THE LANDSCAPE OF OURO PRETO (MG, BRAZIL) THROUGH ANALYSIS OF ANTHROPIC ACTIVITIES IN RELATION TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Understanding the complex interaction among landscape elements can improve the management of environmental conservation and anthropic activities. The aim of the present study was to develop a methodology that assists in the planning and management, harmonizing the conservation of natural areas with anthropic activities in the city of Ouro Preto (state of Minas Gerais, Brazil). The methodology used the weighted overlay algorithm of the ArcMap™ software, which weights among land use characteristics. In the present study, the following classes were used: slope; relief; soil; landscape ownership by individuals; presence of protected areas; economy; and type of management applied to the preservation or conservation of forests and fields. The most relevant anthropic activities (contained in the classes) were simulated, to the detriment of the forest reduction, according to their spatial locations. Consequently, a map with five weights was obtained, which were verified in the field with their respective descriptions. The physical changes occurred as a reflection of the economy, promoting environmental effects, especially related to the mining, tourism, agricultural and livestock activities, besides conservation of natural areas. All of them require ideally a shared management. The interactions among simulated classes aid to increase information in future planning. Understanding the anthropic and natural processes, which have taken place by either consolidation or isolation along the territory, can assist decision-making on the current directions and in the definition of future proposals. It was noticed that the landscape needs a management which creates sustainable alternatives for anthropic activities.Understanding the complex interaction among landscape elements can improve the management of environmental conservation and anthropic activities. The aim of the present study was to develop a methodology that assists in the planning and management, harmonizing the conservation of natural areas with anthropic activities in the city of Ouro Preto (MG, Brazil). The methodology used the weighted overlay algorithm of the ArcMap™ software, which weights among land use characteristics. In the present study, the following classes were used: slope; relief; soil; landscape ownership by individuals; presence of protected areas; economy; and type of management applied to the preservation or conservation of forests and fields. The most relevant anthropic activities (contained in the classes) were simulated, to the detriment of the forest reduction, according to their spatial locations. Consequently, a map with five weights was obtained, which were verified in the field with their respective descriptions. The physical changes occurred as a reflection of the economy, promoting environmental effects, especially related to the mining, tourism, agricultural and livestock activities, besides conservation of natural areas. All of them require ideally a shared management. The interactions among simulated classes aid to increase information in future planning. Understanding the anthropic and natural processes, which have taken place by either consolidation or isolation along the territory, can assist decision-making on the current directions and in the definition of future proposals. It was noticed that the landscape needs a management which creates sustainable alternatives for anthropic activities

Claudin-3 and occludin content in the glands of colonic mucosa devoid from fecal stream submitted to topical intervention with oil extract of Curcuma longa

To evaluate the inflammatory intensity and measure the tissue content of the proteins claudin-3 and occludin in the colonic mucosa without fecal stream submit to intervention with curcumin. Methods: Thirty-six rats were submitted to a proximal colostomy and a distal mucous fistula and divided into two groups according to sacrifice to be performed two or four weeks. Each group was divided into three subgroups according daily application of enemas containing saline, curcumin at 50 mg/kg/day or 200 mg/kg/day. Colitis was diagnosed by histological analysis. Claudin-3 and occludin were determined by immunohistochemistry. The tissue content of claudin-3 and occludin were quantified by computer-assisted image analysis. Mann-Whitney, Student t and ANOVA tests were used to analyze the results establishing the level of significance of 5% for both (p<0.05). Results: Curcumin at both concentrations reduces the inflammation and preserves the tissue content of the proteins claudin-3 and occludin, which was related to the concentration used and to the time of the intervention. Conclusion: The application of enemas with curcumin reduces inflammation and preserves the tissue content of the proteins claudin-3 and occludin in the colonic mucosa devoid from the fecal stream3216573FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAUL

Mathematical modeling for drying flint corn in a thin layer

O objetivo deste trabalho foi ajustar os coeficientes de seis modelos matemáticos e identificar aquele que melhor representa a secagem de grãos de milho “flint” em camada delgada. Para isso, desenvolveu-se uma coluna de secagem para a obtenção dos dados experimentais. Nove testes foram realizados para cada modelo, tendo-se utilizado as velocidades de 0,5, 1,0 e 1,5 m s-1 a 40, 50 e 60°C, respectivamente, para o ar de secagem. Testaram‑se os modelos de Lewis, Page, Thompson, Overhults, Brooker e Midilli para camada delgada. Todos os modelos ajustados representam o fenômeno da secagem do milho “flint” a 5% de probabilidade (teste χ2). Após ajustados, os modelos de Page, Midilli e Overhults são os melhores para a secagem de milho “flint”, com coeficiente de determinação igual a 1,000 para todos os testes e erros inferiores a 1,0%. Para as condições de secagem deste trabalho, o parâmetro n do modelo de Page não depende da velocidade e da temperatura do ar de secagem, enquanto o parâmetro k depende apenas da temperatura do ar, o que é confirmado pela análise de variância. O modelo de Page ajustado pode ser usado com precisão na predição da secagem de milho “flint” em camada delgada.The objective of this work was to adjust the coefficients of six mathematical models and to identify the one that best represents the drying of flint corn grains in a thin layer. For this purpose, a drying column was developed to obtain experimental data. Nine tests were performed for each model, using the velocities of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m s-1 at 40, 50, and 60°C, respectively, for drying air. The thin-layer drying models of Lewis, Page, Thompson, Overhults, Brooker, and Midilli were tested. All adjusted models represent the phenomenon of flint corn drying at 5% probability (χ2 test). After adjusted, the models of Page, Midilli, and Overhults are the best ones for drying corn, with a coefficient of determination equal to 1.000 for all tests and errors lower than 1.0%. For the drying conditions of this work, the n parameter of the model of Page does not depend on the velocity and temperature of drying air, while the k parameter depends only on air temperature, which is confirmed by the analysis of variance. The adjusted model of Page can be used with precision for the prediction of thin-layer flint corn drying

Dyspnea descriptors translated from English to Portuguese: application in obese patients and in patients with cardiorespiratory diseases

OBJETIVO: Investigar a utilidade de descritores de dispneia, desenvolvidos em língua inglesa e traduzidos para o português falado no Brasil, em pacientes com quatro condições distintas que cursam com dispneia. MÉTODOS: Uma lista de 15 descritores de dispneia construída em um estudo nos EUA foi traduzida para o português. Esse conjunto de descritores foi aplicado a 50 pacientes com asma, 50 com DPOC, 30 com insuficiência cardíaca e 50 com obesidade graus II ou III. Os termos selecionados como os três melhores para descrever a sensação de dispneia pelos pacientes foram estudados por análise de agrupamentos. Também foram investigadas as possíveis associações entre os agrupamentos encontrados e as quatro condições clínicas incluídas. RESULTADOS: O emprego dessa lista levou a uma solução com nove agrupamentos, denominados expiração, fome de ar, sufoco, superficial, rápido, aperto, falta de ar, trabalho e inspiração. Houve acentuada superposição no uso de descritores pelos pacientes com as quatro condições clínicas. Asma, DPOC e insuficiência cardíaca mostraram associações relevantes com inspiração. Insuficiência cardíaca mostrou associação adicional com trabalho, enquanto nenhum agrupamento se associou de maneira expressiva com obesidade. CONCLUSÕES: O uso de descritores de dispneia traduzidos da língua inglesa por pacientes no Brasil levou a identificação de agrupamentos distintos, os quais guardaram semelhança com aqueles obtidos em um estudo nos EUA. Esses descritores traduzidos foram menos úteis do que um grupo de descritores desenvolvido no Brasil no que se refere à capacidade de gerar associações significativas com as condições clínicas investigadas.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of descriptive terms applied to the sensation of dyspnea (dyspnea descriptors) that were developed in English and translated to Brazilian Portuguese in patients with four distinct clinical conditions that can be accompanied by dyspnea. METHODS: We translated, from English to Brazilian Portuguese, a list of 15 dyspnea descriptors reported in a study conducted in the USA. Those 15 descriptors were applied in 50 asthma patients, 50 COPD patients, 30 patients with heart failure, and 50 patients with class II or III obesity. The three best descriptors, as selected by the patients, were studied by cluster analysis. Potential associations between the identified clusters and the four clinical conditions were also investigated. RESULTS: The use of this set of descriptors led to a solution with nine clusters, designated expiração (exhalation), fome de ar (air hunger), sufoco (suffocating), superficial (shallow), rápido (rapid), aperto (tight), falta de ar (shortness of breath), trabalho (work), and inspiração (inhalation). Overlapping of the descriptors was quite common among the patients, regardless of their clinical condition. Asthma, COPD, and heart failure were significantly associated with the inspiração cluster. Heart failure was also associated with the trabalho cluster, whereas obesity was not associated with any of the clusters. CONCLUSIONS: In our study sample, the application of dyspnea descriptors translated from English to Portuguese led to the identification of distinct clusters, some of which were similar to those identified in a study conducted in the USA. The translated descriptors were less useful than were those developed in Brazil regarding their ability to generate significant associations among the clinical conditions investigated here

Águas residuais como um indicador de alerta para COVID-19: monitoramento de evento de massa em uma cidade da Amazônia Legal no Norte do Brasil

One of the biggest challenges on health surveillance during COVID-19 pandemic was surveillance and detection of new cases of infection with the objective of stopping fast disease propagation. Mass gatherings are receiving attention from public authorities, considering their roles in circulating COVID-19 virus on an extensive contingent of people. Considering the limitation for mass laboratory tests, high rates of sub-notification and asymptomatic infections, some complementary surveillance strategies were implemented in many countries, such as sewage epidemiological surveillance. This study aimed to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on sewage of the Araguaína-TO, Brazil, community during a mass gathering; a traditional agricultural exposition that gathered many people in a few weeks. Quantification of SARS-Cov-2 through sewage was performed by RT-qPCR and the detected viral loads were normalized using the population served by the studied sewage points. Data generated were compared to the city’s epidemiological data of clinical and laboratory trials of COVID-19 displaying a sub-notification of infections. Amidst vaccination progression, reduction of symptomatic infections and return of events, sewage monitoring presented itself as a fast alert system, exposing virus circulation in the city before and after an increase in case notifications. Results demonstrated a tool to aid surveillance, indirectly testing hundreds of people through a single sample, therefore, enhancing the health system to give assistance to new cases. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; Environmental surveillance; Sewage-based epidemiology; People gathering.Uno de los mayores desafíos en la vigilancia de la salud durante la pandemia de COVID-19 fue la vigilancia y detección de nuevos casos de infección con el objetivo de detener la rápida propagación de la enfermedad. Las reuniones masivas están recibiendo atención de las autoridades públicas, considerando su papel en la circulación del virus COVID-19 en un amplio contingente de personas. Teniendo en cuenta la limitación para las pruebas de laboratorio masivas, las altas tasas de subnotificación y las infecciones asintomáticas, en muchos países se implementaron algunas estrategias de vigilancia complementarias, como la vigilancia epidemiológica de aguas residuales. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo detectar la presencia de SARS-CoV-2 en las aguas residuales de la comunidad Araguaína-TO, Brasil, durante una reunión masiva; una tradicional exposición agrícola que reunió a mucha gente en pocas semanas. La cuantificación de SARS-Cov-2 a través de aguas residuales se realizó mediante RT-qPCR y las cargas virales detectadas se normalizaron utilizando la población atendida por los puntos de aguas residuales estudiados. Los datos generados se compararon con los datos epidemiológicos de la ciudad de los ensayos clínicos y de laboratorio de COVID-19 que muestran una subnotificación de infecciones. En medio de la progresión de la vacunación, la reducción de las infecciones sintomáticas y el regreso de los eventos, el monitoreo de las aguas residuales se presentó como un sistema de alerta rápido, exponiendo la circulación del virus en la ciudad antes y después de un aumento en las notificaciones de casos. Los resultados demostraron una herramienta para ayudar a la vigilancia, probando indirectamente a cientos de personas a través de una sola muestra, por lo tanto, mejorando el sistema de salud para brindar asistencia a nuevos casos. &nbsp;Um dos maiores desafios da vigilância sanitária na pandemia da COVID-19 foi o monitoramento e a detecção de novos casos de infecção, na tentativa de impedir rapidamente a propagação da doença. Eventos de Massa têm merecido crescente atenção das autoridades públicas, por favorecer a circulação do vírus da COVID-19 em um grande contingente de pessoas. Considerando a limitação da testagem laboratorial em massa, as elevadas taxas de subnotificação e as infecções assintomáticas, foram implementadas estratégias complementares de vigilância em vários países, como a vigilância epidemiológica baseada no esgoto. O presente estudo objetivou detectar a presença de SARS-CoV-2 na rede esgoto, em escala comunitária no município de Araguaína-TO, durante um evento de massa, uma tradicional exposição agropecuária, que mobilizou em poucas semanas uma grande circulação de pessoas. A quantificação do SARS-CoV-2 via esgoto foi realizada por RT-qPCR e a carga viral detectada foi normalizada pela população atendida pelo ponto de ligação à rede de esgoto estudada. Os dados gerados foram comparados aos dados epidemiológicos municipais notificados da testagem clínica e laboratorial da COVID-19 revelando a subnotificação das infecções. Com a progressão da vacinação, redução de casos sintomáticos e retomada de eventos, o monitoramento do esgoto se apresentou como um sistema de alerta rápido, revelando a circulação do vírus na cidade antes e durante o aumento de casos notificados. Os resultados demonstraram uma ferramenta de apoio à vigilância, testando indiretamente centenas de pessoas por meio de uma única amostra, assim potencializando o sistema de saúde para assistência dos novos casos. Palavras–chave: SARS-Cov-2; Vigilância Ambiental; Epidemiologia baseada em esgoto; Aglomeração de pessoas