Marcos regulatórios estaduais em saneamento básico no Brasil

Este artigo analisa os marcos regulatórios estaduais para o setor de saneamento básico. A pesquisa documental identificou a presença de leis estaduais em apenas cinco estados (São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte e Goiás). Os marcos legais estaduais são descritos quanto a um conjunto de atributos ou funções selecionadas: universalização, instrumentos financeiros, regulação e controle social. A principal conclusão é que o desenvolvimento dessas políticas, assim como sua regulamentação, encontra-se em estágio incipiente e poderá receber impulso com aprovação de nova lei federal de dezembro de 2006.

Articulação Centro de Pesquisa: Escola Básica: contribuições para a alfabetização científica e tecnológica

Neste artigo são discutidos aspectos relacionados à seleção e organização dos conteúdos a serem abordados durante e após visitas a laboratórios de pesquisa em física. Utilizando como exemplo o trabalho de divulgação realizado no acelerador de partículas Pelletron (Instituto de Física da Universidade de São Paulo), com alunos do ensino médio, procuramos identificar elementos que podem orientar o desenvolvimento de propostas escolares organizadas a partir de visitas a centros de pesquisa. Nesse sentido, destaca-se o potencial dessas visitas para a realização de discussões sobre as relações entre Ciência-Tecnologia-Sociedade e a importância do estabelecimento de vínculos com o conteúdo escolar

Efeitos da exposição a estímulos aversivos e apetitivos incontroláveis sobre o comportamento verbal em contingências de reforço positivo

Foram analisados efeitos de diferentes histórias de incontrolabilidade por perda ou ganho de pontos sobre o desempenho posterior de participantes humanos na construção de frases. Inicialmente, os participantes podiam ganhar ou perder pontos independentemente de qualquer característica da frase construída. Posteriormente, recebiam pontos por construir frases iniciadas apenas pelo pronome "ele". Os resultados mostram que a exposição à incontrolabilidade pode dificultar condições posteriores de novas aprendizagens sob reforçamento positivo. Interessantemente, essas dificuldades foram menos acentuadas e, em certos casos, até mesmo superadas, no caso de uma história de exposição a ganhos incontroláveis de pontos. Em contrapartida, no caso de uma história de perdas incontroláveis de pontos, aprendizagens subsequentes sob reforço positivo tenderam a ser prejudicadas. Esses resultados contribuem para os estudos de incontrolabilidade e desamparo aprendido, em particular por apresentar alternativas metodológicas passíveis de aplicação a respostas verbais em humanos.

The effect of using mixed initiator systems on the efficiency of photopolymerization of dental resins

A study was performed in order to determine the efficiency of the simultaneous use of the photoinitiators phenylpropanedione (PPD) and camphorquinone (CQ) in the polymerization of acrylic polymers and evaluate possible mechanisms leading to synergism or antagonism. It was found that efficiencies of both initiators taken individually are higher than that of their mixture, indicating that when both dyes are used simultaneously there will be an energy transfer from the more efficient initiator (CQ) to the less efficient one (PPD). Also, there was no proof of any reaction between the amine present in the CQ formulation and the PPD excited state.

Morpho-anatomical features of underground systems in six Asteraceae species from the Brazilian Cerrado

In the Brazilian Cerrado (neotropical savanna), the development of bud-bearing underground systems as adaptive structures to fire and dry periods can comprise an important source of buds for this ecosystem, as already demonstrated in the Brazilian Campos grasslands and North American prairies. Asteraceae species from both woody and herbaceous strata have subterranean organs that accumulate carbohydrates, reinforcing the adaptive strategy of these plants to different environmental conditions. This study aims to analyse the morpho-anatomy of underground systems of six species of Asteraceae (Mikania cordifolia L.f. Willd., Mikania sessilifolia DC, Trixis nobilis (Vell.) Katinas, Pterocaulon alopecuroides (Lam.) DC., Vernonia elegans Gardner and Vernonia megapotamica Spreng.), to describe these structures and to verify the occurrence and origin of shoot buds, and to analyse the presence of reserve substances. Individuals sampled in Cerrado areas in São Paulo State showed thick underground bud-bearing organs, with adventitious or lateral roots and presence of fructans. Xylopodium was found in all studied species, except for Trixis nobilis, which had stem tuber. The presence of fructans as reserve, and the capacity of structures in the formation of buds indicate the potential of herbaceous species of Asteraceae in forming a viable bud bank for vegetation regeneration in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Juventude pobre, violência e cidadania

Este trabalho problematiza, a partir de uma perspectiva sócio-histórica, formas de enfrentamento à violência a que estão submetidos adolescentes e jovens de grupos populares urbanos no Brasil. Considera-se a violência como um fenômeno complexo de grande relevância para diversas instâncias sociais. A vulnerabilidade daqueles adolescentes e jovens, expressa por inúmeros índices relacionados à violência, tem alcançado patamares alarmantes no nosso país, num contexto de políticas públicas que são, em grande parte, insuficientes, fragmentadas e/ou inadequadas. Assim, apresenta-se o relato e a análise de uma intervenção social calcada na educação e na defesa dos direitos decorrentes da cidadania, para adolescentes e jovens vulneráveis socialmente, tomando-se como referência uma região composta por bairros pobres e carentes de infra-estrutura social numa cidade média do interior do estado de São Paulo. Trabalhou-se em diferentes projetos com ações pautadas na abordagem interdisciplinar, por meio de três eixos bases: Violência Escolar; Violência Urbana; e Violação de Direitos e Comunidade. Os resultados alcançados refletem elaborações coletivas acerca das ações destinadas aos jovens de grupos populares urbanos e suas alternativas, buscando produzir estratégias de enfrentamento dessas questões em espaços públicos, desde a instituição escolar historicamente constituída para essa população, assim como as instituições mais recentes que respondem à lógica contraditória e complexa da assistência ao direito. Cria-se, portanto, subsídios para políticas públicas cujo impacto se dê na direção de promover a diminuição da desigualdade, da discriminação e da violência a que está sujeita a maioria dos adolescentes e jovens no Brasil.

Efeito do treinamento físico em alterações induzidas pelo envelhecimento no músculo papilar do rato

FUNDAMENTO: Os efeitos do envelhecimento no músculo papilar têm sido amplamente demonstrados, mas não há dados disponíveis sobre os efeitos do exercício nas alterações relacionadas à idade. OBJETIVO: Analisar os efeitos do envelhecimento nas propriedades morfológicas e quantitativas do músculo papilar e investigar se um programa contínuo de exercícios moderados pode exercer um efeito protetor contra as conseqüências do envelhecimento. MÉTODOS: Microscopia eletrônica foi utilizada para estudar a densidade dos miócitos, capilares e tecido conectivo e área transversal dos miócitos do músculo papilar no ventrículo esquerdo de ratos Wistar de 6 e 13 meses, não-treinados e submetidos a exercícios. RESULTADOS: Como esperado, a densidade de volume dos miócitos diminui significantemente (p<0,05) com a idade. A densidade de comprimento dos capilares também diminui com a idade, mas não de forma significante. A fração de volume intersticial do tecido do músculo capilar aumenta significantemente com a idade (P<0,05). O número de perfis de miócitos mostrou uma redução de 20% que foi acompanhada de hipertrofia dos miócitos no envelhecimento (P<0,05). Animais submetidos a uma sessão diária de 60 minutos, 5 dias/semana a 1,8 km.h-1 de corrida moderada em esteira ergométrica durante 28 semanas mostraram uma reversão de todos os efeitos do envelhecimento observados no músculo papilar. CONCLUSÃO: O presente estudo apóia o conceito de que treinamento físico de longo prazo impede as mudanças deletérias relacionadas à idade no músculo capilar.

AT1-receptor mediated vascular damage in myocardium, kidneys and liver in rats

The systemic aspect of vascular damage induced by angiotensin II (ANG II) has been poorly explored in the literature. Considering the presence of ANG II and its specific receptor AT1, in several organs, all tissues might be potentially affected by its effects. The aims of this study were: To evaluate the early histological changes in the heart, liver and kidneys, produced by ANG II infusion, to evaluate the protective effect of losartan. Wistar rats were distributed into three groups: control (no treatment), treated with ANG II, and treated with ANG II + losartan. ANG II was continuously infused over 72 hours by subcutaneous osmotic pumps. Histological sections of the myocardium, kidneys and liver were stained and observed for the presence of necrosis. There were ANG II-induced perivascular inflammation and necrosis of the arteriolar wall in the myocardium, kidney, and liver by, which were partially prevented by losartan. There was no significant correlation between heart and kidney damage. Tissue lesion severity was lower than that of vascular lesions, without statistical difference between groups. ANG II causes vascular injury in the heart, kidneys and liver, indicating a systemic vasculotoxic effect; the mechanisms of damage/protection vary depending on the target organ; perivascular lesions may occur even when anti-hypertensive doses of losartan are used.

Productive performance and composition of milk protein fraction in dairy cows supplemented with fat sources

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of fat sources in rations for lactating cows on the productive performance and composition of milk protein fraction. Twelve Holstein cows were used, grouped in three balanced 4 × 4 Latin squares, fed with the following rations: control; refined soybean oil; whole raw soybean; and calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acid (Megalac-E). Dry matter and nutrient intake, and daily milk production were evaluated. The samples used to analyze milk composition were collected in two alternate days and were obtained from two daily milking. Milk composition and total nitrogen, non-protein nitrogen and non-casein nitrogen ratios were analyzed. The casein, serum protein and true protein ratios were obtained by difference. Dry matter and nutrient intakes were lower when cows received the diet containing calcium salts of fatty acids, in relation to the control diet. Among the diets with fat sources, the one with whole raw soybean and calcium salts decreased milk production. There was no effect of fat sources added to the diet on crude protein, non-protein nitrogen, non-casein nitrogen, true protein, casein, casein/milk true protein ratio and serum protein. Similarly, the experimental diets did not influence the protein fractions when expressed in percentage of milk crude protein. The utilization of fat sources in diets changes milk production and composition of lactating cows, but does not influence the composition of milk protein fractions.

Parâmetros sanguíneos de vacas leiteiras suplementadas com diferentes fontes de gordura

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a utilização de diferentes fontes de gordura nas rações de vacas em lactação e seus efeitos sobre o consumo de matéria seca e as concentrações dos parâmetros sangüíneos. Foram utilizadas 12 vacas da raça Holandês, agrupadas em três quadrados latinos balanceados 4x4 e alimentadas com as seguintes rações: 1) controle; 2) óleo de soja refinado; 3) grão de soja in natura; e 4) sais de cálcio de ácidos graxos (Megalac-E). As concentrações de colesterol total, colesterol, lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL) e colesterol de alta densidade (HDL) foram maiores (P<0,05) para as vacas alimentadas com as rações contendo fontes de gordura em relação à ração controle. As concentrações de uréia e nitrogênio ureico no soro foram semelhantes entre as rações utilizadas, com exceção da ração contendo sais de cálcio de ácidos graxos, que apresentou concentrações menores (P<0,05). O consumo de matéria seca foi menor (P<0,05) nas vacas que receberam sais de cálcio nas rações. Os animais que receberam a ração contendo grão de soja como fonte de gordura apresentaram menor (P<0,05) produção de leite quando comparada às demais rações utilizadas. A utilização de fontes de gordura em rações de vacas em lactação alterou os parâmetros sanguíneos, dependendo da fonte de gordura utilizada.

The relationship between birth weight and insulin resistance in childhood

Chronic diseases that are typical of adulthood may originate in intra-uterine life through inadequate fetal development. The present epidemiological cohort study of 506 healthy children aged 5\20138 years evaluated the relationship between birth weight and insulin resistance in an age group that has been assessed in few similar studies. Insulin concentration was determined by chemiluminescence and insulin resistance by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Blood glucose, total cholesterol and fractions (LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol) and TAG concentrations were determined by automated enzymatic methods. Linear regression analysis investigated the relationship between birth weight (assessed as a continuous variable and in three categories: small for gestational age, SGA; adequate for gestational age and large for gestational age) and the HOMA index, using backward stepwise selection and biological models to explain the causal pathway of the relationship. There were negativeassociations between birth weight (P < 0·001), SGA (P = 0·027) and the HOMA index, and a positive association between waist circumference (P < 0·001) and the HOMA index. Considering the significant associations between birth weight and waist circumference (P < 0·001) and waist circumference and insulin resistance (P < 0·001), we can probably suspect that lower birth weight is a common cause of higher waist circumference and insulin resistance. In summary, the results of the present study showed increased insulin resistance in apparently healthy, young children, who had lower weight at birth and higher measurements of waist circumference. There is a need to develop public health policies that adopt preventive measures to promote adequate maternal-fetal and child development and enable early diagnosis of metabolic abnormalities

OFFSPRING IN RESPONSE TO PARENTAL FEMALE DENSITIES IN THE FRUIT FLY PARASITOID DIACHASMIMORPHA LONGICAUDATA (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE: OPIINAE)

As part of an evaluation of the braconid parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) as a biocontrol agent of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) in Brazil, the aims in the current study were to find the best parental ratio of females to males in the rearing cages in order to get the highest female biased offspring in the parasitoid rearing process, and to verify the parasitism efficiency on C. capitata according to parental female densities. Three treatments were assessed: T1 (20 females: 20 males), T2 (60 females: 20 males) and T3 (100 females: 20 males). Ten late-third instars of C. capitata were offered daily to each female parasitoid from the 1st to the 12th d of age. The parental female productivity, fecundity, offspring sex ratio, percentage of parasitoid emergence, and daily mortality of parental females and males at different female/male densities were evaluated. The results indicated that numbers higher than 20 parental females did not affect offspring sex ratio, overall offspring production, nor the percent parasitism. Female biased offspring occurred in all three parental female/male ratios analyzed in this study, except that predominately males developed from parasitoid eggs laid in the age interval 1-2 d post emergence. Higher parasitoid female productivity and fecundity were found at the 1:1 female/male per cage density whereas lower productivity and fecundity were recorded at the 5:1 female/male ratio. Higher female/male ratio in the parental cages increased the mortality rate of females but did not influence the number of parental male deaths. The results may facilitate advancement of an optimum mass-rearing system to aid in control of C. capitata in Brazil.

Hyperglycemia can delay left ventricular dysfunction but not autonomic damage after myocardial infarction in rodents

Background: Although clinical diabetes mellitus is obviously a high risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI), in experimental studies disagreement exists about the sensitivity to ischemic injury of an infarcted myocardium. Recently, our group demonstrated that diabetic animals presented better cardiac function recovery and cellular resistance to ischemic injury than nondiabetics. In the present study, we evaluated the chronic effects of MI on left ventricular (LV) and autonomic functions in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: control (C, n = 15), diabetes (D, n = 16), MI (I, n = 21), and diabetes + MI (DI, n = 30). MI was induced 15 days after diabetes (STZ) induction. Ninety days after MI, LV and autonomic functions were evaluated (8 animals each group). Left ventricular homogenates were analyzed by Western blotting to evaluate the expression of calcium handling proteins. Results: MI area was similar in infarcted groups (similar to 43%). Ejection fraction and + dP/dt were reduced in I compared with DI. End-diastolic pressure was additionally increased in I compared with DI. Compared with DI, I had increased Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange and phospholamban expression (164%) and decreased phosphorylated phospholamban at serine(16) (65%) and threonine(17) (70%) expression. Nevertheless, diabetic groups had greater autonomic dysfunction, observed by baroreflex sensitivity and pulse interval variability reductions. Consequently, the mortality rate was increased in DI compared with I, D, and C groups. Conclusions: LV dysfunction in diabetic animals was attenuated after 90 days of myocardial infarction and was associated with a better profile of calcium handling proteins. However, this positive adaptation was not able to reduce the mortality rate of DI animals, suggesting that autonomic dysfunction is associated with increased mortality in this group. Therefore, it is possible that the better cardiac function has been transitory, and the autonomic dysfunction, more prominent in diabetic group, may lead, in the future, to the cardiovascular damage.

The expression of genes coding for distinct types of glycine-rich proteins varies according to the biology of three metastriate ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Amblyomma cajennense

Background: Ticks secrete a cement cone composed of many salivary proteins, some of which are rich in the amino acid glycine in order to attach to their hosts' skin. Glycine-rich proteins (GRPs) are a large family of heterogeneous proteins that have different functions and features; noteworthy are their adhesive and tensile characteristics. These properties may be essential for successful attachment of the metastriate ticks to the host and the prolonged feeding necessary for engorgement. In this work, we analyzed Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) similar to GRPs from cDNA libraries constructed from salivary glands of adult female ticks representing three hard, metastriate species in order to verify if their expression correlated with biological differences such as the numbers of hosts ticks feed on during their parasitic life cycle, whether one (monoxenous parasite) or two or more (heteroxenous parasite), and the anatomy of their mouthparts, whether short (Brevirostrata) or long (Longirostrata). These ticks were the monoxenous Brevirostrata tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, a heteroxenous Brevirostrata tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and a heteroxenous Longirostrata tick, Amblyomma cajennense. To further investigate this relationship, we conducted phylogenetic analyses using sequences of GRPs from these ticks as well as from other species of Brevirostrata and Longirostrata ticks. Results: cDNA libraries from salivary glands of the monoxenous tick, R. microplus, contained more contigs of glycine-rich proteins than the two representatives of heteroxenous ticks, R. sanguineus and A. cajennense (33 versus, respectively, 16 and 11). Transcripts of ESTs encoding GRPs were significantly more numerous in the salivary glands of the two Brevirostrata species when compared to the number of transcripts in the Longirostrata tick. The salivary gland libraries from Brevirostrata ticks contained numerous contigs significantly similar to silks of true spiders (17 and 8 in, respectively, R. microplus and R. sanguineus), whereas the Longirostrata tick contained only 4 contigs. The phylogenetic analyses of GRPs from various species of ticks showed that distinct clades encoding proteins with different biochemical properties are represented among species according to their biology. Conclusions: We found that different species of ticks rely on different types and amounts of GRPs in order to attach and feed on their hosts. Metastriate ticks with short mouthparts express more transcripts of GRPs than a tick with long mouthparts and the tick that feeds on a single host during its life cycle contain a greater variety of these proteins than ticks that feed on several hosts.

Ticks produce highly selective chemokine binding proteins with antiinflammatory activity

Bloodsucking parasites such as ticks have evolved a wide variety of immunomodulatory proteins that are secreted in their saliva, allowing them to feed for long periods of time without being detected by the host immune system. One possible strategy used by ticks to evade the host immune response is to produce proteins that selectively bind and neutralize the chemokines that normally recruit cells of the innate immune system that protect the host from parasites. We have identified distinct cDNAs encoding novel chemokine binding proteins (CHPBs), which we have termed Evasins, using an expression cloning approach. These CHBPs have unusually stringent chemokine selectivity, differentiating them from broader spectrum viral CHBPs. Evasin-1 binds to CCL3, CCL4, and CCL18; Evasin-3 binds to CXCL8 and CXCL1; and Evasin-4 binds to CCL5 and CCL11. We report the characterization of Evasin-1 and -3, which are unrelated in primary sequence and tertiary structure, and reveal novel folds. Administration of recombinant Evasin-1 and - 3 in animal models of disease demonstrates that they have potent antiinflammatory properties. These novel CHBPs designed by nature are even smaller than the recently described single-domain antibodies (Hollinger, P., and P. J. Hudson. 2005. Nat. Biotechnol. 23: 1126-1136), and may be therapeutically useful as novel antiinflammatory agents in the future.