Towards a complex Geosystem: theoretical and operational articulations supported by research cores and networks

O geossistema, como abordagem teórica, metodológica e conceito aplicado é constantemente mencionado no debate geográfico relacionado aos estudos paisagísticos e ambientais, especialmente a partir das vertentes francesa e/ou russo-soviética, com destaque para os artigos de Georges Bertrand e Viktor Sochava. Contudo, apesar de profícuo aos estudos do meio físico, o debate firmado no Brasil apresenta dificuldades em inserir a dinâmica social como parte integrante do geossistema, visto que as questões sociais ainda são abordadas como impacto antrópico. Tal cenário, associado ao maior número pesquisas práticas em detrimento das teóricas, não tem permitido uma contribuição epistemológica mais significativa ao diálogo sociedade ↔ natureza promovido pela Geografia Física integrada. O contexto apresentado suscita questionamentos acerca dos rumos e percalços do uso do tema no Brasil, pois demonstra a necessidade de outra via de entendimento do geossistema, a qual não aborde a sociedade e a natureza como par antagônico. O debate proposto relaciona legados teórico-metodológicos nacionais e estrangeiros, com o intuito de viabilizar o desenvolvimento de uma ressignificação conceitual do geossistema. Nesse sentido, entende-se que uma discussão sobre a possível contribuição da formação de núcleos e redes de pesquisa entre os programas de pós-graduação em Geografia do Brasil pode favorecer esse processo de ressignificação conceitual. A partir de um breve reconhecimento da produção nacional acerca do tema e de uma metodologia concatenadora pautada na teoria da complexidade, promove-se um estudo de cunho dialógico, que repensa os rumos das pesquisas geossistêmicos nacionais, com base na proposta conceitual de um “geossistema complexo”.Geosystems, as a theoretical, methodological and applied concept, are constantly mentioned in the geographic debate related to landscape and environmental studies, notably from the French and/or Russian-Soviet references and with emphasis on publications by Georges Bertrand and Viktor Sochava. However, albeit beneficial for studies of the physical environment, such debate in Brazil faces a struggle in acknowledging social dynamics as an integral part of geosystems, given the fact that social issues are still addressed as anthropic impact. This scenario, coupled with the fact that practical studies outnumber theoretical ones, has not allowed a more significant epistemological contribution to the society-nature dialogue promoted by integrated Physical Geography. This context leads to questions about the directions and hurdles of said theme in Brazil, as it points to the need for another way of understanding the theme, one that does not address society and nature as an antagonistic pair.  The debate proposed here relates national and foreign legacies on the theme with a view to helping develop a conceptual reframing of geosystems. In this regard, the present study understands that a discussion on the possible contribution of research cores and networks formation among geography graduate programs in Brazil can favor this process of conceptual reframing.  From a brief recognition of Brazilian academic publications on the theme and a concatenation method grounded on the theory of complexity, this study embodies a dialogical nature, rethinking the direction of the national geosystemic research, based on the conceptual proposition of a “complex geosystem”

Resgate vegetativo, estabelecimento in vitro e estaquia de Drimys brasiliensis Miers

Drimys brasiliensis Miers, popularly known as cataia, is a tree species native to the Atlantic Forest that has phytochemical, phytotherapeutic, aromatic and economic importance, with wide use in folk medicine. It is considered a species of difficult multiplication via seeds, presenting dormancy due to embryonic immaturity. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the vegetative rescue, in vitro establishment and propagation by way of cuttings of Drimys brasiliensis. For the rescue, the girdling techniques were applied at 30 and 90 cm from the ground, semi-girdling at 30 cm from the ground and pruned branches conditioned vertically and horizontally, being evaluated the shoot emission capacity. With the shoots obtained by vegetative rescue, the explants used for in vitro establishment were made, evaluating different immersion times in sodium hypochlorite 1.0 % (v/v) (0, 10, 15 and 20 minutes). The percentages of total, bacterial, fungal contamination and phenolic oxidation were evaluated. On the cuttings, shoots from vegetative rescue, from the aerial part of an adult individual and from detached branches were tested and placed in a mini-tunnel. The percentage of cuttings survival, percentage of cuttings with callus and percentage of rooting were evaluated. Regarding the vegetative rescue, the technique of pruned branches resulted in the induction of shoots, highlighting the branches conditioned vertically (100%). In the in vitro establishment, the immersion in sodium hypochlorite (1%) for 20 minutes proved to be efficient in the control of fungal contamination, however, no significant differences were observed in relation to the control of bacterial contamination. In cuttings, the use of cuttings from pruned branches or girdling/semi-girdling showed potential for these techniques in the cloning of the species, obtaining results close to 10% rooting. In general, the species has the potential for vegetative propagation, however, adjustments are necessary in the in vitro establishment and cutting protocols.Drimys brasiliensis Miers, conhecida popularmente por cataia, é uma espécie arbórea nativa da Mata Atlântica que apresenta importância fitoquímica, fitoterapêutica, aromática e econômica, com amplo uso na medicina popular. É considerada uma espécie de difícil multiplicação via sementes, apresentando dormência por imaturidade embrionária. Assim, objetivou-se com este estudo analisar o resgate vegetativo, estabelecimento in vitro e a propagação via estaquia de Drimys brasiliensis. Para o resgate, realizou-se a aplicação das técnicas de anelamento a 30 e 90 cm do solo, semianelamento a 30 cm do solo e galhos podados acondicionados vertical e horizontalmente, sendo avaliada a capacidade de emissão de brotações. Com as brotações obtidas pelo resgate vegetativo, foram confeccionados os explantes utilizados para o estabelecimento in vitro, avaliando diferentes tempos de imersão em hipoclorito de sódio 1,0 % (v/v) (0, 10, 15 e 20 minutos). Foram avaliadas as percentagens de contaminação total, bacteriana, fúngica e oxidação fenólica. Na estaquia foram testadas brotações oriundas do resgate vegetativo, da parte aérea de indivíduo adulto e de galhos destacados e acondicionados em mini-túnel. Avaliaram-se a porcentagem de sobrevivência das estacas, porcentagem de estacas com calos e porcentagem de enraizamento. Em relação ao resgate vegetativo, a técnica de galhos podados resultou na indução de brotações, destacando os galhos acondicionados verticalmente (100%). No estabelecimento in vitro, a imersão em hipoclorito de sódio (1%) por 20 minutos se mostrou eficiente no controle da contaminação por fungos, entretanto, não foram observadas diferenças significativas em relação ao controle de contaminação bacteriana. Na estaquia, o uso de estacas provenientes de galhos podados ou anelamento/semianelamento mostrou potencial para estas técnicas na clonagem da espécie, obtendo resultados próximos a 10% de enraizamento. No geral, a espécie apresenta potencial de propagação vegetativa, contudo, são necessários ajustes nos protocolos de estabelecimento in vitro e estaquia.

Peptides ToAP3 and ToAP4 decrease release of inflammatory cytokines through TLR-4 blocking

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small molecules with microbicidal and immunoregulatory activities. In this study we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of peptides ToAP3 and ToAP4, AMPs from the venom of the Brazilian scorpion Tityus obscurus. To test the peptides’ activity, murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) or dendritic cells (BMDCs) were stimulated with peptides plus LPS to analyze their ability to modulate cytokine release as well as phenotypic markers. For antimicrobial analysis, we evaluated the indirect activity against macrophage-internalized Cryptococcus neoformans and direct activity against Mycobacterium massiliense. Our data demonstrate that they were able to reduce TNF-α and IL-1β transcript levels and protein levels for BMDM and BMDC. Furthermore, the reduction of TNF-α secretion, before LPS- inflammatory stimuli, is associated with peptide interaction with TLR-4. ToAP4 increased MHC-II expression in BMDC, while ToAP3 decreased co-stimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86. Although these peptides were able to modulate the production of cytokines and molecules associated with antigen presentation, they did not increase the ability of clearance of C. neoformans by macrophages. In antimicrobial analysis, only ToAP3 showed potent action against bacteria. Altogether, these results demonstrate a promising target for the development of new immunomodulatory and anti-bacterial therapies

The Importance Of Neuronal Plasticity In The Prognosis Of Cases Of Cerebral Ischemia: A Systematic Review

Background: Neuronal plasticity is the capacity that the neurons have to make new connections and enable new ways of transmitting information. Under this context, new methodologies are being addressed in order to measure how important this neuronal capacity is in the process of full recovery of learning in subjects who suffered damage from cerebral ischemia.Methods: A systematic review was performed on the online databases: Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and Scopus, between 1998 and 2014. The MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) descriptors used in this review were: "neuronal plasticity", "brain ischemia" and "learning". We found 164 articles that, when screened, resulted in 46 articles that met the criteria of evidence and were included in this review.Results: There are several ways available in the literature to increase neuronal plasticity to keep the learning process after bad conformations resulting from cerebral ischemia. We highlighted the most elucidated: those promoted by SMe1EC2 antioxidant, which brings therapeutic benefits when neuronal plasticity is impaired; and Atorvastatin, a statin which facilitates recovery of spatial learning. It is further observed that the body has a number of intrinsic devicessuch as the endogenous compensatory mechanisms that contribute to the development of neuronal plasticity when there is brain damage caused by ischemia.Conclusion: The improvement of neuronal plasticity appears in several studies mapped as a new and still little explored possibility of treatment of damages caused by brain processes of oxygen deprivation. Multiple devices, endogenous and exogenous, that promote an increase in neuronal plasticity, are being elucidated in an attempt to promote the full recovery of the learning process, decreased by brain damage from ischemic processes. Thus, it is pointed the necessity of scientific studies that allows to define and maximize the potentials of the neuronal plasticity

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Diretriz da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia sobre Diagnóstico e Tratamento de Pacientes com Cardiomiopatia da Doença de Chagas

This guideline aimed to update the concepts and formulate the standards of conduct and scientific evidence that support them, regarding the diagnosis and treatment of the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease, with special emphasis on the rationality base that supported it.  Chagas disease in the 21st century maintains an epidemiological pattern of endemicity in 21 Latin American countries. Researchers and managers from endemic and non-endemic countries point to the need to adopt comprehensive public health policies to effectively control the interhuman transmission of T. cruzi infection, and to obtain an optimized level of care for already infected individuals, focusing on diagnostic and therapeutic opportunistic opportunities.   Pathogenic and pathophysiological mechanisms of the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease were revisited after in-depth updating and the notion that necrosis and fibrosis are stimulated by tissue parasitic persistence and adverse immune reaction, as fundamental mechanisms, assisted by autonomic and microvascular disorders, was well established. Some of them have recently formed potential targets of therapies.  The natural history of the acute and chronic phases was reviewed, with enhancement for oral transmission, indeterminate form and chronic syndromes. Recent meta-analyses of observational studies have estimated the risk of evolution from acute and indeterminate forms and mortality after chronic cardiomyopathy. Therapeutic approaches applicable to individuals with Indeterminate form of Chagas disease were specifically addressed. All methods to detect structural and/or functional alterations with various cardiac imaging techniques were also reviewed, with recommendations for use in various clinical scenarios. Mortality risk stratification based on the Rassi score, with recent studies of its application, was complemented by methods that detect myocardial fibrosis.  The current methodology for etiological diagnosis and the consequent implications of trypanonomic treatment deserved a comprehensive and in-depth approach. Also the treatment of patients at risk or with heart failure, arrhythmias and thromboembolic events, based on pharmacological and complementary resources, received special attention. Additional chapters supported the conducts applicable to several special contexts, including t. cruzi/HIV co-infection, risk during surgeries, in pregnant women, in the reactivation of infection after heart transplantation, and others.     Finally, two chapters of great social significance, addressing the structuring of specialized services to care for individuals with the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease, and reviewing the concepts of severe heart disease and its medical-labor implications completed this guideline.Esta diretriz teve como objetivo principal atualizar os conceitos e formular as normas de conduta e evidências científicas que as suportam, quanto ao diagnóstico e tratamento da CDC, com especial ênfase na base de racionalidade que a embasou. A DC no século XXI mantém padrão epidemiológico de endemicidade em 21 países da América Latina. Investigadores e gestores de países endêmicos e não endêmicos indigitam a necessidade de se adotarem políticas abrangentes, de saúde pública, para controle eficaz da transmissão inter-humanos da infecção pelo T. cruzi, e obter-se nível otimizado de atendimento aos indivíduos já infectados, com foco em oportunização diagnóstica e terapêutica. Mecanismos patogênicos e fisiopatológicos da CDC foram revisitados após atualização aprofundada e ficou bem consolidada a noção de que necrose e fibrose sejam estimuladas pela persistência parasitária tissular e reação imune adversa, como mecanismos fundamentais, coadjuvados por distúrbios autonômicos e microvasculares. Alguns deles recentemente constituíram alvos potenciais de terapêuticas. A história natural das fases aguda e crônica foi revista, com realce para a transmissão oral, a forma indeterminada e as síndromes crônicas. Metanálises recentes de estudos observacionais estimaram o risco de evolução a partir das formas aguda e indeterminada e de mortalidade após instalação da cardiomiopatia crônica. Condutas terapêuticas aplicáveis aos indivíduos com a FIDC foram abordadas especificamente. Todos os métodos para detectar alterações estruturais e/ou funcionais com variadas técnicas de imageamento cardíaco também foram revisados, com recomendações de uso nos vários cenários clínicos. Estratificação de risco de mortalidade fundamentada no escore de Rassi, com estudos recentes de sua aplicação, foi complementada por métodos que detectam fibrose miocárdica. A metodologia atual para diagnóstico etiológico e as consequentes implicações do tratamento tripanossomicida mereceram enfoque abrangente e aprofundado. Também o tratamento de pacientes em risco ou com insuficiência cardíaca, arritmias e eventos tromboembólicos, baseado em recursos farmacológicos e complementares, recebeu especial atenção. Capítulos suplementares subsidiaram as condutas aplicáveis a diversos contextos especiais, entre eles o da co-infecção por T. cruzi/HIV, risco durante cirurgias, em grávidas, na reativação da infecção após transplante cardíacos, e outros.    Por fim, dois capítulos de grande significado social, abordando a estruturação de serviços especializados para atendimento aos indivíduos com a CDC, e revisando os conceitos de cardiopatia grave e suas implicações médico-trabalhistas completaram esta diretriz.&nbsp

Protection of the Flora and plant communities in Portugal

Tavares Carlos das Neves. Protection of the Flora and plant communities in Portugal. In: La Terre et La Vie. Supplément, 1959. Animaux et végétaux rares de la région méditerranéenne. pp. 86-94