Proposta de indicadores para a avalia??o de projetos de restaura??o de ecossistemas no Alto Jequitinhonha

O Instituto Estadual de Florestas de Minas Gerais (IEF) promove o fomento buscando a recupera??o ou a restaura??o florestal em conjunto com o produtor rural. Desde 2007 at? hoje, atingiu-se aproximadamente 50 mil hectares em projetos de fomento com o vi?s protetivo. As t?cnicas utilizadas nos projetos de fomento florestal s?o a promo??o ou indu??o da regenera??o natural, o enriquecimento por meio de mudas e quando necess?rio o plantio total da ?rea com mudas de esp?cies florestais nativas de ocorr?ncia natural da regi?o. Para avaliar se tais a??es v?m atingindo os seus objetivos, se os recursos investidos est?o sendo bem empregados ou, ainda, se ser? necess?rio readequar as a??es adotadas, faz-se necess?rio avaliar e monitorar as ?reas restauradas no ?mbito do programa. Diante deste esfor?o o monitoramento destas ?reas trabalhadas permite que o programa de fomento avalie as melhorias no sentido de torn?-los mais eficazes. A proposta deste estudo foi sugerir uma metodologia para a avalia??o dos projetos de recupera??o do programa de fomento florestal, orientados por princ?pios, crit?rios e indicadores, procurando verificar as tend?ncias de sucesso dos projetos. Foram visitados aleatoriamente 19 projetos nos munic?pios de Concei??o do Mato Dentro, Datas, Diamantina, Rio Vermelho, Santo Ant?nio do Itamb? e Serro e aplicada uma matriz com os indicadores baseados em dois crit?rios de forma que qualquer servidor da autarquia tenha a capacidade de aplic?-la, sem a necessidade de especialistas para a execu??o do monitoramento. Baseando-se nas recomenda??es t?cnicas e legislativas, desenvolveram-se par?metros de refer?ncia para avaliar o estado do projeto de que foi executado. Por conta das diferentes fitofisionomias da regi?o de estudo foram elaborados par?metros de refer?ncia para a Floresta Estacional Semidecidual e Campo Rupestre. Os dados foram analisados por meio da an?lise do componente principal (PCA) e TWINSPAN. Com a metodologia proposta foi poss?vel verificar se os projetos de fomento est?o adequados quanto ?s recomenda??es t?cnicas e liter?rias. Este estudo demonstrou que ? poss?vel realizar o monitoramento dos projetos de recupera??o/ restaura??o do programa de fomento florestal do IEF. Outra caracter?stica importante pauta-se na utiliza??o de baixos recursos financeiros e apontar o desempenho dos projetos avaliados. A proposta n?o foi capaz de apontar todos os par?metros ecol?gicos, mas detecta as altera??es favor?veis e desafor?veis ? resili?ncia dos projetos de recupera??o, requerendo maiores estudos e ajustes a fim de agregar melhorias na qualidade do monitoramento.Disserta??o (Mestrado) ? Programa de P?s-Gradua??o em Ci?ncia Florestal, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, 2012.ABSTRACT The State Forestry Institute of Minas Gerais (IEF) promotes fomenting by seeking forest recovery or restoration in conjunction with rural producers. From 2007 to present date, it reached approximately 50,000 hectares in development projects with the protective bias. The techniques used in forest development projects are the promotion or induction of natural regeneration, the enrichment trough seedlings and when it is necessary, the plantation of the whole area with seedlings of native tree species from the region. To assess whether these restore\ recovery actions are reaching their goals, whether the resources invested in these actions are being well employed, or even if it will be necessary some rearrangement in the taken actions, it was necessary to evaluate and monitor the restored areas within the program scope. Before this effort, the monitoring of these worked areas allows that the development program assess the improvement rates in order to make them more effective. This study aims to suggest an assessment methodology of the restoration projects of the forest development program, guided by principles, criteria and indicators, seeking to verify the trends of successful projects. 19 projects were randomly visited in the municipalities of Concei??o do Mato Dentro, Datas, Diamantina, Rio Vermelho, Santo Antonio do Itamb? and Serro and it was applied an array of indicators based on two criteria therefore any civil servant in the local authority would be able to apply it, without needing an expertise to perform the monitoring. Based on technical and legislative recommendations, it was developed benchmarks to assess the project status executed. Because of the different phyto-physiognomies in studied area some benchmarks were developed for the Stational Semideciduous Forest and Rupestrian Field. Data were analyzed through principal component analysis (PCA) and TWINSPAN. With the proposed methodology it was possible to verify if the development projects were suitable with literary and technical recommendations. This study demonstrates that it is possible to perform the monitoring of recovering\ restoration projects of the forest development program of the IEF. Another important feature is guided by the usage of low financial resources and it also points the performance of evaluated projects. The proposal was not able to point all ecological benchmarks, but it detects favorable and unfavorable changes concerning the resilience of the recovery projects, requiring further studies and adjustments in order to add improvements to the quality of monitoring

A role for antizyme inhibitor 2 in the biosynthesis and content of serotonin and histamine in mouse mast cells

Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine; PAs) are essential for the majority of living cells. Antizymes and antizyme inhibitors are key regulatory proteins of PA levels by affecting ornithine decarboxylase and PA uptake. In addition to PAs, mast cells (MC) synthesize and store in their granules histamine (Hia) and serotonin (5-HT), which are critical for their function. Our previous studies have indicated a metabolic interplay among PAs, Hia and 5-HT in this cell type. For instance, we showed that PAs affect Hia synthesis during early stages of IL-3-induced bone marrow cell differentiation into bone marrow derived MCs (BMMCs) and demonstrated that PAs are present in MC secretory granules and are important for granule homeostasis, including Hia storage and 5-HT levels. A few years ago, a novel antizyme inhibitor (AZIN2) was described whose expression is restricted to a few tissues and cell types including brain, testis and MCs. In MCs, it was recently proposed that AZIN2 could act as a local regulator of PA biosynthesis in association with 5-HT-containing granules and with 5-HT release following MC activation. To gain insight into the role of AZIN2 in the biosynthesis and storage of 5-HT and also Hia, we have generated BMMCs from both wild-type and transgenic mice with severe Azin2 hypomorphism, and have analyzed the content of PAs, 5-HT and Hia, and some elements of their metabolisms. Spermine and 5-HT levels were reduced in Azin2 hypomorphic BMMCs compared with wild-type controls, whereas the amount of Hia was increased. Accordingly, the level of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (the key enzyme for 5-HT biosynthesis) was reduced and the amount of enzymatic activity of histidine decarboxylase (the enzyme responsible for Hia biosynthesis) was increased in Azin2 hypomorphic BMMCs. Taken together, our results show evidence that AZIN2 has an important role in the regulation of 5-HT and Hia biosynthesis and storage in MCsUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. This work was supported by SAF2011-26518 (MINECO, Spain) and P10-CVI-6585 and Bio-267 (Junta de Andalucia, Spain). CIBERER is an iniciative of Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain)

A role for antizyme inhibitor 2 in the biosynthesis and content of histamine and serotonin in mouse mast cells

Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine; PAs) are required for the survival of the majority of living cells. Antizymes and antizyme inhibitors are key regulatory proteins of PA levels by affecting ornithine decarboxylase, the rate-limiting biosynthetic enzyme, and PA uptake. In addition to PA, mast cells (MC) synthesize and store in their granules the biogenically active amines histamine (Hia) and serotonin (5-HT), which are of critical importance for their function. Previously, we have performed several studies in this cell type regarding the interplay between the metabolisms of PAs and Hia and 5-HT. Our results showed that PAs affect Hia synthesis during early stages of IL-3-induced bone marrow cell differentiation into bone marrow derived MCs (BMMCs) and demonstrated that PAs are present in MC secretory granules and are important for granule homeostasis, including Hia storage and 5-HT levels. A few years ago, a novel antizyme inhibitor (AZIN2) was described. In contrast to AZIN1, AZIN2 expression is restricted to a few tissues and cell types including brain, testis and MCs. In MCs, it was recently described that AZIN2 could act as a local regulator of PA biosynthesis in association with the 5-HT granule content and release. At present, our aim is to gain further insight into the role of AZIN2 in the biosynthesis, storage and release of both Hia and 5-HT. In this study, we have generated BMMCs from both wild-type and transgenic mice with severe Azin2 hypomorphism, and have analyzed the content of PAs, Hia and 5-HT, and some elements of their metabolisms. Both PAs and 5-HT levels were reduced in Azin2 hypomorphic BMMCs compared with wild-type controls, whereas the amount of Hia was increased. Accordingly, the level of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (the key enzyme for 5-HT biosynthesis) was reduced and the amount of enzymatic activity of histidine decarboxylase (the enzyme responsible for histamine biosynthesis) was increased in Azin2 hypomorphic BMMCs. Taken together, our results show evidence that AZIN2 has an important role in the regulation of Hia and 5-HT biosynthesis and storage in MCs. Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER), Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga 29071, Spain. Corresponding author: I. Fajardo ([email protected]) This work was supported by SAF2011-26518 (MINECO, Spain) and P10-CVI-6585 and Bio-267 (Junta de Andalucia, Spain). CIBERER is an iniciative of Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain).Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía-Tech. SAF2011-26518 (MINECO, Spain) and P10-CVI-6585 and Bio-267 (Junta de Andalucia, Spain. CIBERER is an iniciative of Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain)

Structural and functional interaction between polyamine related molecules and biological membranes

La comunicación describe el conocimiento actual sobre las interacciones de biomoléculas relacionadas con el metabolismo de poliaminas con las estructuras y funciones de las membranas biológicasChanges induced by PA on nucleic acid (NA) conformation and synthesis is proven to be a major reason for PA essentiality (1-3). However, PA interactions with other polyanions, for instance polyanionic membrane lipid bilayers and glyosaminoglycans have received less attention (3-4). The functional importance of these interactions still is an obscure but interesting area of cell and molecular biology, especially in mammalian cells for which specific PA transport systems are not fully characterized (5). In mammals, activity and turnover of the polyamine (PA) synthesis key enzyme is controlled by a set of proteins: Antizymes (OAZ1-3) and antizyme inhibitors (AZIN1 and 2). It is demonstrated that AOZ modulate polyamine uptake (6), and that PA transport to mitochondria is linked to the respiratory chain state and modulates mitochondrial permeability transition (7). Antizyme expression variants have been located in mitochondria, being proposed as a proapoptotic factor (7-8). AZIN 2 is only expressed in a reduced set of tissues that includes mast cells, where it is associated to mast cell granules membrane (9). This fact, together to the abnormalities observed in bone marrow derived mast cell granules when they are differentiated under restricted PA synthesis conditions (10 and unpublished results), point out to important roles of PA and their related proteins in structure and function of mast cell granules. We will also present novel biophysical results on tripartite interactions of PA that remark the interest of the characterization of PA interactions with lipid bilayers for biomedicine and biotechnology. Thus, the information reported in this paper integrates previously reported information with our still unpublished results, all indicating that PA and their related proteins also are important factors for structure and dynamics of biological membranes and their associated functions essential in human physiology; for instance, solute interchange with the environment (uptake and secretion), oxidative metabolism and apoptosis. The importance of these involved processes for human homeostasis claim for further research efforts. 1. Ruiz-Chica J, Medina MA, Sánchez-Jiménez F and Ramírez FJ (2001) Fourier Transform Raman study of the structural specificities on the interaction between DNA and biogenic polyamines. Biophysical J. 80:443-454. 2. Lightfoot HL, Hall J (2014) Endogenous polyamine function--the RNA perspective. Nucleic Acids Res. 42:11275-11290. 3. Igarashi K, Kashiwagi K (2010) Modulation of cellular function by polyamines. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 42:39-51. 4. Finger S, Schwieger C, Arouri A, Kerth A, Blume A (2014) Interaction of linear polyamines with negatively charged phospholipids: the effect of polyamine charge distance. Biol Chem. 395:769-778. 5. Poulin R, Casero RA, Soulet D. (2012) Recent advances in the molecular biology of metazoan polyamine transport. Amino Acids. 42:711-723. 6. Kahana C (2009) Regulation of cellular polyamine levels and cellular proliferation by antizyme and antizyme inhibitor. Essays Biochem. 4:47-61. 7. Agostinelli E, Marques MP, Calheiros R, Gil FP, Tempera G, Viceconte N, Battaglia V, Grancara S, Toninello A (2010) Polyamines: fundamental characters in chemistry and biology. Amino Acids 38:393-403. 8. Liu GY, Liao YF, Hsu PC, Chang WH, Hsieh MC, Lin CY, Hour TC, Kao MC, Tsay GJ, Hung HC (2006) Antizyme, a natural ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, induces apoptosis of haematopoietic cells through mitochondrial membrane depolarization and caspases' cascade. Apoptosis 11:1773-1788. 9. Kanerva K, Lappalainen J, Mäkitie LT, Virolainen S, Kovanen PT, Andersson LC (2009). Expression of antizyme inhibitor 2 in mast cells and role of polyamines as selective regulators of serotonin secretion. PLoS One 31:e6858. 10. García-Faroldi G, Rodríguez CE, Urdiales JL, Pérez-Pomares JM, Dávila JC, Pejler G, Sánchez-Jiménez F, Fajardo I (2010) Polyamines are present in mast cell secretory granules and are important for granule homeostasis. PLoS One 30:e15071.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

ENSINO DE FÍSICA E AS NOVAS TECNOLOGIAS: EXPLORANDO SIMULAÇÕES, EXPERIMENTOS VIRTUAIS E O SOFTWARE GEOGEBRA

A Física Clássica encontra-se no estado concreto-abstrato, no qual o sujeito acrescenta voluntariamente esquemas geométricos à abstração (BACHELARD, 1996, p. 7-15). Nesse sentido, os signos visuais são recursos didáticos pertinentes para o ensino-aprendizagem da Física Clássica e, concomitantemente, se não bem diferenciados dos objetos, tornam-se potenciais obstáculos epistemológicos. Além do mais, como os sentidos e significados estão no âmago da aprendizagem significativa, o uso do registro figural em consonância com o linguístico e o simbólico (DUVAL, 2012) se faz bem empregado

Modelos de biomasa aérea y subterránea de Hevea brasilienses y Theobroma grandiflorum en la Amazonía colombiana

Biomass models are key tools for estimating carbon in agroecosystems. This research was conducted in Caquetá, Colombia, in plantations and agroforestry systems. A total of 41 trees of Hevea brasiliensis and 40 of Theobroma grandiflorum were sampled to estimate the above-ground biomass (Ab); and 19 and 12 trees, respectively, were excavated to estimate the below-ground biomass (Bb). The models were adjusted based on the determination coefficient (R2), the adjusted R2, and Akaike’s and the Bayesian information criteria. The recommended models for Ab in H. brasiliensis and T. grandiflorum were Ln(Ab)=-2.99+2.72*Ln(DBH) and Ln(Ab)=-2.59+2.48*Ln(D30), respectively (Ab: kg.tree-1; DBH: diameter at breast height in cm; D30: trunk diameter at a 30 cm height). Additionally, models based on diameter and height were developed, as well as others based on the crown area. These models constitute an advancement in improving estimations of biomass and carbon, thus reaching Tier 2 in research and mitigation projects.Los modelos de biomasa son herramientas clave para estimar carbono en agroecosistemas. Esta investigación fue desarrollada en Caquetá, Colombia, en plantaciones y sistemas agroforestales. Se seleccionaron 41 árboles de Hevea brasiliensis y 40 de Theobroma grandiflorum para estimar la biomasa aérea (Ba); y 19 y 12 árboles fueron excavados respectivamente para estimar biomasa subterránea (Bb). Se ajustaron los modelos con base en el coeficiente de determinación (R2), el R2 ajustado, y los criterios de información de Akaike y Bayesiano. Los modelos recomendados para Ba en H. brasiliensis y T. grandiflorum fueron Ln(Ba)=-2.99+2.72*Ln(DAP) y Ln(Ba)=-2.59+2.48*Ln(D30), respectivamente (Ba: kg.árbol-1; DAP: diámetro a la altura del pecho en cm; D30: diámetro del tronco a 30 cm de altura). Adicionalmente, se desarrollaron modelos con base en diámetro y altura, así como otros basados en el área de la copa. Estos modelos son un avance para mejorar las estimaciones de biomasa y carbono, alcanzando un Tier 2 (Nivel 2), en investigación y proyectos de mitigación

Classificação física e composição química do café submetido a diferentes tratamentos fungicidas

The objective of this work was to ascertain the influence of different fungal disease control methods for coffee (Coffea arabica L.) on the physical classification and chemical composition of coffee beans These practices were undertaken in agricultural years 2002/03 and 2003/04. A completely random design was used with subdivided plots, using repetitions in 2 x 3 factorial scheme, and two harvests and three fungicide treatments (systemic fungicide, trade name Ópera®, cupric fungicide, trade name Cobox®, and non-treated control with fungicides). The fruits were separated in parchment and floaters. The quality evaluations of the beans took place through physical and chemical analyses. The Opera® and Cobox® fungicide treatments influence the classification by type and the chemical composition of the floaters in a positive way. The Opera® fungicide provides higher results in total sugars of floaters.Objetivando verificar a influência de diferentes métodos de controle de doenças fúngicas do cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L.) na classificação física e na composição química dos grãos de café, foi conduzido este ensaio nos anos agrícolas 2002/03 e 2003/04. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado com parcelas subdivididas, utilizando quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial 2 x 3, compreendendo duas safras e três tratamentos fungicidas (fungicida sistêmico, nome comercial Ópera®, fungicida cúprico, nome comercial Cobox®, e testemunha não tratada com fungicidas). Os frutos foram separados em cereja descascado e boia. Os tratamentos fungicidas Ópera® e Cobox® utilizados para o controle da ferrugem e cercóspora, influenciam de maneira positiva a classificação por tipo e a composição química do café boia. A aplicação do fungicida Ópera® proporciona melhores resultados nos teores de açúcares totais do café boia do que os demais tratamentos aplicados

Increased Metabolic Activity Detected By Flim In Human Breast Cancer Cells With Desmoplastic Reaction: A Pilot Study

Introduction: In breast cancer (BC), desmoplastic reaction, assembled primarily by fibroblasts, is associated with unfavorable prognosis, but the reason of this fact remains still unclear. In this context, nonlinear optics microscopy, including Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM), has provided advancement in cellular metabolism research. In this paper, our purpose is to differentiate BC cells metabolism with or without contact to desmoplastic reaction. Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded samples were used at different points of hematoxylin stained sections. Methodology: Sections from 14 patients with invasive ductal breast carcinoma were analyzed with FLIM methodology to NAD(P)H and FAD fluorescence lifetime on a Confocal Upright LSM780 NLO device (Carl Zeiss AG, Germany). Quantification of the fluorescence lifetime and fluorescence intensity was evaluated by SPC Image software (Becker & Hickl) and ImageJ (NIH), respectively. Optical redox ratio was calculated by dividing the FAD fluorescence intensity by NAD(P) H fluorescence intensity. Data value for FLIM measurements and fluorescence intensities were calculated using Wilcoxon test; p< 0.05 was considered significant. Results: BC cells in contact with desmoplastic reaction presented a significantly lower NAD(P) H and FAD fluorescence lifetime. Furthermore, optical redox ratio was also lower in these tumor cells. Conclusion: Our results suggest that contact of BC cells with desmoplastic reaction increase their metabolic activity, which might explain the adverse prognosis of cases associated with higher peritumoral desmoplastic reaction.953