Relation among intensity, duration and frequency of rainfall in Mococa, State of São Paulo, Brazil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma análise estatística das chuvas ocorridas em Mococa, Estado de São Paulo, de 1970 a 1990, incluindo a relação entre intensidade, duração e freqüência. Os dados analisados foram registrados com pluviógrafo instalado na estação experimental do Instituto Agronômico, em Mococa. Foram estudados os seguintes intervalos de duração: 5, 10, 15, 25, 30, 45, 60, 90 e 120 minutos. Para o estudo da freqüência de distribuição das chuvas intensas nos tempos de recorrência de 5, 10, 25, 50 e 100 anos, utilizou-se o método de Chow-Gumbel. Aplicou-se também o método dos mínimos quadrados para obter equação da mesma relação. Os resultados finais mostraram boa correlação entre os dois métodos, assim como os valores de intensidade máxima de chuva obtidos em cada duração, resultando nos coeficientes de regressão linear 0,9990 e 0,9920, respectivamente. Os resultados mostraram que a equação pode ser utilizada nos casos em que as intensidades máximas de chuva são necessárias.The objective of this work was to perform a statistical analysis of rainfall data gathered in Mococa, State of São Paulo, from 1970 to 1990, including the relationship between intensity, duration and frequency. The studied data were registered with a rain gauge located at the Experimental Station of the Instituto Agronômico, in Mococa, São Paulo State, Brazil. The relationship were studied for the following duration intervals: 5, 10, 15, 25, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 minutes. The Chow-Gumbel method was applied for the study of frequency distribution of intense precipitation for recurrency times of 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 years. Also, the method of minimum squares was applied to obtain an equation for the same relationship. Final results showed good correlation between both methods, as well as with the maximum rainfall values obtained for each duration, resulting in linear regression coefficients of 0.9990 and 0.9920, respectively. Results indicated that the equation can be utilized for cases where values of maximum rainfall intensities are needed

Dietary whey protein lessens several risk factors for metabolic diseases: a review

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) have grown in prevalence around the world, and recently, related diseases have been considered epidemic. Given the high cost of treatment of obesity/DM-associated diseases, strategies such as dietary manipulation have been widely studied; among them, the whey protein diet has reached popularity because it has been suggested as a strategy for the prevention and treatment of obesity and DM in both humans and animals. Among its main actions, the following activities stand out: reduction of serum glucose in healthy individuals, impaired glucose tolerance in DM and obese patients; reduction in body weight; maintenance of muscle mass; increases in the release of anorectic hormones such as cholecystokinin, leptin, and glucagon like-peptide 1 (GLP-1); and a decrease in the orexigenic hormone ghrelin. Furthermore, studies have shown that whey protein can also lead to reductions in blood pressure, inflammation, and oxidative stress.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Univ Estadual Campinas UNICAMP, Dept Clin Med, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Dept Fisiol & Biofis, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Extremo Catarinense, Lab Bioquim & Fisiol Exercicio, Criciuma, SC, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista UNESP, Dept Patol, Botucatu, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Fisiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psicobiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Fisiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psicobiol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Method development for 234U and 230Th determination and application to fossil deep-water coral and authigenic carbonate dating from the Campos Basin - Brazil

A 234U and 230Th determination method based on an extraction chromatographic separation followed by ICP-MS with quadrupole (ICP-QMS) was developed. For authigenic carbonates, a second separation step with ion exchange chromatography in a HNO3 solution was added. These methods were applied to seven fossil deep-water coral and two authigenic carbonate samples from the continental slope of the Campos Basin - Brazil. The ages determined for the fossil corals samples from the same sediment core ranged from 9 to 202 ky with a 1% uncertainty, consistent with the values determined by 14C dating and with those determined by 230Th/234U using flow injection coupled to an ICP-QMS. One of the authigenic carbonates analyzed presented an age of approximately 80 ky. The other sample exhibited a 230Th/234U activity ratio close to equilibrium and out of the application range of the method

Sleep deprivation affects inflammatory marker expression in adipose tissue

<p>Abstract</p> <p/> <p>Sleep deprivation has been shown to increase inflammatory markers in rat sera and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Inflammation is a condition associated with pathologies such as obesity, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. We investigated changes in the pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines in different depots of white adipose tissue in rats. We also assessed lipid profiles and serum levels of corticosterone, leptin, and adiponectin after 96 hours of sleep deprivation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study consisted of two groups: a control (C) group and a paradoxical sleep deprivation by 96 h (PSD) group. Ten rats were randomly assigned to either the control group (C) or the PSD. Mesenteric (MEAT) and retroperitoneal (RPAT) adipose tissue, liver and serum were collected following completion of the PSD protocol. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6, interleukin (IL)-10 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were analysed in MEAT and RPAT, and leptin, adiponectin, glucose, corticosterone and lipid profile levels were analysed in serum.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>IL-6 levels were elevated in RPAT but remained unchanged in MEAT after PSD. IL-10 protein concentration was not altered in either depot, and TNF-α levels decreased in MEAT. Glucose, triglycerides (TG), VLDL and leptin decreased in serum after 96 hours of PSD; adiponectin was not altered and corticosterone was increased.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>PSD decreased fat mass and may modulate the cytokine content in different depots of adipose tissue. The inflammatory response was diminished in both depots of adipose tissue, with increased IL-6 levels in RPAT and decreased TNF-α protein concentrations in MEAT and increased levels of corticosterone in serum.</p

DNA Protection against Oxidative Damage Using the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Garcinia mangostana

Garcinia mangostana, popularly known as “mangosteen fruit,” originates from Southeast Asia and came to Brazil about 80 years ago where it mainly grows in the states of Pará and Bahia. Although mangosteen or its extracts have been used for ages in Asian folk medicine, data on its potential genotoxicity is missing. We, therefore, evaluated genotoxicity/mutagenicity of hydroethanolic mangosteen extract [HEGM, 10 to 640 μg/mL] in established test assays (Comet assay, micronucleus test, and Salmonella/microsome test). In the Comet assay, HEGM-exposed human leukocytes showed no DNA damage. No significant HEGM-induced mutation in TA98 and TA100 strains of Salmonella typhimurium (with or without metabolic activation) was observed and HEGM-exposed human lymphocytes had no increase of micronuclei. However, HEGM suggested exposure concentration-dependent antigenotoxic potential in leukocytes and antioxidant potential in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. HEGM preloading effectively protected against H2O2-induced DNA damage in leukocytes (Comet assay). Preloading of yeast with HEGM for up to 4 h significantly protected the cells from lethality of chronic H2O2-exposure, as expressed in better survival. Absence of genotoxicity and demonstration of an antigenotoxic and antioxidant potential suggest that HEGM or some substances contained in it may hold promise for pharmaceutical or nutraceutical application

Ecological adaptation of wild peach palm, its in situ conservation and deforestation-mediated extinction in Southern Brazilian Amazonia

Background: The Arc of Fire across southern Amazonia seasonally attracts worldwide attention as forests are cut and burned for agricultural expansion. These forests contain numerous wild relatives of native South American crops, such as peach palm. Methodology/Principal Findings: Our prospecting expeditions examined critical areas for wild peach palm in the Arc of Fire in Mato Grosso, Pará, Maranhão and Tocantins, as well as areas not previously examined in Amazonas and Amapá states. Recent digitization of the RADAM Brasil project permitted comparison among RADAM's parataxonomists' observations, previous botanical collections and our prospecting. Mapping on soils and vegetation types enabled us to hypothesize a set of ecological preferences. Wild peach palm is best adapted to Ultisols (Acrisols) in open forests across the Arc of Fire and westward into the more humid western Amazonia. Populations are generally small (fewer than 10 plants) on slopes above watercourses. In northern Mato Grosso and southern Pará soybean fields and pastures now occupy numerous areas where RADAM identified wild peach palm. The controversial BR-163 Highway is already eroding wild peach palm as deforestation expands. Conclusions/Significance: Many of these populations are now isolated by increasing forest fragmentation, which will lead to decreased reproduction via inbreeding depression and eventual extinction even without complete deforestation. Federal conservation areas are less numerous in the Arc of Fire than in other parts of Brazilian Amazonia, although there are indigenous lands; these conservation areas contain viable populations of wild peach palm and require better protection than they are currently receiving. Ex situ conservation of these populations is not viable given the relative lack of importance of domesticated peach palm and the difficulty of maintaining even economically interesting genetic resources. © 2009 Clement et al

Studies on benthic communities of rocky shores on the Brazilian coast and climate change monitoring: status of knowledge and challenges

Um grupo de trabalho de costões rochosos (GT) integrado à ReBentos (Rede de Monitoramento de Habitats Bentônicos Costeiros), e vinculado à Sub-Rede Zonas Costeiras da Rede Clima (MCT) e ao Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia para Mudanças Climáticas (INCT-MC), foi criado para estudar a vulnerabilidade das comunidades bentônicas dos costões rochosos e os efeitos das alterações ambientais sobre a respectiva biota. A presente síntese foi um dos produtos desse GT e teve como objetivo principal levantar e revisar o conhecimento existente sobre as comunidades bentônicas de costões rochosos na costa brasileira, a biodiversidade associada, e verificar as potencialidades de estudos futuros para uma previsão/mensuração mais acurada dos efeitos das mudanças climáticas sobre os ambientes e sua biota.A rocky shores working group (WG) integrated with ReBentos (Monitoring Network for Coastal Benthic Habitats; Rede de Monitoramento de Habitats Bentônicos Costeiros) was created and linked to the Coastal Zones Sub Network of the Climate Network (MCT; Sub-Rede Zonas Costeiras da Rede Clima) and to the National Institute of Science and Technology for Climate Change (INCT-MC; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia para Mudanças Climáticas), to study the vulnerability of benthic communities on rocky shores and the effects of environmental changes on biomes in such environments along the Brazilian coast. The synthesis presented here was one of the products of this GT, and aimed to collect and review existing knowledge on benthic communities present on rocky shores of the Brazilian coast, their associated biodiversity, and the potential of future studies to accurately predict/measure the effects of climate change on such environments and their biota

Jejunal Diverticular Perforation due to Enterolith

Jejunal diverticulosis is a rare entity with variable clinical and anatomical presentations. Although there is no consensus on the management of asymptomatic jejunal diverticular disease, some complications are potentially life-threatening and require early surgical treatment. Small bowel perforation secondary to jejunal diverticulitis by enteroliths is rare. The aim of this study was to report a case of small intestinal perforation caused by a large jejunal enterolith. An 86-year-old woman was admitted with signs of diffuse peritonitis. After initial fluid recovery the patient underwent emergency laparotomy. The surgery showed that she had small bowel diverticular disease, mainly localized in the proximal jejunum. The peritonitis was due to intestinal perforation caused by an enterolith 12 cm in length, localized inside one of these diverticula. The intestinal segment containing the perforated diverticulum with the enterolith was removed and an end-to-end anastomosis was done to reconstruct the intestinal transit. The patient recovered well and was discharged from hospital on the 5th postoperative day. There were no signs of abdominal pain 1 year after the surgical procedure. Although jejunal diverticular disease with its complications, such as formation of enteroliths, is difficult to suspect in patients with peritonitis, it should be considered as a possible source of abdominal infection in the elderly patient when more common diagnoses have been excluded