O Carrinho da Ciência: oportunidades de ensino e de interações entre os saberes

This work concerns the studies carried out by a group of undergraduate Chemistry students, involving practical classes performed using a mobile laboratory, mounted on a supermarket cart. This was undertaken at the Aurelino Leal state school in Itacare (Bahia), as an extension activity of the Tutorial Education Program for the Degree in Chemistry, at the Federal University of Sao Carlos (Araras campus). Practical activities were held in classrooms, using a methodology based on interactive scientific questions, where the students achieved results from the discussions and debates proposed. The undergraduates, as teachers, were mediators in the teaching-learning process, obtaining significant results, considering the involvement of the high school students in the process. The experience showed that the mobile laboratory was an important resource that facilitated the movement of materials, such as glassware and reagents, to the classrooms, in addition to stimulating class participation in the discussion of experiments. The university students had the opportunity to create a method for experimental classes, develop a plan, and put the proposals into practice, while interacting with the local cultural diversity, strengthening the inseparability among teaching, research, and university extension.Este trabajo se refiere a los estudios que realiza un grupo de estudiantes de profesorado en química al implementar clases prácticas a través de un laboratorio itinerante, estructurado en un carrito de supermercado. La experiencia se desarrolló en la Escuela Estatal Aurelino Leal en Itacaré-BA, a través de una actividad de extensión del Programa de Educación Tutorial – Profesorado en Química de la Universidad Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), campus Araras-SP. Las actividades prácticas se llevaron a cabo en las aulas, utilizando una metodología basada en preguntas científicas interactivas, en las que los estudiantes lograban los resultados a partir de las reflexiones y debates propuestos. Los estudiantes de profesorado asumieron la función de profesores y fueron mediadores en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, obteniendo resultados significativos, dada la implicación de los estudiantes de la escuela en el proceso. La experiencia ha demostrado que el laboratorio móvil fue un recurso importante que facilitó la locomoción de materiales, como vidrieros y reactivos, a las aulas, además de movilizar la participación del grupo en la discusión de los experimentos. Los universitarios en cuestión tuvieron la oportunidad de crear un método de clases experimentales, desarrollar un plan y poner en práctica las propuestas, interactuando con una diversidad cultural local, fortaleciendo la inseparabilidad entre docencia, investigación y extension.Este trabalho refere-se aos estudos realizados por um grupo de estudantes de licenciatura em química ao implementar aulas práticas por meio de um laboratório itinerante, montado em um carrinho de supermercado. A experiência foi desenvolvida no Colégio Estadual Aurelino Leal (CEAL) em Itacaré-BA, por meio de atividade de extensão do Programa de Educação Tutorial (PET) – Licenciatura em Química da Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), campus Araras-SP. Realizaram-se atividades práticas dentro de salas de aula, empregando metodologia baseada em questões científicas interativas, em que os estudantes alcançavam aos resultados a partir de reflexões e debates propostos. Os licenciandos, na condição de professores, foram mediadores no processo de ensino-aprendizagem, obtendo resultados significativos, haja visto o envolvimento dos discentes do colégio no processo. A experiência demonstrou que o laboratório móvel foi um importante recurso que facilitou a locomoção dos materiais, como vidrarias e reagentes, às salas de aula, além de mobilizar a participação da turma na discussão dos experimentos. Os universitários em questão tiveram a oportunidade de criar um método de aulas experimentais, desenvolver um planejamento e colocar em prática as propostas, ao passo que interagiram com uma diversidade cultural local, fortalecendo a indissociabilidade entre ensino, pesquisa e extensão.

Overview of Chagas disease surveillance in an endemic region in Southeastern Brazil

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. It has high morbidity and mortality rates and mainly affects socially vulnerable populations. This is a cross-sectional study, with retrospective and prospective data collection. Using questionnaires applied to environmental surveillance coordinators, we characterized the status of CD surveillance activities in municipalities endemic for the disease in Northern Minas Gerais State (MG) and Jequitinhonha Valley (Vale do Jequitinhonha). Moreover, we spatialized the vulnerability index for chronic CD in the study area. The population consisted of 22 environmental surveillance coordinators, active in 2020, from Northern MG and Jequitinhonha Valley, 21 municipalities included in the SaMi-Trop research project, and Montes Claros municipality. After applying the questionnaires to the coordinators, a descriptive analysis of the variables was performed. To characterize the active municipalities, the explanatory variables collected in the questionnaire were compared with the dichotomous variable. Bivariate descriptive analysis was performed. Finally, geoprocessing techniques were used to spatialize the data and prepare maps. Regarding the team of endemic combat agents (ECA), 90.9% reported the lack of a specific team for CD vector control actions. Of the 22 municipalities participating in this study, nine were active (41.1%). Only 25% (n=2) of active municipalities (9% of the municipalities studied) met the target of visiting 50% of households per year. Finally, 81.1% of the coordinators stated that in their municipality, they developed actions linked to primary health care (PHC). The implementation of CD surveillance activities weakened in the endemic region. Few municipalities have a surveillance team, with low regularity of active surveillance and noncompliance with the program’s goal. The results suggest insufficient recording of activities in the information system, considering that there are municipalities that report performing the activities, but no production record was observed in the system

Cirurgia endoscópica intrarrenal combinada (ECIRS) em posição galdakao-valdívia modificada: um relato de caso / Endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery (ECIRS) in galdakao modified supine valdivia position: a case report

Introdução: A nefrolitíase é uma patologia de alta prevalência. Possui importante morbidade por complicações agudas, relacionadas a obstrução de vias urinárias e quadros de insuficiência renal, bem como quadros infecciosos que podem evoluir à sepsis. Classicamente seu tratamento é cirúrgico e tem-se a nefrolitotomia percutânea (NPC) como padrão ouro para cálculos renais maiores que 2 cm.  Relato de caso: Paciente masculino, 48 anos, com repetidos quadros de infecção urinária. A investigação foi realizada com exames laboratoriais e de imagem. Possui sobrepeso, hipertensão leve, sem outras comorbidades. Apresentando cálculo coraliforme, complexo à esquerda, foi submetido a abordagem endoscópica combinada, ureteroscópica e percutânea em posição supina modificada, com completa extirpação de cálculos, com alta no segundo dia de pós-operatório, retornando em 45 dias para retirada de duplo jota, com boa evolução

The Genome of Anopheles darlingi, the main neotropical Malaria vector

Anopheles darlingi is the principal neotropical malaria vector, responsible for more than a million cases of malaria per year on the American continent. Anopheles darlingi diverged from the African and Asian malaria vectors ∼100 million years ago (mya) and successfully adapted to the New World environment. Here we present an annotated reference A. darlingi genome, sequenced from a wild population of males and females collected in the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 10 481 predicted protein-coding genes were annotated, 72% of which have their closest counterpart in Anopheles gambiae and 21% have highest similarity with other mosquito species. In spite of a long period of divergent evolution, conserved gene synteny was observed between A. darlingi and A. gambiae. More than 10 million single nucleotide polymorphisms and short indels with potential use as genetic markers were identified. Transposable elements correspond to 2.3% of the A. darlingi genome. Genes associated with hematophagy, immunity and insecticide resistance, directly involved in vector–human and vector–parasite interactions, were identified and discussed. This study represents the first effort to sequence the genome of a neotropical malaria vector, and opens a new window through which we can contemplate the evolutionary history of anopheline mosquitoes. It also provides valuable information that may lead to novel strategies to reduce malaria transmission on the South American continent. The A. darlingi genome is accessible a

Beyond trees: Mapping total aboveground biomass density in the Brazilian savanna using high-density UAV-lidar data

Tropical savanna ecosystems play a major role in the seasonality of the global carbon cycle. However, their ability to store and sequester carbon is uncertain due to combined and intermingling effects of anthropogenic activities and climate change, which impact wildfire regimes and vegetation dynamics. Accurate measurements of tropical savanna vegetation aboveground biomass (AGB) over broad spatial scales are crucial to achieve effective carbon emission mitigation strategies. UAV-lidar is a new remote sensing technology that can enable rapid 3-D mapping of structure and related AGB in tropical savanna ecosystems. This study aimed to assess the capability of high-density UAV-lidar to estimate and map total (tree, shrubs, and surface layers) aboveground biomass density (AGBt) in the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado). Five ordinary least square regression models esti-mating AGBt were adjusted using 50 field sample plots (30 m × 30 m). The best model was selected under Akaike Information Criterion, adjusted coefficient of determination (adj.R2), absolute and relative root mean square error (RMSE), and used to map AGBt from UAV-lidar data collected over 1,854 ha spanning the three major vegetation formations (forest, savanna, and grassland) in Cerrado. The model using vegetation height and cover was the most effective, with an overall model adj-R2 of 0.79 and a leave-one-out cross-validated RMSE of 19.11 Mg/ha (33.40%). The uncertainty and errors of our estimations were assessed for each vegetation formation separately, resulting in RMSEs of 27.08 Mg/ha (25.99%) for forests, 17.76 Mg/ha (43.96%) for savannas, and 7.72 Mg/ha (44.92%) for grasslands. These results prove the feasibility and potential of the UAV-lidar technology in Cerrado but also emphasize the need for further developing the estimation of biomass in grasslands, of high importance in the characterization of the global carbon balance and for supporting integrated fire management activities in tropical savanna ecosystems. Our results serve as a benchmark for future studies aiming to generate accurate biomass maps and provide baseline data for efficient management of fire and predicted climate change impacts on tropical savanna ecosystems

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