Estudo do crescimento, eficiência de biofiltração e cinética de absorção de nutrientes (N-NH, N-NO e P-PO4³) da macroalga Gracilaria cervicornis (Turner) J. Agardh

The objective of this study was to examine the growth of Gracilaria cervicornis cultured in a shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) pond and to determine the absorption efficiency and the kinetics parameters (Vmax, Ks e Vmax:Ks) of this macroalgae for the nutrients N-NO3-, N-NH4+ and P-PO4-3, aiming at its use as bioremediatory of eutrophicated environments. For this study, two experiments (field and laboratory) were developed. In the field study, the seaweed was examined in relation to the growth and the biomass. In the laboratory experiment, the absorption efficiency of G. cervicornis was measured through the monitoring of the concentration of the three nutrients (N-NO3-, N-NH4+ e P-PO4-3) during 5 hours and the kinetic parameters were determined through the formula of Michaelis-Menten. The results obtained in this study demonstrated that G. cervicornis benefited from the available nutrients in the pond, increasing 52.4% of its biomass value after 30 days of culture. It was evidenced that the variability of the biomass could be explained through the salinity, availability of light (transparency and solid particle in suspension) and concentration of N-NO3- in the environment. In the laboratory experiment, the highest absorption efficiency was found in the treatments with low concentration (5 µmol.L-1), being evidenced a reduction of up to 85,3%, 97,5% and 81,2% of N-NH4+, N-NO3- and P-PO43-, respectively. Regarding the kinetic parameters, G. cervicornis presented better ability in absorbing N-NH4+ in high concentrations (Vmax = 158,5 µmol g-1 dry wt h-1) and P-PO43- in low concentrations (Ks = 5 µmol.L-1 e Vmax:Ks = 10,3). The results of this study show that G. cervicornis could be cultivated in shrimp ponds, presents a good capacity of absorption for the tested nutrients and is a promising candidate for biorremediation in shrimp pond effluent

Potencialidades de cultivo de macroalgas no litoral do Rio Grande do Norte (NE, Brasil): uma perspectiva de integração de dados ambientais em sistemas de informação geográfica (SIG)

Since centuries ago, the Asians use seaweed as an important source of feeding and are their greatest world-wide consumers. The migration of these peoples for other countries, made the demand for seaweed to increase. This increasing demand prompted an industry with annual values of around US$ 6 billion. The algal biomass used for the industry is collected in natural reservoirs or cultivated. The market necessity for products of the seaweed base promotes an unsustainable exploration of the natural banks, compromising its associated biological balance. In this context, seaweed culture appears as a viable alternative to prevent the depletion of these natural supplies. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide space and produce information that can facilitate the evaluation of important physical and socio-economic characteristics for the planning of seaweed culture. This objective of this study is to identify potential coastal areas for seaweed culture in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, from the integration of social-environmental data in the SIG. In order to achieve this objective, a geo-referred database composed of geographical maps, nautical maps and orbital digital images was assembled; and a bank of attributes including physical and oceanographical variables (winds, chains, bathymetry, operational distance from the culture) and social and environmental factors (main income, experience with seaweed harvesting, demographic density, proximity of the sheltered coast and distance of the banks) was produced. In the modeling of the data, the integration of the space database with the bank of attributes for the attainment of the map of potentiality of seaweed culture was carried out. Of a total of 2,011 ha analyzed by the GIS for the culture of seaweed, around 34% or 682 ha were indicated as high potential, 55% or 1,101 ha as medium potential, and 11% or 228 ha as low potential. The good indices of potentiality obtained in the localities studied demonstrate that there are adequate conditions for the installation of seaweed culture in the state of Rio Grande do Norte

A infecção por Leishmania infantum chagasi altera o metabolismo lipídico do hospedeiro

American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL), caused by Leishmania infantum chagasi (L.i.chagasi), stands as a public health problem in Brazil, with human and canine cases related in all states..Lipid metabolism can be modified in several status of infection. For example, experimental studies show that the cholesterol is necessary to internalization and replication of L.i.chagasi in macrophages through caveolar domains. Patients with AVL present low levels of cholesterol and a visible triglycerides increase. This work aimed to evaluate the lipid metabolism in several post-infection status by L.i.chagasi, including individuals with symptomatic infection (AVL), and asymptomatic. The levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and reactive C protein, were measured. Individuals with AVL were compared with individuals with assymptomatic infection and presented low levels of total cholesterol (128 ± 6.180 mg/dL vs. 158 ±5.733 mg/dL, p=0.0001), HDL (29 ± 1.746 mg/dL vs. 37 ± 1.647 mg/dL, p=0.0001), increased levels of triglycerides (149.5 mg/dL ± 12.72 vs. 78.00 ± 10.43 mg/dL, p=0.0095) and higher levels of reactive C protein (1.750± 0.4939 mg/dL vs. 0.40 ± 0.1707 mg/dL; p=0.0001). The expression of genes related to lipid metabolism, such as LXR-a, LXR-b, PPAR-a, PPAR-d, PPAR-g and APOE was evaluated by real time PCR. A reduction in the expression of those genes was found in the group of AVL patients corroborating the serum levels of the metabolites earlier quantified. Our findings suggest a modulation of metabolism of lipids, in the chronic phase of AVL, this could facilitate the survival of leishmania, due to the known reduction on the ability of macrophages in presenting antigens efficiently to the T cells due to the reduction in the cholesterol available, it results in a subversion of the host immunity.

Adsorção de Pb(II) utilizando adsorvente composto por montmorilonita e dolomita

The destructive impact of improper disposal of heavy metals in the environment increases as a direct result of population explosion, urbanization and industrial expansion and technological developments. Argil are potential materials for adsorption of inorganic and the pelletization of it is required for use in adsorptive columns of fixed bed. The low cost and the possibility of regeneration makes these materials attractive for use in the purification process, capable of removing inorganic compounds in contaminated aquatic environments. In this work was made pellets of a mixture of dolomite and montmorillonite by wet agglomeration, in different percentages. The removal of Pb (II) was investigated through experimental studies, and was modeled by kinetic models and isotherms of adsorption. The materials were characterized using the techniques of XRD, TG / DTA, FT-IR, and surface area by BET method. The results showed the adsorption efficiency of the contaminant by the composite material studied in synthetic solution. The study found that the adsorption follows the Langmuir model, and the kinetics of adsorption follows the model of pseudosecond order

Estimativa da área foliar de plantas daninhas: Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. e Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst.) Stapf

Com o objetivo de obter uma equação que, através de parâmetros lineares dimensionais das folhas, permita a estimativa da área foliar de Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. e Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst.) Stapf., estudaram-se correlações entre a área foliar real (Sf) e parâmetros dimensionais do limbo foliar, como o comprimento ao longo da nervura principal (C) e a largura máxima (L), perpendicular à nervura principal. Todas as equações, exponenciais, geométricas ou lineares simples, permitiram boas estimativas da área foliar. do ponto de vista prático, sugere-se optar pela equação linear simples envolvendo o produto C x L, considerando o coeficiente linear igual a zero. Desse modo, a estimativa da área foliar de B. decumbens pode ser feita pela fórmula Sf = 0,9810 x (C x L), ou seja, 98,10% do produto entre o comprimento ao longo da nervura principal e a largura máxima, enquanto que, para a B. brizantha a estimativa da área foliar pode ser feita pela fórmula SF = 0,7468 x (C x L), ou seja 74,68% do produto entre o comprimento ao longo da nervura principal e a largura máxima da folha.

Ectoparasitos associados a aves de um fragmento de Floresta Estacional Decidual no Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

This study to aimed investigate the community of ectoparasites associated with birds in the Mata do Olho D água, in the municipality of Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil, its structure and the ambiental and hosts influential variables on it, and to verify microhabitats preferences by species of chewing lice and feather mites. We examined 172 individuals belonging to 38 species of Passeriformes and non-Passeriformes. 12 new geographic records are reported and 11 host-parasite associations not yet known for chewing lice and feather mites species. Significant relationship was found between the abundance of chewing lice and the variables total length (r = 0.29, p <0.05) and exposed culmen (r = 0.38, p <0.05) of the hosts. A principal component (PC1) accounted for 90.1% of the hosts morphological variation was significantly influential on the abundance of chewing lice (p <0.05), indicating that the morphological characteristics of the hosts may be positively influencing the abundance of these ectoparasites. Significantly higher frequency of individuals with high loads of chewing lice was detected during the dry period (x ² = 8.5, p <0.05), corroborating studies that propose that birds of arid environments suffer as much pressure as those of parasitic humid environments. Analyses of null models of co-occurrence and niche overlap showed a high degree of structure in the feather mites and chewing lice assemblies, when compared with other groups, and preferences in the use of microhabitats by taxa identified. These results corroborate ecological theories in host-parasite systems, contribute to the knowledge of ectoparasites associated with neotropical birds, and the need for experimental studies, as well as further deepening the biology of these arthropods

Estudo da qualidade de serviço de uma aplicação VoIP em ambientes wireless com handoff

This work deals with experimental studies about VoIP conections into WiFi 802.11b networks with handoff. Indoor and outdoor network experiments are realised to take measurements for the QoS parameters delay, throughput, jitter and packt loss. The performance parameters are obtained through the use of software tools Ekiga, Iperf and Wimanager that assure, respectvely, VoIP conection simulation, trafic network generator and metric parameters acquisition for, throughput, jitter and packt loss. The avarage delay is obtained from the measured throughput and the concept of packt virtual transmition time. The experimental data are validated based on de QoS level for each metric parameter accepted as adequated by the specialized literature

A new method to quantify macroalgae and a practical sampler for experimentation in lotic habitats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Contribuição ao estudo da interrelação flúor-manganês em ratos

Devido a numerosas discrepâncias nos resultados de estudos experimentais relativos à interação flúor-manganês, propusemo-nos a verificar se a adição de manganês 5 água fluoretada (1 ppm), em diferentes proporções fluor-manganês, levaria a uma diferente fixaçao do halogênio. Para tanto, 24 ratos Wistar, recém-desmamados, foram mantidos em dieta padrão de caseína a 27%, recebendo na sua água de consumo: 1) H2O destilada (controle); 2) 1,0 ppm de flúor: 3) 1,0 ppm de flúor + 0,5 ppm de manganês (F:Mn = 2,0); 4) 1,0 ppm de flúor +1,0 ppm de manganês (F: Mn = 1,0). Foram anotados o peso ganho e o consumo de alimento e água, durante os 60 dias de experimento, após o qual as patas traseiras, dos animais sacrificados, foram autoclavadas e desossadas, e os femures retirados. Posteriormente, foram estes submetidos à secagem, extração da gordura, pulverização e analise do flúor fixado. Também foram efetuadas analises da composição centesimal da ração e de flúor e manganês nesta e nas diferentes águas de consumo. Os resultados de percentagem do flúor ingerido fixado nos femures, foram analisados estatisticamente pelo teste não-paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis (níveis de 1% e 5%) mostrando que, para as proporções consideradas, o flúor na taxa de 1 ppm, o manganês, quando administrado após o desmame, parece não afetar a fixaçao do flúor. Contudo, faz-se necessário dar continuidade aos estudos com novas proporções e taxas mais elevadas de flúor e manganês.

Atividade biológica de células-tronco da polpa de dentes decíduos humanos submetidas à criopreservação

Dental pulp stem cells have been widely investigated because of their ability to differentiate into both dental and non-dental cells, with potential use in therapies involving tissue engineering. The technique of cell cryopreservation represents a viable alternative for the conservation of these cells, since it stops reversibly, in a controlled manner, all of cell biological functions in an ultra low temperature. The present study aimed to evaluate, using in vitro experiments, the influence of a cryopreservation protocol on the biologic acti vity of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). Cells obtained from the pulp of three deciduous teeth on end-stage exfoliation or with indicated extraction were expanded in α-MEM culture medium supplemented with antibiotics and 15% fetal bovine serum. At second subculture (P2), a group of cells were submitted to cryopreservation for 30 days in 10% DMSO diluted in fetal bovine serum, at -80º C, while the remind cells continued under normal conditions of cell culture. Cell proliferation was evaluated in both groups (not cryopreserved or cryopreserved) by Trypan blue stain essay at intervals of 24, 48 and 72h after plating. Cell cycle analysis of SHEDs submitted or not to the cryopreservation protocol was performed in the same intervals. Events related to cell death were studied by Annexyn V and PI expression under flow cytometry at the intervals of 24 and 72h. The presence of nuclear morphological changes was evaluated by DAPI staining at 72h interval. It was observed that both groups exhibited an upward cell proliferation curve, without considerable changes in cell viability throughout the experiment. The distribution of cell in the cell cycle phasis was consistent with cell proliferation in both groups. There were no nuclear morphological damages in the end range of the experiment. therefore, it is concluded that the proposed cryopreservation protocol is efficient for storing the studied cell type, allowing its use in future experimental studies

Avaliação sistemática de abordagens de derivação de produto

Product derivation tools are responsible for automating the development process of software product lines. The configuration knowledge, which is responsible for mapping the problem space to the solution space, plays a fundamental role on product derivation approaches. Each product derivation approach adopts different strategies and techniques to manage the existing variabilities in code assets. There is a lack of empirical studies to analyze these different approaches. This dissertation has the aim of comparing systematically automatic product derivation approaches through of the development of two different empirical studies. The studies are analyzed under two perspectives: (i) qualitative that analyzes the characteristics of approaches using specific criteria; and (ii) quantitative that quantifies specific properties of product derivation artifacts produced for the different approaches. A set of criteria and metrics are also being proposed with the aim of providing support to the qualitative and quantitative analysis. Two software product lines from the web and mobile application domains are targets of our study

Avaliação da contribuição de desenvolvedores para projetos de software usando mineração de repositórios de software e mineração de processos

Software Repository Mining (MSR) is a research area that analyses software repositories in order to derive relevant information for the research and practice of software engineering. The main goal of repository mining is to extract static information from repositories (e.g. code repository or change requisition system) into valuable information providing a way to support the decision making of software projects. On the other hand, another research area called Process Mining (PM) aims to find the characteristics of the underlying process of business organizations, supporting the process improvement and documentation. Recent works have been doing several analyses through MSR and PM techniques: (i) to investigate the evolution of software projects; (ii) to understand the real underlying process of a project; and (iii) create defect prediction models. However, few research works have been focusing on analyzing the contributions of software developers by means of MSR and PM techniques. In this context, this dissertation proposes the development of two empirical studies of assessment of the contribution of software developers to an open-source and a commercial project using those techniques. The contributions of developers are assessed through three different perspectives: (i) buggy commits; (ii) the size of commits; and (iii) the most important bugs. For the opensource project 12.827 commits and 8.410 bugs have been analyzed while 4.663 commits and 1.898 bugs have been analyzed for the commercial project. Our results indicate that, for the open source project, the developers classified as core developers have contributed with more buggy commits (although they have contributed with the majority of commits), more code to the project (commit size) and more important bugs solved while the results could not indicate differences with statistical significance between developer groups for the commercial project

Fatores envolvidos na migração das endopróteses em pacientes submetidos ao tratamento endovascular do aneurisma da aorta abdominal

A migração da endoprótese é complicação do tratamento endovascular definida como deslocamento da ancoragem inicial. Para avaliação da migração, verifica-se a posição da endoprótese em relação a determinada região anatômica. Considerando o aneurisma da aorta abdominal infrarrenal, a área proximal de referência consiste na origem da artéria renal mais baixa e, na região distal, situa-se nas artérias ilíacas internas. Os pacientes deverão ser monitorizados por longos períodos, a fim de serem identificadas migrações, visto que estas ocorrem normalmente após 2 anos de implante. Para evitar migrações, forças mecânicas que propiciam fixação, determinadas por características dos dispositivos e incorporação da endoprótese, devem predominar sobre forças gravitacionais e hemodinâmicas que tendem a arrastar a prótese no sentido caudal. Angulação, extensão e diâmetro do colo, além da medida transversa do saco aneurismático, são importantes aspectos morfológicos do aneurisma relacionados à migração. Com relação à técnica, não se recomenda implante de endopróteses com sobredimensionamento excessivo (> 30%), por provocar dilatação do colo do aneurisma, além de dobras e vazamentos proximais que também contribuem para a migração. Por outro lado, endopróteses com mecanismos adicionais de fixação (ganchos, farpas e fixação suprarrenal) parecem apresentar menos migrações. O processo de incorporação das endopróteses ocorre parcialmente e parece não ser suficiente para impedir migrações tardias. Nesse sentido, estudos experimentais com endopróteses de maior porosidade e uso de substâncias que permitam maior fibroplasia e aderência da prótese à artéria vêm sendo realizados e parecem ser promissores. Esses aspectos serão discutidos nesta revisão.

Comparação de diferentes doses de colagenase em modelo de indução de tendinite para eqüinos: estudo clínico e ultra-sonográfico

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

Indirect method for quantifying the content of photosynthetic pigments in genotypes of dwarf elephant grass

O objetivo deste ensaio foi determinar equações que indiretamente associem os valores obtidos no medidor de clorofila SPAD-502 aos teores de clorofila e carotenóides de genótipos de capim-elefante anão. Folhas de genótipos de capim-elefante anão foram utilizadas e, depois de coletadas, foram transportadas em caixas de isopor, protegidas da luz, até o laboratório de Fisiologia Vegetal da UENF. Posteriormente, os discos foliares de área conhecida foram extraídos. Com o auxílio do medidor portátil de clorofila (MPC) SPAD-502, foi obtida a média de 5 leituras/disco foliar e utilizaram-se 6 discos para cada intervalo, distribuídos de acordo com a seguinte escala de valores do MPC: 0-10; 10-20; 20-30; 30-40; 40-50; 50-60. O medidor de clorofila SPAD-502 possibilitou uma rápida e eficaz estimativa do conteúdo de clorofila total, clorofila-a e clorofila-b em genótipos de capim-elefante anão.