Comparative study between the effects of hyaluronic acid and acid galactan purified from eggs of the mollusk Pomacea sp in wound healing

To compare the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) and of AG on the healing of intestine wounds. Methods: The semi-purified extract of the eggs of the mollusc was obtained by fractionation with ammonium sulfate and purification for ion-exchange chromatography. The obtained galactans were eluted in water (neutral galactan) and in 0.1 and 0.2M NaCl (acidic galactans). The in vivo study was performed with 45 “Wistar” rats, separated in three groups (n=15). Solutions containing HA 1%, GA 1% or saline solution 0,9%, was placed topically on the sutures of wounds in the small intestine of the rats. After 05, 10 and 21 days the animals were sacrificed and biopsy of the healing tissue was done. Results: The hystologic grading was more significant for HA and AG groups when compared to the group C. AG stimulated the appearance of macrophages, giant cells and increase in the concentration of collagen in the area of the wound when compared to HA. Conclusion: The topical use of GA in intestinal wounds promoted the anticipation of events that are important in the wound healing

Hidrocarbonetos alifáticos em sedimentos de fundo do estuário do Rio Potengi, grande Natal (RN): implicações ambientais

The Potengi river estuary is located in the region of Natal (RN, Brazil), comprising a population of approximately 1,000,000 inhabitants. Besides the dominant urban presence, the estuary has fragments of mangrove forest. The objective of this study is to determine the aliphatic hydrocarbons found in the bottom sediments of this estuary, identifying their levels, distribution and their possible origins through the diagnostic rates, indexes and results comparisons with the local anthropic and natural characteristics. The samples were obtained according to a plan that allowed sampling of the estuary up to 12 km upstream from it as mounth. 36 stations were selected, grouped into 12 cross sections through the course of the river and spaced on average by 1 km. Each section consisted of three stations: the right margin, the deepest point and the left margin. The hydrocarbon n-alkanes from C10 to C36, the isoprenoids pristane and phytane, the unresolved complex mixture (UCM) and the total resolved hydrocarbons were analyzed by gas chromatography. N-alkanes, pristane, phytane and UCM were detected only at some stations. In the other, the concentration was below the detection limit defined by the analytical method (0.1 mg / kg), preventing them from being analyzed to determine the origin of the material found. By using different parameters, the results show that the estuary receives both the input of petrogenic hydrocarbons, but also of biogenic hydrocarbons, featuring a mixture of sources and relatively impacted portions. Based on the characteristics and activities found in the region, it is possible to affirm that petrogenic sources related to oil products enter the estuary via urban runoff or boats traffic, boat washing and fueling. Turning to the biogenic source, the predominant origin was terrestrial, characterized by vascular plants, indicating contribution of mangrove vegetation. It was evident the presence of, at specific points in the estuary, hydrocarbon pollution, and, therefore is recommended the adoption of actions aimed at interrupting or, at least, mitigating the sources potentially capable of damp petrogenic hydrocarbons in the estuary studied.

Estudo da injeção de CO2 em reservatórios carbonáticos de dupla-porosidade

As rochas carbonáticas ocupam, numa visão global, um expressivo volume da crosta terrestre. De maneira geral, pode-se dizer que essas rochas estão presentes nas diversas unidades litoestatigráficas da Terra. Os reservatórios carbonáticos são reservas naturalmente fraturadas que exigem uma abordagem diferenciada na modelagem em programas de simulação numérica. Os modelos de dupla porosidade são descritos por funções de tranferências que modelam o fluxo de óleo entre matriz e fraturas. Em um reservatório carbonático naturalmente fraturado o sistema de fraturas é determinante no escoamento de fluidos dentro da reserva. Os maiores reservatórios carbonáticos do mundo estão situados no Oriente Médio e na América do Norte. As maiores reservas de óleo brasileiras encontradas neste tipo de reservatório estão localizadas nos campos do Pré-Sal. No Pré-Sal, um volume significativo de dióxido de carbono é produzido juntamente com o óleo. A disponibilidade de um volume consideravél de dióxido de carbono derivado da produção de óleo no Pré-Sal favorece a utilização dos processos de EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) por injeção de gás. O processo de injeção de dióxido de carbono vem sendo utilizado em uma grande quantidade de projetos pelo mundo. A afinidade existente entre o óleo e o dióxido de carbono causa uma frente miscível entre as duas fases causando inchamento e vaporização do óleo dentro do reservatório. Para o estudo, foi utilizado um modelo base de reservatório de dupla-porosidade, desenvolvido pela CMG para o 6° Projeto de Soluções Comparativas da SPE, que modela sistemas de fraturas e de matriz e a tranferência de massa fluida entre elas, características de reservatórios naturalmente fraturados. Foi feita uma análise da injeção de diferentes vazões de dióxido de carbono no modelo base e em modelos semelhantes, com aumento e redução de 5 e 0.5 pontos nas propriedades de porosidade e permeabilidade da matriz, respectivamente, tendo a produção de óleo como resultado. A injeção de 25 milhões de pés cúbicos por dia de CO2 foi a vazão que obteve a melhor fator de recuperação

Projeto, construção e análise de um prototipo vibracional em escala de bancada aplicável ao tratamento de água de produção de petróleo bruto, mediante inovadora operação híbrida de adsorção e auto-flotação

A self-flotator vibrational prototype electromechanical drive for treatment of oil and water emulsion or like emulsion is presented and evaluated. Oil production and refining to obtain derivatives is carried out under arrangements technically referred to as on-shore and off-shore, ie, on the continent and in the sea. In Brazil 80 % of the petroleum production is taken at sea and area of deployment and it cost scale are worrisome. It is associated, oily water production on a large scale, carrier 95% of the potential pollutant of activity whose final destination is the environment medium, terrestrial or maritime. Although diversified set of techniques and water treatment systems are in use or research, we propose an innovative system that operates in a sustainable way without chemical additives, for the good of the ecosystem. Labyrinth adsor-bent is used in metal spirals, and laboratory scale flow. Equipment and process patents are claimed. Treatments were performed at different flow rates and bands often monitored with control systems, some built, other bought for this purpose. Measurements of the levels of oil and grease (OGC) of efluents treaty remained within the range of legal framework under test conditions. Adsorbents were weighed before and after treatment for obtaining oil impregna-tion, the performance goal of vibratory action and treatment as a whole. Treatment technolo-gies in course are referenced, to compare performance, qualitatively and quantitatively. The vibration energy consumption is faced with and without conventional flotation and self-flotation. There are good prospects for the proposed, especially in reducing the residence time, by capillary action system. The impregnation dimensionless parameter was created and confronted with consecrated dimensionless parameters, on the vibrational version, such as Weber number and Froude number in quadratic form, referred to as vibrational criticality. Re-sults suggest limits to the vibration intensity

Analise estrutural do galactano acidico dos ovos de pomacea lineata e avaliacao de suas atividades proliferativa e antiinflamatoria

The acidic galactan (AG) was obtained by extraction and proteolysis by acetone precipitation of the eggs of the mollusc Pomacea lineata. Its structure was elucidated by a combination of chemical analysis, the intrinsic viscosity and NMR spectroscopy 1D and 2D. Biological aspects of AG were evaluated by in vivo testing of healing and peritonitis induced (anti-inflammatory activity) and in vitro assays of cytotoxicity (MTT). This polymer showed a simple structure without the presence of sulfate and uronic acids in its structure. Its intrinsic viscosity and relative were evaluated at 0.44 ± 0.05 and 1.744± 0.07 dl.g-1. Spectroscopy showed that the AG has a constitution composed predominantly of β-D-galactosis, and β-D-glucosamine-NAcetil that comes in a smaller proportion in chain. The character of this acidic polysaccharide is given by the presence of pyruvate in the molecule, forming a cyclic acetal of six states, located in β-D-galactosis. The involvement of AG in the healing process was evaluated and the histological analysis revealed that there was so early in the process of healing, a great stimulation of macrophages with granuloma formation. Suggesting that AG may have promoted the advance of biological events required for tissue healing. In the trial of the GA-induced peritonitis showed dose dependent, demonstrating the anti-inflammatory effect at concentrations above 20 mg/kg, and confirming its inflammatory character and the concentration of 1mg/kg. In vitro tests used in the GA concentration of 1000 μg/mL showed proliferative activity by stimulating the growth of 3T3 cells, corroborating the findings in vivo and demonstrating the absence of cytotoxic activity

Faecal bacteria in Perna perna (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca: Bivalvia) for biomonitoring coastal waters and seafood quality

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

Albuns fotográficos de/por Enoque Neves: uma poética visual

La imagen fotográfica la imagen despierta pulsiones, en una experiencia provocativa que acciona el campo mítico-fenomenológico descíframe o te devoro . El texto fotográfico no constituye sólo un momento del real , es mucho más que un recorte gélido del tiempo pasado. Sobretodo, porque la comprensión del lenguaje subyacente a la imagen fotográfica se coloca dentro y más allá de lo meramente dado y/o objetivado . En la comprensión de la imagen se disponen regímenes de subjetivación horadado por códigos culturales, dominios del lenguaje, símbolos, experiencias estéticas, creación simbólica, valores, memorias, imaginarios. En ese sentido, surge el estudio, el levantamiento y la sistematización del acervo fotográfico dejado por el fotógrafo autodidacta: Enoque Pereira das Neves (1918-2002), que produjo formas visuales reveladoras de orientaciones culturales colectivas y universos fotográficos imaginarios. Él fotografió por medio siglo la vida cotidiana del campesino, en tierras potiguares y paraibanas. En la comprensión del acervo opte por subdividirlo en álbumes los cuales revelan las intimidades del fotógrafo con el lugar, una escrita de si, un estado del alma, del sujeto que observa la relación sociedad y naturaleza, en una especie de simbiosis en que accionan potencias resonantes de creación en el devaneo de la materia, sobresaliéndose a la pulsión terrestre, o enraizamiento, os rizomas del hombre unido a la tierra, las tradiciones, a rusticidad, laboral, bien como el apelo estético direccionado al agua: pulsión de vida en tierras áridas. La comprensión del inmenso acervo, evaluado en más de cincuenta mil fotografías es profundamente representativa de predilección temática circunstanciada por la niñez, la narrativa enfoca imágenes míticas como la del Eros nudo, la madona y el niño, y prácticas culturales del universo infantil, como el juguete y el juego. Mismo el acervo siendo un apelo estético a la vida surgió la imagen fotográfica de la muerte, especialmente, la muerte en la niñez o ángel y la muerte de ancianos como o deseo de la última imagen de aquel entre los suyos. La investigación es transversal por los siguientes objetivos: propongo un reconocimiento del acervo de Enoque Pereira das Neves en la intención de comprender el universo imaginario presente en su obra fotográfica. Invisto también, en la posibilidad de hacer la lectura del acervo como álbum imaginario.

Avaliação da atividade turística sobre a composição e a distribuição das macroalgas marinhas nos recifes de Pirangi (Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil)

The reef area of Pirangi beach has been experiencing antropogenic actions, mainly due to tourism activity. In order to evaluate these effects, surveys on seaweeds were conducted at nine stations located over the fringing reef. Benthic community (seaweeds/corals) were identified using the photoquadrat method, with 50 meters random transects located paralleled to the coast. The general categories evaluated in each transect were: rock, sand, seaweeds, corals and mollusks. Data achieved were processed at Coral Point Count with Excel Extensions software. A total of 30 seaweed species, 5 coral species and 1 mollusk species were identified. There was a high dominance of short algae at stations with high tourism pressure, whereas frondose algae usually occurred at places without human interference. Seaweeds with the highest percent cover were composed by Sargassum vulgare (59%), Caulerpa racemosa (47%) and Dictyopteris delicatula (33%). Cluster analyses considering benthic organisms revealed five benthic features: (1) submersed area characterized by a diversified marine flora; (2) area with dominance of Caulerpa racemosa and presence of Millepora alcicornis; (3) area with high cover of Sargassum vulgare; (4) trampling area characterized by bare rocks, short algae and Zoanthus sociatus and (5) area with high coverage of Palythoa caribaeroum. Obtained data suggest that the studied area has been damaged by tourism activities. Furthermore, observed differences in algal communities may be a good indicator of ecosystem health of Pirangi reefs

Influência da matéria orgânica dissolvida alóctone e autóctone sobre o balanço de carbono em sistemas aquáticos: um experimento em mesocosmos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Efeitos individuais e interativos da diversidade de detritos, contexto e variabilidade ambiental sobre a magnitude e estabilidade do processo de decomposição

Studies on the effects of changes in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning have been a central theme in ecology over the past two decades. Several studies have showed that the diversity of plant debris differently affects the decomposition process in aquatic and terrestrial environments, but we know very about the effects of detritus diversity on decomposition under fluctuating environmental conditions. We tested whether and how the environmental contexts, as well as the dynamic of their alternation, influence the effects of detritus diversity on the decomposition process. We performed a field experiment where we manipulate the litter diversity of 8 species of terrestrial plants decomposing (litterbags) in single and in mixture containing the eight species together in three different environmental contexts: the terrestrial environment (T), aquatic (A) and interface (I) - experimental treatment that simulates variation in flooding regime. We measured the rate of decomposition through the loss of mass of the community and each individual detritus in monocultures and mixtures. Species richness and environmental variability had no effects on the magnitude and stability of the decomposition process. However, there were significant diversity effects on the decomposition of an individual alien species, F. benjamina. Environmental context had significant effects on the magnitude and variability of decomposition. Detritus decomposition was faster and more variable on aquatic, interface and terrestrial conditions, respectively. Our results demonstrate that the diversity of plant detritus has minor effects to the decomposition across disparate environmental conditions and suggest that it is necessary to consider the potential of other abiotic factors in affect the magnitude and variability of the decomposition processes

Alteração da qualidade do solo em zona ripária sob diferentes usos: potencial de poluição para um manancial tropical

The demographic growth press environments that are more susceptible to perturbations, like riparian areas, without knowing about the effects of replacing these natural environments by different land uses on soil quality and, consequently, on watershed. The study of soil quality has evolved as an important tool for soil sustainable management of this component of the biosphere that affects aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems functions. Thus, physical and chemical soil proprieties were measured to assess soil quality under different land uses (agricultural, pasture, urban, industrial and natural vegetation,) in the riparian zone of Extremoz Lake, an important human water source, evaluating whether the soil offers potential risk to water pollution. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results showed negative changes in soil quality such as alkalinization and increase in P, Pb, Mn and Zn contents in most anthropized areas. The sandy texture and low organic matter content in all soils showed the fragility of the soil to erosion and leaching of elements in excess to water bodies, evidencing that this soils has potential to diffuse contaminants. Conservative management of soil is necessary to provide an adequate ecological state in riparian zones of the Extremoz Lake, thus allowing controlling and buffering diffuse sources of pollution to this important water supply source

Pedagogia da fraternidade ecológica e formação transdisciplinar para um ensino educativo

La séparation entre les deux cultures (Snow, 1995) a battu la compréhension du monde, a influencé l'éducation à tous les niveaux et a fragmenté les êtres humains dans leur façon de penser et de produire des connaissances. L'accumulation des connaissances héritées dès la naissance de la science moderne au XVIIe siècle, n'a pas été suffisantes pour relever les nouveaux défis du monde contemporain (Morin, 2000, 2001, 2002a). Maintenant c est le temps de chercher une nouvelle compréhension du monde et des nouveaux façon de comprendre et résoudre les événements et problèmes de l'âge moderne. La Pédagogie de la fraternité écologique "est défendue et construite à partir d'un point de référence cosmologique nouvelle, basée sur le grand récit de l'univers, et inspirés par la vie fraternelle, l'amour, la poésie et la sagesse de saint François d'Assise (Italie , sec. XII-XIII) et l'expérience des connaissances traditionnelles et la «logique du sensible» (Lévi-Strauss) de Francisco da Silva Lucas, un résident de la communauté de Areia Branca, sur les rives du lac Piató dans la ville de Assu, Rio Grande do Norte. Une épistémologie fondée sur le grand récit de l'Univers rachetera des relations fraternelles entre l'homme et la nature. À partir de ces références j ai elaboré une nouvelle formation pour les éducateurs, «formation interdisciplinaire pour enseigner de l'éducation», dans lequel je développe ce que j'appelle «Architecture transdisciplinaire de savoir pour la formation des enseignants, fondé sur les principes de la complexité et de la transdisciplinarité. Nous comprenons que notre rôle est plus large intégrant l'homme dans l'histoire de l'univers, car le bien de la terre et le bienêtre de la communauté humaine sur terre peut être le point que rejoindra l'enseignement de l'avenir

Globos e mapas ao alcance das mãos : ensino de matemática numa perspectiva de alfabetização funcional na EJA

The following dissertation has as its main advantage the privilege of visualizing the literacy processes through the angle of the functional perspective, which does not see the literary process as a practice solely based on the decoding of alphabetical codes, and then allows for the opening of ample spaces for the allocation of mathematical skills in the realms of the functional literacy. The main object of this study was to investigate which are the contributions that a sequence of activities and of methodologies developed for the teaching of Geometry could provide for a part of the functional literacy process in mathematics of youngsters and adults of EJA, corresponding to the acquisition or to the improvement of skills related to the orientation capacity. The focus of the analyses consisted in the practice of these activities with the young and adult students of an EJA class belonging to a municipal public school of Natal/RN. The legacies of Paulo Freire about the redimensioning of the role of the teacher, of the students, of the knowledge and of their connections within the teaching-learning process, prevailed in the actions of the methodology implemented in the classroom and, especially, in the establishing of dialogic connections with the students, which directed all the observations and analyses regarding the collected information. The results indicated that the composition of articulations between the teaching of mathematics and the exploration of maps and the earth globe enabled the creation of multidisciplinary learning environments and situations, where we could observe, gradually, the development of procedures and attitudes indicating the evolution of space-visual type skills

Novas ferramentas para monitoramento ambiental usando SIG Web

The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has becoming very important in fields where detailed and precise study of earth surface features is required. Applications in environmental protection are such an example that requires the use of GIS tools for analysis and decision by managers and enrolled community of protected areas. In this specific field, a challenge that remains is to build a GIS that can be dynamically fed with data, allowing researchers and other agents to recover actual and up to date information. In some cases, data is acquired in several ways and come from different sources. To solve this problem, some tools were implemented that includes a model for spatial data treatment on the Web. The research issues involved start with the feeding and processing of environmental control data collected in-loco as biotic and geological variables and finishes with the presentation of all information on theWeb. For this dynamic processing, it was developed some tools that make MapServer more flexible and dynamic, allowing data uploading by the proper users. Furthermore, it was also developed a module that uses interpolation to aiming spatial data analysis. A complex application that has validated this research is to feed the system with data coming from coral reef regions located in northeast of Brazil. The system was implemented using the best interactivity concept provided by the AJAX model and resulted in a substantial contribution for efficiently accessing information, being an essential mechanism for controlling events in the environmental monitoring

Ajuste automático e otimização do tempo de espera (Idle time) em bombeio mecânico de petróleo

The present work presents an algorithm proposal, which aims for controlling and improving idle time to be applied in oil production wells equipped with beam pump. The algorithm was totally designed based on existing papers and data acquired from two Potiguar Basin pilot wells. Oil engineering concepts such as submergence, pump off, Basic Sediments and Water (BSW), Inflow Performance Relationship (IPR), reservo ir pressure, inflow pressure, among others, were included into the algorithm through a mathematical treatment developed from a typical well and then extended to the general cases. The optimization will increase the well production potential maximum utilization having the smallest number of pumping unit cycles directly reflecting on operational cost and electricity consumption reduction