Detection of newborn infants at risk for congenitat toxoplasmosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Within the third to fifth day after birth, btood samples for indirect immunefluorescence tests (rF) for toxoplasmosis were taken from l0B2 neonates. B?? (36.50/o) rF.rgG and rF-rgM seronegative cases and 65s (68.b%) rF-rgG seropositive cases reacting from 1:16 to 1:1024 were found. rn 1b such cases e.4%), sera were reactive in both the IgG and IgM classes, 12 cases being IF-IgM : 1:16, and B cases IF-I9M - L:64. These cases were considered. at potential risks for congenital infection þy T. gondii. of these 15 cases, a morphological study of 18 placentas showed data suggestive of prolonged fetal injuries in 11 such cases. All these 13 placentas showed signs of hematogenous inflammatory processes. Four placentas revealed structures with morphological characteristics similar to cysts of Toxo. plasma gondii at the microscopical examination. Of these four neonates where the parasite'was found in the placentas, one infant was underweight and showed discrete microcephaly. Two children had hepatosplenomegaþ, one of them with unilateral retinochoroiditis. The fourth case was clinicalþ normal. In the other 11 cases, selected due to possible risk of congenital infection, one infant was pre. mature, eight were normal, and two showed symptomatolog¡r non-suggestive of congenital toxoplasmosis

Reflexões sobre a policy making e avaliação em política pública

This article is a reflection on the policy making and evaluation processes in Public Policy in the light of the work written by Howlett et al, and the understanding given by the authors researched by them on the cycles and subsystems that comprise the processes of Public Policy. To understand about the decision-making of these processes, we studied the author Lindblom, to figure out who the political actors are and how they influence the government’s decision-making. About the Public Policy theory and its typologies, it was necessary to read TJ Lowi and his publication in 1964. Finally, we dealt on how to evaluate a Public Policy with the authors Maria Cecilia Barreira and Maria do Carmo Carvalho regarding the perspectives of evaluation of policies and social programs, Elizabeth Rico about the evaluation processes and Klauss Frey with regard to the conceptual reflections, assessments and their implication for the Brazilian political situation.Este artículo es una reflexión sobre los procedimientos de formulación de políticas y evaluación de las políticas públicas a la luz de la obra escrita por Howlett et al, y la comprensión de los datos, los autores realizaron búsquedas para ellos en los ciclos y los subsistemas que componen los procesos política pública. Para entender acerca de la toma de decisiones de estos procesos se estudió Lindblom autor, para entender quiénes son los actores políticos y cómo estos influyen en la toma de decisiones del gobierno. En la teoría de la Política Pública y sus tipologías, leyendo TJ Lowi era necesaria y su publicación en 1964. Por último, nos ocupamos de formas de evaluar una política pública de los autores, María Cecilia Barreira y Maria do Carmo en Carvalho respetar los puntos de vista de la evaluación de políticas y programas sociales. Elizabeth Rico, en relación con la evaluación y Klauss Frey procesos en las reflexiones conceptuales, las evaluaciones y sus implicaciones para la situación política brasileña.O presente artigo faz uma reflexão sobre a policymaking e os processos de avaliação em Política Pública sob a luz dos trabalhos escritos por Howlett et al, e os entendimentos dados, pelos autores pesquisados por eles, sobre os ciclos e subsistemas que compreendem os processos de Política Pública. Para entender sobre a tomada de decisão desses processos, foi estudado o autor Lindblom, para compreendermos quem são os atores políticos e como estes influenciam nas tomadas de decisões governamentais. Sobre a teoria da Política Pública e suas tipologias, fez necessária a leitura de T.J. Lowi e sua publicação de 1964. Para finalizar, tratamos sobre as formas de avaliação de uma Política Pública com os autores, Maria Cecília Barreira e Maria do Carmo Carvalho, no que tange as perspectivas da avaliação de políticas e programas sociais. Elizabeth Rico, sobre os processos avaliativos e Klauss Frey sobre as reflexões conceituais, dessas avaliações e suas implicações para a situação política brasileira

The tailings dam failure of 5 November 2015 in SE Brazil and its preceding seismic sequence

The collapse of a mine tailings dam and subsequent flood in SE Brazil on 5 November 2015 was preceded by a small-magnitude seismic sequence. In this report, we explore the spatiotemporal associations between the seismic events and the accident and discuss their possible connection. We also analyze the signals generated by the turbulent mudflow, as recorded by the Brazilian Seismographic Network (RSBR). In light of our observations, we propose as possible contributing factor for the dam collapse either ground shaking and/or soil liquefaction triggered by the earthquakes. The possibility of such a small-magnitude earthquake contributing to the collapse of a tailings dam raises important concerns regarding safety and related legislation of dams in Brazil and the world. ©2016. American Geophysical Union.H.A.D. and M.A. acknowledge support from Sao Paulo Research Foundation FAPESP grant 2014/09455-3 and CNPq grant 30.6547/2013-9.Peer reviewe

Gestión ambiental de los sistemas agroforestales en el Valle de Paraíba del Sur, Estado de Sao Paulo, Brasil.

En el año de 2011 se analizó el desempeño ambiental de la finca Coruputuba, en Pindamonhangaba, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. La metodología utilizada fué el sistema APOIA-NovoRural, con 62 indicadores de sustentabilidad en el contexto para el análisis de la implementación de los sistemas agroforestales con Calophyllum braziliense y Acacia mangium. Antes de la implementación de los sistemas agroforestales, la finca estuvo plantada con arroz en el valle y eucalipto en las terrazas. Con el proyecto se logró sustituir 10 ha en el valle y 4 ha de terraza con Calophyllum, especie que ofrece una madera fina. Otra especie que se introdujo en la terraza fue la acacia (50 ha), sustituta del eucalipto. La finca aporta un valor agregado a la gestión dirigida a procesos de recuperación de la viabilidad económica y ambiental mediante el rescate de la vocación agrícola. Se fue reintroducido la Manihot esculenta, Maranta arundinaceae, Colocasia esculenta, Euterpe edulis, Musa sp., Cajanus cajan, y especies forestales en asociación con Calophyllum: Inga sp., Schinnus terebinthifolius, Alchornea triplinervia, Sesbania sp., repartidas entre 159 ha productivas y 50 ha para hábitats naturales de conservación. Las variables como efecto de los sistemas agroforestales estuvieron repartidas en suelos, caracteristicas productivas, apropiación y mejoramiento de las condicones de los trabajadores, aspectos ambientales y socioeconónicos que en conjunto arrojaron indices de desempeño para el sistema APOIA-NovoRural. Se encontraron contribuciones de los sistemas agroforestales para la sustentabilidad, destacándose la calidad del agua con índice (0,94) comparado con (0,85) obtenido en los sedimentos que drenan del cultivo de arroz; valores económicos (0,85) y de ecología del paisaje (0,77). El índice integrado medio, llegó a 0,79 en una escala de 0 a 10, con referencia de 0,70. La Finca Coruputuba estuvo entre los cinco valores más altos de desempeño ambiental de un universo de 178 casos

Sampling redesign of soil penetration resistance in spatial t-Student models

 Aim of study: To reduce the sample size in an agricultural area of 167.35 hectares, cultivated with soybean, to analyze the spatial dependence of soil penetration resistance (SPR) with outliers.Area of study: Cascavel, BrazilMaterial and methods: The reduction of sample size was made by the univariate effective sample size ( ) methodology, assuming that the t-Student model represents the probability distribution of SPR.Main results: The radius and the intensity of spatial dependence have an inverse relationship with the estimated value of the . For the depths of SPR with spatial dependence, the highest estimated value of the  reduced the sample size by 40%. From the new sample size, the sampling redesign was performed. The accuracy indexes showed differences between the thematic maps with the original and reduced sampling designs. However, the lowest values of the standard error in the parameters of the spatial dependence structure evidenced that the new sampling design was appropriate. Besides, models of semivariance function were efficiently estimated, which allowed identifying the existence of spatial dependence in all depth of SPR.Research highlights: The sample size was reduced by 40%, allowing for lesser financial investments with data collection and laboratory analysis of soil samples in the next mappings in the agricultural area. The spatial t-Student model was able to reduce the influence of outliers in the spatial dependence structure

Mutations In Sry And Wt1 Genes Required For Gonadal Development Are Not Responsible For Xy Partial Gonadal Dysgenesis.

The WT1 transcription factor regulates SRY expression during the initial steps of the sex determination process in humans, activating a gene cascade leading to testis differentiation. In addition to causing Wilms' tumor, mutations in WT1 are often responsible for urogenital defects in men, while SRY mutations are mainly related to 46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis. In order to evaluate their role in abnormal testicular organogenesis, we screened for SRY and WT1 gene mutations in 10 children with XY partial gonadal dysgenesis, 2 of whom with a history of Wilms' tumor. The open reading frame and 360 bp of the 5' flanking sequence of the SRY gene, and the ten exons and intron boundaries of the WT1 gene were amplified by PCR of genomic DNA. Single-strand conformation polymorphism was initially used for WT1 mutation screening. Since shifts in fragment migration were only observed for intron/exon 4, the ten WT1 exons from all patients were sequenced manually. No mutations were detected in the SRY 5' untranslated region or within SRY open-reading frame sequences. WT1 sequencing revealed one missense mutation (D396N) in the ninth exon of a patient who also had Wilms' tumor. In addition, two silent point mutations were found in the first exon including one described here for the first time. Some non-coding sequence variations were detected, representing one new (IVS4+85A>G) and two already described (-7ATG T>G, IVS9-49 T>C) single nucleotide polymorphisms. Therefore, mutations in two major genes required for gonadal development, SRY and WT1, are not responsible for XY partial gonadal dysgenesis.3817-2

Mantle dynamics of the Andean Subduction Zone from continent-scale teleseismic S-wave tomography

The Andean Subduction Zone is one of the longest continuous subduction zones on Earth. The relative simplicity of the two-plate system has makes it an ideal natural laboratory to study the dynamics in subduction zones. We measure teleseismic S and SKS traveltime residuals at >1000 seismic stations that have been deployed across South America over the last 30 yr to produce a finite-frequency teleseismic S-wave tomography model of the mantle beneath the Andean Subduction Zone related to the Nazca Plate, spanning from ~5°N to 45°S and from depths of ~130 to 1200 km. Within our model, the subducted Nazca slab is imaged as a fast velocity seismic anomaly. The geometry and amplitude of the Nazca slab anomaly varies along the margin while the slab anomaly continues into the lower mantle along the entirety of the subduction margin. Beneath northern Brazil, the Nazca slab appears to stagnate at ~1000 km depth and extend eastward subhorizontally for >2000 km. South of 25°S the slab anomaly in the lower mantle extends offshore of eastern Argentina, hence we do not image if a similar stagnation occurs. We image several distinct features surrounding the slab including two vertically oriented slow seismic velocity anomalies: one beneath the Peruvian flat slab and the other beneath the Paraná Basin of Brazil. The presence of the latter anomaly directly adjacent to the stagnant Nazca slab suggests that the plume, known as the Paraná Plume, may be a focused upwelling formed in response to slab stagnation in the lower mantle. Additionally, we image a high amplitude fast seismic velocity anomaly beneath the Chile trench at the latitude of the Sierras Pampeanas which extends from ~400 to ~1000 km depth. This anomaly may be the remnants of an older, detached slab, however its relationship with the Nazca-South America subduction zone remains enigmatic.Fil: Rodríguez, Emily E.. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Portner, Daniel Evan. No especifíca;Fil: Beck, Susan L.. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Rocha, Marcelo P.. Universidade do Brasília; BrasilFil: Bianchi, Marcelo B.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Assumpção, Marcelo. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Ruiz, Mario. Escuela Politécnica Nacional; EcuadorFil: Alvarado, Patricia Monica. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Geofísica y Astronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; ArgentinaFil: Condori, Cristobal. Universidade do Brasília; BrasilFil: Lynner, Colton. University Of Delaware; Estados Unido

Isolation of micropropagated strawberry endophytic bacteria and assessment of their potential for plant growth promotion.

Twenty endophytic bacteria were isolated from the meristematic tissues of three varieties of strawberry cultivated in vitro, and further identified, by FAME profile, into the genera Bacillus and Sphingopyxis. The strains were also characterized according to indole acetic acid production, phosphate solubilization and potential for plant growth promotion. Results showed that 15 strains produced high levels of IAA and all 20 showed potential for solubilizing inorganic phosphate. Plant growth promotion evaluated under greenhouse conditions revealed the ability of the strains to enhance the root number, length and dry weight and also the leaf number, petiole length and dry weight of the aerial portion. Seven Bacillus spp. strains promoted root development and one strain of Sphingopyxis sp. promoted the development of plant shoots. The plant growth promotion showed to be correlated to IAA production and phosphate solubilization. The data also suggested that bacterial effects could potentially be harnessed to promote plant growth during seedling acclimatization in strawberr

O processo decisório em Charles Edward Lindblom e a vontade geral em Jean-Jacques Rousseau: reflexões acerca da participação política e da necessidade de educação para essa participação

In The Policy-Making Process, Charles Edward Lindblom reflects upon such process, highlighting the relevance of the political participation of the general citizens. Nevertheless, the author warns the reader about the necessity of the existence of a kind of education that commits to the formation of men and women for social participation since, only because of this kind of education, such participation will be carried out. Likewise, in The Social Contract, Jean-Jacques Rousseau presents considerations about the importance of a people’s participation in the elaboration process of such contract, which shall happen through “general will”. Nonetheless, such participation entails a kind of education towards the formation of men as individuals and citizens in order for them to participate actively in society, as he exposes in his pedagogical treatise – Emile or On Education. This paper aims to foreground that, in both reflections, the authors discuss about the relevance of the political participation of the citizens, which, according to their point of view, shall fully happen only through the existence of a kind of education that values formation for participation.En el libro El Proceso de Decisión de Política, Charles Edward Lindblom teje reflexiones sobre este proceso, haciendo hincapié en la importancia de la participación política de los ciudadanos en general. Sin embargo, el autor advierte la necesidad de la existencia de una educación que se ha comprometido a la formación de hombres y mujeres para la participación social, porque sólo de la enseñanza recibida dicha participación puede ser eficaz. Del mismo modo, en la obra El contrato social, Jean-Jacques Rousseau presenta consideraciones acerca de la importancia de la participación popular en la elaboración del proceso de contratación, que se llevará a cabo a través de la "voluntad general". Pero esta participación implica la creación de una educación para la formación del hombre como individuo y ciudadano para que participe activamente en la sociedad, tal como se expone en su tratado pedagógico - Emilio o la educación. El propósito de este trabajo es mostrar que en estas dos reflexiones autores discuten esta importancia de la participación política de los ciudadanos, que, en su opinión, sólo se logrará por la existencia de una educación que valore la formación para la participación.Na obra O Processo de Decisão Política, Charles Edward Lindblom tece reflexões acerca desse processo, destacando a relevância da participação política dos cidadãos em geral. Entretanto, esse autor alerta a necessidade da existência de uma educação que tenha como compromisso a formação de homens e mulheres para a participação social, pois somente a partir dessa educação tal participação poderá se efetivar. Do mesmo modo, na obra O Contrato Social, Jean-Jacques Rousseau apresenta considerações acerca da importância da participação do povo no processo de elaboração desse contrato, a qual ocorrerá por intermédio da “vontade geral”. Mas essa participação implica a criação de uma educação voltada para a formação do homem como indivíduo e cidadão, para que este participe de forma ativa da sociedade, tal como expõe em seu tratado pedagógico – Emílio ou Da Educação. O intuito desse trabalho é evidenciar que em ambas as reflexões esses autores discutem sobre essa relevância da participação política dos cidadãos, a qual, segundo sua visão, será concretizada apenas pela existência de uma educação que valorize a formação para a participação