Estudo do crescimento, eficiência de biofiltração e cinética de absorção de nutrientes (N-NH, N-NO e P-PO4³) da macroalga Gracilaria cervicornis (Turner) J. Agardh

The objective of this study was to examine the growth of Gracilaria cervicornis cultured in a shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) pond and to determine the absorption efficiency and the kinetics parameters (Vmax, Ks e Vmax:Ks) of this macroalgae for the nutrients N-NO3-, N-NH4+ and P-PO4-3, aiming at its use as bioremediatory of eutrophicated environments. For this study, two experiments (field and laboratory) were developed. In the field study, the seaweed was examined in relation to the growth and the biomass. In the laboratory experiment, the absorption efficiency of G. cervicornis was measured through the monitoring of the concentration of the three nutrients (N-NO3-, N-NH4+ e P-PO4-3) during 5 hours and the kinetic parameters were determined through the formula of Michaelis-Menten. The results obtained in this study demonstrated that G. cervicornis benefited from the available nutrients in the pond, increasing 52.4% of its biomass value after 30 days of culture. It was evidenced that the variability of the biomass could be explained through the salinity, availability of light (transparency and solid particle in suspension) and concentration of N-NO3- in the environment. In the laboratory experiment, the highest absorption efficiency was found in the treatments with low concentration (5 µmol.L-1), being evidenced a reduction of up to 85,3%, 97,5% and 81,2% of N-NH4+, N-NO3- and P-PO43-, respectively. Regarding the kinetic parameters, G. cervicornis presented better ability in absorbing N-NH4+ in high concentrations (Vmax = 158,5 µmol g-1 dry wt h-1) and P-PO43- in low concentrations (Ks = 5 µmol.L-1 e Vmax:Ks = 10,3). The results of this study show that G. cervicornis could be cultivated in shrimp ponds, presents a good capacity of absorption for the tested nutrients and is a promising candidate for biorremediation in shrimp pond effluent

Estádios larvais e ocorrência saxonal de imaturos de Psaroniocompsa incrustata (Lutz,1910)(Diptera:Smimuliidae) no Rio Pium, município de Nísia Floesta, RN

The larval instars, seasonal occurrence and environmental factors influence on Psaroniocompsa incrustata (Lutz, 1910) (Diptera: Simuliidae) immature were studied according to its physical and chemical aspects of breeding water. Four collects were made at vegetal substrate from margin, middle and floating on the Pium river, city of Nísia Floresta, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil at dry and wet season. Some of larval characters were used to determinate the larval instars number like lateral length of cephalic capsulae, antennae and the distance among cephalic apodema, as well as pH, water temperature, width, depth, stream velocity, discharge and pluviometric precipitation were used for physical factors. Seven larval instars were determined for this P. incrustata community being the lateral length of cephalic capsulae as the best structure with this meaning propose. The seasonality immature abundance of this species were found in dry season and a positive correlation with pH, stream velocity and precipitation

Abundância das formas imaturas de Psaroniocompsa incrustata ( Lutz, 1910) (Diptera: Simuliidae) em um criadouro natural no rio Pium/RN, e sua fauna associada

The species psaroniocompsa incrustata (Lutz, 1910) was studied in relation to its abundance in different and seasonal periods, the physico-chemical of the breending ground and the fauna predation added to the immature of the species. The study was developed during eight months, from April to July, 2005 (rainy season) and from October, 2005 to January, 2006 (drought season), in one natural breending ground situated in the Pium river, that is part of the hydrographical basin of the Pirangi river in Rio Grande do Norte. The immature of Simuliidae were collected manually in vegetal substrate. At the same place, it was made one sampling of the associated fauna using Suber collectors and the measurement of the environment variants. It was also made one analysis of the stomach content of possible enemies of the simulídeos, to observe the predation of the associated fauna. It was collected 7.713 samples, all from de species P. Incrustata, it was observed a bigger abundance in the drought season, and the entomologic fauna associated totalizing 20.1314 species, distributed in the kinds: Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Trichoptera, e Hemiptera, with a bigger representativity of Dipteros. The analysis of the stomach content of the species from the families Libellulidae and Hydropsychidae showed the presence of the simulídeos in only 4% of the material analysed, therefore it was not confirmed the presence of one efficient biological control of the simulídeos in this breending ground

Potencialidades de cultivo de macroalgas no litoral do Rio Grande do Norte (NE, Brasil): uma perspectiva de integração de dados ambientais em sistemas de informação geográfica (SIG)

Since centuries ago, the Asians use seaweed as an important source of feeding and are their greatest world-wide consumers. The migration of these peoples for other countries, made the demand for seaweed to increase. This increasing demand prompted an industry with annual values of around US$ 6 billion. The algal biomass used for the industry is collected in natural reservoirs or cultivated. The market necessity for products of the seaweed base promotes an unsustainable exploration of the natural banks, compromising its associated biological balance. In this context, seaweed culture appears as a viable alternative to prevent the depletion of these natural supplies. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide space and produce information that can facilitate the evaluation of important physical and socio-economic characteristics for the planning of seaweed culture. This objective of this study is to identify potential coastal areas for seaweed culture in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, from the integration of social-environmental data in the SIG. In order to achieve this objective, a geo-referred database composed of geographical maps, nautical maps and orbital digital images was assembled; and a bank of attributes including physical and oceanographical variables (winds, chains, bathymetry, operational distance from the culture) and social and environmental factors (main income, experience with seaweed harvesting, demographic density, proximity of the sheltered coast and distance of the banks) was produced. In the modeling of the data, the integration of the space database with the bank of attributes for the attainment of the map of potentiality of seaweed culture was carried out. Of a total of 2,011 ha analyzed by the GIS for the culture of seaweed, around 34% or 682 ha were indicated as high potential, 55% or 1,101 ha as medium potential, and 11% or 228 ha as low potential. The good indices of potentiality obtained in the localities studied demonstrate that there are adequate conditions for the installation of seaweed culture in the state of Rio Grande do Norte

Análise proteômica de Chromobacterium violaceum: acúmulo estacionário e diferencial após exposição à luz UVC

Chromobacterium violaceum is a free-living bacillus, Gram-negative commonly found in water and sand of tropical and subtropical regions. One of its main characteristic it's the ability to produce the purple pigment named violacein, that shows countless biological activities. In 2003, the genome of this organism was totally sequenced and revealed important informations about the physiology of this bacteria. However, few post-genomics studies had been accomplished. This work evaluated the protein profile of C. violaceum cultivated in LB medium at 28ºC that allowed the identification and characterization of proteins related to a possible secretion system that wasn't identified and characterized yet in C. violaceum, to the quorum sensing system, to regulatory process of transcription and translation, stress adaptation and biotechnological potential. Moreover, the response of the bacteria to UVC radiation was evaluated. The comparison of the protein profile, analyzed through 2-D electrophoresis, of the control group versus the treatment group allowed the identification of 52 proteins that arose after stress induction. The obtained results enable the elaboration of a stress response pathway in C. violaceum generated by the UVC light. This pathway, that seems to be a general stress response, involves the expression of proteins related to cellular division, purine and pirimidine metabolism, heat chock or chaperones, energy supply, regulation of biofilm formation, transport, regulation of lytic cycle of bacteriophages, besides proteins that show undefined function. Despite the response present similarities with the classic SOS response of E. coli, we still cannot assert that C. violaceum shows a SOS-like response, mainly due to the absence of characterization of a LexA-like protein in this organism

A microestrutura e o desenvolvimento dos órgãos genitais masculinos de preás (Galea spixii) criados em cativeiro

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

Fases do desenvolvimento e diferenciação testicular em cutias (Dasyprocta aguti) criadas em cativeiros

A cutia (Dasyprocta aguti) é um roedor silvestre encontrado amplamente na região Nordeste do Brasil. É uma espécie muito utilizada pela população humana de baixa renda como fonte alternativa de proteína na alimentação. Foram utilizadas 31 cutias, machos, provenientes da Universidade Federal do Piauí (FUFPI), Estado do Piauí e da Escola Superior de Agricultura de Mossoró Estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Os animais foram divididos em grupos etários desde o nascimento até os 14 meses de idade. O diâmetro nuclear médio foi obtido pela medida de 10 núcleos do tipo celular estudado em cada testículo, no estágio 1 do ciclo do epitélio seminífero. Nos animais que não apresentaram o epitélio organizado em estágios bem definidos em virtude da idade, foram feitas medidas em secções transversais escolhidas somente pelo contorno circular. O início da assincronia do processo espermatogênico foi observado a partir dos seis meses de idade. A puberdade, na cutia Dasyprocta aguti, foi definitivamente estabelecida a partir dos nove meses de idade, pois estavam presentes todos os tipos celulares e espermatozóides liberados no lume tubular em grande parte do parênquima testicular.

Análise histométrica do desenvolvimento testicular de cutias (Dasyprocta aguti) criadas em cativeiros

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Modelo matemático para predição do VO2máx em cicloergômetro baseado na análise dos gases expirados

Existem diversas equações para predição do VO2máx a partir de variáveis dentro do teste ergométrico em vários ergômetros, no entanto equação semelhante utilizando os limiares ventilatórios na ergoespirometria em teste sub-máximo no cicloergômetro não está disponível. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a precisão de modelos de predição do VO2máx com base em indicadores de esforço sub-máximo. Neste sentido foram testados em protocolo incremental máximo no cicloergômetro 7.877 voluntários, sendo 4640 indivíduos do sexo feminino e 3147 do sexo masculino, todos saudáveis não atletas, com idades acima de 20 anos, divididos randomicamente em dois grupos: A de estimação e B de validação. A partir das variáveis independentes massa corporal (MC) em kg, carga de trabalho no limiar 2 (WL2) e freqüência cardíaca no limiar 2 (FCL2) foi possível construir um modelo de regressão linear múltipla para predição do VO2máx. Os resultados demonstram que em indivíduos saudáveis não atletas de ambos os sexos é possível predizer o VO2máx com um erro mínimo (EPE = 1,00%) a partir de indicadores submáximos obtidos em teste incremental. O caráter multidisciplinar do trabalho pôde ser caracterizado pelo emprego de técnicas que envolveram pneumologia, educação física, fisiologia e estatística

Voleibol infanto-juvenil brasileiro: Somatotipia, qualidades físicas e marcadores genéticos dos atletas em diferentes níveis de qualificação esportiva

The elaboration of profiles with characteristics that can be parameters in the different categories of sports modalities and the investment in scientific studies have revealed a significant importance in the development of new generations of athletes. Based in the exposed, the purpose of this study was to identify and compare the somatotype characteristics, physical qualities and genetic markers of Brazilian male volleyball players in the 14-17 category playing at different levels (international, national and regional). We used a scale, stadiometer, pachymeter, and adipometer to evaluate somatotype, attack and block reach test, medicine ball toss, 30-meter agility test , the AAHPER -30 test to evaluate basic physical qualities and the dermatoglyphic method to identify genetic markers. The results show the superiority of the national team over the other squads in the somatotype component (ectomorphy), and in the level of basic physical qualities. We found no significant difference in genetic markers among the teams studied. We conclude that Brazilian volleyball players at different performance levels have characteristics peculiar to the sport, with height and physical qualities being significantly different among these teams. The results confirm de necessity of knowing the athletes specific characteristics when dealing with high performance teams using nutrition, medicine, physiology and genetics specific knowledges to achieve a better sportive development

Estado nutricional antropométrico, perfil lipídico e consumo alimentar como fatores de risco para doença cardiovascular em adolescentes

The dyslipidemia and excess weight in adolescents, when combined, suggest a progression of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Besides these, the dietary habits and lifestyle have also been considered unsuitable impacting the development of chronic diseases. The study objectives were: (1) estimate the prevalence of lipid profile and correlate with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist / height ratio (WHR) in adolescents, considering the maturation sexual, (2) know the sources of variance in the diet and the number of days needed to estimate the usual diet of adolescents and (3) describe the dietary patterns and lifestyle of adolescents, family history of CVD and age correlates them with the patterns of risk for CVD, adjusted for sexual maturation. A cross-sectional study was performed with 432 adolescents, aged 10-19 years from public schools of the Natal city, Brazil. The dyslipidemias were evaluated considering the lipid profile, the index of I Castelli (TC / HDL) and II (LDL / HDL) and non-HDL cholesterol. Anthropometric indicators were BMI, WC and WHR. The intake of energy, nutrients including fiber, fatty acids and cholesterol was estimated from two 24-hour recalls (24HR). The variables of lipid profile, anthropometric and clinical data were used in the models of Pearson correlation and linear regression, considering the sexual maturation. The variance ratio of the diet was calculated from the component-person variance, determined by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The definition of the number of days to estimate the usual intake of each nutrient was obtained by taking the hypothetical correlation (r) ≥ 0.9, between nutrient intake and the true observed. We used the principal component analysis as a method of extracting factors that 129 accounted for the dependent variables and known cardiovascular risk obtained from the lipid profile, the index for Castelli I and II, non-HDL cholesterol, BMI, and WC the WHR. Dietary patterns and lifestyle were obtained from the independent variables, based on nutrients consumed and physical activity weekly. In the study of principal component analysis (PCA) was investigated associations between the patterns of cardiovascular risk factors in dietary patterns and lifestyle, age and positive family history of CVD, through bivariate and multiple logistic regression adjusted for sexual maturation. The low HDL-C dyslipidemia was most prevalent (50.5%) for adolescents. Significant correlations were observed between hypercholesterolemia and positive family history of CVD (r = 0.19, p <0.01) and hypertriglyceridemia with BMI (r = 0.30, p <0.01), with the CC (r = 0.32, p <0.01) and WHR (r = 0.33, p <0.01). The linear model constructed with sexual maturation, age and BMI explained about 1 to 10.4% of the variation in the lipid profile. The sources of variance between individuals were greater for all nutrients in both sexes. The reasons for variances were  1 for all nutrients were higher in females. The results suggest that to assess the diet of adolescents with greater precision, 2 days would be enough to R24h consumption of energy, carbohydrates, fiber, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. In contrast, 3 days would be recommended for protein, lipid, polyunsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol. Two cardiovascular risk factors as have been extracted in the ACP, referring to the dependent variables: the standard lipid profile (HDL-C and non-HDL cholesterol) and "standard anthropometric index (BMI, WC, WHR) with a power explaining 75% of the variance of the original data. The factors are representative of two independent variables led to dietary patterns, "pattern 130 western diet" and "pattern protein diet", and one on the lifestyle, "pattern energy balance". Together, these patterns provide an explanation power of 67%. Made adjustment for sexual maturation in males remained significant variables: the associations between puberty and be pattern anthropometric indicator (OR = 3.32, CI 1.34 to 8.17%), and between family history of CVD and the pattern lipid profile (OR = 2.62, CI 1.20 to 5.72%). In females adolescents, associations were identified between age after the first stage of puberty with anthropometric pattern (OR = 3.59, CI 1.58 to 8.17%) and lipid profile (OR = 0.33, CI 0.15 to 0.75%). Conclusions: The low HDL-C was the most prevalent dyslipidemia independent of sex and nutritional status of adolescents. Hypercholesterolemia was influenced by family history of CVD and sexual maturation, in turn, hypertriglyceridemia was closely associated with anthropometric indicators. The variance between the diets was greater for all nutrients. This fact reflected in a variance ratio less than 1 and consequently in a lower number of days requerid to estimate the usual diet of adolescents considering gender. The two dietary patterns were extracted and the pattern considered unhealthy lifestyle as healthy. The associations were found between the patterns of CVD risk with age and family history of CVD in the studied adolescents

Estado nutricional, desempenho motor e marcadores dermatoglíficos em escolares púberes

A fase da puberdade é o período em que ocorrem as maiores transformações características da adolescência. Por essa razão, este estudo objetivou identificar o estado nutricional, desempenho motor e marcadores dermatoglíficos em 2363 escolares púberes selecionados de forma estratificada, de ambos os sexos, com idades variando de 6 a 15 anos, matriculados no Ensino Fundamental (2ª a 9ª Séries) do ensino público no estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Foram avaliados o estado nutricional (Índice de Massa Corporal); as qualidades físicas básicas ( testes de coordenação, equilíbrio, agilidade, flexibilidade, força e velocidade); o potencial genético (método da dermatoglifia) e o estágio maturacional (auto avaliação de Tanner); Com relação ao estado nutricional observou-se que escolares acima do peso apresentam valores mais baixos em relação ao seu desempenho motor sendo esses valores, mais significativos nos meninos. No que se refere à maturação sexual, os resultados apontaram que os meninos atingem os estágios maturacionais primeiro que as meninas, não tendo encontrado correlação entre o potencial genético e os demais indicadores o que nos permite concluir que os escolares do estado do Rio Grande do Norte, principalmente os do sexo masculino sofrem influência significativa de seu estado nutricional e seu estágio maturacional no que diz respeito ao seu desempenho motor. Essa dissertação apresenta relação de interdisciplinaridade, tendo o seu conteúdo uma aplicação nos campos da Educação Física, Nutrição, Medicina e Enfermagem.

Estimativa da área foliar de plantas daninhas: Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. e Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst.) Stapf

Com o objetivo de obter uma equação que, através de parâmetros lineares dimensionais das folhas, permita a estimativa da área foliar de Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. e Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst.) Stapf., estudaram-se correlações entre a área foliar real (Sf) e parâmetros dimensionais do limbo foliar, como o comprimento ao longo da nervura principal (C) e a largura máxima (L), perpendicular à nervura principal. Todas as equações, exponenciais, geométricas ou lineares simples, permitiram boas estimativas da área foliar. do ponto de vista prático, sugere-se optar pela equação linear simples envolvendo o produto C x L, considerando o coeficiente linear igual a zero. Desse modo, a estimativa da área foliar de B. decumbens pode ser feita pela fórmula Sf = 0,9810 x (C x L), ou seja, 98,10% do produto entre o comprimento ao longo da nervura principal e a largura máxima, enquanto que, para a B. brizantha a estimativa da área foliar pode ser feita pela fórmula SF = 0,7468 x (C x L), ou seja 74,68% do produto entre o comprimento ao longo da nervura principal e a largura máxima da folha.

Desempenho de Lecanicillium lecanii em meios de cultura contendo vitaminas e concentrações de extrato de levedura

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

Fatores que afetam a germinação e a emergência de Xanthium strumarim L.: dormência, qualidade da luz e profundidade de semeadura

Foram conduzidos três ensaios com o objetivo de estudar os efeitos de diferentes métodos de quebra de dormência das sementes, da qualidade da luz e da profundidade de semeadura na germinação e emergência do Xanthium strumarim L. (carrapichão). No primeiro ensaio, sob condições de câmara de crescimento, os tratamentos constaram de 5 métodos de quebra de dormência: mecânico (lixa), químico (H2SO4 conc. por 10 min.), pré-tratamento em água (imersão por 2 horas), físico (choque térmico: água à 80oC por 2 min.) e testemunha, que proporcionaram 100%, 93%, 93%, 87% e 80% de germinação, respectivamente, sem haver diferença estatística entre os mesmos. O pré-tratamento em água apresentou menor índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG) e os demais não diferiram significativamente entre si. No segundo ensaio, também sob condições de câmara de crescimento, os tratamentos de qualidade da luz constaram de 6 filtros de luz, que resultaram nas seguintes porcentagens de germinação: azul - com refletividade máxima a 450 nm (13%), verde-500 nm (33%), vermelho-700 nm (13%), vermelho/distante-760 nm (7%), ausência de luz (26%) e transparente - sem absortividade na região de 380 a 760 nm (testemunha, 73%), indicando sensibilidade das sementes à qualidade de luz. No terceiro ensaio, sob condições de casa-de-vegetação, os tratamentos foram diferentes profundidades de semeadura (0 a 20 cm, em intervalos de 2 cm), sendo que o máximo de emergência ocorreu no intervalo de 0 a 8 cm, no qual foi observado 67% de emergência do carrapichão, com maior índice de velocidade emergência (IVE), sendo que após os 16 cm, praticamente não houve emergência.