Diagnosis of a compacted area for mining through the mechanical resistance to the penetration using geostatistical methods in the Amazon Forest

The mining process promotes land modification and complete landscape alteration. Those alterations in the surface are shown more obviously in the aesthetical aspect as the visual elements of form, texture, climbs, complexity and color which composes the landscape. As a consequence, mining has impacts on the topography, in the soil, in the vegetation and in the area's drainage, with a direct influence on the enterprise. A quite common problem in the recovery of degraded areas in mineral exploration is the compaction of the soil due to the intense traffic of machines and earth movement. The most common problem of the compaction of a degraded surface is an increase of the mechanical resistance to the penetration of plant roots, a reduction of the aeration, an alteration of the flow of water and heat, also in the availability of water and nutrients. Thus, the present work had the basic objective of diagnosing the compaction of an area degraded by mining in a spacial way, through the mechanical resistance and the penetration, to guide the future subsoiling in the area requiring recovery. Through the studies, it was concluded that the krigagem method in agreement with the space variation allows the division of the area under study into sub areas facilitating a future work to reduce costs and unnecessary interference to the atmosphere. The method was shown to be quite appropriate and it can be used in the diagnosis of compaction in a degraded area by mining, foreseeing the subsoiling requirement.

Dinâmica do ar em barra pulverizadora, com saída única e dupla, deposição da calda e controle da ferrugem asiática da soja

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Downmodulation of peripheral MUG-specific immunity by pVAXhspe65 treatment during EAE does not reach the CNS

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

Compactação de um cambissolo háplico causada pela extração florestal com trator Skidder

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

Detecção da procedência de plantas psicoativas pelos isótopos estáveis do nitrogênio (15n) e oxigênio (18o)

This research examines the merits of hallucinogenic plants considered and/or psychoactive substances, such as Cannabis sativa and Ipomoea violacea, using the isotope rates of stable isotope of oxygen (18O) and nitrogen (15N), continuing projects already developed by the research group at the Center for Stable Isotope (CIE), which evaluated the isotopes carbon-13. This paper helps in creating a database that we intent to use in evaluation of each plant merit. Through the IRMS (Isotope-Ratio Mass Spectrometry) technique, it has shown that some of the 24 samples of marijuana (Cannabis sativa L.) evaluated were similar to those grown in the regions of Fairbanks and Tanacross Alaska, USA. In turn, the 50 samples of Ipomoea violacea, coming from Botucatu (SP) and Três Lagoas (MS), got their differences detected, in order to clearly identify the discrepancies between their growing regions. Thus, it was possible not only to track the geographical differences between marijuana samples collected from different regions, but also evaluate the isotopic variation of leaf, flower and seed of Ipomoea violacea. With this database, it was possible to determine the origin region of the drug and/or detect where the cultivation was carried out, aiding in the search of the traffic control agencies, such as the Federal Police in Brazil

Cigarette smoke dissociates inflammation and lung remodeling in OVA-sensitized and challenged mice

We evaluated the effects of cigarette smoke (CS) on lung inflammation and remodeling in a model of ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized and OVA-challenged mice. Male BALB/c mice were divided into 4 groups: non-sensitized and air-exposed (control); non-sensitized and exposed to cigarette smoke (CS), sensitized and air-exposed (OVA) (50 mu g + OVA 1% 3 times/week for 3 weeks) and sensitized and cigarette smoke exposed mice (OVA + CS). IgE levels were not affected by CS exposure. The increases in total bronchoalveolar fluid cells in the OVA group were attenuated by co-exposure to CS, as were the changes in IL-4, IL-5, and eotaxin levels as well as tissue elastance (p < 0.05). In contrast, only the OVA + CS group showed a significant increase in the protein expression of IFN-gamma, VEGF, GM-CSF and collagen fiber content (p < 0.05). In our study, exposure to cigarette smoke in OVA-challenged mice resulted in an attenuation of pulmonary inflammation but led to an increase in pulmonary remodeling and resulted in the dissociation of airway inflammation from lung remodeling. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Translationsregulation des Myelin basischen Proteins in Gliazellen

Im zentralen Nervensystem (ZNS) myelinisieren Oligodendrozyten neuronale Axone, indem sie ihre Zellfortsätze mehrfach um axonale Segmente wickeln. Die Ausbildung dieser multilamellaren Membranstapel ermöglicht eine saltatorische und damit rasche und energie-effiziente Erregungsleitung (Nave, 2010). Eine Schädigung des Myelins beeinträchtigt die Reizweiterleitung und führt zur Degeneration der Axone, wie es zum Beispiel bei der Multiplen Sklerose der Fall ist. Das Myelin basische Protein (MBP) ist ein Hauptbestandteil des Myelin und ist essentiell für die Kompaktierung der Myelinmembran (Wood et al., 1984). Die MBP mRNA wird in hnRNP A2 enthaltenen RNA Granulen in einem translations-inaktiven Zustand zu den distalen Fortsätzen transportiert. Vermittelt durch axonale Signale wird nach axo-glialem Kontakt die Translation von MBP ermöglicht (White et al., 2008). Der genaue Mechanismus der differentiellen Genregulation des MBP Proteins ist bisher nur unzureichend aufgeklärt. In der vorliegenden Arbeit konnte eine kleine regulatorische RNA (sncRNA) identifiziert werden, welche über die seed Region mit der MBP mRNA interagieren und die Translation regulieren kann. In primären Oligodendrozyten führt die Überexpression der sncRNA-715 zu reduzierten MBP Protein Mengen und die Blockierung der endogenen sncRNA-715 führt zu einer gesteigerten MBP Synthese. Interessanterweise korreliert während der Differenzierung der Oligodendrozyten in vitro und in vivo die Synthese des MBP Proteins invers mit der Expression der sncRNA-715. In Oligodendrozyten beeinflusst eine experimentell erhöhte sncRNA-715 Menge die Zellmorphologie und induziert Apoptose. Weiterhin ist sncRNA-715 in zytoplasmatischen granulären Strukturen lokalisiert und assoziiert mit MBP mRNA in hnRNP A2 Transport- Granula. Diese Ergebnisse lassen vermuten, dass sncRNA-715 ein Bestandteil der hnRNP A2 Granula sein könnte und dort spezifisch die Translation der MBP mRNA während des Lokalisationsprozesses inhibiert. In chronischen MS Läsionen sind Olig2+-Zellen zu finden. Obwohl die MBP mRNA in diesen Läsionen nachzuweisen ist, kann kein Protein synthetisiert werden. In dieser Arbeit konnte gezeigt werden, dass in diesen Läsionen die Expression der sncRNA-715 erhöht ist. SncRNA-715 könnte die Translation von MBP verhindern und folglich als Inhibitor der Remyelinisierung während des Krankheitsverlaufs fungieren. Schwann-Zellen sind die myelinisierenden Zellen im peripheren Nervensystem (PNS). Im Zuge der Myelinisierung wird die MBP mRNA in diesen Gliazellen ebenfalls in die distalen Fortsätze transportiert und dort lokal translatiert und in die Myelinmembran eingebaut (Trapp et al., 1987). Im Gegensatz zum ZNS ist im PNS nur wenig über den Transportmechanismus der mRNA bekannt (Masaki, 2012). Es ist es sehr wahrscheinlich, dass in Schwann-Zellen und Oligodendrozyten die Lokalisation und die translationale Hemmung der MBP mRNA ähnlichen Mechanismen unterliegen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit konnte gezeigt werden, dass hnRNP A2 und sncRNA-715 in Schwann-Zellen exprimiert werden und in zytoplasmatischen Granula-ähnlichen Strukturen lokalisiert sind. Während der Differenzierung dieser Gliazellen in vivo und in vitro korreliert die Expression der sncRNA-715 invers mit der Synthese des MBP Proteins. HnRNP A2 und sncRNA-715 scheinen in Schwann-Zellen assoziiert zu sein und könnten wie in Oligodendrozyten den Transport der MBP mRNA vermitteln.

Susceptibility of Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) Larvae and Pupae to Entomopathogenic Nematodes

In this study, we evaluated the potential use of entomopathogenic nematodes as a control for the beetle Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae). In particular, we conducted 1) four screening bioassays to determine nematode (seven species, 10 total strains tested) and application level effects on A. tumida larvae and pupae, 2) a generational persistence bioassay to determine whether single inoculations with nematodes would control multiple generations of A. tumida larvae in treated soil, and 3) a field bioassay to determine whether the nematodes would remain efficacious in the field. In the screening bioassays, nematode efficacy varied significantly by tested nematode and the infective juvenile (IJ) level at which they were applied. Although nematode virulence was moderate in screening bioassays 1-3 (0 - 68% A. tumida mortality), A. tumida mortality approached higher levels in screening bioassay 4 (nearly 100% after 39 d) that suggest suitable applicability of some of the test nematodes as field controls for A. tumida. In the generational persistence bioassay, Steinernema Hobrave Cabanillas, Poinar & Raulston 7-12 strain and Heterorhabditis indica Poinar, Karunaka & David provided adequate A. tumida control for 19 wk after a single soil inoculation (76-94% mortality in A. tumida pupae). In the field bioassay, the same two nematode species also showed high virulence toward pupating A. tumida (88-100%) mortality. Our data suggest that nematode use may be an integral component of an integrated pest management scheme aimed at reducing A. tumida populations in bee colonies to tolerable levels.

Ice-Core Based Assessment of Historical Anthropogenic Heavy Metal (Cd, Cu, Sb, Zn) Emissions in the Soviet Union

The development of strategies and policies aiming at the reduction of environmental exposure to air pollution requires the assessment of historical emissions. Although anthropogenic emissions from the extended territory of the Soviet Union (SU) considerably influenced concentrations of heavy metals in the Northern Hemisphere, Pb is the only metal with long-term historical emission estimates for this region available, whereas for selected other metals only single values exist. Here we present the first study assessing long-term Cd, Cu, Sb, and Zn emissions in the SU during the period 1935–1991 based on ice-core concentration records from Belukha glacier in the Siberian Altai and emission data from 12 regions in the SU for the year 1980. We show that Zn primarily emitted from the Zn production in Ust-Kamenogorsk (East Kazakhstan) dominated the SU heavy metal emission. Cd, Sb, Zn (Cu) emissions increased between 1935 and the 1970s (1980s) due to expanded non-ferrous metal production. Emissions of the four metals in the beginning of the 1990s were as low as in the 1950s, which we attribute to the economic downturn in industry, changes in technology for an increasing metal recovery from ores, the replacement of coal and oil by gas, and air pollution control.

Investigation of mechanisms involved in ultraviolet B radiation-induced, T cell -mediated immune suppression

Cutaneous exposure to ultraviolet-B radiation (UVR) results in the suppression of cell-mediated immune responses such as contact hypersensitivity (CHS) and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH). This modulation of immune responses is mediated by local or systemic mechanisms, both of which are associated with the generation of antigen-specific suppressor T lymphocytes (Ts). UV-induced Ts have been shown to be CD3+CD4+CD8 − T cells that control multiple immunological pathways. However, the precise mechanisms involved in the generation and function of these immunoregulatory cells remain unclear. We investigated the cellular basis for the generation of UV-induced Ts lymphocytes in both local and systemic models of immune suppression, and further examined the pleiotrophic function of these immunoregulatory cells. ^ We used Thy1.1 and Thy1.2 congenic mice in a draining lymph node (DLN) cell transfer model to analyze the role played by epidermal Langerhans cells in the generation of Ts cells. We demonstrate that T cells tightly adhered to antigen-presenting cells (APC) from UV-irradiated skin are the direct progenitors of UV-induced Ts lymphocytes. Our studies also reveal that UV-induced DNA-damage in the form of cyclobutyl pyrimidine dimers (CPD) in the epidermal APC is crucial for the altered maturation of these adherent T cells into Ts. ^ We used TCR transgenic mice in an adoptive transfer model and physically tracked the antigen-specific clones during immune responses in unirradiated versus UV-irradiated mice. We demonstrate that UV-induced Ts and effector TDTH cells share the same epitope specificity, indicating that both cell populations arise from the same clonal progenitors. UVR also causes profound changes in the localization and proliferation of antigen-specific T cells during an immune response. Antigen-specific T cells are not detectable in the DLNs of UV-irradiated mice after 3 days post-immunization, but are found in abundance in the spleen. In contrast, these clones continue to be found in the DLNs and spleens of normal animals several days post-immunization. Our studies also reveal that a Th2 cytokine environment is essential for the generation of Ts in UV-irradiated mice. ^ The third part of our study examined the pleiotrophic nature of UV-induced Ts. We used a model for the induction of both cellular and humoral responses to human gamma-globulin (HGG) to demonstrate that UV-induced Ts lymphocytes can suppress DTH as well as antibody responses. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) ^

Impacts of ocean warming and acidification on the larval development of the barnacle Amphibalanus improvisus

The world's oceans are warming and becoming more acidic. Both stressors, singly or in combination, impact marine species, and ensuing effects might be particularly serious for early life stages. To date most studies have focused on ocean acidification (OA) effects in fully marine environments, while little attention has been devoted to more variable coastal ecosystems, such as the Western Baltic Sea. Since natural spatial and temporal variability of environmental conditions such as salinity, temperature or pCO2 impose more complex stresses upon organisms inhabiting these habitats, species can be expected to be more tolerant to OA (or warming) than fully marine taxa. We present data on the variability of salinity, temperature and pH within the Kiel Fjord and on the responses of the barnacle Amphibalanus improvisus from this habitat to simulated warming and OA during its early development. Nauplii and cyprids were exposed to different temperature (12, 20 and 27°C) and pCO2 (nominally 400, 1250 and 3250 µatm) treatments for 8 and 4 weeks, respectively. Survival, larval duration and settlement success were monitored. Warming affected larval responses more strongly than OA. Increased temperatures favored survival and development of nauplii but decreased survival of cyprids. OA had no effect upon survival of nauplii but enhanced their development at low (12°C) and high (27°C) temperatures. In contrast, at the intermediate temperature (20°C), nauplii were not affected even by 3250 µatm pCO2. None of the treatments significantly affected settlement success of cyprids. These experiments show a remarkable tolerance of A. improvisus larvae to 1250 µatm pCO2, the level of OA predicted for the end of the century.

Seawater carbonate chemistry and calcification of the crustose coralline alga Hydrolithon onkodes in a laboratory experiment

Anthropogenic CO2 emissions have exacerbated two environmental stressors, global climate warming and ocean acidification (OA), that have serious implications for marine ecosystems. Coral reefs are vulnerable to climate change yet few studies have explored the potential for interactive effects of warming temperature and OA on an important coral reef calcifier, crustose coralline algae (CCA). Coralline algae serve many important ecosystem functions on coral reefs and are one of the most sensitive organisms to ocean acidification. We investigated the effects of elevated pCO2 and temperature on calcification of Hydrolithon onkodes, an important species of reef-building coralline algae, and the subsequent effects on susceptibility to grazing by sea urchins. H. onkodes was exposed to a fully factorial combination of pCO2 (420, 530, 830 µatm) and temperature (26, 29 °C) treatments, and calcification was measured by the change in buoyant weight after 21 days of treatment exposure. Temperature and pCO2 had a significant interactive effect on net calcification of H. onkodes that was driven by the increased calcification response to moderately elevated pCO2. We demonstrate that the CCA calcification response was variable and non-linear, and that there was a trend for highest calcification at ambient temperature. H. onkodes then was exposed to grazing by the sea urchin Echinothrix diadema, and grazing was quantified by the change in CCA buoyant weight from grazing trials. E. diadema removed 60% more CaCO3 from H. onkodes grown at high temperature and high pCO2 than at ambient temperature and low pCO2. The increased susceptibility to grazing in the high pCO2 treatment is among the first evidence indicating the potential for cascading effects of OA and temperature on coral reef organisms and their ecological interactions.

Seawater carbonate chemistry, survival rate, shell size, calcification rate of the planktonic foraminifer Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sinistral) in a laboratory experiment

The present study investigated the effects of ocean acidification and temperature increase on Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sinistral), the dominant planktonic foraminifer in the Arctic Ocean. Due to the naturally low concentration of [CO3] 2- in the Arctic, this foraminifer could be particularly sensitive to the forecast changes in seawater carbonate chemistry. To assess potential responses to ocean acidification and climate change, perturbation experiments were performed on juvenile and adult specimens by manipulating seawater to mimic the present-day carbon dioxide level and a future ocean acidification scenario (end of the century) under controlled (in situ) and elevated temperatures (1 and 4 °C, respectively). Foraminifera mortality was unaffected under all the different experiment treatments. Under low pH, N. pachyderma (s) shell net calcification rates decreased. This decrease was higher (30 %) in the juvenile specimens than decrease observed in the adults (21 %) ones. However, decrease in net calcification was moderated when both, pH decreased and temperature increased simultaneously. When only temperature increased, a net calcification rate for both life stages was not affected. These results show that forecast changes in seawater chemistry would impact calcite production in N. pachyderma (s), possibly leading to a reduction of calcite flux contribution and consequently a decrease in biologic pump efficiency.

Responses of the metabolism of the larvae of Pocillopora damicornis to ocean acidification and warming

Ocean acidification and warming are expected to threaten the persistence of tropical coral reef ecosystems. As coral reefs face multiple stressors, the distribution and abundance of corals will depend on the successful dispersal and settlement of coral larvae under changing environmental conditions. To explore this scenario, we used metabolic rate, at holobiont and molecular levels, as an index for assessing the physiological plasticity of Pocillopora damicornis larvae from this site to conditions of ocean acidity and warming. Larvae were incubated for 6 hours in seawater containing combinations of CO2 concentration (450 and 950 µatm) and temperature (28 and 30°C). Rates of larval oxygen consumption were higher at elevated temperatures. In contrast, high CO2 levels elicited depressed metabolic rates, especially for larvae released later in the spawning period. Rates of citrate synthase, a rate-limiting enzyme in aerobic metabolism, suggested a biochemical limit for increasing oxidative capacity in coral larvae in a warming, acidifying ocean. Biological responses were also compared between larvae released from adult colonies on the same day (cohorts). The metabolic physiology of Pocillopora damicornis larvae varied significantly by day of release. Additionally, we used environmental data collected on a reef in Moorea, French Polynesia to provide information about what adult corals and larvae may currently experience in the field. An autonomous pH sensor provided a continuous time series of pH on the natal fringing reef. In February/March, 2011, pH values averaged 8.075±0.023. Our results suggest that without adaptation or acclimatization, only a portion of naïve Pocillopora damicornis larvae may have suitable metabolic phenotypes for maintaining function and fitness in an end-of-the century ocean.