A proximidade de um parque paleontológico estimulando o conhecimento entre estudantes da educação básica brasileira

Este trabalho aborda o ensino de Paleontologia na Educação Básica Brasileira. O objetivo principal do estudo foi investigar se a proximidade da escola de um parque paleontológico - com todas as possibilidades educativas que daí possa advir - poderia resultar em maiores conhecimentos sobre paleontologia. A metodologia empregada caracteriza-se como uma pesquisa levantamento quantitativa e exploratória. Foram aplicados questionários sobre conhecimentos básicos e os resultados obtidos sugerem que a proximidade do parque influenciou nos conhecimentos paleontológicos dos estudantes. São discutidas e sugeridas formas de utilização do parque com um efetivo espaço não formal para o ensino e aprendizagem de conceitos paleontológicos

Estudo experimental da ação dos anti-inflamatórios não hormonais inibidores seletivos da ciclooxigenase 2 (COX-2) e anti-inflamatórios tradicionais na regeneração óssea

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the effects of traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors in the process of bone regeneration in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four Wistar strain rats were subjected to osteotomy of the right femur and randomly divided into 3 groups according to the drug to be given (diclofenac, rofecoxib, or placebo). Each group was divided into 2 subgroups according to the time to euthanasia after the surgery. The animals of Subgroup 1 were submitted to euthanasia 2 weeks after surgery, and those of Subgroup 2, underwent euthanasia 4 weeks after surgery. Radiographic examinations and bone callus histomorphometry were analyzed. RESULTS: No intergroup statistical difference was found in the bone callus area or in bone formation area 2 and 4 weeks after surgery. Intra-group analysis concerning the bone neoformation area inside the callus showed a significant difference within the diclofenac group, which presented less tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Fracture consolidation in Wistar rats occurs within less than 2 weeks, and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs does not significantly influence this process.OBJETIVO: Comparar os efeitos do uso de antiinflamatórios não-esteróides tradicionais (AINES) e AINES que são inibidores seletivos da ciclooxigenase-2 (COX-2), no processo de regeneração óssea em ratos. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Quarenta e quatro ratos da linhagem Wistar submetidos a osteotomia do femur direito e divididos em três grupos, conforme o medicamento que receberam (diclofenaco, rofecoxib e placebo). Cada grupo foi dividido em dois subgrupos, conforme o tempo até o sacrifício, após a cirurgia. Os animais do subgrupo 1 foram sacrificados duas semanas após a cirurgia e os do subgrupo 2, quatro semanas após a cirurgia. Foram analisados exames radiográficos e a histomorfometria do calo ósseo. RESULTADOS: Não foram encontradas diferenças estatísticas na área do calo ósseo 2 e 4 semanas após a cirurgia. No que se refere à área de neoformação óssea dentro do calo, observou-se diferença estatisticamente significante apenas dentro do grupo do diclofenaco, que apresentou menos tecido. CONCLUSÕES: A consolidação da fratura em ratos Wistar ocorre dentro de 2 semanas e o uso de antiinflamatórios não-esteróides não influi de forma significante neste processo

CA88, a nuclear repetitive DNA sequence identified in Schistosoma mansoni, aids in the genotyping of nine Schistosoma species of medical and veterinary importance

CA88 is the first long nuclear repetitive DNA sequence identified in the blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni. The assembled S. mansoni sequence, which contains the CA88 repeat, has 8,887 nucleotides and at least three repeat units of approximately 360 bp. In addition, CA88 also possesses an internal CA microsatellite, identified as SmBr18. Both PCR and BLAST analysis have been used to analyse and confirm the CA88 sequence in other S. mansoni sequences in the public database. PCR-acquired nuclear repetitive DNA sequence profiles from nine Schistosoma species were used to classify this organism into four genotypes. Included among the nine species analysed were five sequences of both African and Asian lineages that are known to infect humans. Within these genotypes, three of them refer to recognised species groups. A panel of four microsatellite loci, including SmBr18 and three previously published loci, has been used to characterise the nine Schistosoma species. Each species has been identified and classified based on its CA88 DNA fingerprint profile. Furthermore, microsatellite sequences and intra-specific variation have also been observed within the nine Schistosoma species sequences. Taken together, these results support the use of these markers in studying the population dynamics of Schistosoma isolates from endemic areas and also provide new methods for investigating the relationships between different populations of parasites. In addition, these data also indicate that Schistosoma magrebowiei is not a sister taxon to Schistosoma mattheei, prompting a new designation to a basal clade.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Imunologia e ParasitologiaInstituto de Pesquisas René Rachou-FiocruzThe Natural History Museum Department of ZoologySanta Casa de Belo Horizonte Programa de Pós-Graduação e PesquisaUniversidade Federal de Ouro Preto Escola de Farmácia Laboratório de Pesquisas ClínicasUNIFESP, EPM, Imunologia e ParasitologiaSciEL

Efficiency of Phytoseiulus longipes Evans as a control agent of Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard (Acari: Phytoseiidae: Tetranychidae) on screenhouse tomatoes

The spider mite Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard can cause severe damage to tomato crops. The predatory mite Phytoseiulus longipes Evans was recently reported in association with T. evansi in Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of P. longipes on the population of T. evansi on tomatoes under screenhouse condition. The study consisted on four experiments, in each of which 80 potted plantlets were distributed in two plots of 40 plantlets each. Two weeks later, each plantlet of both plots was infested with eight adult females of T. evansi; one week after, four adult females of P. longipes were released onto each plant of one plot. The population levels of T. evansi and the damage caused by these mites were significantly lower (P < 0.05; linear mixed-effect model) in the plots where P. longipes had been released. The results indicate the potential of this predator as a candidate for classical biological control of T. evansi by inoculative releases on tomato plants.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Developmen

Process Parameters Optimization, Characterization, and Application of KOH-Activated Norway Spruce Bark Graphitic Biochars for Efficient Azo Dye Adsorption

In this work, Norway spruce bark was used as a precursor to prepare activated biochars (BCs) via chemical activation with potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a chemical activator. A Box–Behnken design (BBD) was conducted to evaluate and identify the optimal conditions to reach high specific surface area and high mass yield of BC samples. The studied BC preparation parameters and their levels were as follows: pyrolysis temperature (700, 800, and 900 °C), holding time (1, 2, and 3 h), and ratio of the biomass: chemical activator of 1: 1, 1.5, and 2. The planned BBD yielded BC with extremely high SSA values, up to 2209 m2·g−1. In addition, the BCs were physiochemically characterized, and the results indicated that the BCs exhibited disordered carbon structures and presented a high quantity of O-bearing functional groups on their surfaces, which might improve their adsorption performance towards organic pollutant removal. The BC with the highest SSA value was then employed as an adsorbent to remove Evans blue dye (EB) and colorful effluents. The kinetic study followed a general-order (GO) model, as the most suitable model to describe the experimental data, while the Redlich–Peterson model fitted the equilibrium data better. The EB adsorption capacity was 396.1 mg·g−1. The employment of the BC in the treatment of synthetic effluents, with several dyes and other organic and inorganic compounds, returned a high percentage of removal degree up to 87.7%. Desorption and cyclability tests showed that the biochar can be efficiently regenerated, maintaining an adsorption capacity of 75% after 4 adsorption–desorption cycles. The results of this work pointed out that Norway spruce bark indeed is a promising precursor for producing biochars with very promising properties

Family centered care in emergency departments: perception of brazilian nurses and doctors

Objective: To know the perception of doctors and nurses working in Emergency Care Units (ECU, in Brazil known as "UPA") on Family Centered Care (FCC). Methods: Descriptive study with qualitative approach conducted in two emergency units in Southern Brazil. Participated 32 health professionals, whose speeches were recorded, transcribed and subjected to content analysis. Results: The majority of respondents was unaware of the FCC, however, perceived it as a practice which values the family presence and allows its insertion in care. Many believed to be difficult to implement the FCC in Brazilian UPA, due to professional unpreparedness on the subject, high numbers and turnover of patients, the small physical space and socio-cultural profile of the population served. Conclusion: There is an urge for discussion of this care reference with managers and professionals, so that gradually, and to the extent of its possibilities, care to families in emergency units is expanded

Influência de diferentes protocolos de exercício e da dieta hiperlipídica sobre o sistema endocanabinóide de ratos

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of the hyperlipid diet and the training of swimming and force on the adipose tissue, lipid profi le and endocannabinoid system of exogenous obese rats. For this, we used sixty adult male rats divided into six groups: Sedentary Standard (SP); Sedentary Hyperlipid (SH); Standard Swimming (NP); Hyperlipid Swimming (NH); Standard Force (FP); Hyperlipid Force (FH). After three weeks receiving standard or hyperlipidic diet, the animals started the exercise protocols. The NP and NH groups swam 60 minutes/day, 5 days/week with 5% body weight binding to the body, in 50x30 cm tanks, for 8 weeks. The FP and FH groups performed ladder climbing exercises with weights tied to their tails, once every three days, for 8 weeks. Animals from the SP and SH groups remained sedentary and fed their respective diets. The hyperlipid diet increased body weight gain, relative weight of adipose (epididimal, retroperitoneal, visceral and subcutaneous) and adipocyte (epididimal, retroperitoneal and visceral) areas. It also increased the fat percentage of all adipose tissues and liver, in addition to increasing the gene expression of the CB1 receptor. The trained groups had lower values of adipocyte area, improvement of lipid profi le, lower values in fat percentage of adipose tissues and liver, lower gains of body mass, and lower gene expression of CB1 receptor. Thus our results indicate the potential benefi  ts of strength and swimming training as non-pharma-cological alternatives to control the deleterious effects of the hyperlipidic diet on adipose tissue, lipid profi le, lipid content and control of the imbalance of the endocannabinoid system caused by the hyperlipidic diet.O objetivo do estudo foi investigar os efeitos da dieta hiperlipídica e do treinamento de natação e força sobre o tecido adiposo, perfil lipídico e sistema endocanabinóide de ratos obesos exógenos. Para isso, utilizamos sessenta ratos adultos machos divididos em seis grupos: Sedentário Padrão (SP); Sedentário Hiperlipídico (SH); Natação Padrão (NP); Natação Hiperlipídica (NH); Força Padrão (FP); Força Hiperlipídica (FH). Após três semanas recebendo dieta padrão ou hiperlipídica, os animais iniciaram os protocolos de exercício. Os grupos NP e NH nadaram 60 minutos/dia, 5 dias/semana com carga de 5% do peso corporal atada ao corpo, em tanques de 50x30 cm, durante 8 semanas. Os grupos FP e FH realizaram exercício de subida em escada com pesos atados às suas caudas, uma vez a cada três dias, durante 8 semanas. Os animais dos grupos SP e SH continuaram sedentários e alimentados com suas respectivas dietas. A dieta hiperlipídica aumentou o ganho de massa corporal, peso relativo dos tecidos adiposos (epididimal, retroperitoneal, visceral e subcutâneo) e área de adipócitos (epididimal, retroperitoneal e visceral). Também aumentou o percentual de gordura de todos os tecidos adiposos e fígado, além de aumentar a expressão gênica do receptor CB1. Os grupos treinados apresentaram menores valores de área de adipócitos, melhora do perfil lipídico, menores valores no percentual de gordura dos tecidos adiposos e fígado, menores ganhos de massa corporal, além de menores expressão gênica do receptor CB1. Assim nossos resultados indicam os potenciais benefícios do treinamento força e natação, como alternativas não farmacológicas para controlar os efeitos deletérios da dieta hiperlipídica sobre o tecido adiposo, perfil lipídico, conteúdo lipídico e controle do desequilíbrio do sistema endocanabinóide provocado pela dieta hiperlipídica

The validity and reliability of the CAMDEX-DS for assessing dementia in adults with Down syndrome in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer's disease occurs at a higher prevalence and an earlier age in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) than typically developing individuals. However, diagnosing dementia in individuals with intellectual disability remains a challenge due to pre-existing cognitive deficits. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of Older People with Down's syndrome and Others with Intellectual Disabilities (CAMDEX-DS) for individuals with DS. METHODS: Two psychiatrists, working independently, evaluated 92 adults with DS ≥ 30 years of age. The concurrent validity of the CAMDEX-DS was analyzed in relation to the gold standard of established international criteria. In a subgroup of 20 subjects, the concurrent validity of the CAMDEX-DS was analyzed in relation to an independent objective assessment of cognitive decline over three years. We analyzed the inter-rater reliability of cognitive assessment. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of the CAMDEX-DS compared to the gold standard was 96.7%. CAMDEX-DS-based diagnosis was considered consistent with cognitive decline. The probability of a participant with dementia having cognitive decline was 83%. Inter-rater reliability for the participant assessment was good, with a kappa of > 0.8 for 93% of the CAMDEX-DS items. CONCLUSION: The CAMDEX-DS can be considered the first valid and reliable instrument for evaluating dementia in adults with DS in Brazil. Its use in such individuals could improve clinical practice and research

The validity and reliability of the CAMDEX-DS for assessing dementia in adults with Down syndrome in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer's disease occurs at a higher prevalence and an earlier age in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) than typically developing individuals. However, diagnosing dementia in individuals with intellectual disability remains a challenge due to pre-existing cognitive deficits. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of Older People with Down's syndrome and Others with Intellectual Disabilities (CAMDEX-DS) for individuals with DS. METHODS: Two psychiatrists, working independently, evaluated 92 adults with DS ≥ 30 years of age. The concurrent validity of the CAMDEX-DS was analyzed in relation to the gold standard of established international criteria. In a subgroup of 20 subjects, the concurrent validity of the CAMDEX-DS was analyzed in relation to an independent objective assessment of cognitive decline over three years. We analyzed the inter-rater reliability of cognitive assessment. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of the CAMDEX-DS compared to the gold standard was 96.7%. CAMDEX-DS-based diagnosis was considered consistent with cognitive decline. The probability of a participant with dementia having cognitive decline was 83%. Inter-rater reliability for the participant assessment was good, with a kappa of > 0.8 for 93% of the CAMDEX-DS items. CONCLUSION: The CAMDEX-DS can be considered the first valid and reliable instrument for evaluating dementia in adults with DS in Brazil. Its use in such individuals could improve clinical practice and research