Beef Carcass Contamination by Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains in an Abattoir in Brazil: Characterization and Resistance to Antimicrobial Drugs

A survey was performed to estimate the frequency of Escherichia coli and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in carcasses obtained from an abattoir in Brazil between February 2006 and June 2007. A total of 216 beef carcasses were sampled at three stages of the slaughter process-preevisceration, postevisceration, and postprocessing-during the rain and dry seasons, respectively. Of the carcasses sampled, 58%, were preevisceration E. coli positive, 38% were postevisceration positive, and 32% postprocessing positive. At the postprocessing stage, the isolation of E. coli was twice as high in the rain season. E. coli was isolated from 85 carcasses of which only 3 (1.4%) were positive for stx-encoding genes. No E. coli O157 serogroup isolates were detected. No antimicrobial resistance was found in nine of the isolates (10% of the total). The most frequent resistances were seen against cephalothin (78%), streptomycin (38%), nalidixic acid (36%), and tetracycline (30%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) to three or more antimicrobial agents was determined in 28 (33%) E. coli isolates. The presence of STEC and MDR strains among the isolates in the beef carcasses emphasizes the importance of proper handling to prevent carcass contamination.

Impact of point source pollution on nitrogen isotope signatures (delta N-15) of vegetation in SE Brazil

This study presents novel evidence that N-15 natural abundance can be used as a robust indicator to detect pollutant nitrogen in natural plant communities. Vegetation from the heavily polluted industrial area of Cubatao in Sao Paulo State, SE Brazil, was strongly N-15 depleted compared to plants at remote sites. Historic herbarium samples from Cubatao were significantly less N-15 depleted than extant plants, indicating that N-15 depletion of vegetation is associated with present-day nitrogen pollution in Cubatao. The heavy load of nitrogenous atmospheric pollutants in Cubatao provides a nitrogen source for plants, and strongly N-15 depleted air NH3 is likely to contribute to plant and soil N-15 depletion. Epiphytic plants from Cubatao were extremely N-15 depleted (average -10.9parts per thousand) contrasting with epiphytes at remote sites (averages -1.0parts per thousand and -3.0parts per thousand). Nitrogen isotope composition of vegetation provides a tool to determine input of pollutant nitrogen into plant communities. The strong isotopic change of epiphytes suggests that epiphytes are particularly sensitive biomonitors for atmospheric pollutant nitrogen.

Stratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental significance of a Pennsylvanian (Upper Carboniferous) palynoflora from the PiauFormation, Parnaba Basin, northeastern Brazil

A well-preserved palynoflora is reported from within a cored interval of a coal-exploratory borehole (1-UN-23-PI of the Geological Survey of Brazil) in the southern part of the Parnaiba Basin, northeastern Brazil. The sample studied is from the lower portion of the Piaui Formation. Its palynoflora is characterized by particular abundance of the trilete cavate/pseudosaccate miospores Spelaeotriletes triangulus Neves and Owens, 1966 and S. arenaceus Neves and Owens, 1966, together with cingulizonate forms mainly attributable to Vallatisporites Hacquebard, 1957 and Cristatisporites R. Potonie and Kremp emend. Butterworth et al., 1964. Radially and bilaterally symmetrical monosaccate pollen grains are also well-represented, chiefly by Plicatipollenites Lele, 1964 and Potonieisporites Bhardwaj, 1954, respectively. Taeniate grains (i.e., monosaccates and bisaccates) are relatively minor constituents of the palynoflora; no marine microplankton were encountered. Several species are described in detail : the trilete apiculate spores Brevitriletes levis (Balme and Hennelly) Bharadwaj and Srivastava, 1969 and Horriditriletes uruguaiensis (Marques-Toigo) Archangelsky and Gamerro, 1979; and the taeniate pollen grains Meristocorpus ostentus sp. nov. and Lahirites segmentatus sp. nov. A Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous : late Westphalian) age is adduced for the palynoflora via its correlation with part of the Tapajos Group (specifically, the upper Itaituba Formation) of the Amazonas Basin in northern Brazil. The entirely land-derived palynomorphs, associated with abundant plant debris, corroborate previous suggestions that the lower part of the Piaui Formation accumulated in a nonmarine setting under conditions of aridity.

Role of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) in the epidemiology of urban visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil

Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) is a serious public health problem in several Brazilian cities. Although the proximity of chicken houses is often cited as a risk factor in studies of urban ZVL, the role chickens play in the epidemiology of the disease has not been defined. Chickens attract both male and female sand flies (Lutzomyia longripalpis) but are unable to sustain Leishmania infections, and their presence may exert a zooprophylactic effect. We discuss environmental, physiologic, socioeconomic, and cultural factors related to chicken raising that could influence Le. infantum transmission in Brazilian cities and evaluate whether this practice significantly affects the risk of acquiring ZVL.

Microstructural evolution of the Serido Belt, NE-Brazil: the effect of two tectonic events on development of c-axis preferred orientation in quartz

The polyphase evolution of the Serido Belt (NE-Brazil) includes D, crust formation at 2.3-2.1 Ga, D-2 thrust tectonics at 1.9 Ga and crustal reworking by D-3 strike-slip shear zones at 600 Ma. Microstructural investigations within mylonites associated with D-2 and D-3 events were used to constrain the tectono-thermal evolution of the belt. D-2 shear zones commenced at deeper crustal levels and high amphibolite facies conditions (600-650 degreesC) through grain boundary migration, subgrain rotation and operation of quartz Q-prism slip. Continued shearing and exhumation of the terrain forced the re-equilibration of high-T fabrics and the switching of slip systems from (c)-prism to positive and negative (a)-rhombs. During D-3, enhancement of ductility by dissipation of heat that came from syn-D-3 granites developed wide belts of amphibolite facies mylonites. Continued shearing, uplift and cooling of the region induced D-3 shear zones to act in ductile-brittle regimes, marked by fracturing and development of thinner belts of greenschist facies mylonites. During this event, switching from (a)-prism to a basal slip indicates a thermal path from 600 to 350 degreesC. Therefore, microstructures and quartz c-axis fabrics in polydeformed rocks from the Serido Belt preserve the record of two major events, which includes contrasting deformation mechanisms and thermal paths. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A perspectiva brasileira sobre a pobreza: um estudo de caso do Programa Bolsa Fam??lia

Tendo como pano de fundo a dificuldade de definir a pobreza, este artigo visa retomar parte da discuss??o sobre o tema, utilizando como estudo de caso o Programa Bolsa Fam??lia. Inicia-se com a defini????o institucional de pobreza dada pelo soci??logo alem??o Georg Simmel passando-se, na seq????ncia, a uma abordagem mais substancial da pobreza e da rela????o entre trabalho e precariedade, desenvolvida por Robert Castel. Apresenta uma breve descri????o do funcionamento do Programa Bolsa Fam??lia e alguns aspectos relacionados aos conceitos e modos de tratamento da quest??o da renda e da educa????o, bem como da fam??lia e dos modelos familiares, baseando-se tamb??m nos resultados parciais de uma pesquisa de campo realizada nos estados da Bahia, Pernambuco, Alagoas e Goi??s. O texto trata ainda de alguns desafios administrativos na gest??o do Programa e os preconceitos morais e sociais recorrentemente veiculados em rela????o a ele. Por fim, na conclus??o, busca retomar a an??lise do Programa Bolsa Fam??lia, seus limites e desafios, defendendo a necessidade de participa????o de todos em um pacto social contra a pobreza e a desigualdade no Brasil.

Improving the public management career: report for the ministry of planning, budgeting e management, federal government of Brazil

This report sets out the findings and recommendations of a review of the Public Management Career (EPPGG) undertaken between 5 and 9 January 2009. The purpose of the review was to clarify EPPGG???s role, functions and profile, and to develop proposals for improving its effectiveness and management, taking account of the context within which such improvements would have to be implemented. Specific objectives were to examine a number of human resources management (HRM) aspects of the career in the light of international practice, including recruitment; initial education; professional development; performance evaluation; deployment; mobility and networking.

Impact of commercial fishing on Trindade Island and Martin Vaz Archipelago, Brazil : characteristics, conservation status of the species involved and prospects for preservation

Reportamos atividades de pesca comerciais no complexo insular mais afastado da costa brasileira: Ilha da Trindade e Arquipélago Martin Vaz. As atividades foram estudadas através de embarques e entrevistas com os mestres e pescadores das embarcações durante uma expedição cientifica realizada entre fevereiro e abril de 2007. Quatro modalidades de atividades de pesca são realizadas na região, capturando ao menos sete espécies que possuem algum risco de extinção. O estabelecimento de normas específicas de restrição para atividades que pescam sobre os recifes das ilhas é uma alternativa para a conservação das espécies ameaçadas. O monitoramento das embarcações pode ocorrer via satélite através do programa nacional de rastreamento de embarcações pesqueiras (PREPS).

Occurrence of storm-generated bedforms along the inner continental shelf - Southeastern Brazil

Levantamentos sonográficos desenvolvidos em duas áreas da plataforma interna adjacente ao estado do Espírito Santo revelam formas de fundo cuja origem é fortemente relacionada a eventos de tempestades. Estas são caracterizadas por alternâncias de bandas de areias finas sobrepostas, de forma alternada, a um fundo de areias grossas, gerando manchas de areias grossas intercaladas abruptamente com faixas de areias finas a profundidades de 25-30 m para GUA e de 05-08 m para BES. Em ambas as áreas as faixas de areias grossas apresentam marcas de ondulação geradas por ondas com orientação levemente paralela a linha de costa. A sedimentologia de GUA é composta por areias finas a muito finas lamosas carbonáticas com cascalhos siliciclásticos e a de BES por areias grossas e médias com cascalhos biodetríticos. Desta forma, é clara a ação de correntes/ondas de tempestade no fundo marinho de GUA e de BES; porém, a classificação quanto ao comportamento hidrodinâmico e ao transporte de sedimento é necessária para as estimativas sobre a formação, transporte e manutenção das feições encontradas.

Seasonality of Monomachus Klug (Hymenoptera, Monomachidae) in the Biological Reserve of Duas Bocas, Espírito Santo State, Brazil

A survey of Monomachidae species was carried out in anarea of Atlantic rain forest of the Biological Reserve of Duas Bocas, Espírito Santo State, Brazil between September, 1996 and August, 1997. Two species of Mollomachus Klug, 1841, M. fuscator Perty, 1833 and M. eurycephalus Schletterer, 1890 were collected from May to September. Both species are typical of winter time and showed the same parttern of seasonality.

Mid- to Late-Holocene estuarine infilling processes studied by radiocarbon dates, high resolution seismic and biofacies at Vitoria Bay, Espirito Santo, Southeastern Brazil

A Baía de Vitória é um estuário com 20 km de comprimento, morfologicamente estreito, com um regime de micromaré e, como outros estuários modernos, formado durante a última transgressão pós-glacial. A morfologia de fundo do estrato estuarino é caracterizada por um canal natural principal limitado por planícies de maré com manguezais desenvolvidos. Datações de radiocarbono originais foram obtidas para a área. Cinco idades de radiocarbono estendendo-se de 1.010 a 7.240 anos AP foram obtidas através de dois testemunhos de sedimento, representando uma sequência estratigráfica de 5 m de espessura. Os resultados indicam que até aproximadamente 4.000 anos cal. AP, as condições ambientais da Baía de Vitória eram ainda de uma baía aberta, com uma conexão livre e aberta com águas marinhas. Durante os últimos 4.000 anos a baía experimentou uma fase de regressão importante, tornando-se mais restrita em termos de circulação da água do mar e provavelmente aumentando a energia de marés. Três superfícies estratigráficas principais foram reconhecidas, limitando fácies transgressiva, transgressiva/nível de mar alto e regressiva. A morfologia do canal atual representa um diastema de maré, mostrando fácies regressivas truncadas e erodidas. Biofácies de foraminíferos, passando de ambiente marinho para ambiente salobro e de manguezais em planície de maré confirmam a interpretação sismoestratigráfica. A ausência de biofácies de mangue em um dos dois testemunhos é tambémuma indicação de ravinamento de maré atual.

Taxonomy of Apenesia Westwood (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) from Paraná, Brazil

Apenesia quadrimera sp. n., A. rotunda sp. n. and A. clypeata sp. n. are described and illustrated. New geographic records and variation data of A. cusco Evans, 1966, A distinta Corrêa & Azevedo, 2001, A. funebris Evans, 1963, A. fusilis Corrêa & Azevedo, 2001, A. inca Evans, 1963 and A. transversa Evans, 1963 are added.