Mutirão: formas de ajuda mútua no meio rural

FINEPUFRJFUJBIBEPFAPERJME

Effect of antioxidant treatment with n-acetylcysteine and swimming on lipid expression of sebaceous glands in diabetic mice

Abstract The sebaceous gland (SG) is involved in different inflammatory, infectious and neoplastic processes of the skin and can be related to specific diseases, e.g., diabetes mellitus. Sometimes, the histological diagnosis requires complementary tests due to the ability of diseases to mimic other tumors. We evaluated the sebaceous gland density in Non-obese diabetic mice to analyze the N-acetylcystein effects and swimming exercise treatment in sebaceous glands healing, using specific staining in histochemistry and immunohistochemistry reactions in the identification of the lipid expression in the sebaceous gland. We investigated the intracytoplasmic lipid expression and analysis of gland density from SG in dorsal skin samples from the Non-obese diabetic (NOD mice) and diabetic animals submitted to antioxidant treatment and physical exercise. For histological analysis of the sebaceous glands, specific staining in histochemistry with sudan black and immunohistochemistry reaction with adipophilin were used in the evaluation. Statistical analysis showed significant proximity between the values of the control group and the diabetic group submitted to the swimming exercise (DS group) and similar values between the untreated diabetic group (UD group) and diabetic group treated with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (DNa group), which did not prevent possible differences where p < 0.01. Adipophilin (ADPH) immunohistochemistry permitted more intense lipid staining in SGs, the preservation of the SG in the control group, and a morphological deformed appearance in the UD and DNa groups. However, weak morphological recovery of the SG was observed in the DS-Na group, being more expressive in the DS group. In conclusion, the groups submitted to physical exercises showed better results in the recovery of the analyzed tissue, even being in the physiological conditions caused by spontaneous diabetes

Revegetation on Tropical Steep Slopes after Mining and Infrastructure Projects: Challenges and Solutions

The revegetation of steep slopes after mining and infrastructure projects is not an easy task. To enhance the effectiveness of revegetation projects, the present study aimed to review (i) specific challenges of steep slope revegetation, (ii) ecological succession patterns in similar environments, (iii) soil conditioning and revegetation strategies to enhance vegetation cover, (iv) the importance of microorganisms to enhance steep slope revegetation, and (v) the functional plant traits necessary to establish on steep slopes. In general, steep slopes are characterized by high bulk densities, potentially toxic elements, and low water and nutrient availability. Additionally, high temperature and elevated radiation constrain the soil conditioning and vegetation cover establishment. Lessons from ecological succession in natural steep slope habitats show that steep slope revegetation is a long-term process. Planting strategies, including hydroseeding and geotextiles, may enhance the implementation of vegetation cover. Different plant functional groups show adaptations necessary for establishment in steep slope environments, and mixtures of species containing different functional groups can promote diverse and resilient plant communities. Promising species may be retrieved from local rupestrian ecosystems, as these floras are adapted to shallow, oligotrophic soils. Further research on combining methods of soil conditioning with individual planting and/or seeding strategies of carefully selected species is necessary to enhance steep slope revegetation and rehabilitation, contributing to slope stability, erosion reduction, and carbon fixation in the long term

Revegetation on Tropical Steep Slopes after Mining and Infrastructure Projects: Challenges and Solutions

The revegetation of steep slopes after mining and infrastructure projects is not an easy task. To enhance the effectiveness of revegetation projects, the present study aimed to review (i) specific challenges of steep slope revegetation, (ii) ecological succession patterns in similar environments, (iii) soil conditioning and revegetation strategies to enhance vegetation cover, (iv) the importance of microorganisms to enhance steep slope revegetation, and (v) the functional plant traits necessary to establish on steep slopes. In general, steep slopes are characterized by high bulk densities, potentially toxic elements, and low water and nutrient availability. Additionally, high temperature and elevated radiation constrain the soil conditioning and vegetation cover establishment. Lessons from ecological succession in natural steep slope habitats show that steep slope revegetation is a long-term process. Planting strategies, including hydroseeding and geotextiles, may enhance the implementation of vegetation cover. Different plant functional groups show adaptations necessary for establishment in steep slope environments, and mixtures of species containing different functional groups can promote diverse and resilient plant communities. Promising species may be retrieved from local rupestrian ecosystems, as these floras are adapted to shallow, oligotrophic soils. Further research on combining methods of soil conditioning with individual planting and/or seeding strategies of carefully selected species is necessary to enhance steep slope revegetation and rehabilitation, contributing to slope stability, erosion reduction, and carbon fixation in the long term

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved