Devastação Ambiental e Riscos à Saúde: O doloroso Legado do Garimpo de Ouro a Agricultores Familiares da Amazônia Mato-Grossense

O presente trabalho é uma reflexão sobre as relações entre o pensamento e a ação voltados para a conservação da natureza, a biologia da conservação, os princípios éticos e filosóficos estabelecidos pela Deep Ecology (Ecologia Profunda) e os princípios e práticas desenvolvidos pelo ecoturismo. Ele trata do potencial que a prática do ecoturismo, permeada por valores característicos de uma ética ecocêntrica, baseada na noção de que a natureza tem um valor intrínseco, tem como ferramenta de interpretação e educação para a conservação dos patrimônios natural e cultural. A pesquisa foi baseada em amplo material sobre ecoturismo, história da conservação da natureza e Deep Ecology. As principais conclusões remetem à ideia de que o ecoturismo, como um segmento voltado para a conservação dos patrimônios natural e cultural, da biodiversidade e da sociodiversidade, depende de uma reflexão profunda em relação aos valores e aos princípios éticos que orientam a sua prática. Somente o foco na construção da oferta de experiências baseadas nestes princípios poderá guiar a demanda por práticas que entreguem os benefícios desejados, com enfoque na conservação da natureza.This work is a reflection on the relationship between thoughts and actions focused on nature conservation, conservation biology, the ethical and philosophical principles established by Deep Ecology and the principles and practices developed by ecotourism. It deals with the potential that the practice of ecotourism, permeated by the values of an ecocentric ethic, based on the notion that nature has an intrinsic value, is as an interpretation and education tool for the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. The research was based on extensive literature on ecotourism, history of nature conservation and Deep Ecology. The main conclusions refer to the idea that ecotourism, as a segment focused on the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, biodiversity and sociodiversity, depends on a deep reflection in relation to the values and ethical principles that guide its practice. And only the focus on building the supply of experiences based on these principles can guide the demand for practices that deliver the desired benefits, with a focus on nature conservation.El presente trabajo es una reflexión sobre la relación entre pensamiento y acción orientada a la conservación de la naturaleza, la biología de la conservación, los principios éticos y filosóficos establecidos por la Ecología Profunda (Ecologia Profunda) y los principios y prácticas desarrollados por el ecoturismo. Se trata del potencial que tiene la práctica del ecoturismo, permeado por valores propios de una ética ecocéntrica, basada en la noción de que la naturaleza tiene un valor intrínseco, como herramienta de interpretación y educación para la conservación del patrimonio natural y cultural. La investigación se basó en un extenso material sobre ecoturismo, historia de la conservación de la naturaleza y Ecología Profunda. Las principales conclusiones hacen referencia a la idea de que el ecoturismo, como segmento enfocado a la conservación del patrimonio natural y cultural, la biodiversidad y la sociodiversidad, depende de una profunda reflexión en relación a los valores y principios éticos que orientan su práctica. Solo el enfoque en construir la oferta de experiencias basadas en estos principios puede orientar la demanda de prácticas que brinden los beneficios deseados, con un enfoque en la conservación de la naturaleza.Le présent travail est une réflexion sur la relation entre la pensée et l'action visant la conservation de la nature, la biologie de la conservation, les principes éthiques et philosophiques établis par Deep Ecology (Ecologia Profunda) et les principes et pratiques développés par l'écotourisme. Il traite du potentiel que la pratique de l'écotourisme, imprégnée de valeurs caractéristiques d'une éthique écocentrique, basée sur la notion que la nature a une valeur intrinsèque, a comme outil d'interprétation et d'éducation pour la conservation du patrimoine naturel et culturel. La recherche était basée sur de nombreux documents sur l'écotourisme, l'histoire de la conservation de la nature et l'écologie profonde. Les principales conclusions renvoient à l'idée que l'écotourisme, en tant que segment axé sur la conservation du patrimoine naturel et culturel, la biodiversité et la sociodiversité, dépend d'une réflexion approfondie en relation avec les valeurs et les principes éthiques qui guident sa pratique. Seul l'accent mis sur la création d'une offre d'expériences sur la base de ces principes peut guider la demande de pratiques qui offrent les avantages souhaités, en mettant l'accent sur la conservation de la nature

Potencial genético da aveia, como produtora de grãos no sul do Brasil

Yield and other agronomic traits were studied in six experiments with oats (Avena sativa L.) established in the Southern Brazil, during the years 1982 to 1984. The grain yield and hectoliter wight in different genotypes showed high progress; however, plant stature and heading time did not change in the last three years. The results suggest that plant breeding programmes should release new genotypes to increase stability and yield potential. O rendimento de grãos e outros caracteres de importância agronômica foram estudados em seis experimentos de aveia estabelecidos na região sul do Brasil, entre os anos de 1982 a 1984. O rendimento de grãos e o peso do hectolitro nos diferentes genótipos demonstraram um alto progresso; entretanto, a estatura e o ciclo de desenvolvimento de planta não apresentaram alterações nos últimos três anos. Os resultados sugerem que os programas de melhoramento devem continuar criando e testando novos genótipos anualmente, com o objetivo de incrementar a estabilidade e o potencial de rendimento de grãos.

Desempenho preliminar de novos genótipos de aveia e trigo na Depressão Ccentral do RS

More than two hundred oat and wheat advanced-lines selected in 1983 were grown in field experiments at Guaíba, RS, Brazil, in 1984. The objective was to quantify, grain yield, 100 grain weight, hectoliter weight, biological yield, heading time, and plant stature. The results were significant for all traits, indicating that selection was efficient in oats; on the other hand, only one wheat-line showed superiority to the best check-variety.Mais de 200 linhagens avançadas de aveia (Avena sativa L.) e trigo (Triticum aestivum L.), selecionadas em 1983, foram avaliadas em dois experimentos, conduzidos em Guaíba, RS, durante o ano de 1984. O objetivo foi testar rendimento de grãos, peso do hectolitro e de 100 grãos, rendimento biológico, ciclo de desenvolvimento e estatura de planta. Os resultados foram significativos para todas as variáveis, indicando que a seleção tem sido eficiente na aveia; por outro lado, em trigo, somente uma linhagem mostrou superioridade em rendimento de grãos sobre a melhor cultivar-padrão

Prevention of hypertension in patients with pre-hypertension: protocol for the PREVER-prevention trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Blood pressure (BP) within pre-hypertensive levels confers higher cardiovascular risk and is an intermediate stage for full hypertension, which develops in an annual rate of 7 out of 100 individuals with 40 to 50 years of age. Non-drug interventions to prevent hypertension have had low effectiveness. In individuals with previous cardiovascular disease or diabetes, the use of BP-lowering agents reduces the incidence of major cardiovascular events. In the absence of higher baseline risk, the use of BP agents reduces the incidence of hypertension. The PREVER-prevention trial aims to investigate the efficacy, safety and feasibility of a population-based intervention to prevent the incidence of hypertension and the development of target-organ damage.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, with participants aged 30 to 70 years, with pre-hypertension. The trial arms will be chlorthalidone 12.5 mg plus amiloride 2.5 mg or identical placebo. The primary outcomes will be the incidence of hypertension, adverse events and development or worsening of microalbuminuria and of left ventricular hypertrophy in the EKG. The secondary outcomes will be fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular events: myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, evidence of new sub-clinical atherosclerosis, and sudden death. The study will last 18 months. The sample size was calculated on the basis of an incidence of hypertension of 14% in the control group, a size effect of 40%, power of 85% and P alpha of 5%, resulting in 625 participants per group. The project was approved by the Ethics committee of each participating institution.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The early use of blood pressure-lowering drugs, particularly diuretics, which act on the main mechanism of blood pressure rising with age, may prevent cardiovascular events and the incidence of hypertension in individuals with hypertension. If this intervention shows to be effective and safe in a population-based perspective, it could be the basis for an innovative public health program to prevent hypertension in Brazil.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Clinical Trials <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00970931">NCT00970931</a>.</p

Genome of the Avirulent Human-Infective Trypanosome—Trypanosoma rangeli

Background: Trypanosoma rangeli is a hemoflagellate protozoan parasite infecting humans and other wild and domestic mammals across Central and South America. It does not cause human disease, but it can be mistaken for the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. We have sequenced the T. rangeli genome to provide new tools for elucidating the distinct and intriguing biology of this species and the key pathways related to interaction with its arthropod and mammalian hosts.  Methodology/Principal Findings: The T. rangeli haploid genome is ,24 Mb in length, and is the smallest and least repetitive trypanosomatid genome sequenced thus far. This parasite genome has shorter subtelomeric sequences compared to those of T. cruzi and T. brucei; displays intraspecific karyotype variability and lacks minichromosomes. Of the predicted 7,613 protein coding sequences, functional annotations could be determined for 2,415, while 5,043 are hypothetical proteins, some with evidence of protein expression. 7,101 genes (93%) are shared with other trypanosomatids that infect humans. An ortholog of the dcl2 gene involved in the T. brucei RNAi pathway was found in T. rangeli, but the RNAi machinery is non-functional since the other genes in this pathway are pseudogenized. T. rangeli is highly susceptible to oxidative stress, a phenotype that may be explained by a smaller number of anti-oxidant defense enzymes and heatshock proteins.  Conclusions/Significance: Phylogenetic comparison of nuclear and mitochondrial genes indicates that T. rangeli and T. cruzi are equidistant from T. brucei. In addition to revealing new aspects of trypanosome co-evolution within the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, comparative genomic analysis with pathogenic trypanosomatids provides valuable new information that can be further explored with the aim of developing better diagnostic tools and/or therapeutic targets