Impactos Ambientais da Mineração de Argila para Cerâmica Vermelha Na Sub-bacia do Ribeirão Jacutinga – Rio Claro e Corumbataí (SP)

O presente estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar os impactos decorridos da mineração de argila para cerâmica vermelha por 10 produtores localizados na Sub-bacia do Ribeirão Jacutinga. A extração da matéria-prima proveniente do manto de alteração da Formação Corumbataí constitui uma forma de mineração de pequeno porte, a qual acumula impactos por um longo período. Para caracterização dos impactos fez-se uso de Sistema de Informação Geográfica para análise de imagens orbitais (TM-Landsat) e dados obtidos em base 1:10.000 e observação in situ. Os principais impactos detectados foram: abertura de cavas em locais de várzea, formação de lagos em cavas abandonadas, modificação da paisagem, falta de ações de recuperação de áreas lavradas e corte de vegetação nativa. Foram identificadas as áreas de maior fragilidade ambiental na sub-bacia, as quais estão associadas a zonas de maior declividade ou a locais de extração. A exploração mineral trouxe significativas alterações no quadro natural desta sub-bacia e o conhecimento sobre as limitações ambientais, aptidões para exploração e formas de mitigação dos impactos, mostram-se de extrema necessidade para uma ocupação mais racional do espaço, respeitando as limitações impostas pelo meio físico e prezando por ações sustentáveis.

Isoquantas de Produtividade da Cana-de-açúcar em Função de Níveis de Irrigação e Adubação Nitrogenada.

Um experimento de campo com diferentes níveis de irrigação e nitrogênio foi conduzido no Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal de Alagoas com o objetivo de determinar a função de produção e as isoquantas de produtividade agrícola da cana-de-açúcar com base nas lâminas de irrigação e doses de nitrogênio (N). A precipitação pluvial efetiva durante o ciclo de produção foi 1.037 mm e a lâmina de irrigação bruta máxima foi 873 mm. A produtividade agrícola ficou entre 118 e 188 Mg ha-1, média de 160 Mg ha-1. Na isoquanta da produtividade agrícola média da cana-de-açúcar, a taxa marginal de substituição de água por N é 0,36 kg mm-1 (na interseção das retas de 25 kg de N ha-1 e 760 mm de irrigação) e infinita (na interseção das retas de 125 kg de N ha-1 e 390 mm de irrigação). A quantidade de água e nitrogênio de menor custo para produzir 160 Mg ha-1 foi 390 mm de irrigação e 112 kg de N ha-1. A regressão polinomial de segundo grau apresentou ajuste médio (r2 = 62%) para a produtividade agrícola em relação às lâminas de irrigação e doses de nitrogênio. A resposta da cana-de-açúcar à adubação nitrogenada aumenta em proporção direta com disponibilidade hídrica do solo.

Composição florística de uma área de campo úmido no município de Analândia, São Paulo

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genotype effect on carcass and meat quality of lambs finished in irrigated pastures in the semiarid Northeastern Brazil

The aim of this study was to compare four genetic groups of sheep on the carcass and meat quality traits. Thirty-three contemporary and unrelated male lambs, all of single birth were used in the experiment, being thirteen from the Santa Inês (SI) breed, seven from the Brazilian Somali breed (BS), six from the Morada Nova (MN) breed and seven from the ½ Dorper - ½ Morada Nova (F1) crossbreed. The genotypes SI, BS and F1 presented similar performances in relation to hot and cold carcass weights, which values were 10.76±0.53kg and 10.46±0.52kg for SI, 9.20±0.73kg and 8.99±0.71kg for BS, and 9.35±0.73kg and 9.13±0.71kg for F1, respectively. The BS had a better hot carcass yield (47.10±0.88%) and cold carcass yield (46.00±0.87%). Better carcass conformation was observed in SI and F1 (2.73±0.12 and 2.50±0.17, respectively) while the BS presented a better finishing (3.29±0.20). The average for the rib eye area (REA) was 9.94±0.49cm², 8.66±0.67cm², 7.18±0.72cm² and 9.8±0.67cm², and for the carcass compactness index (CCI) it was 0.17±0.01kg/cm, 0.17±0.01kg/cm, 0.11±0.01kg/cm and 0.16±0,01kg/cm, for SI, SB, MN and F1, respectively. There were no significant differences between SI, BS and F1 regarding REA and CCI. Although, in general, the MN presented a relatively lower performance than the other genotypes, this breed had similar carcass yields and fat thickness when compared to SI and F1 and similar conformation and REA in comparison to the BS. Regarding meat quality, no differences were observed between genotypes, except for redness and cooking losses. It is concluded that no one group had a higher or lower performance in all traits analyzed. Moreover, for the management conditions employed in this study, there was evidence of greater specialization in meat production for genotypes SI, BS and F1 when compared to MN, although there are no substantial differences between the four groups regarding meat quality.

Oxidative stress on cardiotoxicity after treatment with single and multiple doses of doxorubicin

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Psoriasis: correlation between severity index (PASI) and quality of life index (DLQI) in patients assessed before and after systemic treatment

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that affects patients of all ages and both genders. The impact of the disease on quality of life is greater among patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: to establish a correlation between the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) based on a quality of life questionnaire adapted to the Brazilian context for patients with plaque psoriasis before and after systemic treatment. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study of psoriasis patients who did not undergo treatment or who manifested clinical activity of the disease. Patients were evaluated according to the PASI and the quality of life questionnaire adapted to the Brazilian context before and 60 days after systemic treatment. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients participated in the study. Twenty-six were men, with a mean age of 46 years. There was no correlation between the PASI and the quality of life questionnaire adapted to the Brazilian context, but there was a correlation between the PASI and some items of the quality of life questionnaire adapted to the Brazilian context, such as jobs involving public contact. CONCLUSION: The non-correlation between the PASI and the quality of life questionnaire adapted to the Brazilian context in this work may be associated with a history of chronic disease, which implies greater acceptance of the illness, or may be related to the low income and social status of the patients studied. The correlation observed among patients with careers involving public contact suggests that some professions are more impacted by the disease. It may be necessary to adapt the quality of life questionnaire to patients with a low income and cultural and social limitations. The small sample size (n=35 patients) and the short follow-up period of 60 days were some of the limitations of this work.

Time reduction of light curing: Influence on conversion degree and microhardness of orthodontic composites

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of curing time and power on the degree of conversion and surface microhardness of 3 orthodontic composites. Methods: One hundred eighty discs, 6 mm in diameter, were divided into 3 groups of 60 samples according to the composite used-Transbond XT (3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif), Opal Bond MV (Ultradent, South Jordan, Utah), and Transbond Plus Color Change (3M Unitek)-and each group was further divided into 3 subgroups (n = 20). Five samples were used to measure conversion, and 15 were used to measure microhardness. A light-emitting diode curing unit with multiwavelength emission of broad light was used for curing at 3 power levels (530, 760, and 1520 mW) and 3 times (8.5, 6, and 3 seconds), always totaling 4.56 joules. Five specimens from each subgroup were ground and mixed with potassium bromide to produce 8-mm tablets to be compared with 5 others made similarly with the respective noncured composite. These were placed into a spectrometer, and software was used for analysis. A microhardness tester was used to take Knoop hardness (KHN) measurements in 15 discs of each subgroup. The data were analyzed with 2 analysis of variance tests at 2 levels. Results: Differences were found in the conversion degree of the composites cured at different times and powers (P < 0.01). The composites showed similar degrees of conversion when light cured at 8.5 seconds (80.7%) and 6 seconds (79.0%), but not at 3 seconds (75.0%). The conversion degrees of the composites were different, with group 3 (87.2%) higher than group 2 (83.5%), which was higher than group 1 (64.0%). Differences in microhardness were also found (P < 0.01), with lower microhardness at 8.5 seconds (35.2 KHN), but no difference was observed between 6 seconds (41.6 KHN) and 3 seconds (42.8 KHN). Group 3 had the highest surface microhardness (35.9 KHN) compared with group 2 (33.7 KHN) and group 1 (30.0 KHN). Conclusions: Curing time can be reduced up to 6 seconds by increasing the power, with a slight decrease in the degree of conversion at 3 seconds; the decrease has a positive effect on the surface microhardness.

Unusual broadening of the NIR luminescence of Er3+-doped Nb2O5 nanocrystals embedded in silica host: Preparation and their structural and spectroscopic study for photonics applications

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of interval from induction of puberty to initiation of a timed AI protocol on pregnancy rate in Nellore heifers

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

PSEN1 and PSEN2 Gene Expression in Alzheimer's Disease Brain: A New Approach

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genetic relationship among reproductive traits in Nellore cattle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Monitoring the process of densification of 3D and 4D (tridirectional and tetradirectional) carbon/carbon composites

Carbon fiber reinforced carbon composites can be made by iterative liquid impregnation or gas phase carbon deposition routes. In both cases, at the final processing stage the carbon fiber is embedded in carbon matrix which results in unique properties such as low density, high thermal conductivity and thermal shock resistance, low thermal expansion and high modulus, in relation to other refractory materials. In the present study assembled three-directional and four-directional preforms, having 50% volume of pores, were densified by iterative cycles of thermoset resin impregnation followed by pyrolysis under inert atmosphere, until appropriate densities were achieved. The thermoset resin is converted in a carbon matrix during pyrolysis. The iterative manufacturing process of the carbon fiber reinforced carbon composites is evaluated by means of nondestructive techniques based on X-ray computed tomography and electrical resistivity. X-ray computed tomography gives a general mapping view of the filling pores of the preforms which impacts results of the electrical resistivity. After six processing cycles and heat treatments up to 2000?, the final densities of the three-directional and four-directional carbon fiber reinforced carbon composites were 1.16g/cm(3) and an electrical resistivity of approximate to 0.07m. The configuration of preforms, three-directional or four-directional, did not alter the densification profile, in terms of increasing density and reducing porosity during the processing cycles.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the glucagon-like peptide-1 analog liraglutide in healthy cats

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an intestinal hormone that induces glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion while suppressing glucagon secretion. Glucagon-like peptide-1 also increases beta cell mass and satiation while decelerating gastric emptying. Liraglutide is a fatty-acid derivative of GLP-1 with a protracted pharmacokinetic profile that is used in people for treatment of type II diabetes mellitus and obesity. The aim of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of liraglutide in healthy cats. Hyperglycemic clamps were performed on days 0 (HGC) and 14 (LgHGC) in 7 healthy cats. Liraglutide was administered subcutaneously (0.6 mg/cat) once daily on days 8 through 14. Compared with the HGC (mean +/- standard deviation; 455.5 +/- 115.8 ng/L), insulin concentrations during LgHGC were increased (760.8 +/- 350.7 ng/L; P = 0.0022), glucagon concentrations decreased (0.66 +/- 0.4 pmol/L during HGC vs 0.5 +/- 0.4 pmol/L during LgHGC; P = 0.0089), and there was a trend toward an increased total glucose infused (median [range] = 1.61 (1.11-2.54) g/kg and 2.25 (1.64-3.10) g/kg, respectively; P = 0.087). Appetite reduction and decreased body weight (9% +/- 3%; P = 0.006) were observed in all cats. Liraglutide has similar effects and pharmacokinetics profile in cats to those reported in people. With a half-life of approximately 12 h, once daily dosing might be feasible; however, significant effects on appetite and weight loss may necessitate dosage or dosing frequency reductions. Further investigation of liraglutide in diabetic cats and overweight cats is warranted. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Gastrointestinal nematode infections in sheep raised in Botucatu, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Phytotoxicity associated to microcystins: a review

Microcystins (MC) are the most studied toxins of cyanobacteria since they are widely distributed and account for several cases of human and animal poisoning, being potent inhibitors of the serine/threonine protein phosphatases 1 (PP1) and 2A (PP2A). The phosphatases PP1 and PP2A are also present in plants, which may also suffer adverse effects due to the inhibition of these enzymes. In aquatic plants, biomass reduction is usually observed after absorption of cyanotoxins, which can bioaccumulate in its tissues. In terrestrial plants, the effects caused by microcystins vary from inhibition to stimulation as the individuals develop from seedling to adult, and include reduction of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, oxidative stress, decreased photosynthetic activity and even cell apoptosis, as well as bioaccumulation in plant tissues. Thus, the irrigation of crop plants by water contaminated with microcystins is not only an economic problem but becomes a public health issue because of the possibility of food contamination, and this route of exposure requires careful monitoring by the responsible authorities.