão Hierárquica Dicotômica (TWINSPAN). A similaridade florística foi mais elevada entre comunidades em estádios sucessionais semelhantes, especialmente se estivessem geograficamente próximas. Há um gradiente florístico associado à latitude, indicando tratar-se de uma região de transição entre biomas. Nos sítios situados na face norte da região de estudo estão presentes espécies que também ocorrem no cerradão e em floresta estacional semidecidual, enquanto nos sítios situados na face sul prevalecem espécies características da floresta ombrófila densa.