Estudo do genoma do vírus causador da mionecrose infecciosa em camarões e desenvolvimento de métodos para detecção de diferentes variantes

Shrimp farming is one of the activities that contribute most to the growth of global aquaculture. However, this business has undergone significant economic losses due to the onset of viral diseases such as Infectious Myonecrosis (IMN). The IMN is already widespread throughout Northeastern Brazil and affects other countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and China. The main symptom of disease is myonecrosis, which consists of necrosis of striated muscles of the abdomen and cephalothorax of shrimp. The IMN is caused by infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV), a non-enveloped virus which has protrusions along its capsid. The viral genome consists of a single molecule of double-stranded RNA and has two Open Reading Frames (ORFs). The ORF1 encodes the major capsid protein (MCP) and a potential RNA binding protein (RBP). ORF2 encodes a probable RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and classifies IMNV in Totiviridae family. Thus, the objective of this research was study the IMNV complete genome and encoded proteins in order to develop a system differentiate virus isolates based on polymorphisms presence. The phylogenetic relationship among some totivirus was investigated and showed a new group to IMNV within Totiviridae family. Two new genomes were sequenced, analyzed and compared to two other genomes already deposited in GenBank. The new genomes were more similar to each other than those already described. Conserved and variable regions of the genome were identified through similarity graphs and alignments using the four IMNV sequences. This analyze allowed mapping of polymorphic sites and revealed that the most variable region of the genome is in the first half of ORF1, which coincides with the regions that possibly encode the viral protrusion, while the most stable regions of the genome were found in conserved domains of proteins that interact with RNA. Moreover, secondary structures were predicted for all proteins using various softwares and protein structural models were calculated using threading and ab initio modeling approaches. From these analyses was possible to observe that the IMNV proteins have motifs and shapes similar to proteins of other totiviruses and new possible protein functions have been proposed. The genome and proteins study was essential for development of a PCR-based detection system able to discriminate the four IMNV isolates based on the presence of polymorphic sites

Adição de vermiculita expandida mícron em pastas de baixa densidade para cimentação de poços de petróleo

The northeastern region of Brazil has a large number of wells producing oil using a method of secondary recovery steam injection, since the oil produced in this region is essentially viscous. This recovery method puts the cement / coating on thermal cycling, due to the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between cement and metal coating causes the appearance of cracks at this interface, allowing the passage of the annular fluid, which is associated with serious risk socioeconomic and environmental. In view of these cracks, a correction operation is required, resulting in more costs and temporary halt of production of the well. Alternatively, the oil industry has developed technology for adding new materials in cement pastes, oil well, providing high ductility and low density in order to withstand the thermo-mechanical loads generated by the injection of water vapor. In this context, vermiculite, a clay mineral found in abundance in Brazil has been applied in its expanded form in the construction industry for the manufacture of lightweight concrete with excellent insulation and noise due to its high melting point and the presence of air in their layers lamellar. Therefore, the vermiculite is used for the purpose of providing low-density cement paste and withstand high temperatures caused by steam injection. Thus, the present study compared the default folder containing cement and water with the folders with 6%, 8% and 10% vermiculite micron conducting tests of free water, rheology and compressive strength where it obtained the concentration of 8 % with the best results. Subsequently, the selected concentration, was compared with the results recommended by the API standard tests of filtered and stability. And finally, analyzed the results from tests of specific gravity and time of thickening. Before the study we were able to make a folder with a low density that can be used in cementing oil well in order to withstand the thermo-mechanical loads generated by steam injection

Estudos de Durabilidade Frente ao Ataque Ácido de Compósitos Portland-Polímero para Cimentação de Poços de Petróleo

Portland-polymers composites are promising candidates to be used as cementing material in Northeastern oil wells of Brazil containing heavy oils submitted to steam injection. In this way, it is necessary to evaluate its degradation in the commonly acidizind agents. In addition, to identify how aggressive are the different hostile environments it is an important contribution on the decision of the acidic systems to be used in. It was investigated the performance of the Portland-polymer composites using powdered polyurethane, aqueous polyurethane, rubber tire residues and a biopolymer, those were reinforced with polished carbon steel SAE 1045 to make the electrochemical measurements. HCl 15,0 %, HCl 6,0 % + HF 1,5 % (soft mud acid), HCl 12,0 % + HF 3,0 % (regular mud acid) and HAc 10 % + HF 1,5 % were used as degrading environment and electrolytes. The more aggressive acid solution to the plain Portland hardened cement paste was the regular mud acid, that showed loss of weight around 23.0 %, followed by the soft mud acid, the showed 11.0 %, 15.0 % HCl with 7,0 % and, at last the 10.0 % HAc plus HF 1.5 % with just 1.0 %. The powdered polyurethane-composite and the aqueous polyurethane one showed larger durability, with reduction around 87.0 % on the loss of weight in regular mud acid. The acid attack is superficial and it occurs as an action layer, where the degraded layer is responsible for the decrease on the kinetic of the degrading process. This behavior can be seen mainly on the Portland- aqueous polyurethane composite, because the degraded layer is impregnated with chemically modified polymer. The fact of the acid attack does not have influence on the compressive strength or fratography of the samples, in a general way, confirms that theory. The mechanism of the efficiency of the Portland-polymers composites subjected to acid attack is due to decreased porosity and permeability related with the plain Portland paste, minor quantity of Ca+2, element preferentially leached to the acidic solution, wave effect and to substitute part of the degrading bulk for the polymeric one. The electrolyte HAc 10 % + HF 1,5 % was the least aggressive one to the external corrosion of the casing, showing open circuit potentials around +250 mV compared to -130 mV to the simulated pore solution to the first 24 hours immersion. This behavior has been performed for two months at least. Similar corrosion rates were showed between both of the electrolytes, around 0.01 μA.cm-2. Total impedance values, insipient arcs and big polarization resistance capacitive arcs on the Nyquist plots, indicating passivity process, confirm its efficiency. In this way, Portlandpolymers composites are possible solutions to be succeed applied to oilwell cementing concomitant submitted to steam injection and acidizing operation and the HAc 10,0 % + HF 1,5 % is the less aggressive solution to the external corrosion of the casing

Síntese de zeólita A a partir de diatomita como fonte de aluminossilicato

The synthesis of zeolites from natural sources of silicon and aluminum are promising alternative routes to obtain porous or zeolite MCM family. Such materials are typically used in catalytic processes and / or adsorption is to obtain new products or for separation and purification processes thereof. Environmental legislation is becoming stricter and requires the use of materials more efficient, aiming to achieve pollution prevention, by gas or liquid contaminants in the environment. In order to obtain a material with environmentally friendly features, this study aimed at the synthesis of zeolite A, from an amorphous sediment, diatomite, which is found in abundance in the northeast region of Brazil, may be substituted for conventional products the production of zeolite, involving higher costs. The methodology for obtaining the "Zeolite A" using as a source of silica and alumina diatomite is simple, since this is a source of silicon, not requiring therefore a structural driver, but also by heat treatment, only drying conventional to remove water. The "zeolite A" was obtained from diatomite, but as an intermediate step we obtained the sodalite. The characterization was made by the following techniques: EDX, XRD, FT-IR, SEM and determining a specific area by the BET method and the BJH method for checking the diameter of pores. By characterization of the obtained material was first demonstrated the achievement of sodalite and after modification of the same, there was obtained zeolite A

Simulador de dano à formação, aplicado ao Projeto e à execução da perfuração de poços de petróleo

With the high oil price variability, the petroleum and the reservoir engineers are usually face to face on how they can evaluate the well performance and productivity. They can improve high productivity from the well construction to the secondary recoveries, but they have never tried a measurement in the drilling operations about the lower productivity index. As a rule, frequently the drilling operations hear from the reservoir engineering and geology that, if there is a formation damage, probably some drilling operations practices were not done properly or the good practice in petroleum engineering or mud engineering were not observed. The study in this working search is an attempt of how to measure a formation damage just from the project drilling to the drilling operations, with datum from the fields in Brazilian northeast and putting into practice a Simulator developed from the modeling on the theory offered by different experts and sources in formation damage

Pastas compósitas cimento/sílica/polímero para cimentação de poços de baixa profundidade sujeitas à injeção de vapor

The production of heavy oil fields, typical in the Northeastern region, is commonly stimulated by steam injection. High bottom hole temperatures are responsible not only for the development of deleterious stresses of the cement sheath but also for cement strength retrogression. To overcome this unfavorable scenario, polymeric admixtures can be added to cement slurries to improve its fracture energy and silica flour to prevent strength retrogression. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the addition of different concentrations of polyurethane (5-25%) to cement slurries containing 40% BWOC silica flour. The resulting slurries were characterized using standard API (American Petroleum Institute) laboratory tests. In addition to them, the mechanical properties of the slurries, including elastic modulus and microhardness were also evaluated. The results revealed that density, free water and stability of the composite cement/silica/polyurethane slurries were within acceptable limits. The rheological behavior of the slurries, including plastic viscosity, yield strength and gel strength increased with the addition of 10% BWOC polyurethane. The presence of polyurethane reduced the fluid loss of the slurries as well as their elastic modulus. Composite slurries also depicted longer setting times due to the presence of the polymer. As expected, both the mechanical strength and microhardness of the slurries decreased with the addition of polyurethane. However, at high bottom hole temperatures, the strength of the slurries containing silica and polyurethane was far superior than that of plain cement slurries. In summary, the use of polyurethane combined with silica is an interesting solution to better adequate the mechanical behavior of cement slurries to heavy oil fields subjected to steam injection

Metodologia de utilização de dados de sensoriamento remoto em zonas costeiras sob influência da indústria petrolífera

Oil spills in marine environments represent immediate environmental impacts of large magnitude. For that reason the Environmental Sensitivity to Oil Maps constitute a major instrument for planning actions of containment and cleanup. For both the Environmental Sensitivity Maps always need to be updated, to have an appropriate scale and to represent accurately the coastal areas. In this context, this thesis presents a methodology for collecting and processing remote sensing data for the purpose of updating the territorial basis of thematic maps of Environmental Sensitivity to Oil. To ensure greater applicability of the methodology, sensors with complementary characteristics, which provide their data at a low financial cost, were selected and tested. To test the methodology, an area located on the northern coast of the Northeast of Brazil was chosen. The results showed that the products of ASTER data and image hybrid sensor PALSAR + CCD and HRC + CCD, have a great potential to be used as a source of cartographic information on projects that seek to update the Environmental Sensitivity Maps of Oil

Potencial larvicida de extratos de plantas regionais no controle de larvas de Aedes aegypti

Dengue, amongst the virus illnesses one can get by vectorial transmission, is the one that causes more impact in the morbidity and mortality of world s population. The resistance to the insecticides has caused difficulties to control of vector insect (Aedes aegypti) and has stimulated a search for vegetables with larvicidal activity. The biodiversity of Caatinga is barely known and it is potential of use even less. Some plants of this biome are commercialized in free fairs northeast of Brazil, because of its phytotherapics properties. The vegetables in this study had been selected by means of a questionnaire applied between grass salesmen and natives of the Serido region from Rio Grande do Norte state; culicids eggs had been acquired with traps and placed in container with water for the larva birth. Thirty larvae had been used in each group (a group control and five experimental groups), with four repetitions four times. The vegetables had been submitted to the processes of decoction, infusion and maceration in the standard concentration of 100g of the vegetable of study in 1l of H2O and analyzed after ½, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours for verification of the average lethal dose (LD50) from the groups with thirty larva. The LD50 was analyzed in different concentrations (50g/l, 100g/l, 150g/l, 200g/l e 300g/l) of Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart. 48 extracts of rind, leaf and stem of the seven vegetal species: Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart., Mimosa verrucosa Benth, Mimosa hostilis (Mart.) Benth., Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão, Ximenia americana L, Bumelia sartorum Mart Zizyphus joazeiro Mart, had been analyzed. The extracts proceeding from the three methods were submitted to the freezedrying, to evaluate and to quantify substances extracted in each process. The results had shown that Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart. and Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão are the species that are more distinguished as larvicidal after 24 hours of experiment, in all used processes of extraction in the assays. The Zizyphus joazeiro Mart species has not shown larvicidal activity in none of the assays. In relation to the extraction method, the decoction was the most efficient method in the mortality tax of the A. aegypti larvae

Ocorrência da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii e avaliação da imunização em caprinos do sertão do cabugi, Rio Grande do Norte

Toxoplasmosis is one zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii protozoan. Goats, amongst the production animals, are one of the species most susceptible to this parasite, being one them main involved agents in ovine and goat abortions, determining great economic losses and implications for public health, since the presence it parasite in the products of goat origin, consist in one of the main sources of infection for the man. In this study 244 blood samples in 8 farms situated in 4 cities from the Sertão do Cabugi region, Rio Grande do Norte State, northeast of Brazil and, tested by ELISA assay. The results had shown a prevalence of 47.13% for anti- T. gondii antibodies and a significant association between positivity and variable evaluated as age, locality and property. The IgG avidity assay evaluated in 115 positive samples was carried to discriminate acute and chronic infection. Twelve samples (10.4%) had presented antibodies of low avidity while 103 (89.6%) presented high avidity antibodies; indicating that most of the animals was precocious exposure to the parasite. Significant difference was verified only for the variable sex. We also evaluate the capacity of recombinant adenoviruses codifying SAG1, SAG2, SAG3 and CMV in inducing activation of specific immune response in goat. These 109 animals received 109 pfu of the AdSAG1, AdSAG2, AdSAG3, AdCMV or PBS in vaccine protocol with 3 immunizations. Serum samples of the each animal, before and after mmunization, had been submitted to the ELISA. The results demonstrate that the immunizations had induced the production of IgG antibodies specific against T. gondii proteins

Fases do desenvolvimento e diferenciação testicular em cutias (Dasyprocta aguti) criadas em cativeiros

A cutia (Dasyprocta aguti) é um roedor silvestre encontrado amplamente na região Nordeste do Brasil. É uma espécie muito utilizada pela população humana de baixa renda como fonte alternativa de proteína na alimentação. Foram utilizadas 31 cutias, machos, provenientes da Universidade Federal do Piauí (FUFPI), Estado do Piauí e da Escola Superior de Agricultura de Mossoró Estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Os animais foram divididos em grupos etários desde o nascimento até os 14 meses de idade. O diâmetro nuclear médio foi obtido pela medida de 10 núcleos do tipo celular estudado em cada testículo, no estágio 1 do ciclo do epitélio seminífero. Nos animais que não apresentaram o epitélio organizado em estágios bem definidos em virtude da idade, foram feitas medidas em secções transversais escolhidas somente pelo contorno circular. O início da assincronia do processo espermatogênico foi observado a partir dos seis meses de idade. A puberdade, na cutia Dasyprocta aguti, foi definitivamente estabelecida a partir dos nove meses de idade, pois estavam presentes todos os tipos celulares e espermatozóides liberados no lume tubular em grande parte do parênquima testicular.

Uso e disponibilidade da vegetação lenhosa em comunidades rurais no Rio Grande do Norte

The aim of this study was to test the Ecological Apparency Hypothesis comparing two rural communities in João Câmara (RN) and Remigio (PB), in the Northeast of Brazil. This hypothesis assumes that plants are perceived, known and used by human populations according to their local availability. The most used species would be the ones that are more available in the forest (apparent), and apparently suffer greater pressure of use. Communities were consulted through semi-structured interviews. In Remigio 42 people were interviewed, and 50 in João Câmara. The importance of each species was evaluated considering the distinction between citations from current and potential uses. The ethnobotanical information was associated with phytosociological parameters collected by the point-centered quarter method in forested areas, where 50 transects were distributed in each community, and 4,000 individuals sampled in total. Based on the interviews, 58 useful species were recorded, 42 genera and18 families. In the phytosociological study 30 species, 22 genera and 12 families in João Câmara, In Remígio were identified 34 species, 22 genera and nine families.The species were grouped into 11 categories of use. The ecological appearance was confirmed only in the João Câmara, which best explained the relationship between local availability and use of timber resources. Positive correlations were observed also between the technology category VUpotential and dominance. The point-centered quarter was efficient to test appearance, however, further studies through the point-centered quarter method are recommended

Fatores determinantes da decisão sobre a prática da cesariana em Natal-RN

O objetivo deste estudo é analisar os fatores que contribuíram para as diferentes decisões para o parto cesáreo e a ligadura de trompas entre as mulheres de 18 a 45 anos de idade no Município de Natal, no Nordeste do Brasil, no ano de 2000. Tratou-se de um estudo longitudinal, originado da base de dados de um Estudo Multicêntrico, envolvendo outras localidades do Brasil, composta de mulheres em idade fértil que procuraram o serviço público ou privado. Foram realizadas três entrevistas: no início da gestação, no mês anterior à data provável do parto e até um mês após o parto, perfazendo um total de 433 entrevistas, sendo finalizada com uma amostra de 269 mulheres. O estudo satisfez a um critério de elegibilidade, abrangendo uma amostra das mulheres de 18 a 40 anos de idade, que residiam em Natal e que estavam grávidas no máximo, na 22a semana de gestação, e procuraram o serviço público ou privado para a realização do pré-natal. Não entraram no estudo, aquelas mulheres que faziam um acompanhamento em ambulatórios especiais (hipertensão ou diabetes gestacional, HIV/AIDS). A análise consistiu, primeiramente, num estudo descritivo, seguido de uma discussão sobre a trajetória do desejo à realização do parto e testou-se a significância estatística dos partos com variáveis socioeconômicas. Sequencialmente adotou-se uma análise bivariada centrada nos testes de associação, onde foi considerada a variável tipo de parto como sendo a variável resposta e as demais variáveis, relacionadas à condição sóciodemográfica e a saúde reprodutiva da mulher, como sendo as variáveis de risco ou independentes. Para o cálculo da razão de chance (OR), foi utilizado o modelo de regressão logística múltipla. Das 269 mulheres entrevistadas, 56,0% foram submetidas ao parto normal. Este tipo de parto foi desejado independente da categoria, por 71% das entrevistadas. Os resultados mostraram como fatores determinantes para cesárea, o serviço ser privado (OR = 5,6), a mulher ter idade acima de 20 anos (OR=2,87), ser primípara (OR=4,56) e a realização de ligadura de trompas (OR=12,94). Independente da parturição, 84% das mulheres do serviço público foram submetidas a um parto normal, enquanto que, 74% das primíparas do serviço privado, fizeram uma cesárea. Os resultados sinalizam um distanciamento efetivo entre o desejo por um tipo de parto e a sua realização, quando os fatores considerados, não foram somente técnicos, podendo, também, refletir a falta de prática do parto normal, pelo obstetra e a necessidade de uma maior consciência ética nos procedimentos obstétricos, de modo a favorecer uma maior abertura na participação da gestante na escolha pelo tipo de parto

Cuidado formal em saúde bucal: percepção de senescentes

Ações promotoras de saúde e independência para pessoas idosas são indispensáveis. Compreender essa construção no cotidiano da provisão dos cuidados talvez estimule o desenvolvimento de capacitações ao bem estar nesta população. O objetivo deste estudo foi Identificar a repercussão da provisão do cuidado formal em saúde bucal na percepção de senescentes. Desenvolvemos uma pesquisa de base qualitativa com abordagem fenomenológica, onde realizamos entrevistas semiestruturadas e individuais com 30 pessoas de idade superior a 50 anos (22 mulheres e 08 homens), em um Centro de Convivência na cidade de Natal/Rio Grande do Norte, no nordeste do Brasil. Os relatos obtidos foram analisados em cinco estágios: transcrição dos discursos sem preocupação interpretativa; limpeza de erros linguísticos e repetições; leitura repetitiva e exaustiva para apreensão do sentido das informações coletadas; seleção das unidades significativas dos discursos, correspondendo aos trechos relevantes no horizonte do fenômeno em estudo; e compreensão da ideografia elaborada pelos participantes por grupos temáticos simbólicos. Assim, identificamos as essências temáticas de: determinante social e iniquidade em saúde bucal; e provisão de cuidados de saúde bucal e mal-estar físico, mental e social. Concluímos que a prestação de cuidados agregando abordagem humanístico-ética pode levar a vivências dignificantes no processo de envelhecimento, destacadamente quando estimula a promoção da segurança pessoal. O âmago desse trabalho descortina uma vertente multidisciplinar que perpassa a saúde, a educação e a ética

Um modelo analítico da qualidade da dieta de adolescentes estudantes da rede publica de ensino de Natal, Brasil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

O jingle e outras práticas culturais dos vendedores de rua de Aracaju/SE

This masters dissertation constitutes in a mapping with base in a field research carried in the streets of commercial center and adjacencies of the Aracaju city, capital of Sergipe state, located in Brazilian‟s Northeast. This is a study about the jingle and others social practices found in the day-by-day of streets by the streets sellers. There is a clear intention of consider the pregão singed by sellers of the street how a jingle that is produced, transmitted and accepted in a means social, characterized how cultural manifestation study. Thus, this ethnography aims to observe the use of the jingle and other cultural practices carried out by street vendors, showing how they are produced, disseminated and consumed in everyday life, as a way to do it. These practices that occur in cities since ancient times continue to occur in all Brazilian cities, including the capital cities, although in some cases, some of them such as the jingle, they get more scarce. Specifically aimed at rescuing the memory of these cultural practices, considering them as "tactics" of practitioners, a resistance of street vendors, individuals, "ordinary" real "anonymous wanderers" in the face of pressure from a dominant force and uneven. In this perspective, the present study is based on the theories of Certeau (1990, 1996) and Coradini (1995) on daily life in the cities, seeking to demonstrate how street vendors engage in a "diverted", subversive, selling its products, creating and using the jingle and other similar relationships that are part of common culture, introducing itself as "ways of doing" that are appropriate or re-appropriated, consumed or accepted in joints over time and within the "anthropological urban spatiality