Projeto de absorvedores de micro-ondas integrados com superfícies seletivas em frequência

Considering the fact that, the use of wireless communication systems has grown too fast, investigations concerning absorbers of electromagnetic waves has called closer attention of researchers. It is applicable from indoor systems to military applications. Paralleling with this growth, some extremely relevant investigations through Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSS) allows its filter property to be applicable in several systems, for example: reflector antennas, band-pass radomes, and absorbers, which are the main objective of this work. Therefore, the main goal of this work concerns to design micro-waves absorbers through FSS. Thus, the methodology consists basically in two steps: the first step concerns a theoretical and numerical analysis of the structures involved in the process of absorption, the second step, the analysis of the cascaded structures. In order to carry out the analysis, the Equivalent Circuit Method will be used. This method provides characteristics of transmission from the structure, for a plane wave incidence and it requires an extremely limited computing resource in relation if compared to full wave analyses method. Hence, it is useful to allow fast predictions of the development of the structures. Furthermore, a spreading matrix will be used in order to cascade the conductive FSS and the resistive FSS achieving absorption characteristics in the designed band. The experimental results used for the analysis are found in the literature due to the difficulty of building soon, given that it is not a simple construction technique. To conclude, a mathematical development through the Equivalent Circuit Method of a FSS modeling with cross-dipole geometry and a resistive FSS will be presented, as well as the cascading involving the two structures. The same setting is used with a square loop geometry. Besides it, the next steps will be discussed in the conclusion.

Gestão de resíduos sólidos domiciliares na cidade de Chibuto, província de Gaza Moçambique

This study analyzes the process of generation and management of solid waste in the Municipality of the City of Chibuto-Mozambique, drawing on the different approaches towards allocation and the socio-environmental implications resulting from this process and waste spatial distribution. To answer these objectives a questionnaire was administered to 367 households distributed in 14 neighborhoods of the city to elicit information on how solid waste is treated and what could be its impact on public health of the residents. From this perspective, the questionnaire gasp information from immigrant residents regarding both their origin, and socio economic condition. Apart from the questionnaire, semi-structured interviews were conducted to staff working on the Sanitation Sector, Urbanization Sector of the Chibuto Municipality, including the Health Service, and Women and Social Affairs. In addition to these data collection methods, for further discussion on the subject, the researcher draw a theoretical framework grounded through literature review, as well as systematic observation of the phenomenon. Research findings revealed that the solid waste collection services provided by the Chibuto Municipality do not follow the procedures laid down in the Regulation on Solid Waste Management, which advocates environmentally safe, sustainable, and complete management of waste. First, the services use open dumps for waste management. Secondly, waste collection does not cover all citizens living in the neighborhoods governed by the municipality, due to financial, technical, and organizational reasons. More importantly, the study found that due to this failure, more than 90% of households surveyed continue to use the traditional methods on waste management which include burning, or the burial techniques. On the other hand, some citizens throw waste on the streets, a method that threatens public health because it increases cases of diseases related to sanitation problems such as (diarrhea and malaria), especially in suburban and peripheral urban areas. Concerning with the above mentioned problems which constitute a real threat to the public health, some ways are proposed for more sustainable and spatially appropriate solid waste management through recycling, waste sorting, composting, reuse, and reduction of solid waste generation.

Estimação de potência em tempo real utilizando a transformada wavelet

The goal of the power monitoring in electrical power systems is to promote the reliablility as well as the quality of electrical power.Therefore, this dissertation proposes a new theory of power based on wavelet transform for real-time estimation of RMS voltages and currents, and some power amounts, such as active power, reactive power, apparent power, and power factor. The appropriate estimation the of RMS and power values is important for many applications, such as: design and analysis of power systems, compensation devices for improving power quality, and instruments for energy measuring. Simulation and experimental results obtained through the proposed MaximalOverlap Discrete Wavelet Transform-based method were compared with the IEEE Standard 1459-2010 and the commercial oscilloscope, respectively, presenting equivalent results. The proposed method presented good performance for compact mother wavelet, which is in accordance with real-time applications.

Estudo da variação da periodicidade e do acoplamento entre superfícies seletivas de frequência com elementos fractais e helicoidais em estruturas de multicamadas

This work aims to investigate the behavior of fractal and helical elements structures in planar microstrip. In particular, the frequency selective surfaces (FSSs) had changed its conventional elements to fractal and helical formats. The dielectric substrate used was fiberglass (FR-4) and has a thickness of 1.5 mm, a relative permittivity 4.4 and tangent loss equal to 0.02. For FSSs, was adopting the Dürer’s fractal geometry and helical geometry. To make the measurements, we used two antennas horns in direct line of sight, connected by coaxial cable to the vector network analyzer. Some prototypes were select for built and measured. From preliminary results, it was aimed to find practical applications for structures from the cascading between them. For FSSs with Dürer’s fractal elements was observed behavior provided by the multiband fractal geometry, while the bandwidth has become narrow as the level of iteration fractal increased, making it a more selective frequency with a higher quality factor. A parametric analysis allowed the analysis of the variation of the air layer between them. The cascading between fractal elements structure were considered, presented a tri-band behavior for certain values of the layer of air between them, and find applications in the licensed 2.5GHz band (2.3-2.7) and 3.5GHz band (3.3-3.8). For FSSs with helical elements, six structures were considered, namely H0, H1, H2, H3, H4 and H5. The electromagnetic behavior of them was analyzed separately and cascaded. From preliminary results obtained from the separate analysis of structures, including the cascade, the higher the bandwidth, in that the thickness of the air layer increases. In order to find practical applications for helical structures cascaded, the helical elements structure has been cascaded find applications in the X-band (8.0-12.0) and unlicensed band (5.25-5.85). For numerical and experimental characterization of the structures discussed was used, respectively, the commercial software Ansoft Designer and a vector network analyzer, Agilent N5230A model.

Tratamento superficial de argilas com cera de carnaúba e microemulsão de óleo de coco

Adsorption is a process that has become indispensable due to pollution caused by industrial activity. More economically viable adsorbents are being tested to replace the high cost of materials used. The clays can be used as adsorbents and are low cost materials, natural properties feasible for the application in the adsorption process, structural modifications are performed with ease promoting selective adsorption in these materials. The objective of this study was to synthesize and characterize adsorbents used in the adsorption of organic compounds. The adsorbents were characterized by the techniques of XRD, SEM, FTIR and TG. The results show that the studied materials have affinity to organic compounds and can be applied as adsorbents. The materials studied are viable and can be applied in the treatment of effluents contaminated in industrial scale.

Inclusão social de catadores de materiais recicláveis: estudo da política nacional de resíduos sólidos e da efetivação do trabalho decente em Natal/RN

The integrated management of municipal solid waste in Brazil is held legally responsible by the city council administration. This is done since the year 2010 with the publication of the National Solid Waste Policy term. According to the policy and law, each city must encourage the implementation of selective collection and the participation of waste picker´s entities aiming social inclusion. However, these actions haven’t yet reached its legal aims. These workers are considered regarding collection actions but are stripped of certain basic labor rights not in conformation with the Decent Work concept. This type of work, according to International Labour Organization, must be seen as work that is properly paid for and must be done regarding conditions of freedom, equity, security and able to provide workers with a dignified life conditions. Thus, this work aims to investigate the implementation process regarding the Solid Waste National Policy in Natal-Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil. This is done considering socio-productive insertion of recyclable material collectors. The research is substantiated by a qualitative approach as well as documental and bibliographical research. A field research considering the cooperatives as well “in locco" observation and semi-structured interviews were carried out between the time span of 2013 and 2014. In order to investigate decent daily working conditions the research emphasized municipal management actions in Natal towards social inclusion that aim to reflect on the progress and difficulties experimented. It is seen that even when these cooperatives receive government support there are still important struggles that need to be overcome. The worker´s tasks are risky, the work environment in not safe or is adequate in terms of health issues. There is the stigma of it being considered an occupational task, the low individual income distancing the activity regarding parameters of the Green Employment and Decent Work concept. On the other hand, the survey showed potential as the relentless pursuit on behalf of the cooperatives that still search better work condition improvement.

Variabilidade acústica e respostas evolutivas a diferentes pressões seletivas no canto de anúncio de anfíbios

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Contribuições para estratégia de controle aplicada à geração fotovoltaica interconectada à rede elétrica

Generation systems, using renewable sources, are becoming increasingly popular due to the need for increased use of electricity. Currently, renewables sources have a role to cooperate with conventional generation, due to the system limitation in delivering the required power, the need for reduction of unwanted effects from sources that use fossil fuels (pollution) and the difficulty of building new transmission and/or distribution lines. This cooperation takes place through distributed generation. Therefore, this work proposes a control strategy for the interconnection of a PV (Photovoltaic) system generation distributed with a three-phase power grid through a connection filter the type LCL. The compensation of power quality at point of common coupling (PCC) is performed ensuring that the mains supply or consume only active power and that his currents have low distorcion. Unlike traditional techniques which require schemes for harmonic detection, the technique performs the harmonic compensation without the use of this schemes, controlling the output currents of the system in an indirect way. So that there is effective control of the DC (Direct Current) bus voltage is used the robust controller mode dual DSMPI (Dual-Sliding Mode-Proportional Integral), that behaves as a sliding mode controller SM-PI (Sliding Mode-Proportional Integral) during the transition and like a conventional PI (Proportional Integral) in the steady-state. For control of current is used to repetitive control strategy, which are used double sequence controllers (DSC) tuned to the fundamental component, the fifth and seventh harmonic. The output phase current are aligned with the phase angle of the utility voltage vector obtained from the use of a SRF-PLL (Synchronous Reference Frame Phase-Locked-Loop). In order to obtain the maximum power from the PV array is used a MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) algorithm without the need for adding sensors. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control system.

O eterno retorno como paródia e como colagem na filosofia da diferença de Gilles Deleuze

Gilles Deleuze hás commented on many philosophers, but his relationship with Nietzsche plays a singular role in his thought: appropriating the concept of the “eternal return” to think the central axis of his thesis, Difference and repetition (1968). Terms “difference” and “repetition” appeared associated to eternal return in his Nietzsche and philosophy (1962). Our dissertation thesis analyzes the presentations of that concept in bothworks. Chapter one presents the style construction and critical, methodological aspects of Nietzschean philosophy, fundamental elements to understand Deleuze’s interpretation. It subsequently analyzes the first presentation of that concept, expressed in the following terms: the aesthetic existence, either innocent or justified from the figure of game. We will see how the image of game implies another concept of chance, that leads Deleuze to think of an affirmative philosophical “type”, capable of creating new values. Chapter two evaluates the existential, “ethical-selective”, “physicalcosmological” character of the concept of eternal return, as much as the difficulties it imposes upon Nietzsche’s interpreter. We present afterwards Deleuzian comprehension of eternal return as a “parody” or a “simulacrum of doctrine”. Chapter three analyzes that interpretive position as a transvaluation of values from a rearrange of perspectives in order to overcome the negative comprehensions of existence. We want to question the way Deleuze builds another image of thought from the concept of eternal return – an image that, by a sort of “colagem” and selective elimination of the negativity, proposes a historiographic work and unfolds a lineage of thinkers of immanence and difference, a detour from the thought of identity, the same and the similar. We want thus to understand Deleuze’s critique of “dogmatic image of thought”.

O eterno retorno como paródia e como colagem na filosofia da diferença de Gilles Deleuze

Gilles Deleuze hás commented on many philosophers, but his relationship with Nietzsche plays a singular role in his thought: appropriating the concept of the “eternal return” to think the central axis of his thesis, Difference and repetition (1968). Terms “difference” and “repetition” appeared associated to eternal return in his Nietzsche and philosophy (1962). Our dissertation thesis analyzes the presentations of that concept in bothworks. Chapter one presents the style construction and critical, methodological aspects of Nietzschean philosophy, fundamental elements to understand Deleuze’s interpretation. It subsequently analyzes the first presentation of that concept, expressed in the following terms: the aesthetic existence, either innocent or justified from the figure of game. We will see how the image of game implies another concept of chance, that leads Deleuze to think of an affirmative philosophical “type”, capable of creating new values. Chapter two evaluates the existential, “ethical-selective”, “physicalcosmological” character of the concept of eternal return, as much as the difficulties it imposes upon Nietzsche’s interpreter. We present afterwards Deleuzian comprehension of eternal return as a “parody” or a “simulacrum of doctrine”. Chapter three analyzes that interpretive position as a transvaluation of values from a rearrange of perspectives in order to overcome the negative comprehensions of existence. We want to question the way Deleuze builds another image of thought from the concept of eternal return – an image that, by a sort of “colagem” and selective elimination of the negativity, proposes a historiographic work and unfolds a lineage of thinkers of immanence and difference, a detour from the thought of identity, the same and the similar. We want thus to understand Deleuze’s critique of “dogmatic image of thought”.

Preferência e competição alimentar em um grupo de Sapajus flavius em fragmento de Mata Atlântica em Caaporã – Paraíba – Brasil

Feeding is the primary selective pressure in all forms of animals. Nutritional ecological models predict consequences of preferred and non-preferred food consumption on behavioural, physiological and morphological adaptations. At same time, socioecological models infer socio-organizarion patterns based on feeding competition faced by animals. A list of preferred foods, and inferences regarding the intensity of feeding competition and its behavioural consequences are information of much importance for management of populations in fragments. In this work we observed the feeding behavior and spatial positioning of a group of more than 100 blond capuchin monkeys (Sapajus flavius) that inhabit a fragment of Atlantic forest, surrounded by sugarcane plantation. We compared the consumption of different food items with their monthly availability in the area to define the preferred and fallback food items. We recorded the vocalizations of aggression and the inter-individual distance (area of Minimum Convex Polygon/n individuals) to infer the type of food competition experienced by animals. In the year studied the fruit feeding time correlated with top consumed fruit productivity, indicating preference for fruits. Our data indicate that the species Elaeis sp., Cecropia palmata, Inga spp. and Simarouba amara are the preferred food items in the diet. Available all year round and uniformly distributed, sugarcane was a regular item in the diet and its was characterized as a staple fallback food for this group. Although fruits are preferential food items, direct competition rate did not correlate to fruit productivity in the area, maintaining the high rates throughout the year (2.45 events/ hour). The inter-individual distance index positively correlated with rain fall indicating scramble food competition. The number of neighbours of females carrying infants was smaller when fruit productivity is low, indicating that females carrying infants are suffering increased indirect competition. Our data indicates that blond capuchins in this fragment make use of sugar cane as a staple fallback food, which evidence the importance of sugar cane landscape for the survival of this critically endangered capuchin species in fragmented habitats in Northeast Brazil. A preliminary list of preferred and important foods is offered, and can assist in the choice of trees for reforestation, better fragments to be preserved and areas of release and translocation of animals. We did not observe an increase of contest competition while using preferred foods, but when using staple FBF. This may be due the altered environment, which results in high competition food throughout the year. Both the food preference as the social and behavioral consequences of high food competition experienced by animals in this fragment must be accompanied over the years to ensure the survival of this population.

Preferência e competição alimentar em um grupo de Sapajus flavius em fragmento de Mata Atlântica em Caaporã – Paraíba – Brasil

Feeding is the primary selective pressure in all forms of animals. Nutritional ecological models predict consequences of preferred and non-preferred food consumption on behavioural, physiological and morphological adaptations. At same time, socioecological models infer socio-organizarion patterns based on feeding competition faced by animals. A list of preferred foods, and inferences regarding the intensity of feeding competition and its behavioural consequences are information of much importance for management of populations in fragments. In this work we observed the feeding behavior and spatial positioning of a group of more than 100 blond capuchin monkeys (Sapajus flavius) that inhabit a fragment of Atlantic forest, surrounded by sugarcane plantation. We compared the consumption of different food items with their monthly availability in the area to define the preferred and fallback food items. We recorded the vocalizations of aggression and the inter-individual distance (area of Minimum Convex Polygon/n individuals) to infer the type of food competition experienced by animals. In the year studied the fruit feeding time correlated with top consumed fruit productivity, indicating preference for fruits. Our data indicate that the species Elaeis sp., Cecropia palmata, Inga spp. and Simarouba amara are the preferred food items in the diet. Available all year round and uniformly distributed, sugarcane was a regular item in the diet and its was characterized as a staple fallback food for this group. Although fruits are preferential food items, direct competition rate did not correlate to fruit productivity in the area, maintaining the high rates throughout the year (2.45 events/ hour). The inter-individual distance index positively correlated with rain fall indicating scramble food competition. The number of neighbours of females carrying infants was smaller when fruit productivity is low, indicating that females carrying infants are suffering increased indirect competition. Our data indicates that blond capuchins in this fragment make use of sugar cane as a staple fallback food, which evidence the importance of sugar cane landscape for the survival of this critically endangered capuchin species in fragmented habitats in Northeast Brazil. A preliminary list of preferred and important foods is offered, and can assist in the choice of trees for reforestation, better fragments to be preserved and areas of release and translocation of animals. We did not observe an increase of contest competition while using preferred foods, but when using staple FBF. This may be due the altered environment, which results in high competition food throughout the year. Both the food preference as the social and behavioral consequences of high food competition experienced by animals in this fragment must be accompanied over the years to ensure the survival of this population.

Efeitos in vivo e in vitro de agonistas parciais do receptor NOP: implicações para o tratamento da ansiedade, depressão e mania

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effects of the two peptide NOP partial agonists (UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2) and the non peptide NOP partial agonist (AT-090) in the mouse emotional behavior as well as in the intracellular transduction pathways following the receptor binding. Methods: Male Swiss or CD-1 mice were used in this study together with NOP(+/+) and NOP(-/-) mice. The elevated plus maze (EPM) was used to evaluate the effects of compounds on anxiety-like behaviors. Diazepam and the NOP agonists, N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570, were used as positive controls in the EPM. NOP(+/+) and NOP(-/-) mice were used to evaluate the selectivity of those compounds that induced anxiolytic-like behaviors. The forced swim test (FST) was used to evaluate the effects of compounds on depressive-like behaviors. Nortriptyline and the NOP antagonists, UFP-101 and SB-612111, were used as positive controls in the FST. The effects of N/OFQ, UFP-101, SB-612111, UFP-113, [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2, and AT-090 were assessed in the methylphenidate-induced hyperlocomotion (MIH) test; in this assay valproate was used as positive control. The G protein and β-arrestin 2 transduction pathways of NOP receptor agonists (N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570), antagonist (UFP-101), and partial agonists (UFP-113, [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2, and AT-090) were also evaluated using an innovative assay that measures a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer process. For this, cell lines permanently co-expressing the NOP receptor coupled to luciferase (energy donor), and green fluorescent protein (energy acceptor) coupled to one of the effector proteins (G protein or β-arrestin 2) were used. Results: Diazepam (1 mg/kg), N/OFQ (1 nmol), Ro 65-6570 (0.1 mg/kg), and AT-090 (0.01 mg/kg) induced anxiolytic-like effect in mice in the EPM. The effects of Ro 65-6570 and AT-090 were selective to NOP receptor. UFP-113 (0.01-1 nmol) and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (0.1-3 nmol) were inactive in the EPM. In the FST, nortriptyline (30 mg/kg), UFP-101 (10 nmol), SB-612111 (10 mg/kg), UFP-113 (0.01 and 0.1 nmol), and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (0.3 and 1 nmol) induced antidepressant-like effects, while AT-090 (0.001-0.1 mg/kg) was inactive in this assay. The effects of UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 were selective to NOP receptor. Valproate (400 mg/kg) counteracted methylphenidate (MPH, 10 mg/kg)-induced hyperlocomotion in mice in the open field. N/OFQ (1 nmol), UFP-113 (0.01-0.1 nmol), and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (1 nmol) were also able to reduce the MPH-induced hyperlocomotion, without changing the locomotor activity per se. The effect of UFP-113 was selective to NOP receptor. The UFP-101 (10 nmol), SB-612111 (10 mg/kg), and AT-090 (0.001-0.03 mg/kg) did not change the hyperlocomotor effect of methylphenidate. In vitro, N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570 behaved as NOP full agonists for G-protein and β-arrestin 2 pathways. AT-090 behaved as NOP receptor partial agonist for both transduction pathways, while UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 behaved as partial agonists and antagonists of NOP receptor for NOP/G protein and NOP/β-arrestin 2, respectively. UFP-101 behaved as NOP receptor antagonist for both transduction pathways. Conclusion: NOP ligands producing same effects on NOP/G protein interaction (partial agonism), but with opposite effects on β-arrestin 2 recruitment (partial agonism vs antagonism), can promote different in vivo effects on anxiety and mood as it was observed in the behavioral tests. This work corroborates the potential of NOP receptor as an innovative pharmacological target for the treatment of emotional disorders.

Efeitos in vivo e in vitro de agonistas parciais do receptor NOP: implicações para o tratamento da ansiedade, depressão e mania

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effects of the two peptide NOP partial agonists (UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2) and the non peptide NOP partial agonist (AT-090) in the mouse emotional behavior as well as in the intracellular transduction pathways following the receptor binding. Methods: Male Swiss or CD-1 mice were used in this study together with NOP(+/+) and NOP(-/-) mice. The elevated plus maze (EPM) was used to evaluate the effects of compounds on anxiety-like behaviors. Diazepam and the NOP agonists, N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570, were used as positive controls in the EPM. NOP(+/+) and NOP(-/-) mice were used to evaluate the selectivity of those compounds that induced anxiolytic-like behaviors. The forced swim test (FST) was used to evaluate the effects of compounds on depressive-like behaviors. Nortriptyline and the NOP antagonists, UFP-101 and SB-612111, were used as positive controls in the FST. The effects of N/OFQ, UFP-101, SB-612111, UFP-113, [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2, and AT-090 were assessed in the methylphenidate-induced hyperlocomotion (MIH) test; in this assay valproate was used as positive control. The G protein and β-arrestin 2 transduction pathways of NOP receptor agonists (N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570), antagonist (UFP-101), and partial agonists (UFP-113, [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2, and AT-090) were also evaluated using an innovative assay that measures a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer process. For this, cell lines permanently co-expressing the NOP receptor coupled to luciferase (energy donor), and green fluorescent protein (energy acceptor) coupled to one of the effector proteins (G protein or β-arrestin 2) were used. Results: Diazepam (1 mg/kg), N/OFQ (1 nmol), Ro 65-6570 (0.1 mg/kg), and AT-090 (0.01 mg/kg) induced anxiolytic-like effect in mice in the EPM. The effects of Ro 65-6570 and AT-090 were selective to NOP receptor. UFP-113 (0.01-1 nmol) and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (0.1-3 nmol) were inactive in the EPM. In the FST, nortriptyline (30 mg/kg), UFP-101 (10 nmol), SB-612111 (10 mg/kg), UFP-113 (0.01 and 0.1 nmol), and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (0.3 and 1 nmol) induced antidepressant-like effects, while AT-090 (0.001-0.1 mg/kg) was inactive in this assay. The effects of UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 were selective to NOP receptor. Valproate (400 mg/kg) counteracted methylphenidate (MPH, 10 mg/kg)-induced hyperlocomotion in mice in the open field. N/OFQ (1 nmol), UFP-113 (0.01-0.1 nmol), and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (1 nmol) were also able to reduce the MPH-induced hyperlocomotion, without changing the locomotor activity per se. The effect of UFP-113 was selective to NOP receptor. The UFP-101 (10 nmol), SB-612111 (10 mg/kg), and AT-090 (0.001-0.03 mg/kg) did not change the hyperlocomotor effect of methylphenidate. In vitro, N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570 behaved as NOP full agonists for G-protein and β-arrestin 2 pathways. AT-090 behaved as NOP receptor partial agonist for both transduction pathways, while UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 behaved as partial agonists and antagonists of NOP receptor for NOP/G protein and NOP/β-arrestin 2, respectively. UFP-101 behaved as NOP receptor antagonist for both transduction pathways. Conclusion: NOP ligands producing same effects on NOP/G protein interaction (partial agonism), but with opposite effects on β-arrestin 2 recruitment (partial agonism vs antagonism), can promote different in vivo effects on anxiety and mood as it was observed in the behavioral tests. This work corroborates the potential of NOP receptor as an innovative pharmacological target for the treatment of emotional disorders.

Causas e consequências da onivoria de peixes em ecossistemas aquáticos

Omnivory is a predominant feeding strategy among tropical fishes, but knowledge about its causes and consequences of this pattern is scarce. In this study we hypothesized that tropical fish feed lower in food web as a way to compensate a higher energetic demand, which increases with increasing water temperature and body size. Information about 8172 freshwater and marine fish species from whole world, from tropical and temperate ecosystems, showed that the trophic position of non-carnivore fish decreases with increasing body size in tropical but not in temperate ecosystems. This result indicates that the higher energetic demand of large-bodied tropical fish should exert a selective force in favor of omnivory. As a consequence, trophic dynamics in tropical freshwater ecosystems should have different patterns comparing to temperate ones, with major implications for water management and restoration of eutrophic aquatic ecosystems. Another hypothesis of this work was that effects of tropical omnivorous planktivorous fish on planktonic communities depend of primary producers stoichiometric composition, which depends of light availability relative to nutrients ratios. A mesocosm experiment, manipulating light availability and planktivorous fish presence, confirmed our hypothesis indicating that resource stoichiometric composition (consequently nutritional quality), determine trophic structure of pelagic food webs in tropical lakes. Finally another mesocosm experiment indicated that the removal of omnivorous benthivorous fish should be more efficient than removal of omnivorous planktivorus fish, as a way to improve water quality in tropical lakes and reservoirs. This last experiment showed that omnivorous planktivorous fish increase phytoplankton biomass due to trophic cascade interactions, without increasing nutrient concentrations in the water column. On the other hand, omnivorous benthivorous fish, feeding on detritus and other benthonic food sources and excreting nutrients in the water column, are responsible for translocate nutrient from sediments to the water column, increasing phosphorus pool and phytoplankton biomass. Thereby, internal phosphorus supply should be reduced and water quality of eutrophicated lakes could be improved by removing omnivorous benthivorous fish.