Estratégia de zoneamento ambiental aplicada à gestão das margens de reservatórios

A conservação dos recursos hídricos da Caatinga implica cada vez mais na necessidade de planejamento e gestão das Áreas de Preservação Permanente (APP), principalmente na região semiárida do Brasil. Dessa forma, considerando a importância da análise do gradiente espacial para avaliação de áreas prioritárias para conservação e/ou recuperação no semiárido, este trabalho teve por objetivo mapear a ocupação do solo e as unidades geoecológicas da paisagem na APP do Açude Itans (Caicó – RN: 6°29’20”S/37°04’00”W), localizado na Microrregião do Seridó Ocidental Potiguar. Através da abordagem geoecológica adotada e a partir das imagens do satélite CBERS 2B, foi possível identificar os usos e ocupação do solo das margens do reservatório através de mapas temáticos em uma escala de 1:2.500. A partir do mapeamento de uso do solo, foi efetuado um zoneamento e delimitação de áreas prioritárias para a conservação e/ou a recuperação em toda a APP. Identificou-se quatro tipos de ocupação: açude, Caatinga densa, Caatinga rala e solo exposto, através dos mesmos efetuou-se um zoneamento por classes e, a partir do zoneamento, um mapa de áreas prioritárias para intervensão. Constatou-se que ocorreu uma ocupação desordenada da APP, indicando-se áreas prioritárias para recuperação e/ou uso restrito, com estratégias diferenciadas para a gestão desse espaço. Nestas áreas prioritárias focou-se a necessidade da tomada imediata de ações voltadas à recuperação ambiental das áreas degradadas e sensibilização ambiental da população ribeirinha. Exatamente no tocante as ações antrópicas de uso desse espaço, indicou-se como elevada prioridade a realização de campanhas de sensibilização ambiental junto às margens

Brazilian solar saltworks - ancient uses and future possibilities

Coastal solar saltworks of Brazil are exploited for sea salt, which becomes progressively concentrated by evaporation. This study aimed to review the current and new potential uses of these systems, in order to provide more dynamic for this activity. The first evaporation ponds are also used for artisanal fisheries, ensuring the livelihood of many families. All the brine rich in secondary salts (bittern) can be widely used by the chemical industry, while the Brazil shows an incipient production of "flower of salt", a salt with distinct characteristics with higher market value than sodium chloride. On the other hand, the saltponds have a high potential for management and obtaining of large populations of Artemia spp., purifying the brine through the action as biological filter. This microcrustacean occurs naturally in intermediate salinity ponds, being commonly used in aquaculture. Species of microalgae and halobacteria found in the saltworks are employed for extraction of beta-carotene and glycerol, used in an extensive list of products with high commercial value. These ecosystems represent refuge zones for many species of migratory birds, becoming imperative to promote the conservation of these hypersaline wetlands

Caracterização geoquímica dos sedimentos em um ambiente hipersalino artificial

A geoquímica dos sais e nutrientes encontrados em salinas solares está associada às características hidrodinâmicas e biológicas destes ecossistemas,encontrados nas zonas tropicais e subtropicais em todo o mundo. Esta pesquisa foi desenvolvida na Salina Miramar, localizada na cidade de Areia Branca no litoral setentrional do estado do Rio Grande do Norte, com o objetivo de realizar a caracterização geoquímica e textural em amostras de sedimentos coletadas em 03 evaporadores com salinidades distintas (40, 70, 120 g.L-1). Foi realizada uma análise estatística multivariada nos resultados obtidos em relação aos teores de matéria orgânica, pH,granulometria, cálcio, carbono, nitrogênio e fósforo total.Foram identificadas variações em relação ao padrão de acumulação de nutrientes nos sedimentos, sendo possível distinguir 03 setores com características distintas na salina, em função da salinidade. Dentro dos diferentes perfis analisados, verificou-se que as maiores concentrações de nutrientes foram identificados nos sedimentos de superfície (5 - 10 cm) a 70 g.L-1. Com base nos resultados obtidos, conclui-se que as salinas representam zonas de retenção de nutrientes, impedindo que parte destes, venha de fato a contribuir com o processo de eutrofização da zona costeira

Radical Scavenger Capacity of Jabuticaba Fruit ( Myrciaria cauliflora

Jabuticaba is an exotic fruit native to Brazil that has been arousing medicinal interest. Using chemical (HPLC-PDA, resonance mass spectra, and NMR), electroanalytical (differential pulse voltammetry, radical scavenging assay), and pharmacological (in vivo and in vitro) approaches, we have identified its bioactive compounds and hypotensive effects on hypertensive rats. The hydroalcoholic extract of jabuticaba (HEJ) presents a great quantity of phenolic compounds, and several molecules with hydroxyl groups present high efficiency as an antioxidant. The treatment with HEJ (100 and 300 mg/kg/day, for four weeks) presented hypotensive effects on L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats, possibly improving the nitric oxide bioavailability because of its high antioxidant potential. Furthermore, renal and cardiac hypertrophies were also attenuated after the HEJ treatment. Moreover, the vascular responses to contractile and dilating agonists were improved with the HEJ treatment, which is also able to induce nitric oxide production in endothelial cells

Brazilian recommendations on the safety and effectiveness of the yellow fever vaccination in patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases

Background: In Brazil, we are facing an alarming epidemic scenario of Yellow fever (YF), which is reaching the most populous areas of the country in unvaccinated people. Vaccination is the only effective tool to prevent YF. In special situations, such as patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (CIMID), undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, as a higher risk of severe adverse events may occur, assessment of the risk-benefit ratio of the yellow fever vaccine (YFV) should be performed on an individual level. Main body of the abstract: Faced with the scarcity of specific orientation on YFV for this special group of patients, the Brazilian Rheumatology Society (BRS) endorsed a project aiming the development of individualized YFV recommendations for patients with CIMID, guided by questions addressed by both medical professionals and patients, followed an internationally validated methodology (GIN-McMaster Guideline Development). Firstly, a systematic review was carried out and an expert panel formed to take part of the decision process, comprising BRS clinical practitioners, as well as individuals from the Brazilian Dermatology Society (BDS), Brazilian Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Study Group (GEDIIB), and specialists on infectious diseases and vaccination (from Tropical Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Immunizations National Societies); in addition, two representatives of patient groups were included as members of the panel. When the quality of the evidence was low or there was a lack of evidence to determine the recommendations, the decisions were based on the expert opinion panel and a Delphi approach was performed. A recommendation was accepted upon achieving ≥80% agreement among the panel, including the patient representatives. As a result, eight recommendations were developed regarding the safety of YFV in patients with CIMID, considering the immunosuppression degree conferred by the treatment used. It was not possible to establish recommendations on the effectiveness of YFV in these patients as there is no consistent evidence to support these recommendations. Conclusion: This paper approaches a real need, assessed by clinicians and patient care groups, to address specific questions on the management of YFV in patients with CIMID living or traveling to YF endemic areas, involving specialists from many areas together with patients, and might have global applicability, contributing to and supporting vaccination practices. We recommended a shared decision-making approach on taking or not the YFV