Rapid topographic change measured by high-resolution satellite radar at Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat, 2008-2010

High-resolution satellite radar observations of erupting volcanoes can yield valuable information on rapidly changing deposits and geomorphology. Using the TerraSAR-X (TSX) radar with a spatial resolution of about 2 m and a repeat interval of 11-days, we show how a variety of techniques were used to record some of the eruptive history of the Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat between July 2008 and February 2010. After a 15-month pause in lava dome growth, a vulcanian explosion occurred on 28 July 2008 whose vent was hidden by dense cloud. We were able to show the civil authorities using TSX change difference images that this explosion had not disrupted the dome sufficient to warrant continued evacuation. Change difference images also proved to be valuable in mapping new pyroclastic flow deposits: the valley-occupying block-and-ash component tending to increase backscatter and the marginal surge deposits reducing it, with the pattern reversing after the event. By comparing east- and west-looking images acquired 12 hours apart, the deposition of some individual pyroclastic flows can be inferred from change differences. Some of the narrow upper sections of valleys draining the volcano received many tens of metres of rockfall and pyroclastic flow deposits over periods of a few weeks. By measuring the changing shadows cast by these valleys in TSX images the changing depth of infill by deposits could be estimated. In addition to using the amplitude data from the radar images we also used their phase information within the InSAR technique to calculate the topography during a period of no surface activity. This enabled areas of transient topography, crucial for directing future flows, to be captured.

Especialização metabólica em crianças e adolescentes dos 10 aos 15 anos: caracterização e avaliação dos efeitos fisiológicos do treino na modalidade de natação

A participação desportiva de atletas pré-púberes e púberes, de ambos os sexos, levanta questões sobre o conhecimento das respostas fisiológicas ao treino, concretamente no que diz respeito à especialização metabólica. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do estudo foi investigar a ocorrência da especialização metabólica ao longo de uma época desportiva na modalidade de natação pura desportiva. Participaram no estudo 36 nadadores federados, dos quais 10 eram pré-púberes masculinos (10,4±0,7 anos; 142,3±7,6 cm; 36,9±7,9 kg), 6 pré-púberes femininos (9,8±0,6 anos; 140,4±3,9 cm; 33,0±4,4 kg), 10 púberes masculinos (13,5±1,5 anos; 166,9±8,5 cm; 56,8±10,3 kg) e 10 púberes femininos (11,3±0,7 anos; 152,7±5,4 cm; 46,4±6,8 kg). O grupo de controlo foi constituído por 36 crianças e adolescentes não praticantes de qualquer modalidade, divididos da mesma forma que o grupo de natação e com características morfológicas semelhantes. A aptidão aeróbia (teste de Balke adaptado para crianças e jovens) e anaeróbia (teste anaeróbio Wingate) foi avaliada em dois momentos ao longo da época desportiva. Os resultados obtidos dos diferentes grupos foram comparados e correlacionados relativamente às variáveis de aptidão aeróbia e anaeróbia. Os resultados identificaram diferenças em algumas variáveis da aptidão aeróbia e anaeróbia considerando os fatores maturação, sexo e grupo, porém, não foram verificados desempenhos que indiciem uma especialização num determinado metabolismo energético. Assim, os resultados mostraram a não especialização metabólica em nadadores pré-púberes e púberes de ambos os sexos, nos testes laboratoriais aplicados. O estudo forneceu dados aos treinadores quanto ao desempenho aeróbio e anaeróbio dos seus atletas, mas principalmente quanto à orientação do treino para o desenvolvimento de competências técnicas nestas idades, deixando a especialização nas distâncias de nado e no estilo de prova para quando for atingida a especialização metabólica. Estudos futuros deverão avaliar atletas pós-púberes de forma a determinar quando ocorre a especialização metabólica.

Growth and mineral nutrition of Solanum americanum

Um experimento em casa de vegetação foi conduzido entre novembro de 1995 e abril de 1996 na FCAV/UNESP, Brasil, objetivando estudar a produção de matéria seca, a distribuição e o acúmulo de macronutrientes por Solanum americanum - uma importante planta infestante de culturas anuais e perenes no Brasil. As plantas foram cultivadas em vasos de 7 L com substrato de areia, os quais foram irrigados diariamente com solução nutritiva de Hoagland & Arnon. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos corresponderam às épocas de avaliação, em intervalos de 14 dias, iniciando-se 21 dias após a emergência (DAE). em cada avaliação, as plantas de quatro vasos foram analisadas quanto à produção de matéria seca e ao conteúdo de macronutrientes. S. americanum apresentou pequeno acúmulo de matéria seca e de macronutrientes no início da fase experimental. Esses acúmulos intensificaram-se após 77 DAE, atingindo o máximo valor teórico aos 142, 142, 164, 149, 140, 149 e 152 DAE, para matéria seca, N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S, respectivamente. K e N foram os macronutrientes acumulados em maior quantidade por plantas de S. americanum.

Projected length annealing of etched Sm-152 ion tracks in apatite

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Amino acid sequence and crystal structure of BaP1, a metalloproteinase from Bothrops asper snake venom that exerts multiple tissue-damaging activities

BaP1 is a 22.7-kD P-I-type zinc-dependent metalloproteinase isolated from the venom of the snake Bothrops asper, a medically relevant species in Central America. This enzyme exerts multiple tissue-damaging activities, including hemorrhage, myonecrosis, dermonecrosis, blistering, and edema. BaP1 is a single chain of 202 amino acids that shows highest sequence identity with metalloproteinases isolated front the venoms of snakes of the subfamily Crotalinae. It has six Cys residues involved in three disulfide bridges (Cys 117-Cys 197, Cys 159-Cys 181, Cys 157-Cys 164). It has the consensus sequence H(142)E(143)XXH(146)XXGXXH(152), as well as the sequence C164I165M166, which characterize the metzincin superfamily of metalloproteinases. The active-site cleft separates a major subdomain (residues 1-152), comprising four a-helices and a five-stranded beta-sheet, from the minor subdomain, which is formed by a single a-helix and several loops. The catalytic zinc ion is coordinated by the N-epsilon2 nitrogen atoms of His 142, His 146, and His 152, in addition to a solvent water molecule, which in turn is bound to Glu 143. Several conserved residues contribute to the formation of the hydrophobic pocket, and Met 166 serves as a hydrophobic base for the active-site groups. Sequence and structural comparisons of hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic P-I metalloproteinases from snake venoms revealed differences in several regions. In particular, the loop comprising residues 153 to 176 has marked structural differences between metalloproteinases with very different hemorrhagic activities. Because this region lies in close proximity to the active-site microenvironment, it may influence the interaction of these enzymes with physiologically relevant substrates in the extracellular matrix.

Structural studies of BmooMP alpha-I, a non-hemorrhagic metalloproteinase from Bothrops moojeni venom

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Structural and functional characterization of neuwiedase, a nonhemorrhagic fibrin(ogen)olytic metalloprotease from Bothrops neuwiedi snake venom

A fibrino(geno)lytic nonhemorrhagic metalloprotease (neuwiedase) was purified from Bothrops neuwiedi snake venom by a single chromatographic step procedure on a CM-Sepharose column, Neuwiedase represented 4.5% (w/w) of the crude desiccated venom, with an approximate Mr of 20,000 and pI 5.9, As regards the amino acid composition, neuwiedase showed similarities with other metalloproteases, with high proportions of Asx, Glx, Leu, and Ser, Atomic absorption spectroscopy showed that one mole of Zn2+ and one mole of Ca2+ were present per mole olf protein. The cDNA encoding neuwiedase was isolated by RT-PCR from venom gland RNA, using oligonucleotides based on the partially determined amino-acid sequences of this metalloprotease. The fall sequence contained approximately 594 bp, which codified the 198 amino acid residues with an estimated molecular weight of 22,375. Comparison of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of neuwiedase with those of other snake venom metalloproteases showed a high level of sequential similarity, Neuwiedase has two highly conserved characteristics sequences H(142)E(143)XXH(146)XXG(140)XXH(152) and C164I165M166. The three-dimensional structure of neuwiedase was modeled based on the crystal structure of Crotalus adamanteus Adamalysin II. This model revealed that the zinc binding site region showed a I high structural similarity with other metalloproteases,, the proteolyitc specificity, using the B beta-chain of oxidized insulin as substrate, was shown to be directed to the Ala(14)-Leu(15) and Tyr(16)-Leu(17) peptide bonds which were preferentially hydrolyzed. Neuwiedase is a A alpha,B beta fibrinogenase, Its activity upon the A alpha chain of fibrinogen was detected within 15 min of incubation. The optimal temperature and pH for the degradation of both A alpha and B beta chains were 37 degrees C and 7.4-8.0, respectively. This activity was inhibited by EDTA and 1,10-phenantroline, Neuwiedase also showed proteolytic activity upon fibrin and some components of the extracellular matrix. However, it did not show TAME esterase activity and was not able to inhibit platelet aggregation. (C) 2000 Academic Press.

DOCPAL resúmenes sobre población en América Latina: 142-001

Contiene resúmenes bibliográficos de documentos sobre población y temas relacionados que se producen en América Latina y el Caribe, publicados entre 1987-1989.

Principal components and factor analytic models for birth to mature weights in Nellore cattle

A total of 61,528 weight records from 22,246 Nellore animals born between 1984 and 2002 were used to compare different multiple-trait analysis methods for birth to mature weights. The following models were used: standard multivarite model (MV), five reduced-rank models fitting the first 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 genetic principal components, and five models using factor analysis with 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 factors. Direct additive genetic random effects and residual effects were included in all models. In addition, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects were included as random effects for birth and weaning weight. The models included contemporary group as fixed effect and age of animal at recording (except for birth weight) and age of dam at calving as linear and quadratic effects (for birth weight and weaning weight). The maternal genetic, maternal permanent environmental and residual (co)variance matrices were assumed to be full rank. According to model selection criteria, the model fitting the three first principal components (PC3) provided the best fit, without the need for factor analysis models. Similar estimates of phenotypic, direct additive and maternal genetic, maternal permanent environmental and residual (co)variances were obtained with models MV and PC3. Direct heritability ranged from 0.21 (birth weight) to 0.45 (weight at 6 years of age). The genetic and phenotypic correlations obtained with model PC3 were slightly higher than those estimated with model MV. In general, the reduced-rank model substantially decreased the number of parameters in the analyses without reducing the goodness-of-fit. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.