Metagenoma de comunidades microbianas expostas à radiação natural e a metais

Many species have specialized to live in the most varied existing environments showing the remarkable adaptability of the microbial world the most diverse physicochemical conditions. Environments exposed to natural radiation and metals are scarce around the world, presenting a microbiota still unknown. With a total number estimated between 4 and 6 x 1030 microrganisms on earth, they constitute an enormous biological and genetic pool to be explored. Metagenomic approach independent of cultivation, provides a new form to access to the potential genomic environmental samples becoming a powerful tool for the elucidation of ecological functions, metabolic profiles, as well as to identify new biomolecules. In this context, the genetic material of environmental soil and water samples from Açude Boqueirao Parelhas-RN, under the influence of natural radiation and the presence of metals, was extracted, pirosequencing and the generated sequences were analyzed by bioinformatics programs (MG-RAST and STAMP). Taxonomic comparative profiles of both samples showed high abundance of Domain Bacteria, followed by a small portion attributable to Eucaryota Domains, Archaea and Viruses. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacterioidetes phyla showed the greater dominance in both samples. Important genera and species associated with resistance to various stressors found in region were observed. Sequences related to oxidative and heat stress, DNA replication and repair, and resistance to toxic compounds were observed, suggesting a significant relationship between the microbiota and their metabolic profile, influenced by regional environmental variables. The results of this study add valuable and unpublished data on the composition of microbial communities in these regions

Influência da radiação ionizante natural no açude do boqueirão (RN): avaliação de risco saúde/ambiente

The contamination of water bodies with toxic substances causes a decrease in water quality, representing a risk to public health. In this context, human activities are generally seen as the main sources of water degradation. However, elements found naturally in the environment can also compromise water quality. Thus, the Boqueirão‘s dam, located in the municipality of Parelhas (RN, Brazil), was chosen as area for the development of this study, as its geological region is rich in the emission of natural ionizing radiation that produces byproducts like lead and Radon. Moreover, the area has a strong human influence that enhances the risks of pollutant discharge in this body of water.Thus, the objectives of this study were centered (i) in the analysis of risk perception in the city of Parelhas (RN/Brasil) due to the use of the water from the Boqueirão Dam; and (ii) in the assessment of water quality in the Dam using methods that quantify, mainly, heavy metals and radiation levels, as well as these toxics potential of inducing mutations on genetic material. The analysis of risk perception showed that the population in the city of Parelhas can perceive a risk in using the water from the dam and that they can recognize factors that influence the water quality. Regarding the second objective, the set of data point to the contamination of the Dam by heavy metals, as well as levels of radioactive parcicles and Radon – also present in high concentrations in outdoor air and on soil. Thus, it is possible to infer that the population residing in this area is subjected to injuries caused by exposure to natural and anthropogenic contamination. Our findings corroborate with the perception of the population regarding the risks associated with the use of the Dam for several types of activities. It is expected that the information gathered in this study can substantiate activities and future researches in this semiarid region in the Rio Grande do Norte/Brazil. Also, that the set of data can enable a better understanding of the specific toxicological scenario of risk found for the population and the effect of the contamination for the biota, which aids the development of a future risk assessment and a consequent management of this local issue.

Otimização do controle do diagrama de radiação de radares de varredura para rastreio de foguetes usando o método GAMMC para o Caso Planar (GAMMC-P)

Launching centers are designed for scientific and commercial activities with aerospace vehicles. Rockets Tracking Systems (RTS) are part of the infrastructure of these centers and they are responsible for collecting and processing the data trajectory of vehicles. Generally, Parabolic Reflector Radars (PRRs) are used in RTS. However, it is possible to use radars with antenna arrays, or Phased Arrays (PAs), so called Phased Arrays Radars (PARs). Thus, the excitation signal of each radiating element of the array can be adjusted to perform electronic control of the radiation pattern in order to improve functionality and maintenance of the system. Therefore, in the implementation and reuse projects of PARs, modeling is subject to various combinations of excitation signals, producing a complex optimization problem due to the large number of available solutions. In this case, it is possible to use offline optimization methods, such as Genetic Algorithms (GAs), to calculate the problem solutions, which are stored for online applications. Hence, the Genetic Algorithm with Maximum-Minimum Crossover (GAMMC) optimization method was used to develop the GAMMC-P algorithm that optimizes the modeling step of radiation pattern control from planar PAs. Compared with a conventional crossover GA, the GAMMC has a different approach from the conventional one, because it performs the crossover of the fittest individuals with the least fit individuals in order to enhance the genetic diversity. Thus, the GAMMC prevents premature convergence, increases population fitness and reduces the processing time. Therefore, the GAMMC-P uses a reconfigurable algorithm with multiple objectives, different coding and genetic operator MMC. The test results show that GAMMC-P reached the proposed requirements for different operating conditions of a planar RAV.

Dosimetria interna da inalazione in Medicina Nucleare

Scopo di questo lavoro è l’individuazione di una metodica che permetta la valutazione dosimetrica interna dei lavoratori in Medicina Nucleare, dell’I.R.S.T. I radionuclidi impiegati hanno elevata volatilità e tempi di dimezzamento molto brevi quindi, diventa di fondamentale importanza la misura della concentrazione in aria. come radioisotopo d'interesse è stato considerato il F-18. Per la misura della contaminazione in aria è stato utilizzato un sistema progettato dall’azienda MecMurphil (MP-AIR). L’aria attraversa un beaker Marinelli, posto in un pozzetto schermato in piombo (5/6 cm di spessore più rivestimento in rame di 3 mm) nel quale è inserito un rivelatore a scintillazione NaI(Tl) a basso fondo in modalità di campionamento continuo. Attraverso il software MAIR-C, collegato al rivelatore, è stato possibile calibrarlo in energia, FWHM e efficienza. I locali analizzati, poiché quotidianamente frequentati dal personale, sono: Laboratorio caldo, Corridoio, Attesa calda, Camere degenza, e Radiofarmacia. Mediante l’uso di fogli di calcolo, è stata determinata la concentrazione media presente nei diversi locali. I risultati ottenuti hanno mostrato che la concentrazione massima di F-18 è nella radiofarmacia.Le persone con accesso ai locali “caldi” sono state classificate, sulla base delle attività da loro svolte in: medici, TSRM, infermieri e radiofarmacisti. Per ognuna di queste figure è stato stimato il tempo di permanenza all’interno dei locali.Si è proceduto, poi, alla validazione del metodo utilizzato per il calcolo della dose interna per inalazione, applicando quanto riportato nella pubblicazione I.C.R.P. 66, che ha come scopo principale quello di determinare i limiti annuali d’introduzione dei radionuclidi per i lavoratori.Le metodiche, applicate al solo radioisotopo F-18, permettono di ricavare una prima stima della dose inalata dagli operatori, aprendo un’ ampia gamma di possibili sviluppi futuri.

Preparação e caracterização de biomateriais poliméricos para avaliação da viabilidade de uso como phantom biológico

The theoretical and experimental developments in the biomaterials area have been directly applied to different fields of Medicine (odontology, regenerative medicine and radiotherapy). These advances have focused both for diagnosing diseases such as for quantifying degrees of progression. From the perspective of these studies, biomaterials are being designed and manufactured for application in various areas of science, provided advances in diagnostic radiology, radiotherapy dosimetry and calibration of radiotherapy equipment. Develop a phantom from a biomaterial has become a great ally of medicine in the treat patients with oncological diseases, allowing better performance of the equipment in order to reduce damage to healthy tissue due to excessive exposure to radiation. This work used polymers: chitosan and gelatin, for making the polymeric structures and controlled for different types of production and processing, characterizing and evaluating the biopolymer by physical techniques (STL, SEM and DEI) and therefore analyze applicability as phantom mouse lung. It was possible to evaluate the morphology of biomaterials quantitatively by scanning electron microscopy associated with imaging technique. The relevance of this work focuses on developing a phantom from polymeric biomaterials that can act as phantom providing high image contrast when subjected to analysis. Thus, the choice of DEI technique is satisfactory since it is an imaging technique of X-ray high resolution. The images obtained by DEI have shown the details of the internal microstructure of the biomaterial produced which have ≈ 10 μm dimension. The phantoms had made density ranging from 0.08 a 0.13 g/cm3.

Estudo do efeito da radiação ionizante por feixe de elétrons sobre o polietileno de ultra alto peso molecular virgem e reciclado industrial

Dissertacao (Mestrado)

Radiação-x no diagnóstico em Medicina Dentária

A radiação-x foi descoberta há mais de uma centena de anos e com o avanço tecnológico diversas formas de aplicação têm vindo a ser descobertas. A utilização constante, devido à ajuda preciosa que estes dispositivos fornecem aos clínicos de Medicina Dentária, faz com que o paciente venha, de forma crescente, a ser exposto a este tipo de radiação. Este trabalho de revisão descritiva tem como principal propósito analisar os riscos, as formas de avaliação e de proteção da radiação-x, no âmbito do seu uso em Medicina Dentária. Para o efeito, realizou-se uma revisão da literatura, tendo-se recorrido ao motor de busca EBSCO host©, utilizando as frases boleanas: (X-ray risk OR Radiography risk OR Dental x-ray risk) AND (Dental Medicine OR Oral), foi substituída a palavra risk por “evaluation” e por “protection”. Desta pesquisa resultaram 82 documentos como referências bibliográficas. Esta revisão de literatura permitiu compreender a diferença entre radiação ionizante e não ionizante, quais os dispositivos utlizados na Medicina Dentária e o seu funcionamento geral, quais as unidades de medida da radiação, quais os riscos iminentes à exposição cumulativa e quais as suas consequências biológicas, perceber de que forma a legislação Portuguesa tem evoluído em matéria de radiação ionizante, quais as diversas formas de redução da dose absorvida pelo paciente e quais as medidas de proteção para os profissionais de saúde expostos à radiação ionizante.