A modernização agropecuária nas microrregiões do estado de Minas Gerais

Este estudo objetivou identificar e caracterizar grupos distintos de microrregiões homogêneas quanto ao grau de modernização agropecuária no Estado de Minas Gerais. Para tanto foram empregadas as técnicas de análise fatorial e de análise de agrupamento, a fim de obter os fatores que refletem o padrão tecnológico e cujas relações permitam formar grupos de microrregiões semelhantes. Foram identificados 10 grupos distintos de microrregiões homogêneas, cada um possuindo combinação distinta dos fatores encontrados e que reflete o seu nível tecnológico. Os grupos encontrados constituem informação preliminar para aplicação localizada de políticas de apoio ao setor, bem como para a tomada de decisão por parte dos agentes da iniciativa privada

Production and characterization of collagenase by Penicillium sp. UCP 1286 isolated from Caatinga soil

A new Penicillium sp. strain isolated from the soil of Caatinga, a Brazilian Biome (UCP 1286) was selected for collagenase production. Fermentation system allowing obtention of collagenolytic activity about 2.7 times higher than existing data, with the highest values of collagenolytic and specific activity (379.80 U/mL, 1460.77 U/mg, respectively), after 126 hours. Applying a factorial design, enzyme production was increased by about 65% compared to the preliminary results. The factorial design demonstrated the existence of two factors with statistical significance on the production of the enzyme: pH and temperature, both with negative effects. Enzyme was found to be more active at pH 9.0 and 37 °C, and also to be very stable in comparison with the collagenase produced by other microorganisms. The enzyme seems to belong to collagenolytic serine proteases family. Concerning the substrate specificity, it was observed that the highest enzyme activity corresponds to azocoll, there was no relevant activity on azocasein and the enzyme showed to be more specific to type V collagen and gelatin than the commercial colagenase produced by Clostridium histolyticum. Major band observed at electrophoresis was approximately 37 kDa. Zymogram analysis confirmed the collagenolytic activity. All data indicates this enzyme as promising biotechnology product.This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE) (IBPG-0137-2.08/12) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). Sara Silvério also acknowledges her post-doc grant (SFRH/BPD/88584/2012) from FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), Portugal

Desempenho do cultivo da berinjela em plantio direto submetida a diferentes lâminas de irrigação.

Este estudo foi conduzido no município de Seropédica, RJ, com o objetivo de se determinar, em cultivo orgânico e sistema de plantio direto, a produtividade da cultura da berinjela sob diferentes lâminas de irrigação e sistemas de cultivo (consorciada com leguminosa e solteira). O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos ao acaso, no esquema de parcela subdividida com quatro repetições caracterizando, na parcela, os tratamentos equivalentes à lâmina de irrigação (40; 70; 100 e 120% ETc) e, na subparcela, os sistemas de cultivo consorciado com feijão caupi e solteiro. Ambos os sistemas de cultivo não influenciaram a produtividade final da berinjela; no entanto, considerando as diferentes lâminas, a maior produtividade comercial foi de 65,41 Mg ha-1, obtida para uma lâmina total de 690,04 mm (106,8% ETc). A menor lâmina aplicada resultou em qualidade inferior dos frutos em relação às maiores lâminas, sendo a taxa de descarte dos frutos de 3 e 14%, respectivamente, para a maior e a menor lâmina

Purification and characterization of a collagenase from Penicillium sp. UCP 1286 by polyethylene glycol-phosphate aqueous two-phase system

Collagenases are proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading both native and denatured collagen, reported to be applied in industrial, medical and biotechnological sectors. Liquid-liquid extraction using aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) is one of the most promising bioseparation techniques, which can substitute difficult solid-liquid separation processes, offering many advantages over conventional methods including low-processing time, low-cost material and low-energy consumption. The collagenase produced by Penicillium sp. UCP 1286 showed a stronger affinity for the bottom salt-rich phase, where the highest levels of collagenolytic activity were observed at the center point runs, using 15.0% (w/w) PEG 3350 g/mol and 12.5% (w/w) phosphate salt at pH 7.0 and concentration. The enzyme was characterized by thermal stability, pH tolerance and effect of inhibitors, showing optimal collagenolytic activity at 37 °C and pH 9.0 and proved to be a serine protease. ATPS showed high efficiency in the collagenase purification, confirmed by a single band in SDS/PAGE, and can in fact be applied as a quick and inexpensive alternative method.This work was supported by the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq) and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). Sara Silvério also acknowledges her post-doc grant (SFRH/BPD/88584/2012) from FCT (SFRH/BPD/88584/2012) (Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation), Portugal

Association between deep-water scale-worms (Annelida: Polynoidae) and black corals (Cnidaria: Antipatharia) in the Southwestern Atlantic

Polynoid scale-worms have been found living as commensals with deep-water antipatharians (commonly known as black corals) in the Potiguar Basin, off Rio Grande do Norte State, Northeastern Brazil. In this paper two polychaete species and four black corals species are redescribed. Benhamipolynoe cf. antipathicola and Parahololepidella cf. greeffi, and the black coral Stylopathes adinocrada Opresko, 2006 are recorded for the Southwestern Atlantic. Benhamipolynoe cf. antipathicola was first described from off New Zealand and the Malay Archipelago, as symbiont with the black coral Stylopathes tenuispina (Silberfeld, 1909). It was later reported for the North Atlantic, off Florida, associated with Stylopathes columnaris (Duchassaing, 1870). In our study, B. cf. antipathicola was found in association with the black coral S. adinocrada. Parahololepidella cf. greeffi was first described as a free-living from shallow waters off São Tomé and Cabo Verde Islands, West Africa, and later reported as symbiont with the black coral Tanacetipathes cf. spinescens in the same location. Our data expand both the geographical distribution and the host range of this species which is reported for the first time as symbiont with Tanacetipathes barbadensis (Brook, 1889), T. tanacetum (Pourtalès, 1880) and T. thamnea (Warner, 1981) in Brazil. The aim of this study is to discuss commensal associations between two species of scale-worm polynoids and black corals found in the Southwestern Atlantic, and also reporting their global distribution. Finally, we provided an updated list of the commensal polynoids and their black coral hosts

Antimicrobial activity and flow rate of newer and established root canal sealers

Endodontic sealers that possess both optimum flow ability and antimicrobial properties may theoretically assist in the elimination of microorganisms located in confined areas of the root canal system. The antimicrobial effects and the flow rate of the following sealers were investigated and compared: Kerr Pulp Canal Sealer EWT, Grossman's Sealer, ThermaSeal, Sealer 26, AH Plus, and Sealer Plus. The agar diffusion test was used to assess the antimicrobial activity of the sealers. In the flow assay, the sealers were placed between two glass slabs and a weight of 500 g was placed on the top of the glass. The diameters of the formed discs were recorded. All root canal sealers tested showed some antimicrobial activity against most of the microorganisms. There were no significant differences between the materials tested (p > 0.05). All root canal sealers also flowed under the conditions of this study. Statistical analysis of the results revealed that AH Plus and Kerr Pulp Canal Sealer EWT had flow values significantly superior to the other sealers tested (p > 0.05). Taken together, these findings suggest that these sealers have the potential to help in the microbial control in the root canal system