Estudo comparativo de larvas de Odonata junto �� Salvinia auriculata em ambientes aquáticos contrastantes: Rios Paranapanema e Guarei e Lagoas dos Cavalos e Coqueiral

Coordena����o de Aperfei��oamento de Pessoal de N��vel Superior (CAPES)

Avalia����o da membrana P81 como agente ligante da t��cnica de difus��o em filmes finos por gradiente de concentra����o (DGT) para determina����o de merc��rio em sistemas aquáticos

Worldwide environmental degradation is an undesirable byproduct resulting from the increasing demand for natural resources. Water sources are suffering intense contamination since they usually receive a huge amount of domestic and industrial effluents - which are mostly wasted without proper treatment - inserting a large number of pollutants in the environment, heavy metals included. Mercury holds great toxicological importance because, under some physicochemical conditions in a water environment, Hg (II) ion turns into methylated compounds stemming from this element, such as methylmercury CH3Hg, which is highly toxic for the aquatic community in which bioaccumulation occurs. Nowadays passive sampling techniques are being developed to enable the analytical procedures which are applied in environmental monitoring. Diffusive gradients in thin-films technique (DGT) has been proven an interesting tool for the determination of labile metal species due to its in situ application. The DGT technique consists of a piston-like device on which the following series of agents is disposed: a binding agent (conventionally Chelex 100 resin), a diffusive agent, usually a polyacrylamide gel, and a membrane filter. Nevertheless, the agents conventinally used for this technique don't usually show satisfactory results in mercury sampling. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the phosphate-treated cellulose membrane (Whatman P 81), an alternative material, as binding agent in the DGT to determine labile mercury fractions in aquatic systems. In this context, we conducted a study of the behavior of this material in relation with system variables, pH and ionic strength. Afterwards we performed immersions of the DGT devices in real and enriched samples and in situ aiming the determination of mercury

Automa����o do fornecimento de ra����o para organismos aquáticos

Coordena����o de Aperfei��oamento de Pessoal de N��vel Superior (CAPES)

Um predador generalista na fronteira entre ecossistemas: intera����es tr��ficas e os processos ecossit��micos bromel��colas

Coordena����o de Aperfei��oamento de Pessoal de N��vel Superior (CAPES)

Otimiza����o do sistema de supervis��o e controle de uma planta de tratamento de res��duos utilizando plasma

A major and growing problems faced by modern society is the high production of waste and related effects they produce, such as environmental degradation and pollution of various ecosystems, with direct effects on quality of life. The thermal treatment technologies have been widely used in the treatment of these wastes and thermal plasma is gaining importance in processing blanketing. This work is focused on developing an optimized system of supervision and control applied to a processing plant and petrochemical waste effluents using thermal plasma. The system is basically composed of a inductive plasma torch reactors washing system / exhaust gases and RF power used to generate plasma. The process of supervision and control of the plant is of paramount importance in the development of the ultimate goal. For this reason, various subsidies were created in the search for greater efficiency in the process, generating events, graphics / distribution and storage of data for each subsystem of the plant, process execution, control and 3D visualization of each subsystem of the plant between others. A communication platform between the virtual 3D plant architecture and a real control structure (hardware) was created. The goal is to use the concepts of mixed reality and develop strategies for different types of controls that allow manipulating 3D plant without restrictions and schedules, optimize the actual process. Studies have shown that one of the best ways to implement the control of generation inductively coupled plasma techniques is to use intelligent control, both for their efficiency in the results is low for its implementation, without requiring a specific model. The control strategy using Fuzzy Logic (Fuzzy-PI) was developed and implemented, and the results showed satisfactory condition on response time and viability

Aplica����o da oxida����o eletroqu��mica no tratamento de efluentes contendo corantes reativos utilizando Ti/Pt e Ti/Pt-SnSb

The textile effluents are a complex mixture of many pollutants that contain high organic loads, severe color and toxic compounds. The high concentration of the textile effluent may cause increased chemical demand (COD) and biochemical (BOD) of oxygen, elevated temperature, acidity or alkalinity, causing damage and environmental problems. In addition to representing a serious threat to human health such effluent is also quite toxic to most aquatic organisms. And for this reason, one must meet the concentration limits for emission sources and sewage system. This study aimed to investigate the performance of electrochemical treatment of a textile effluent for the removal of color, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO) and dissolved organic matter by investigating the influence of experimental parameters such as the electrocatalyst materials (Ti/Pt and Ti/Pt-SnSb) and current density in order to compare their efficiency, energy consumption and cost. The dye Novacron Blue CD (NB) was employed in synthetic solution, while the dyes Remazol Yellow 3RS (RY 3RS) Remazol Red RR Gran (RR-RR Gran) and Navy Blue CL-R (NB CL-R) were used to generate simulated textile effluent laboratory. The results showed that the application of electrochemical oxidation process favors the elimination of color effectively independent the electrocatalytic material and current used, as well as treated effluent. However, the influence of electrocatalytic material was crucial to reduction of the organic matter in all cases.

Composi����o do fitopl��ncton e cianotoxinas em um reservat��rio utilizado para o abastecimento p��blico: o efeito do tratamento de ��gua convencional.

Flora����es de cianobact��rias nocivas ocorrem frequentemente em reservat��rios brasileiros, devido ao incremento de nutrientes pela eutrofiza����o e pelas mudan��as clim��ticas, como o aquecimento global. Estas flora����es alteram a qualidade dos corpos h��dricos, produzindo compostos de gosto e odor e cianotoxinas, que representam um problema para as Esta����es de Tratamento de ��gua (ETAs). Estes compostos, quando dissolvidos na ��gua dificultam os tratamentos convencionais. Al��m das cianobac��rias, um dinoflagelado ex��tico tem ocorrido em ��guas doces brasileiras, incluindo reservat��rios utilizados para o abastecimento p��blico. Os reservat��rios de Caxias do Sul (RS ��� Brasil) s��o gerenciados pelo Servi��o Aut��nomo Municipal de ��gua e Esgoto (SAMAE) e apresentam um hist��rico de flora����es de cianobact��rias nocivas, como Dolichospermum Bory de Saint-Vincent ex Bornet & Flahault e Microcystis (K��tzing) ex Lemmermann, dentre outras. Al��m disso, desde 2012, tem ocorrido nestes reservat��rios flora����es de Ceratium furcoides. Este organismo quando em extensas flora����es tem sido relacionado �� perda da qualidade dos corpos h��dricos. O reservat��rio Maestra foi constru��do entre os anos de 1965-1970 e abastece 22% da popula����o de Caxias do Sul. Este reservat��rio fornece ��gua para a ETA Celeste Gobatto, que utiliza o m��todo convencional de tratamento da ��gua. Este trabalho esta estruturado em tr��s cap��tulos. O primeiro consiste de uma revis��o bibliogr��fica de assuntos relavantes acerca do hist��rico do monitoramento da qualidade dos reservat��rios no Brasil, da biologia de algas e cianobact��rias, e as principais cianotixinas e acidentes devido �� intoxica����o no Brasil. Al��m disso, �� feita uma breve revis��o sobre o tratamento convencional da ��gua, mostrando a import��ncia de cada etapa para a remo����o das impurezas, de acordo com os padr��es de potabilidade da Portaria 2914. O segundo cap��tulo �� manuscrito na forma de artigo cient��fico int��tulado ���Composi����o de algas, cianobact��rias e cianotoxinas no reservat��rio Maestra ��� Caxias do Sul, RS ��� Brasil���. Este estudo foi realizado entre janeiro de 2012 a abril de 2013. O terceiro cap��tulo consta de um manuscrito na forma de artigo cient��fico, intitulado ���Efeito do tratamento de ��gua convencional na remo����o de algas, cianobact��rias e cianotoxinas em uma Esta����o de Tratamento de ��gua Convencional���. A efici��ncia de remo����o foi avaliada em escala piloto, em uma Esta����o de Tratamento de ��gua de Caxias do Sul ��� RS a qual utiliza o m��todo convencional de tratamento.

An��lise metagen��mica da microbiota de ambientes aquáticos do estado do Rio Grande do Norte - Brasil

The screening for genes in metagenomic libraries from soil creates opportunities to explore the enormous genetic and metabolic diversity of microorganisms. Rivers are ecosystems with high biological diversity, but few were examined using the metagenomic approach. With this objective, a metagenomic library was constructed from DNA soil samples collected at three different points along the Jundia��-river (Rio Grande do Norte-Brazil). The points sampled are from open area, rough terrain and with the direct incidence of sunlight. This library was analyzed functionally and based in sequence. For functional analysis Luria-Bertani solid medium (LB) with NaCl concentration varied from 0.17M to 0.85M was used for functional analysis. Positives clones resistant to hypersaline medium were obtained. The recombinant DNAs were extracted and transformed into Escherichia coli strain DH10B and survival curves were obtained for quantification of abiotic stress resistance. The sequences of clones were obtained and submitted to the BLASTX tool. Some clones were found to hypothetical proteins of microorganisms from both Archaea and Bacteria division. One of the clones showed a complete ORF with high similarity to glucose-6-phosphate isomerase which participates in the synthesis of glycerol pathway and serves as a compatible solute to balance the osmotic pressure inside and outside of cells. Subsequently, in order to identify genes encoding osmolytes or enzymes related halotolerance, environmental DNA samples from the river soil, from the water column of the estuary and ocean were collected and pyrosequenced. Sequences of osmolytes and enzymes of different microorganisms were obtained from the UniProt and used as RefSeqs for homology identification (TBLASTN) in metagenomic databases. The sequences were submitted to HMMER for the functional domains identification. Some enzymes were identified: alpha-trehalose-phosphate synthase, L-ectoina synthase (EctC), transaminase L-2 ,4-diaminobutyric acid (EctB), L-2 ,4-diaminobutyric acetyltransferase (EctA), L-threonine 3 dehydrogenase (sorbitol pathway), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, inositol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, chaperones, L-proline, glycine betaine binding ABC transporter, myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase protein of proline simportadora / PutP sodium-and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase These proteins are commonly related to saline environments, however the identification of them in river environment is justified by the high salt concentration in the soil during prolonged dry seasons this river. Regarding the richness of the microbiota the river substrate has an abundance of halobacteria similar to the sea and more than the estuary. These data confirm the existence of a specialized response against salt stress by microorganisms in the environment of the Jundia�� river

Estudos de toxicidade de agroqu��micos na atividade da fosfatase ��cida de Daphnia similis.

Os diversos compostos qu��micos liberados no ambiente oriundos do uso indiscriminado na agricultura, pecu��ria e na ind��stria s��o respons��veis por efeitos ecol��gicos adversos, causando a contamina����o do solo e corpos d����gua e acumulando-se em organismos n��o alvo. O tratamento dos esgotos resulta na produ����o do lodo de esgoto, o qual muitas vezes �� utilizado como fonte alternativa de nutrientes para as plantas devido ao seu alto teor de mat��ria org��nica. Contudo, o lodo pode conter metais pesados em sua composi����o advindos principalmente do setor industrial, os quais podem expressar seu potencial poluente diretamente nos organismos do solo, al��m da possibilidade de transfer��ncia para outros organismos via cadeia alimentar ou pela contamina����o das ��guas (CHANG et al., 1987). Embora o controle qu��mico de pragas tenha reduzido o ��ndice de doen��as para homens e animais e incrementado a produ����o agr��cola, agentes poluentes podem permanecer ativos no ambiente por longos per��odos, afetando os ecossistemas. Os efeitos desses agentes ao longo do tempo representam um grande risco para a sa��de p��blica, tornando-se necess��rio o monitoramento em ��guas, solos, alimentos e ar. Nesse contexto, as altera����es ao n��vel bioqu��mico s��o as primeiras respostas detect��veis e quantific��veis em uma mudan��a do meio ambiente, sendo indicadores mais sens��veis que os de maiores n��veis de organiza����o biol��gica porque exibem um tempo de exposi����o mais curto. A partir do processo de bioacumula����o, os agentes poluentes podem se concentrar em diferentes tecidos e promover a ativa����o ou inibi����o de sistemas enzim��ticos, tais como o das fosfatases ��cidas (JONSSON, 2005; JONSSON, AOYAMA, 2007). As fosfatases ��cidas ou ortofosfato mono��ster fosfohidrolases (E.C.3.1.3.2.) s��o enzimas que catalisam a hidr��lise de uma grande variedade de ��steres de ortofosfato e rea����es de transfosforila����o. Inibi����es in vitro de fosfatases de v��rios organismos causadas por pesticidas, t��m sido relatadas na literatura (SEKEROGLU et al., 1980; EL DEMERDASH et al., 2001). O ensaio enzim��tico in vitro representa uma ferramenta ��til para o screening de poluentes, elucida����o de mecanismos de toxicidade e monitoramento de ��reas contaminadas. Entretanto, os testes de toxicidade em organismos aquáticos podem complementar as an��lises in vitro. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito in vitro de agentes agroqu��micos e metais pesados contaminantes de lodo de esgoto sobre a fosfatase ��cida total de Daphnia similis, comparando-se com os resultados obtidos em testes de toxicidade aguda.

PARAFAC: uma ferramenta quimiom��trica para tratamento de dados multidimensionais. Aplica����es na determina����o direta de f��rmacos em plasma humano por espectrofluorimetria

Since the last decade, the combined use of chemometrics and molecular spectroscopic techniques has become a new alternative for direct drug determination, without the need of physical separation. Among the new methodologies developed, the application of PARAFAC in the decomposition of spectrofluorimetric data should be highlighted. The first objective of this article is to describe the theoretical basis of PARAFAC. For this purpose, a discussion about the order of chemometric methods used in multivariate calibration and the development of multi-dimensional methods is presented first. The other objective of this article is to divulge for the Brazilian chemical community the potential of the combination PARAFAC/spectrofluorimetry for the determination of drugs in complex biological matrices. For this purpose, two applications aiming at determining, respectively, doxorrubicine and salicylate in human plasma are presented.

Altera����o da atividade enzim��tica em organismos aquáticos por poluentes de origem agr��cola: uma abordagem geral e sobre a suscetibilidade da fosfatase ��cida

The input of agrochemicals in the aquatic compartment can results in biochemical injuries for living organisms. In this context, the knowledge of alterations of enzymatic activities due the presence of agriculture pollutants contributes for the elucidation of the mechanisms of toxicity, implementation of economic methods for monitoring purposes and establishment of maximum allowed concentrations. In the present work, the above considerations are discussed, and data concerning changes in enzymatic function by pesticides and fertilizer contaminants are reviewed. Also, we focused on the acid phosphatase due its susceptibility to several pollutants and diversity in cellular functions.

Avalia����o da qualidade de vida em pacientes idosos um ano ap��s o tratamento cir��rgico de fraturas transtrocanterianas do f��mur

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the impact that trochanteric hip fractures produce on life quality of elderly patients, treated surgically, during one year of monitoring. METHODS: Were selected 73 elderly with transtrochanteric femur fracture, aged equal or over than 65 years and of both sexes. All participants underwent a standardized questionnaire which obtained information on lifestyle habits, functionality, physical activity, ambulation and cognitive state. Were excluded patients who died, not walking, with neurological diseases and pathological fractures. RESULTS: The average age was 80.17 �� 7.2 years and 75% was female. When comparing the summation of activities of daily living (p = 0.04) and instrumental daily living (p = 0.004) obtained before and after fracture, the patients become more dependent after fracture. Activities of daily living that worsened after fracture were bathing (p = 0.04), toileting (p = 0.02) and dressing (p = 0.04). All instrumental activities of daily living showed a significant difference, with functional dependence after fracture, increased need for walking aid (p = 0.00002), aged (p = 0.01) and not doing housework (p = 0.01). The low score on the test Minimental was associated with a greater dependence to perform activities of daily living before (p = 0.00002) and after (p = 0.01) fracture. CONCLUSION: After a year, activities of daily living that depended on the lower limbs worsened significantly, all instrumental activities of daily living were significantly worse in more than 50% of patients and more than half of patients who walked without support lost this ability.

Sistema MINUS�� - t��cnica minimamente invasiva para o tratamento das fraturas transtrocanterianas do f��mur

The MINUS system was developed as a minimally invasive procedure that uses a diaphyseal cephalic extramedullary implant for the treatment of transtrochanteral fractures of the femur in elderly patients. The implant consists of a sliding screw coupled to a plate adapted to the minimally invasive technique. The surgical access is approximately three centimeters in length located on the lateral surface of the hip, below the projection of the small trochanter. A perfectly adapted instrument was used for the procedure, which also requires the use of an image intensifier, reducing surgery time and rate of bleeding. The objective of this study is to present a new instrument and implant, developed specifically for treatment with the minimally invasive technique, reducing the length of the conventional surgical access from 10 to three centimetres. This new implant was given the commercial name of MINUS System.

O comportamento de crian��as em tratamento odontol��gico: interven����o psicofarmacol��gica

The present investigation evaluated the effects of diazepam used to manage uncooperative behavior of child dental patients. Six participants received placebo or diazepam (0,3 mg/kg weight) before formal dental treatment at total 54 sessions that were all recorded in videotapes. The analysis of recorded child (crying, body and/or head movements, escape and avoidance) and dentist's behavior management procedures (distraction, explanation, positive reinforcement) indicates no differences by using a double-blind Wilcoxon design (p>0.05). It is suggested the necessity of methodological refinement in studies that combine psychological and pharmacological handling strategies.

Medo, ansiedade e controle relacionados ao tratamento odontol��gico

The aim of this study was to test fear, anxiety and control related to dental treatment. The subjects were 364 children with ages between 7 and 13 years. Three questionnaires with multiple choice questions were applied in groups of 10 children. The first instrument was the 15-item dental subscale from the Children&#146;s Fear Survey Schedule9. The subjects rated their level of fear on a 5-point scale. The second survey instrument was the 20-item subscale from the State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children16. This measure was used to capture how anxious the child was, in general. The third instrument was the Child Dental Control Assessment19. It contained 20 items to assess perceived control and 20 items to assess desired control. The results of the survey indicated that dental fear and anxiety were slightly higher for females when compared with male subjects (P < 0.05). Older children (11 to 13 years old) obtained higher fear scores than younger ones (7 to 9 years old). Concerning perceived control, the results indicate that younger children perceive more control than older ones. For desired control, the results indicate that younger children reported higher percentages than older ones. In this study, patients who had undergone anesthesia during treatment revealed higher fear scores when compared with those who had not. Dental fear etiology seems to be related to a procedure that may involve pain or lack of control.