COMPARTIMENTAÇÃO GEOMORFOLÓGICA DO MUNICÍPIO DE JUÍNA-MT

O presente estudo propõe a classificação geomorfológica do entorno da área urbana do município de Juína-MT, através da análise dos diferentes padrões de organização da paisagem e suas potencialidades. A pesquisa a campo possibilitou a análise geográfica, abrangendo a Compartimentação Geomorfológica e o uso da terra. Do ponto de vista geomorfológico, e os trabalhos de campo permitiram de acordo com a taxonomia dos fatos geomorfológicos propostas por Ross, enquadrar o Município de Juína que está situado ao Sul, pelo Planalto e chapada dos Parecis ao Norte com Planaltos e Serras Residuais do Norte do Mato Grosso e no Centro Nordeste se encontra Depressão Interplanáltica da Amazônia Meridional. Os tipos de modelos de relevo identificados foram: serras, morros, colinas e planícies aluviais. O município é drenado por dois grandes rios, Juruena e o Aripuanã, os demais rios de importância em termos de extensão e volume d’aguá são todos formadores destes dois cursos d’aguá. A compartimentação geomorfológica de Juína traz nova contribuição ao conhecimento da Geografia Física do Município.

ATIVIDADE GARIMPEIRA NO MUNICÍPIO DE JUÍNA-MT: “ESTUDO DE CASO DO GARIMPO JUININHA

No estado de Mato Grosso (MT) a mineração representa, desde o período colonial, uma atividade responsável pelo desenvolvimento da economia e expansão dos núcleos urbanos, que deram início a várias cidades, porém ela é um fator degradante do meio ambiente. A pesquisa se refere às degradações ambientais causadas pela atividade garimpeira no município de Juína-MT e as considerações minimizadoras dos impactos. Como método utilizou-se estudos bibliográficos e de campo. O estudo in loco foi realizado nos meses de Outubro e Novembro de 2009 no garimpo do Juininha. Observaram-se três locais distintos, dentro da área remanescente do garimpo: área garimpada desativada, local ativo de extração do diamante e área de mata nativa. Os elementos analisados foram às degradações ambientais e paisagísticas, processo de extração do diamante, aspectos e impactos ambientais. Os resultados demonstraram que os danos causados pela atividade garimpeira são diversos atingindo tanto o meio biótico como o abiótico, de maneira direta e indireta, porém constatou-se que os elementos mais afetados foram o solo, a vegetação e o Rio Juininha. O local impactado apresenta grandes diferenças ambientais em relação às áreas não garimpadas. Por fim foram propostas algumas medidas de diminuição dos impactos e regeneração dos locais afetados.

AGENTES CAUSADORES DAS QUEIMADAS NO PARQUE NACIONAL DE CHAPADA DOS GUIMARÃES – MT

A área do Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães compreende duas unidades geomorfológicas: Planalto dos Guimarães e Depressão do rio Paraguai. Pertence ao bioma cerrado com destaque em termos de biodiversidade, além de apresentar um excelente potencial para o turismo. Devido a alguns fatores esta área é constantemente ameaçada por incêndios em seu entorno e dentro da área protegida denominada Parque Nacional de Chapada dos Guimarães. Apesar da existência de causas naturais de incêndio no Cerrado, o maior agente causador está relacionado à ação humana. Sendo assim, este trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar dados sobre as causas do fogo no Parque Nacional de Chapada dos Guimarães, durante o período entre 2005 e 2009. Metodologicamente, a pesquisa foi realizada com base em dados coletados in loco pelo analista ambiental do ICMBIO, órgão responsável pela prevenção e controle de fogo nessa área. Neste contexto, os resultados apresentados referem-se às informações sobre (i) os períodos de maior incidência de incêndios, (ii) as causas dos incêndios e (iii) área queimada (área protegida e em seu entorno). Assim, com base nos dados obtidos, pode-se concluir que a negligência, por fatores econômicos, religiosos ou simples descaso com a natureza, ameaça uma área protegida importante para os moradores do município de Chapada dos Guimarães que dependem da atividade relacionada ao turismo ecológico na região.

Levantamento pedológico das áreas de afloramento do Aqüífero Guarani na região das nascentes do Rio Araguaia, GO/MT.

2008

Procedimentos analíticos e avaliação da presença de herbicidas em áreas de recarga do aqüífero Guarani na região das nascentes do rio Araguaia, MT/GO.

2008

Realidade socioeconômica das propriedades rurais na região das nascentes do Rio Araguaia, GO/MT.

2008

THE FORMULATION "SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT" IN THE JOURNALISTIC DISCOURSE IN SINOP-MT

This article is part of the activities carried out in the research and extension Project ‘Webbing of a discursivity in the Northern MatoGrosso region in Legal Amazon: contexts and possibilities of development with sustainability’. The goal of this research is to understand the discursivity put in the Northern MatoGrosso region inserted in Legal Amazon in the formulation ‘sustainable development’ through the theoretical postulations of the French line Discourse Analyses. In this article we analyse two pieces of News diffused in the printed media in Sinop, aiming to verify how the theme sustainable development is presented according to linguistic enunciations by the journalistic proposer in the journalistic discourse. We search to understand the different meaning effects that are found in the dialogues. Among the analyzed results that we evident in the formulations we can highlight dislocation, incompletions and polemics between the environmentalistis’ and developmentists’ discourses, confronted in ideological socio-economical opposition that happens fundamentally because of the work organizations and the current political systems.

No evidence for association of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene T2119C and C3161G amino acid substitution variants with risk of breast cancer

Background There is evidence that certain mutations in the double-strand break repair pathway ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene act in a dominant-negative manner to increase the risk of breast cancer. There are also some reports to suggest that the amino acid substitution variants T2119C Ser707Pro and C3161G Pro1054Arg may be associated with breast cancer risk. We investigate the breast cancer risk associated with these two nonconservative amino acid substitution variants using a large Australian population-based case–control study. Methods The polymorphisms were genotyped in more than 1300 cases and 600 controls using 5' exonuclease assays. Case–control analyses and genotype distributions were compared by logistic regression. Results The 2119C variant was rare, occurring at frequencies of 1.4 and 1.3% in cases and controls, respectively (P = 0.8). There was no difference in genotype distribution between cases and controls (P = 0.8), and the TC genotype was not associated with increased risk of breast cancer (adjusted odds ratio = 1.08, 95% confidence interval = 0.59–1.97, P = 0.8). Similarly, the 3161G variant was no more common in cases than in controls (2.9% versus 2.2%, P = 0.2), there was no difference in genotype distribution between cases and controls (P = 0.1), and the CG genotype was not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (adjusted odds ratio = 1.30, 95% confidence interval = 0.85–1.98, P = 0.2). This lack of evidence for an association persisted within groups defined by the family history of breast cancer or by age. Conclusion The 2119C and 3161G amino acid substitution variants are not associated with moderate or high risks of breast cancer in Australian women.

General practitioners’ experiences of the psychological aspects in the care of a dying patient

Objective: General practitioners (GPs) play an integral role in addressing the psychological needs of palliative care patients and their families. This qualitative study investigated psychosocial issues faced by GPs in the management of patients receiving palliative care and investigated the themes relevant to the psychosocial care of dying patients. Method: Fifteen general practitioners whose patient had been recently referred to the Mt. Olivet Palliative Home Care Services in Brisbane participated in an individual case review discussions guided by key questions within a semistructured format. These interviews focused on the psychosocial aspects of care and management of the referred patient, including aspects of the doctor/patient relationship, experience of delivering diagnosis and prognosis, addressing the psychological concerns of the patients' family, and the doctors' personal experiences, reactions, and responses. Qualitative analysis was conducted on the transcripts of these interviews. Results: The significant themes that emerged related to perceived barriers to exploration of emotional concerns, including spiritual issues, and the discussion of prognosis and dying, the perception of patients' responses/coping styles, and the GP's personal experience of the care (usually expressed in terms of identification with patient). Significance of results: The findings indicate the significant challenges facing clinicians in discussions with patients and families about death, to exploring the patient's emotional responses to terminal illness and spiritual concerns for the patient and family. These qualitative date indicate important tasks in the training and clinical support for doctors providing palliative care.

Dancing between diversity and consistency : refining assessment in postgraduate degrees in dance

This publication is the culmination of a 2 year Australian Learning and Teaching Council's Project Priority Programs Research Grant which investigates key issues and challenges in developing flexible guidelines lines for best practice in Australian Doctoral and Masters by Research Examination, encompassing the two modes of investigation, written and multi-modal (practice-led/based) theses, their distinctiveness and their potential interplay. The aims of the project were to address issues of assessment legitimacy raised by the entry of practice-orientated dance studies into Australian higher degrees; examine literal embodiment and presence, as opposed to cultural studies about states of embodiment; foreground the validity of questions around subjectivity and corporeal intelligence/s and the reliability of artistic/aesthetic communications, and finally to celebrate ‘performance mastery’(Melrose 2003) as a rigorous and legitimate mode of higher research. The project began with questions which centred around: the functions of higher degree dance research; concepts of 'master-ness’ and ‘doctorateness’; the kinds of languages, structures and processes which may guide candidates, supervisors, examiners and research personnel; the purpose of evaluation/examination; addressing positive and negative attributes of examination. Finally the study examined ways in which academic/professional, writing/dancing, tradition/creation and diversity/consistency relationships might be fostered to embrace change. Over two years, the authors undertook a qualitative national study encompassing a triangulation of semi-structured face to face interviews and industry forums to gather views from the profession, together with an analysis of existing guidelines, and recent literature in the field. The most significant primary data emerged from 74 qualitative interviews with supervisors, examiners, research deans and administrators, and candidates in dance and more broadly across the creative arts. Qualitative data gathered from the two primary sources, was coded and analysed using the NVivo software program. Further perspectives were drawn from international consultant and dance researcher Susan Melrose, as well as publications in the field, and initial feedback from a draft document circulated at the World Dance Alliance Global Summit in July 2008 in Brisbane. Refinement of data occurred in a continual sifting process until the final publication was produced. This process resulted in a set of guidelines in the form of a complex dynamic system for both product and process oriented outcomes of multi-modal theses, along with short position papers on issues which arose from the research such as contested definitions, embodiment and ephemerality, ‘liveness’ in performance research higher degrees, dissolving theory/practice binaries, the relationship between academe and industry, documenting practices and a re-consideration of the viva voce.

The genetic basis of human height : the role of estrogen

Height is a complex physical trait that displays strong heritability. Adult height is related to length of the long bones, which is determined by growth at the epiphyseal growth plate. Longitudinal bone growth occurs via the process of endochondral ossification, where bone forms over the differentiating cartilage template at the growth plate. Estrogen plays a major role in regulating longitudinal bone growth and is responsible for inducing the pubertal growth spurt and fusion of the epiphyseal growth plate. However, the mechanism by which estrogen promotes epiphyseal fusion is poorly understood. It has been hypothesised that estrogen functions to regulate growth plate fusion by stimulating chondrocyte apoptosis, angiogenesis and bone cell invasion in the growth plate. Another theory has suggested that estrogen exposure exhausts the proliferative capacity of growth plate chondrocytes, which accelerates the process of chondrocyte senescence, leading to growth plate fusion. The overall objective of this study was to gain a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind estrogen-mediated growth and height attainment by examining gene regulation in chondrocytes and the role of some of these genes in normal height inheritance. With the heritability of height so well established, the initial hypothesis was that genetic variation in candidate genes associated with longitudinal bone growth would be involved in normal adult height variation. The height-related genes FGFR3, CBFA1, ER and CBFA1 were screened for novel polymorphisms using denaturing HPLC and RFLP analysis. In total, 24 polymorphisms were identified. Two SNPs in ER (rs3757323 C>T and rs1801132 G>C) were strongly associated with adult male height and displayed an 8 cm and 9 cm height difference between homozygous genotypes, respectively. The TC haplotype of these SNPs was associated with a 6 cm decrease in height and remarkably, no homozygous carriers of the TC haplotype were identified in tall subjects. No significant associations with height were found for polymorphisms in the FGFR3, CBFA1 or VDR genes. In the epiphyseal growth plate, chondrocyte proliferation, matrix synthesis and chondrocyte hypertrophy are all major contributors to long bone growth. As estrogen plays such a significant role in both growth and final height attainment, another hypothesis of this study was that estrogen exerted its effects in the growth plate by influencing chondrocyte proliferation and mediating the expression of chondrocyte marker genes. The examination of genes regulated by estrogen in chondrocyte-like cells aimed to identify potential regulators of growth plate fusion, which may further elucidate mechanisms involved in the cessation of linear growth. While estrogen did not dramatically alter the proliferation of the SW1353 cell line, gene expression experiments identified several estrogen regulated genes. Sixteen chondrocyte marker genes were examined in response to estrogen concentrations ranging from 10-12 M to 10-8 M over varying time points. Of the genes analysed, IHH, FGFR3, collagen II and collagen X were not readily detectable and PTHrP, GHR, ER, BMP6, SOX9 and TGF1 mRNAs showed no significant response to estrogen treatments. However, the expression of MMP13, CBFA1, BCL-2 and BAX genes were significantly decreased. Interestingly, the majority of estrogen regulated genes in SW1353 cells are expressed in the hypertrophic zone of the growth plate. Estrogen is also known to regulate systemic GH secretion and local GH action. At the molecular level, estrogen functions to inhibit GH action by negatively regulating GH signalling. GH treated SW1353 cells displayed increases in MMP9 mRNA expression (4.4-fold) and MMP13 mRNA expression (64-fold) in SW1353 cells. Increases were also detected in their respective proteins. Treatment with AG490, an established JAK2 inhibitor, blocked the GH mediated stimulation of both MMP9 and MMP13 mRNA expression. The application of estrogen and GH to SW1353 cells attenuated GH-stimulated MMP13 levels, but did not affect MMP9 levels. Investigation of GH signalling revealed that SW1353 cells have high levels of activated JAK2 and exposure to GH, estrogen, AG490 and other signalling inhibitors did not affect JAK2 phosphorylation. Interestingly, AG490 treatment dramatically decreased ERK2 signalling, although GH did stimulate ERK2 phosphorylation above control levels. AG490 also decreased CBFA1 expression, a transcription factor known to activate MMP9 and MMP13. Finally, GH and estrogen treatment increased expression of SOCS3 mRNA, suggesting that SOCS3 may regulate JAK/STAT signalling in SW1353 cells. The modulation of GH-mediated MMP expression by estrogen in SW1353 cells represents a potentially novel mechanism by which estrogen may regulate longitudinal bone growth. However, further investigation is required in order to elucidate the precise mechanisms behind estrogen and GH regulation of MMP13 expression in SW1353 cells. This study has provided additional evidence that estrogen and the ER gene are major factors in the regulation of growth and the determination of adult height. Newly identified polymorphisms in the ER gene not only contribute to our understanding of the genetic basis of human height, but may also be useful in association studies examining other complex traits. This study also identified several estrogen regulated genes and indicated that estrogen modifies the expression of genes which are primarily expressed in the hypertrophic region of the epiphyseal growth plate. Furthermore, synergistic studies incorporating GH and estrogen have revealed the ability of estrogen to attenuate the effects of GH on MMP13 expression, revealing potential pathways by which estrogen may modulate growth plate fusion, longitudinal bone growth and even arthritis.

Synchronous fluorescence and UV–vis spectroscopic studies of interactions between the tetracycline antibiotic, aluminium ions and DNA with the aid of the Methylene Blue dye probe

Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS) was applied for the investigation of interactions of the antibiotic, tetracycline (TC), with DNA in the presence of aluminium ions (Al3+). The study was facilitated by the use of the Methylene Blue (MB) dye probe, and the interpretation of the spectral data with the aid of the chemometrics method, parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). Three-way synchronous fluorescence analysis extracted the important optimum constant wavelength differences, Δλ, and showed that for the TC–Al3+–DNA, TC–Al3+ and MB dye systems, the associated Δλ values were different (Δλ = 80, 75 and 30 nm, respectively). Subsequent PARAFAC analysis demonstrated the extraction of the equilibrium concentration profiles for the TC–Al3+, TC–Al3+–DNA and MB probe systems. This information is unobtainable by conventional means of data interpretation. The results indicated that the MB dye interacted with the TC–Al3+–DNA surface complex, presumably via a reaction intermediate, TC–Al3+–DNA–MB, leading to the displacement of the TC–Al3+ by the incoming MB dye probe.

Near infrared spectroscopy of stearic acid adsorbed on montmorillonite

The adsorption of stearic acid on both sodium montmorillonites and calcium montmorillonites has been studied by near infrared spectroscopy complimented with infrared spectroscopy. Upon adsorption of stearic acid on Ca-Mt additional near infrared bands are observed at 8236 cm-1 and is assigned to an interaction of stearic acid with the water of hydration. Upon adsorption of the stearic acid on Na-Mt, the NIR bands are now observed at 5671, 5778, 5848 and 5912 cm-1 and are assigned to the overtone and combination bands of the CH fundamentals. Additional bands at 4177, 4250, 4324, 4337, 4689 and 4809 cm-1 are attributed to CH combination bands resulting from the adsorption of the stearic acid. Stearic acid is used as a model molecule for adsorption studies. The application of near infrared spectroscopy to the study of this adsorption proved most useful.