Reference range for T lymphocytes populations in blood donors from two different regions in Brazil

ABSTRACT: This study defined the normal variation range for different subsets of T-lymphocyte cells count in two different Brazilian regions. We analysed the T-lymphocytes subpopulations (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) in blood donors of two Brazilian cities, located in North (Belem, capital state of Para, indian background) and Northeast (Salvador, capital state od Bahia, African background) regions of Brazil. Results were compared according to gender, stress level (sleep time lower than 8 hours/day), smoking, and alcohol intake. Lymphocytes subpopulations were measured by flow cytometry. Five hundred twenty-six blood donors from two Brazilians cities participated in the study: 450 samples from Bahia and 76 samples from Pará. Most (60%) were men, 59% reported alcohol intake, 12% were smokers, and 80% slept at least 8 h/day. Donors from Bahia presented with significantly higher counts for all parameters, compared with Para. Women had higher lymphocytes levels, in both states, but only CD4+ cells count was significantly higher than men's values. Smokers had higher CD4+ counts, but sleep time had effect on lymphocytes levels only for Para's donors (higher CD3+ and CD4+ counts). That state had also, a higher proportion of donors reporting sleep time <8 h/day. The values for CD3, CD4 and CD8+ cells count were significantly higher in blood donors from Bahia than among those from Pará. Female gender, alcohol intake, stress level, and smoking were associated with higher lymphocyte counts. The use of a single reference range for normal lymphocytes count is not appropriate for a country with such diversity, like Brazil is.

Fisiologia e manejo de Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. & M. A. Curtis) C. T. Wei, causador da mancha alvo na cultura da acerola (Malpighia emarginata D. C.)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Large-Scale Water Productivity Assessments with MODIS Images in a Changing Semi-Arid Environment: A Brazilian Case Study

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

Empirical models for estimating the suspended sediment concentration in Amazonian white water rivers using Landsat 5/TM

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Fuzzy Index for Public Supply Water Quality

Human population growth and increased industrial activity in recent decades have contributed to a range of environmental problems, including the contamination of groundwater and surface water. In order to help in the management of these resources, water quality indices are used as tools to summarize multiple parameters and express them in the form of a single number. The ability to provide both an integrated assessment of changes in environmental variables, as well as performance tracking, has resulted in such indices being increasingly employed in surface water monitoring programs. The aim of this study was to develop an Index for Public Supply Water Quality (IPS) using a fuzzy inference methodology. Linguistic systems generally provide satisfactory tools for qualitative purposes, enabling the inclusion of descriptive variables with reduced loss of individual information. Validation of the technique was achieved by analysis of measurement data obtained for the Sorocaba River, provided by CETESB. The new procedure proved more rigorous, compared to classical IPS. It could be readily applied in the evaluation of other water bodies, or be adjusted to incorporate additional parameters also considered important for the assessment of water quality.

Body Composition and Net Energy Requirements for Maintenance of Non-Castrated Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

The research aimed to estimate body contents of protein and energy and net requirements of energy for maintenance of buffaloes, slaughtered at different stages of maturity. There were used 14 Mediterranean intact males with initial average body weight of 352.2 +/- 24.3 kg and average age of 24 months. The animais were randomly divided into four experimental groups. One group was designed to slaughter at the beginning of the experimental period (IS). The animals of another group were restricting fed, receiving, individually, levels of protein and energy 15% above maintenance (RF). The animals of the two remaining groups were individually fed ad libitum (SW450 and SW500) to reach weights corresponding to 100 and 110 percent of the mature weight of the buffalo cows (respectively 450 and 550 kg). The ration contained ground-corn cobs, soybean meal, urea, minerals, and signal-grass (Brachiaria decumbens) hay, with a concentrate: roughage ratio of 50: 50 and 13% of crude protein on a dry matter basis. To estimate changes in body composition inside the range of weights included in the trial, linear regression equations of log protein (kg), fat (kg) and energy (Mcal) as a function of log empty-body-weight (EBW), in kg, were fitted. Energy requirements for maintenance were obtained as estimated heat production at zero level of energy intake. Buffaloes submitted to fattening in feedlot presented early body fat deposition, and had with the same live weight lower protein content and higher fat content and energy per unit weight than european-zebu crossbred cattle.

Cassava root husks powder as green adsorbent for the removal of Cu(II) from natural river water

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

An integrable evolution equation for surface waves in deep water

In order to describe the dynamics of monochromatic surface waves in deep water, we derive a nonlinear and dispersive system of equations for the free surface elevation and the free surface velocity from the Euler equations in infinite depth. From it, and using a multiscale perturbative method, an asymptotic model for small wave steepness ratio is derived. The model is shown to be completely integrable. The Lax pair, the first conserved quantities as well as the symmetries are exhibited. Theoretical and numerical studies reveal that it supports periodic progressive Stokes waves which peak and break in finite time. Comparison between the limiting wave solution of the asymptotic model and classical results is performed.

Effect of Water Exchange and Mechanical Aeration on Grow-out of the Amazon River Prawn in Ponds

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Leakage detection in water pipe networks using electromechanical impedance (EMI) based technique

The electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique has been successfully used in structural health monitoring (SHM) systems on a wide variety of structures. The basic concept of this technique is to monitor the structural integrity by exciting and sensing a piezoelectric transducer, usually a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) wafer bonded to the structure to be monitored and excited in a suitable frequency range. Because of the piezoelectric effect, there is a relationship between the mechanical impedance of the host structure, which is directly related to its integrity, and the electrical impedance of the PZT transducer, obtained by a ratio between the excitation and the sensing signals.This work presents a study on damage (leaks) detection using EMI based method. Tests were carried out in a rig water system built in a Hydraulic Laboratory for different leaks conditions in a metallic pipeline. Also, it was evaluated the influence of the PZT position bonded to the pipeline. The results show that leaks can effectively be detected using common metrics for damage detection such as RMSD and CCDM. Further, it was observed that the position of the PZT bonded to the pipes is an important variable and has to be controlled.

Determination of mercury in river water by diffusive gradients in thin films using P81 membrane as binding layer

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

Method validation using weighted linear regression models for quantification of UV filters in water samples

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

EFFECT OF FOOD SHORTAGE ON GROWTH, ENERGETIC RESERVES MOBILIZATION, AND WATER QUALITY IN JUVENILES OF THE REDCLAW CRAYFISH, CHERAX QUADRICARINATUS, REARED IN GROUPS

The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of food shortage on growth performance, by means of energetic reserves (proteins, glycogen and lipids) mobilization and hepatopancreas cells analysis in C. quadricarinatus juveniles maintained in groups, as well as the effect on culture water quality. Two experiments were performed, each of them with two feeding regimes during 45 days. The Control feeding regime, in which crayfish were fed daily (once a day) throughout the experimental period (DF), and the Cyclic feeding regime, in which juveniles were fed for 2 or 4 days (once a day) followed by 2 or 4 days of food deprivation (2F/2D and 4F/4D, respectively) in repeated cycles. Cyclic feeding influenced growth, biochemical composition from hepatopancreas and muscle, and water quality. Juveniles cyclically fed were unable to maintain a normal growth trajectory during 45 days. Apparent feed conversion ratio, apparent protein efficiency ratio, hepatosomatic index and relative pleon mass were similar in cyclic and daily fed animals and no structural damage was found in the hepatopancreas of juveniles subjected to cyclic feeding. The novelty of this study was the significant accumulation of proteins in pleonal muscle in both cyclic feeding regimes (approx. 18%) suggesting that the storage of this constitutive material during food shortage may be an adaptation for a compensatory growth when food becomes abundant again. The cyclic feeding regimes had a positive effect on water quality decreasing inorganic nitrogen concentration. This was due to the reduction in the amount of animal excretes and feces in the group that received approx. 50% less feed. Additionally, water pH was higher in cyclic feeding tanks, as a result of lower organic matter decomposition and consequent release of CO2. Accordingly, total ammonia in the water was significantly lower for the cyclic feeding regimes compared to their respective controls. This study suggests that the protocol of cyclic feeding could be applied at least 45 days in 1 g juveniles maintained in group conditions, without affecting the energetic reserves and hepatopancreas structure, emphasizing the high tolerance of this species to food restriction.

Modelagem do transporte de sedimentos na alta Bacia do Córrego Cachoeirinha (Rio Claro, SP) através do software Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)

This study aimed to simulate and evaluate the sediment transport in Upper Basin Stream Cachoeirinha in Rio Claro, SP, and compare the results with previous studies performed in the same basin. The modeling software used in this study was Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), which is a very comprehensive tool that discusses many physical processes. In this work, the hydrosedimentological processes were treated, aiming to understand the sediment production and transport. The Basin Stream Cachoeirinha has an area with predominantly agricultural use, especially sugar cane. The database for inclusion in software was constructed from the following elements: climatic, topographical, soil type and use and land cover of the area, also including the parameters of Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE). The analysis was conducted for a period of 16 years (1994-2010), which is the range of data available from CEAPLA. The results were analyzed in terms of annual runoff and sediment yield. The average sediment delivery in the simulation was 0.94 t/ha/year, while the maximum annual contribution was 7.28 t/ha/year

Study of thermodynamic water properties and moisture sorption hysteresis of mango skin

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)