Estudoda sismicidade na região de Sobral - CE em 2008

The town of Sobral is located at the northwest part of the Ceará State, 250 km away from its capital, Fortaleza. In January 2008, an intense seismic activity began near Sobral with one event with magnitude 4,2mb on May 21. Since the start of its seismic activity, all events were recorded by the SBBR station (located on EMBRAPA Caprinos Farm), which operates in the region since August 2007. After this event, monitoring the seismic activity was carried out with the deployment of a local three component digital seismographic network, from June 5, 2008 until September 24. Initially, this network was composed of six seismographic stations. Later additional five stations were deployed until August 26 2008. This local network detected approximately 2,800 earthquakes. In this study we analyzed 581 earthquakes recorded by at least three stations for hypocentral and focal mechanism determination, and to contribute to a better explanation of the seismicity which in this region. To determine the hypocenters, we used a half-space model, with vP = 6,00 km/s and vP/vS = 1,71. From the hypocentral determination, it was revealed an active seismic zone with depth ranging between 1 and 8 km, 6 km long in E - W direction. The determination of fault planes and focal mechanism was obtained using the programs FPFIT and PLAN, which allowed comparison between their respective results in order to obtain more accurate results. A set of 24 earthquakes were selected to determine fault using PLAN planes and focal mechanisms using FPFIT. With the aid of detailed map of hypocenters this set, it was possible to identify three structures. Therefore, the set of 24 earthquakes were divided into three subsets. The type of mechanism was predominantly strike-slip with a dextral direction. Although the region has two tectonic structures near the site of the study area: the Café- Ipueiras Fault (normal fault) and the Sobral-Pedro II Lineament (dextral strike-slip fault) it was not possible to correlate the seismicity founded with those structures

Screening visual em crianças pré-escolares utilizando o PhotoScreenerTM

OBJETIVO: O objetivo geral foi detectar fatores ambliopigênicos em uma população de pré-escolares, utilizando exames refratométricos e o PhotoScreenerTM (PS) e o objetivo específico foi verificar se a avaliação feita com o PS é útil como método de triagem em campanhas de prevenção de ambliopia em crianças. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo observacional, prospectivo, de janeiro a dezembro de 2007, avaliando-se 227 crianças pré-escolares, com o intuito de detectar, através da aplicação de um questionário, exames refratométricos e fotografias utilizando o PS, a presença de fatores causadores de ambliopia na população de estudo. Todas as crianças foram avaliadas pelo PS. em seguida, todas as crianças foram submetidas à cicloplegia , sendo avaliadas usando refrator automático Shin Nippon®. As crianças detectadas como portadoras de problemas oculares receberam prescrição óptica, segundo os critérios: hipermetropia maior que +1,50 D, miopia maior que -1,00 D e astigmatismo maior que 1,00 D. Analisaram-se os dados através do teste de concordância de Goodman, estatística descritiva e estudo da especificidade e sensibilidade ao emprego do PS, comparando os resultados com ele obtidos, com os resultados dos outros métodos de avaliação oftalmológica. RESULTADOS: A distribuição entre os sexos foi semelhante, sendo que a maioria das crianças apresentava quatro ou cinco anos de idade. A sensibilidade (S) do PS, comparando-se o resultado obtido neste aparelho com o autorrefrator sob cicloplegia, foi de 50,9%. Já a especificidade foi de 78,9%; valor preditivo positivo 70%; valor preditivo negativo 62,5% e acurácia 65,1%. CONCLUSÕES: Das 101 crianças cujas fotografias tiradas através do PS puderam ser analisadas satisfatoriamente, trinta e seis apresentavam erro refrativo que necessitou de correção. O PS, quando comparado com equivalente esférico do autorrefrator sob cicloplegia, é um método razoável de triagem, embora a sensibilidade não seja boa. Um ponto positivo a ser ressaltado é o considerável valor de especificidade.

Qualidade dos méis produzidos por Melipona fasciculata Smith da região do cerrado maranhense

The honey of Melipona fasciculata is few known in terms of composition, and therefore generally associated with the characteristics of the honey of Apis mellifera. This study contributes to the knowledge of the physico-chemical characteristics of honey of M. fasciculata of the municipalities of Barra do Corda, Jenipapo dos Vieiras, Fernando Falcão, Carolina and Riachão, in cerrado region from Maranhão. The parameters studied were: moisture, pH, acidity, reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, hydroxymethylfurfural, diastase activity, insoluble solids, ash and color. Some of the observed patterns may conform to the established for A. mellifera, but others must be accompanied by a specific legislation.

Identification of a new quaternary association for legume lectins

Lotus tetragonolobus lectin (LTA) is a fucose-specific legume lectin. Although several studies report a diverse combination of biological activities for LTA, little is known about the mechanisms involved in L-fucosyl oligosaccharide recognition. The crystal structure of LTA at 2.0 angstrom resolution reveals a different legume lectin tetramer. Its structure consists of a homotetramer composed of two back-to-back GS4-like dimers arranged in a new mode, resulting in a novel tetramer. The LTA N-linked carbohydrate at Asn4 and the unusual LTA dimer-dimer interaction are related to its particular mode of tetramerization. In addition, we used small angle X-ray scattering to investigate the quaternary structure of LTA in solution and to compare it to the crystalline structure. Although the crystal structure of LTA has revealed a conserved metal-binding site, its L-fucose-binding site presents some punctual differences. Our investigation of the new tetramer of LTA and its fucose-binding site is essential for further studies related to cross-linking between LTA and complex divalent L-fucosyl carbohydrates. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hylin a1, the first cytolytic peptide isolated from the arboreal South American frog Hypsiboas albopunctatus ('spotted treefrog')

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Determinação do íon ferro em preparações farmacêuticas através da cromatografia planar e espectrofotometria

Os autores estudaram o comportamento cromatográfico de preparações farmacêuticas comerciais contendo o íon Fe (II). Utilizando celulose microcristalina/Propanol: ácido clorídrico 4 N: ácido acético concentrado: ácido nítrico concentrado: clorofórmio (40: 5: 5: 10: 10), como sistema cromatográfico e alizarina como reagente de detecção, Fe (II), Mn (II), Mg (II), Cu (II), Zn (II) e Ca (II) foram separados e identificados pela Cromatografia Planar. O Fe (II) foi determinado pela reação com a ortofenantrolina, resultando em solução adequada para quantificação colorimétrica.

Características qualitativas de genótipos de cebola

Objetivou-se, com o trabalho, avaliar alguns atributos de qualidade de diferentes genótipos de cebola (Allium cepa L.), cultivados em Mossoró-RN. O experimento foi realizado na horta experimental no Departamento de Ciências Vegetais da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), em delineamento de blocos casualizados completos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pelos genótipos de cebola CNPH 6415, CNPH 6047, CNPH 6244, CNPH 6400 Chata, CNPH 6400 Redonda, CPACT 1, CPACT 2, CPACT 3, Granex 429, Belém IPA 9, BRS Cascata, Crioula Alto Vale, Bola Precoce, Primavera, Régia, Valeouro IPA-11, Brisa e Alfa São Francisco. As características avaliadas foram teor de sólidos solúveis totais, acidez total titulável, teor de vitamina C e teor de ácido pirúvico (pungência). Foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os genótipos para todas as características avaliadas. Os genótipos apresentaram uma variação significativa para todas as características avaliadas, confirmando dessa forma que o fator genético é determinante na caracterização de cada material. O teor de sólidos solúveis totais variou de 6,67 a 11,63 (º Brix), vitamina C de 22,7 a 46,81 (mg ácido ascórbico/100 ml de suco) e a acidez total titulável de 0,19 a 0,45 (% de ácido pirúvico). Os genótipos apresentaram pungência intermediária com variação de 5,0 a 12,73 (µmol/g), sendo os menos pungentes Granex 429, CNPH 6047, Régia, Primavera e Belém IPA 9.

New crystal forms of Diocleinae lectins in the presence of different dimannosides

Studying the interactions between lectins and sugars is important in order to explain the differences observed in the biological activities presented by the highly similar proteins of the Diocleinae subtribe. Here, the crystallization and preliminary X--ray data of Canavalia gladiata lectin (CGL) and C. maritima lectin (CML) complexed with Man(alpha 1-2)Man(alpha 1)OMe, Man(alpha 1-3)Man(alpha 1)OMe and Man(alpha 1-4)Man(alpha 1)OMe in two crystal forms [the complexes with Man(alpha 1-3)Man(alpha 1)OMe and Man(alpha 1-4)Man(alpha 1)OMe crystallized in space group P3(2) and those with Man(alpha 1-2)Man(alpha 1)OMe crystallized in space group I222], which differed from those of the native proteins (P2(1)2(1)2 for CML and C222 for CGL), are reported. The crystal complexes of ConA-like lectins with Man(alpha 1-4)Man(alpha 1)OMe are reported here for the first time.

Structural analysis of Canavalia maritima and Canavalia gladiata lectins complexed with different dimannosides: New insights into the understanding of the structure-biological activity relationship in legume lectins

Plant lectins, especially those purified from species of the Legummosae family, represent the best studied group of carbohydrate-binding proteins. The legume lectins from Diocleinae subtribe are highly similar proteins that present significant differences in the potency/ efficacy of their biological activities. The structural studies of the interactions between lectins and sugars may clarify the origin of the distinct biological activities observed in this high similar class of proteins. In this way, this work presents a crystallographic study of the ConM and CGL (agglutinins from Canavalia maritima and Canavalia gladiata, respectively) in the following complexes: ConM/ CGL:Man(alpha 1-2)Man(alpha 1-0)Me, ConM/CGL:Man(alpha 1-O)Man(alpha 1-O)Me and ConM/CGL:Man(alpha 1-4)Man(alpha 1-O)Me, which crystallized in different conditions and space group from the native proteins.The structures were solved by molecular replacement, presenting satisfactory values for R-factor and R-factor. Comparisons between ConM, CGL and ConA (Canavalia ensiformis lectin) binding mode with the dimannosides in subject, presented different interactions patterns, which may account for a structural explanation of the distincts biological properties observed in the lectins of Diocleinae subtribe. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The frog Dermatonotus muelleri (Boettger 1885) (Anura Microhylidae) shifts its search tactics in response to two different prey distributions

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Arcovomer passarellii Carvalho, 1954 (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae): distribution extension in São Paulo state, Brazil and geographic distribution map.

The Passarelli's Frog, Arcovomer passarellii Carvalho, 1954, was registered for the first time in the city of Santos, on the seacoast of São Paulo state, extending 160 km to southwest of the distribution previously known for this species. Here we show a distribution map for an up-to-date map for A. passarelli.

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications.

Estudo biológico e morfométrico dos estádios ninfais de Rhodnius neglectus Lent, 1954 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae)

The following parameters of the biological cycle of the Rhodnius neglectus were determined under a temperature of 28°C and relative humidity of the air varying between 52-94%: a) average period of incubation: 13.67 days; b) rate of the eggs eclosion: 86.18%; c) average period of growth of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th instar nymphs: 18.91, 15.19, 21.38, 21.34, 30.43 days, respectively; d) percentage of death in the instar nymphs: 13.82, 18.26, 9.95, 8.78, 15.06% respectively; e) percentage of changes per instar nymphs: 86.18, 81.74, 90.05, 91.22, 84.94% respectively. The morphometric study with the stereoscopic microscope and Leica image analyses system, using the Qwin software, of the five instar nymphs showed that in the five instar nymphs a gradual growth of the head, thorax and abdomen occurs. In all the instars the abdomen is the largest segment. In the four first instars the head is larger than the thorax. In the fifth instar the head and the thorax present equivalent sizes.