ARBORIZAÇÃO URBANA DO MUNICÍPIO DE ITAPIRA – SP: PERSPECTIVAS PARA EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL E SUA INFLUÊNCIA NO CONFORTO TÉRMICO

The growth and urbanization of cities has prompted serious damage to the environmental condition as well as considerable economic, social and quality of life losses. The temperature rise is a climate change favored by the built environment due to differences between the thermal characteristics of building materials and vegetation differences. The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in temperature and relative humidity at three sites of central Itapira, SP, with similar features area, highlighting the difference existing woody vegetation, in order to support the discussion of urban forestry and environmental education as a mitigation measure the temperature increase and the favoring of thermal comfort. Data were collected in a well-wooded park, a plaza with trees isolated units and an area devoid of vegetation. The results showed that the urban trees influence the values of temperature and relative humidity, indicating a need for trees in urban areas, as a condition of thermal comfort. Is well established the role played by trees in reducing the heat generated in the urban environment, providing a favorable microclimate conditions with thermal comfort, reducing direct sunlight, expansion rates of evapotranspiration and reduced wind speeds, thus playing na important role in improving environmental conditions in cities and quality of life of its in habitants.O crescimento e urbanização das cidades tem incitado sérios danos à condição ambiental, bem como consideráveis prejuízos econômicos, sociais e de qualidade de vida das pessoas. O aumento da temperatura é uma das alterações climáticas favorecida pelo ambiente construído devido às diferenças existentes entre as características térmicas dos materiais de construção e da vegetação.  O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar as diferenças de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar em três locais da região central do município de Itapira-SP, com características semelhantes de área, destacando-se pela diferença da vegetação arbórea existente, de modo a subsidiar a discussão da arborização urbana e educação ambiental como medida mitigadora do aumento da temperatura e o favorecimento do conforto térmico. Os dados foram coletados em um parque bem arborizado, uma praça com unidades arbóreas isoladas e em uma área desprovida de vegetação. Os resultados mostraram que a arborização influencia os valores de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar, indicando uma necessidade de arborização na área urbana, como condicionante de conforto térmico. Está muito bem estabelecida a função exercida pela arborização na redução do calor gerado no ambiente urbano, proporcionando um microclima com condições de conforto térmico favorável, redução da insolação direta, ampliação das taxas de evapotranspiração e redução da velocidade dos ventos, desempenhando assim, um importante papel na melhoria das condições ambientais das cidades e qualidade de vida de seus habitantes

Implants of polyanionic collagen matrix in bone defects of ovariectomized rats

In recent years, there has been a great interest in the development of biomaterials that could be used in the repair of bone defects. Collagen matrix (CM) has the advantage that it can be modified chemically to improve its mechanical properties. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of three-dimensional membranes of native or anionic (submitted to alkaline treatment for 48 or 96 h) collagen matrix on the consolidation of osteoporosis bone fractures resulting from the gonadal hormone alterations caused by ovariectomy in rats subjected to hormone replacement therapy. The animals received the implants 4 months after ovariectomy and were sacrificed 8 weeks after implantation of the membranes into 4-mm wide bone defects created in the distal third of the femur with a surgical bur. Macroscopic analysis revealed the absence of pathological alterations in the implanted areas, suggesting that the material was biocompatible. Microscopic analysis showed a lower amount of bone ingrowth in the areas receiving the native membrane compared to the bone defects filled with the anionic membranes. In ovariectomized animals receiving anionic membranes, a delay in bone regeneration was observed mainly in animals not subjected to hormone replacement therapy. We conclude that anionic membranes treated with alkaline solution for 48 and 96 h presented better results in terms of bone ingrowth1913411348sem informaçãosem informaçã

Characterization of the physical and mechanical properties of femoral bone defects filled with polyanionic collagen scaffolds in ovariectomized rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of scaffolds native or polyanionic collagen matrix (submitted to alkaline treatment for 48 or 96 hours, PCM48 or PCM96, respectively) on the repair of osteoporosis bone fractures resulting from the gonadal hormone alterations caused by ovariectomy in rats undergoing hormone replacement therapy. The physical and mechanical characteristics of bone were analyzed. Macroscopic analysis revealed the absence of pathological alterations in the implanted areas. The percent mineral matter and bone mineral density of the femurs were lower in ovariectomized rats. The mechanical strength of newly formed bone was greater in the area receiving the PCM96 scaffolds compared to the area implanted with the native scaffolds. The PCM96 scaffold is the best choice for bone repair in animals with hormone deficiency since it promotes faster bone growth and good mechanical strength.23924

Fibrous PCL/PLLA Scaffolds Obtained by Rotary Jet Spinning and Electrospinning

Rotary jet spinning (RJS) and electrospinning are techniques to obtain fibrous scaffolds. RJS is a simple method, which fabricates three-dimensional fibers by exploiting a high-speed rotating nozzle, creating a polymer jet which stretches until solidification, and does not require high voltage. In opposite, electrospinning technique needs the presence of an external electric field to create fiber from the polymeric jet solution. This article investigates both processes using two different biocompatible polymers: Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and Poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL). Samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimeter, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Morphological observations showed the efficiency of both techniques in obtaining nanofibers. Thermal analyses of data indicate immiscible property of different blends and the total solvent evaporation. In vitro cytocompatibility test showed that RJS and electrospinning samples exhibited good cytocompatibility. Based on these results, it may be concluded that the fibers obtained with both technologies are non-cytotoxicity and with good biocompatibility, and might be suitable for applications as scaffold for cell growth.CAPESFAPESPBiofabris-INCTBiomaterials Laboratory PUC/SP SorocabaUniv Estadual Campinas, Fac Engn Mecan, Campinas, SP, BrazilPontificia Univ Catolica, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, Santo Andre, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Mar, Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Mar, Santos, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2013/19372-0Web of Scienc

Genome of the Avirulent Human-Infective Trypanosome—Trypanosoma rangeli

Background: Trypanosoma rangeli is a hemoflagellate protozoan parasite infecting humans and other wild and domestic mammals across Central and South America. It does not cause human disease, but it can be mistaken for the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. We have sequenced the T. rangeli genome to provide new tools for elucidating the distinct and intriguing biology of this species and the key pathways related to interaction with its arthropod and mammalian hosts.  Methodology/Principal Findings: The T. rangeli haploid genome is ,24 Mb in length, and is the smallest and least repetitive trypanosomatid genome sequenced thus far. This parasite genome has shorter subtelomeric sequences compared to those of T. cruzi and T. brucei; displays intraspecific karyotype variability and lacks minichromosomes. Of the predicted 7,613 protein coding sequences, functional annotations could be determined for 2,415, while 5,043 are hypothetical proteins, some with evidence of protein expression. 7,101 genes (93%) are shared with other trypanosomatids that infect humans. An ortholog of the dcl2 gene involved in the T. brucei RNAi pathway was found in T. rangeli, but the RNAi machinery is non-functional since the other genes in this pathway are pseudogenized. T. rangeli is highly susceptible to oxidative stress, a phenotype that may be explained by a smaller number of anti-oxidant defense enzymes and heatshock proteins.  Conclusions/Significance: Phylogenetic comparison of nuclear and mitochondrial genes indicates that T. rangeli and T. cruzi are equidistant from T. brucei. In addition to revealing new aspects of trypanosome co-evolution within the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, comparative genomic analysis with pathogenic trypanosomatids provides valuable new information that can be further explored with the aim of developing better diagnostic tools and/or therapeutic targets