POLÍTICAS TERRITORIAIS CONTEMPORÂNEAS NA EUROPA E NO BRASIL / MERCOSUL

O artigo apresenta o quadro referencial do “II Seminário Reforma do Estado e Território. Políticas Territoriais Contemporâneas na Europa e no Brasil/Mercosul”, destacando o cenário geopolítico no Mercosul enquanto apresenta os acúmulos da União Europeia no que diz respeito às análises, metodologias de diagnósticos e avaliação de territórios, políticas, programas e ações com caráter reestruturante já implementadas ou em fase de implantação para o seu território alargado.O artigo comenta os resultados do seminário estruturados em tres eixos: a) ”A Europa: seu papel relativo no mundo e sua política de alargamento contestada”; b) “Fronteiras europeias e sul-americanas: abertura relativa de fronteiras e as pressões externas” e, c) “Planejamento regional sob os princípios gerais da Coesão e da equidade territorial”

ANÁLISE PRELIMINAR DAS POLÍTICAS E LEIS AMBIENTAIS E URBANÍSTICAS E SUAS REPERCUSSÕES SOBRE ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS URBANAS

Neste artigo são analisadas as principais políticas e legislações ambientais e urbanísticas brasileiras que afetam direta ou indiretamente áreas verdes urbanas. Foi identificado que as políticas públicas como as ambientais e urbanísticas não influenciam diretamente as áreas verdes urbanas, mas sim, leis regulamentadoras e instrumentos como o zoneamento, a criação de unidades de conservação e o planejamento urbano como estabelecido pelo Plano Diretor

In vivo switch to IL-10–secreting T regulatory cells in high dose allergen exposure

High dose bee venom exposure in beekeepers by natural bee stings represents a model to understand mechanisms of T cell tolerance to allergens in healthy individuals. Continuous exposure of nonallergic beekeepers to high doses of bee venom antigens induces diminished T cell–related cutaneous late-phase swelling to bee stings in parallel with suppressed allergen-specific T cell proliferation and T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokine secretion. After multiple bee stings, venom antigen–specific Th1 and Th2 cells show a switch toward interleukin (IL) 10–secreting type 1 T regulatory (Tr1) cells. T cell regulation continues as long as antigen exposure persists and returns to initial levels within 2 to 3 mo after bee stings. Histamine receptor 2 up-regulated on specific Th2 cells displays a dual effect by directly suppressing allergen-stimulated T cells and increasing IL-10 production. In addition, cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 and programmed death 1 play roles in allergen-specific T cell suppression. In contrast to its role in mucosal allergen tolerance, transforming growth factor β does not seem to be an essential player in skin-related allergen tolerance. Thus, rapid switch and expansion of IL-10–producing Tr1 cells and the use of multiple suppressive factors represent essential mechanisms in immune tolerance to a high dose of allergens in nonallergic individuals

Transpiration of grapevines and co-habitating cover crop and weed species in a vineyard. A “snapshot” at diurnal trends

The objective of this study was to quantify transpiration rates of two cover crops, Festuca rubra subsp. rubra  (red fescue) and Medicago lupulina (black medick) and 4 weeds, Chenopodium album (fat hen), Cirsium arvense (creeping thistle), Malva neglecta (common mallow) and Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) occurring in a mixed stand in a commercial steep-slope, North-South oriented vineyard as compared to vines, cv. Riesling near Johannisberg (Rheingau), Germany. Leaf transpiration (E) was measured directly on the cover crop and weed species with a portable gas exchange measurement system. Grapevine transpiration was measured concomitantly using custommade Granier-type xylem sap flow gauges. Measurements were conducted on two days in August (15th and 22nd) in 2001 under hot and sunny conditions. All herbaceous species presented a similar diurnal pattern of E, with low values in the morning and afternoon and peak values between 12 and 15 h. In contrast E of grapevines peaked mid-morning (between 8 and 10 h) remained relatively stable until mid-afternoon (16 h) before decreasing continuously until darkness. Significant differences in E between the herbaceous species were observed throughout the day. In general transpiration rates were highest for M. neglecta and lowest for C. arvense, T. officinale and F. rubra subsp. rubra. We estimated the projected leaf area indices (leaf area per surface area covered) for each species and calculated possible transpiration rates for pure stands assuming that all leaves were well exposed. Potential transpiration rates ranged from about 1 mm d-1 (one l m-2 of soil surface) for F. rubra subsp. rubra to = 5 mm d-1 for M. neglecta as compared to only 0.9 mm d-1 for grapevine. These results underline the importance of appropriate cover crop species and the control of some weed species with respect to water use.

Complete Draft Genome Sequence of the Actinobacterium Nocardiopsis sinuspersici UTMC102 (DSM 45277T), Which Produces Serine Protease.

Tokovenko B, Rückert C, Kalinowski J, et al. Complete Draft Genome Sequence of the Actinobacterium Nocardiopsis sinuspersici UTMC102 (DSM 45277T), Which Produces Serine Protease. Genome Announc. 2017;5(20): e00362-17.The genome sequence of alkalohalophilic actinobacterium Nocardiopsis sinuspersici UTMC102 is provided. N. sinuspersici UTMC102 produces a highly active serine alkaline protease, and contains at least 11 gene clusters encoding the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The N. sinuspersici UTMC102 genome was assembled into a single chromosomal scaffold

Functional genomics and expression analysis of the Corynebacterium glutamicum fpr2-cysIXHDNYZ gene cluster involved in assimilatory sulphate reduction

BACKGROUND: Corynebacterium glutamicum is a high-GC Gram-positive soil bacterium of great biotechnological importance for the production of amino acids. To facilitate the rational design of sulphur amino acid-producing strains, the pathway for assimilatory sulphate reduction providing the necessary reduced sulfur moieties has to be known. Although this pathway has been well studied in Gram-negative bacteria like Escherichia coli and low-GC Gram-positives like Bacillus subtilis, little is known for the Actinomycetales and other high-GC Gram-positive bacteria. RESULTS: The genome sequence of C. glutamicum was searched for genes involved in the assimilatory reduction of inorganic sulphur compounds. A cluster of eight candidate genes could be identified by combining sequence similarity searches with a subsequent synteny analysis between C. glutamicum and the closely related C. efficiens. Using mutational analysis, seven of the eight candidate genes, namely cysZ, cysY, cysN, cysD, cysH, cysX, and cysI, were demonstrated to be involved in the reduction of inorganic sulphur compounds. For three of the up to now unknown genes possible functions could be proposed: CysZ is likely to be the sulphate permease, while CysX and CysY are possibly involved in electron transfer and cofactor biosynthesis, respectively. Finally, the candidate gene designated fpr2 influences sulphur utilisation only weakly and might be involved in electron transport for the reduction of sulphite. Real-time RT-PCR experiments revealed that cysIXHDNYZ form an operon and that transcription of the extended cluster fpr2 cysIXHDNYZ is strongly influenced by the availability of inorganic sulphur, as well as L-cysteine. Mapping of the fpr2 and cysIXHDNYZ promoters using RACE-PCR indicated that both promoters overlap with binding-sites of the transcriptional repressor McbR, suggesting an involvement of McbR in the observed regulation. Comparative genomics revealed that large parts of the extended cluster are conserved in 11 of 17 completely sequenced members of the Actinomycetales. CONCLUSION: The set of C. glutamicum genes involved in assimilatory sulphate reduction was identified and four novel genes involved in this pathway were found. The high degree of conservation of this cluster among the Actinomycetales supports the hypothesis that a different metabolic pathway for the reduction of inorganic sulphur compounds than that known from the well-studied model organisms E. coli and B. subtilis is used by members of this order, providing the basis for further biochemical studies

A literature review on surgery for cervical vagal schwannomas

Cervical vagal schwannoma is a benign, slow-growing mass, often asymptomatic, with a very low lifetime risk of malignant transformation in general population, but diagnosis is still a challenge. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice even if its close relationship with nerve fibres, from which it arises, threats vagal nerve preservation. We present a case report and a systematic review of literature. All studies on surgical resection of cervical vagal schwannoma have been reviewed. Papers matching the inclusion criteria (topic on surgical removal of cervical vagal schwannoma, English language, full text available) were selected. Fifty-three patients with vagal neck schwannoma submitted to surgery were identified among 22 studies selected. Female/male ratio was 1.5 and median age 44 years. Median diameter was 5 cm (range 2 to 10). Most schwannoma were asymptomatic (68.2%) and received an intracapsular excision (64.9%). Postoperative symptoms were reported in 22.6% of patients. Cervical vagal schwannoma is a benign pathology requiring surgical excision, but frequently postoperative complications can affect patients lifelong, so, surgical indications should be based carefully on the balance between risks and benefits

Impact of Simultaneous Exposure to Arboviruses on Infection and Transmission by Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes

The recent emergence of both chikungunya and Zika viruses in the Americas has significantly expanded their distribution and has thus increased the possibility that individuals may become infected by more than one Aedes aegypti-borne virus at a time. Recent clinical data support an increase in the frequency of coinfection in human patients, raising the likelihood that mosquitoes could be exposed to multiple arboviruses during one feeding episode. The impact of coinfection on the ability of relevant vector species to transmit any of these viruses (that is, their vector competence) has not been determined. Thus, we here expose Ae. aegypti mosquitoes to chikungunya, dengue-2 or Zika viruses, both individually and as double and triple infections. Our results show that these mosquitoes can be infected with and can transmit all combinations of these viruses simultaneously. Importantly, infection, dissemination and transmission rates in mosquitoes are only mildly affected by coinfection