Contribution to the chemoreception capacity of juvenile Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta, L.)

Loggerhead sea turtle juveniles (Caretta caretta), pelagic stage, are found in waters of Madeira archipelago. Pelagic turtles are in the main growth phase of their life cycle and consequently higher energy needs. However, knowledge about the ecology of pelagic loggerhead sea turtles is still quite rudimentary, mainly about the mechanisms that lead them to find food in the vast ocean. Studies with other pelagic species, such as procellariiform birds, revealed that the olfactory system play an important role for the detection of feeding areas, through the detection of concentration peaks of DMS (dimethylsulfide), a scent compound that naturally exists in the marine environment and it is related to areas of high productivity. Based on the assumption that loggerhead sea turtles use a similar mechanism, behavioural experiments were conducted in order to analyze the chemoreception capacity to DMS (airborne chemoreception - theoretically responsible for the long distance detection of areas with food patches; and aquatic chemoreception - theoretically responsible for the short distance detection of preys). The first step was to observe if pelagic loggerheads demonstrate sensitivity to DMS and the second was to verify if they really use the DMS, in natural conditions, as an airborne cue to find areas where food patches might be available. Four juveniles of loggerhead sea turtles were tested in captivity and three wild turtles in the open ocean. The results of airborne chemoreception experiments in captivity revealed that one turtle clearly demonstrated sensitivity to DMS and the sea experiments confirmed this result. However, the experiments were not conclusive on the question whether the pelagic turtles actually use the DMS as an airborne cue to detect long distance food patches. In aquatic chemoreception experiments was not observed sensitivity to DMS by the three sea turtles tested. In the classical conditioning experiment, where DMS and food were given nearly at the same time revealed that after a certain period of time, the sea turtle tested did not associated the DMS stimulus with a possible food reward. The main cause of mortality of loggerhead sea turtles in Madeira waters is due to the accidental capture (bycatch) by deep pelagic longlines fishery which the target species is the black-scabbard (Aphanopus carbo) fish. Chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) is one of the baits used in this fishery. Aquatic chemoreception experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the attractiveness of the chub mackerel for sea turtles. For the three sea turtles tested, the results showed that in 90% of the cases the sea turtles were extremely attracted by the underwater smell of this fish.

Relationship between antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content of red, rosé and white wines

Phenolic compounds are one of the most important quality parameters of wines, since they contribute to wine organoleptic characteristics such as colour, astringency, and bitterness. Furthermore, several studies have pointed out that many show biological properties of interest, related to their antioxidant capacity. This antioxidant activity has been thoroughly studied and a wide variety of methods have been developed to evaluate it. In this study, the antioxidant activity of commercial Terras Madeirenses Portuguese wines (Madeira Island) was measured by three different analytical methods: [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTSradical dot+)) radical cation decolourisation, and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) for the evaluation of reducing power (PR) and correlate them with the total phenolic content determined with the Folin–Ciocalteu’s reagent using gallic acid as a standard. The total polyphenol concentration was found to vary from 252 to 1936 mg/l gallic acid equivalents (GAE). The antiradical activity varied from 0.042 to 0.715 mM Trolox equivalents and the antioxidant capacity varied from 344 to 1105 mg/l gallic acid equivalents (GAE). For the reduction power we obtained 3.45–3.86 mM quercetin equivalents.

Conselho Municipal de Saúde de Pedras de Fogo - PB: um estudo sobre participação

The present study aims to understand the process of Participation of the Health Council- CMS in the formularization, implementation and control of the Municipal health plan of Pedras de Fogo, through four criteria of quality of participation considered by Demo (1993): representation, legitimacy, base participation, and self-responsibility. The criteria of representation is related to the quality of politics of the representative over the representings. Legitimacy is related to the politics` quality of the process of participation based on norms and rules that stipulate the participation, the base participation is a necessary political support so that the power authorization directed to the representings can be effective and the self-responsibility refers to the capacity of being responsible when it concerns to the public service or property. Through the descriptive and exploratory study a qualitative method was adopted to consider the conditions of the participation of the twelve council members of the City council of Health of Pedras de Fogo, through a formulated Instrument based on the criteria of DEMO (1993). It was concluded that the quality of the participation of the council members of the CMS of Pedras de Fogo understands essential aspects of the criteria of quality considered by Demo (1993) but it shows fragilities as unfamiliarity with the norms that legitimize the performance of the council; unfamiliarity of its condition of being an agent and the importance of the participation of the base for the reinforcement of its participation, as well as inertia related to the check and rendering of accounts on its performance. This way it makes sense that the participation of the council in the four criteria of quality of politics considered in this paper needs to improve

Resiliência e velhice: um estudo de fatores de risco e de proteção na saúde do idoso

Resilience consists of a capacity to adapt and overcome situations of risk, from the aid of protective factors. This construct constitutes a process of preventive and multidimensional present in all stages of human development. During this development, it has been immersed in the elderly biopsychosocial changes resulting from the aging process. In this sense, there was a need for a multidisciplinary study, combining psychology, medicine, nursing, social work and gerontology in order to check the resilience, its risk factors, such as life events and health, and protection, such as self-esteem and social support. For this, we performed a descriptive exploratory study of cross-sectional nature, along with a convenience sample consisting of 65 elderly users of the public health of the district east of the city of Natal/RN, Brazil. This research allowed the collection of socio-demographic, economic, relational, physical, biological and psychological in understanding the aging process. It is observed that the studied sample socio-economic status and chronic health conditions in their own lives and their families, that demand for care and attention every day, are resilient, have faced significant losses, have positive self-esteem and social support perceived as external satisfactory. Given this multidimensional nature, the aging process deserves the attention of many professionals and health policies, seeking provide to the elderly a better living conditions and mechanisms that promote well-being and health

Biological aspects and predatory capacity of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) fed on Alabama argillacea (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reared on cotton genotypes

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

Meiotic inhibition of bovine oocytes in medium supplemented with a serum replacer and hormones: effects on meiosis progression and developmental capacity

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

Sistematização da assistência de enfermagem (SAE) em um hospital pediátrico de ensino: uma pesquisa-ação

The incessant search if nurse for qualify nursing care makes the Nursing Assistance Systematization, a current topic of discussion throughout the country, not only in order to comply the legal requirements of their practice, but especially by the expected benefits of its application. In this meaning, this research had a qualitative approach, developed for a way of research-action. The general purpose was to analyze the change in the nursing practices in a pediatric teaching hospital, based on construction and implementation of Nursing Assistance Systematization by the nursing team. The results had the thematic analysis of Paulo Freire and were shown in the form of reports. To achieve these purposes, it began by steps pre-trial, to review the charts of the institution and an approach with the managers. In the situational diagnosis of nursing practices without the systematization followed by applying a questionnaire with a nursing team and a focal group with nurses. These ways supported the implementation stage of the Nursing Assistance Systematization which developed actions associate such as focal group with the nurses about the nursing history, capacity with the nursing team about the Nursing Assistance Systematization, development, application and reworking of printed, and discussions in the small groups. The evaluations of the changes after the actions of the research occurred through individual interview with the nurses, to check the results. The charts review confirmed the deficit in the records performed by the nurse on the chart, which reinforced the need for implementation of Nursing Assistance Systematization, an argument used on the meeting with the managers, who promptly agree with the search. The questionnaire and the focal group with the nurses reveal a process of nursing work without systematization, showing gaps in practices, but also obtained relate of expectations of improvements in quality of care as of Nursing Assistance Systematization, furnishing data to the development of ways following-up. The prints were gradually used and modified as the team understood the Nursing Assistance Systematization and its purposes through capacity course. The final evaluation pointed to the partial implementation of the stages of Nursing Assistance Systematization had been institutionalized at the history and the development of nursing, beyond difficulties with diagnosis and prescription of nursing, in later representing a paradigm shift. This search collaborated to change the view about the Nursing Assistance Systematization by nursing team at the institution had been revealed through introduction of new practices in the process of nursing work, as examination of physical exam of the patient, the interview in the admission of customers on service and the daily monitoring by nursing through development of nursing. Before addition, it was noted which the purposes of this search were achieved, since were analyzed the changes in the nursing practices with the systematization. The research-action achieved proposes of the involvement of nursing team in changing their practices. This search contributed to the implementation of the Nursing Assistance Systematization in a pediatric teaching hospital and showed which is possible to seek resolution of problems when the objective is of the group and gave access for further searches within this theme

Soil-liming effects on the development and nutritional status of the carambola tree and its fruit-yielding capacity

Soil acidity is one of the most important factors limiting agricultural production in the tropics. For this reason, the objective of this research work was to evaluate the effects of soil liming on the performance of carambola (Averrhoa carambola) trees. The experiment took place at the Citrus Experimental Station in Bebedouro, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The soil was a Typic Haplustox (V = 26% at the 0- to 20-cm layer) between August 1999 and July 2003. The following doses of limestone were employed: 0, 1.85, 3.71, 5.56, and 7.41 t ha(-1). During 40 months after the experiment was set up, soil chemical attributes were periodically examined. For a period of 2 years, the trees had their leaves analyzed for micro-and macronutrients; their trunk diameter, height, and crown volume measured; and the production of fruits determined. Liming improved in evaluated chemical attributes of the soil: pH, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), BS, V, and hydrogen and aluminium (H + At) from the upper 60 cm of soil when the samples were taken from both the line and between the lines of plants. In the leaves, the levels of Ca and Mg also increased. The highest fruit yields were observed when soil base saturations reached 45% on the lines and 50% between the lines, as well as when foliar levels of 8.0 g of Ca and 4.7 a of Mg per kilogram of leaves were attained.

Genetic characterization and nitrogen fixation capacity of Rhizobium strains on common bean

O objetivo deste trabalho foi a caracterização genética de quatro novas estirpes de Rhizobium e a avaliação de sua capacidade de fixação de N2 e nodulação, comparadas a estirpes comerciais e à população nativa de rizóbios de um Latossolo Vermelho. Dois experimentos foram conduzidos em blocos ao acaso, em casa de vegetação. No primeiro experimento, conduzido em tubetes com vermiculita, avaliaram-se a nodulação e a capacidade de fixação das novas estirpes, em comparação com as estirpes comerciais CIAT-899 e PRF-81 e com a população nativa do solo. Das colônias puras isoladas, extraiu-se o DNA genômico e realizou-se o seqüenciamento do espaço intergênico, para a caracterização genética das estirpes e da população nativa de rizóbios. O segundo experimento foi realizado em vasos com solo, para determinação da produtividade e da nodulação do feijoeiro, cultivar Pérola, com o uso das estirpes isoladamente ou em mistura com a PRF-81. A população nativa do solo foi identificada como Rhizobium sp. e se mostrou ineficiente na fixação de nitrogênio. Foram encontradas três espécies de Rhizobium entre as quatro novas estirpes. As estirpes LBMP-4BR e LBMP-12BR estão entre as que têm maior capacidade de nodulação e fixação de N2, e apresentam respostas diferenciadas quando misturadas à PRF-81.

Eficácia da utilização de grânulos de argila como veículo para a aplicação aérea de sulfentrazone e isoxaflutole em área de implantação de eucalipto

Realizou-se um experimento em uma área de implantação da cultura do eucalipto no município de São Miguel Arcanjo-SP, com o objetivo de avaliar a eficácia da aplicação aérea de grânulos de argila como veículo dos herbicidas sulfentrazone e isoxaflutole, no controle de plantas daninhas. Foi realizada aplicação aérea dos herbicidas sulfentrazone, nas doses de 500 e 750 g i.a. ha-1, e isoxaflutole, nas doses de 150 e 225 g i.a. ha-1, utilizando-se como veículo grânulos de argila com densidade de 1,05 g cm ³, alta capacidade de absorção (24 mL 100 g-1), alta resistência ao desgaste e tamanho das partículas entre 500 mícrons e 1 mm. Também foram feitas aplicações via líquida dos mesmos herbicidas e doses com um pulverizador convencional, acoplado a um trator. Além desses tratamentos, foi mantida uma parcela testemunha, sem aplicação dos herbicidas. Nas parcelas experimentais foram semeadas as espécies de plantas daninhas Brachiaria decumbens, Ipomoea grandifolia, Merremia cissoides e Panicum maximum, sendo realizadas avaliações visuais de controle aos 75 e 110 dias após a aplicação. em geral, foram observados, nas plantas daninhas avaliadas, resultados de controle semelhantes ou superiores para a aplicação aérea (via grânulos) até 75 DAA e superiores para essa modalidade de aplicação aos 110 DAA, indicando uma extensão no período do efeito do residual dos herbicidas estudados.

Analysis of cardiovascular system responses to forced vital capacity in COPD

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: O teste de capacidade vital forçada (CVF) é rotineiramente realizado na avaliação da função pulmonar de pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC). Entretanto, permanece pouco compreendida a influência do teste de CVF sobre o sistema cardiovascular de pacientes com DPOC. OBJETIVOS: Analisar o comportamento da frequência cardíaca (FC), pressão arterial (PA) e variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC) no teste de CVF na DPOC. MÉTODOS: Dezenove homens com DPOC (72 ± 7 anos, no estágio de gravidade GOLD I=3, II=5, III=7 e IV=4 pacientes) realizaram a manobra de CVF e tiveram sua FC monitorada durante todo o exame, e a VFC analisada nos domínios do tempo (rMSSD) e da frequência (BF, AF e BF/AF) durante o repouso, antes e após a melhor manobra de CVF. A PA foi analisada no repouso, imediatamente ao final da manobra de CVF e 10 minutos após o término de todos os testes. RESULTADOS: Ao início da manobra de CVF, a FC reduziu (p<0,001) e, em seguida, aumentou progressivamente até o final do teste (p<0,001). Após término da manobra, a FC continuou a aumentar até atingir um pico (p<0,001) e depois caiu rapidamente a valores inferiores aos de repouso (p<0,001) e retornou ao seu valor basal. A PA e os índices da VFC não sofreram alterações nos períodos analisados. CONCLUSÃO: O teste de CVF influencia o comportamento da FC, sem alterar o seu controle autonômico, bem como a PA em pacientes com DPOC nos períodos analisados.

Dispersion capacity of Triatoma sherlocki, Triatoma juazeirensis and laboratory-bred hybrids

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

An investigation of pile diameter influence in the bearing capacity on Dynamic Load Test (DLT)

During the construction of five residential buildings in the city of Taubate, State of São Paulo, it was possible to carry out one comprehensive investigation of the behavior of precast concrete piles in clay shales. This paper describes the results of Dynamic Load Tests (DLT's) executed in three piles with different diameters and with the same embedded length. The tests were monitored using the PDA(R) (Pile Driving Analyzer) and the pile top displacement was measured by pencil and paper procedure. From the curves of RMX versus DMX resulted from CASE(R) method, CAPWAPC(R) analyses were made for signals where the maximum mobilized soil resistance was verified. The results were compared with the predicted bearing capacity using the semi-empirical method of Decourt & Quaresma (1978) and Decourt (1982) based on SPT values and the description of the soil profile. Some comments related to the values of quake and damping used for clay shales in the analyses are also presented.

Estudo da mistura comercial dolomita-quartzo, dopada com Hg(I), Cd(II) e Cr(III), para adsorção de H2S

The present work was to carry out a study on the adsorption of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in arrays synthesized from a commercial clay mineral formed by a mixture of dolomite and quartz. To produce the ion exchange matrix were made using aqueous solutions of salts of cobalt II chloride hexahydrate (CoCl2.6H2O) II cadmium nitrate tetrahydrate (Cd (NO3)2.4H2O) I mercuric chloride (HgCl) nitrate and chromium III pentahydrate (Cr (NO3)3.5H2O). The arrays were subjected to hydrogen sulphide gas passage for one hour. To check the amount of gas adsorbed was used gravimetric process. The best result was in the adsorption matrix doped with cadmium and the solution retained for a longer time than the largest amount of H2S was the cobalt matrix. The matrix unmodified exhibited poor adsorption capacity. The characterization of the matrices were used XRD, XRF and IV. Mother with cadmium showed a high capacity in ion exchange, because the percentage of cadmium increased from 0% to 81.38% by replacing atoms of calcium and silicon which increased from 96.54% to 17.56% and 15, 72% to 0.32%, respectively, but also the best performance in adsorption of H2S adsorbing 11.89507 mg per gram of matrix