bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternal Pregravid Obesity Remodels the DNA Methylation Landscape of Cord Blood Monocytes Disrupting Their Inflammatory Program
Authors: Sureshchandra Suhas , Wilson Randall M. , Rais Maham , Marshall Nicole E. , Purnell Jonathan Q. , Thornburg Kent L. , Messaoudi Ilhem
Published: September 2017

Prepregnancy maternal obesity is associated with adverse outcomes for the offspring, including increased incidence of neonatal bacterial sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis. We recently reported that umbilical cord blood (UCB) monocytes from babies born to obese mothers generate a reduced IL-6/TNF-α response to TLR 1/2 and 4 ligands compared to those collected from lean mothers. These observations suggest altered development of the offspring’s immune system, which in turn results in dysregulated function. We therefore investigated transcriptional and epigenetic differences within UCB monocytes stratified by prepregnancy maternal body mass index. We show that UCB monocytes from babies born to obese mothers generate a dampened response to LPS stimulation compared with those born to lean mothers, at the level of secreted immune mediators and transcription. Because gene expression profiles of resting UCB monocytes from both groups were comparable, we next investigated the role of epigenetic differences. Indeed, we detected stark differences in methylation levels within promoters and regulatory regions of genes involved in TLR signaling in resting UCB monocytes. Interestingly, the DNA methylation status of resting cells was highly predictive of transcriptional changes post-LPS stimulation, suggesting that cytosine methylation is one of the dominant mechanisms driving functional inadequacy in UCB monocytes obtained from babies born to obese mothers. These data highlight a potentially critical role of maternal pregravid obesity-associated epigenetic changes in influencing the function of an offspring’s monocytes at birth. These findings further our understanding of mechanisms that explain the increased risk of infection in neonates born to mothers with high prepregnancy body mass index.
Neutrophil-Derived Cytosolic PLA2α Contributes to Bacterial-Induced Neutrophil Transepithelial Migration
Authors: Yonker Lael M. , Pazos Michael A. , Lanter Bernard B. , Mou Hongmei , Chu Kengyeh K. , Eaton Alexander D. , Bonventre Joseph V. , Tearney Guillermo J. , Rajagopal Jayaraj , Hurley Bryan P.
Published: September 2017

Eicosanoids are a group of bioactive lipids that are shown to be important mediators of neutrophilic inflammation; selective targeting of their function confers therapeutic benefit in a number of diseases. Neutrophilic airway diseases, including cystic fibrosis, are characterized by excessive neutrophil infiltration into the airspace. Understanding the role of eicosanoids in this process may reveal novel therapeutic targets. The eicosanoid hepoxilin A3 is a pathogen-elicited epithelial-produced neutrophil chemoattractant that directs transepithelial migration in response to infection. Following hepoxilin A3–driven transepithelial migration, neutrophil chemotaxis is amplified through neutrophil production of a second eicosanoid, leukotriene B4 (LTB4). The rate-limiting step of eicosanoid generation is the liberation of arachidonic acid by phospholipase A2, and the cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2)α isoform has been specifically shown to direct LTB4 synthesis in certain contexts. Whether cPLA2α is directly responsible for neutrophil synthesis of LTB4 in the context of Pseudomonas aeruginosa–induced neutrophil transepithelial migration has not been explored. Human and mouse neutrophil–epithelial cocultures were used to evaluate the role of neutrophil-derived cPLA2α in infection-induced transepithelial signaling by pharmacological and genetic approaches. Primary human airway basal stem cell–derived epithelial cultures and micro-optical coherence tomography, a new imaging modality that captures two- and three-dimensional real-time dynamics of neutrophil transepithelial migration, were applied. Evidence from these studies suggests that cPLA2α expressed by neutrophils, but not epithelial cells, plays a significant role in infection-induced neutrophil transepithelial migration by mediating LTB4 synthesis during migration, which serves to amplify the magnitude of neutrophil recruitment in response to epithelial infection.
Water Quality in the Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal: A Modification of Viable Field-based Testing Methods
Authors: Gruver Joshua , Nicholson Kirsten , Neumann Klaus , Sharma Subodh , Dowling Carolyn
Published: September 2017

Poorly managed solid waste disposal in the Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, (SNP) is causing considerable degradation of major rivers and drinking water in the region. This research began as a study to: (1) identify sources of water contamination; (2) better understand the breadth of this problem; and (3) begin to develop technical solutions for resolving these problems. The remoteness of the study site and rugged terrain challenged the equipment used to collect and store samples and caused us to modify our protocols. Further, the complex interactions among natural resource management issues, increasing tourism, a struggling economy, climate change, and the risk of natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes) in the SNP triggered a change in our initial approach to the problem. We decided to broaden our research goals to include community-based resource management efforts designed to inform how resources are protected and governed in the SNP. Understanding communities, residents, and other stakeholder’s attitudes and perceptions of the social, economic, and environmental risks is necessary to help community leaders develop and sustain a useful governing framework to support water quality risk mitigation. This manuscript is an effort to communicate the evolving nature of our methodology over time and make a case for flexible research design, particularly in areas where geography, culture, and resource management potentially pose substantial challenges to traditional research methods. The methodology we eventually adopted is generalizable to similar remote mountainous regions around the globe.
Innovation and Competitiveness of European Regions
Authors: Sabatino Michele , Talamo Giuseppina
Published: September 2017

The recent debate on European development policies is articulated around two major filelds of researches that are highly integrated with each other. One of this is investments in research, innovation and the innovative capacity of the European regions. Another is the degree of competitiveness of production and European regional systems. This research enters the debate on development and regional competitiveness related to innovation and research, by presenting recent data on innovation and competitiveness in the different European regions. Firstly we present the degree of innovation of European regions referring one of the main document “The Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2016”. This document provides a comparative assessment of the performance in terms of innovation in 190 regions of the EU, making use of a limited number of indicators of research and innovation. It also shows what the differences in the level of innovation performance among EU Member States are still considerable and are reduced only slowly. Secondary we present recent data on the degree of competitiveness of the regions by specifying the selected indicators of competitiveness within the EU with a base map existing (The Europe 2020 Competitiveness Report 2014). The aim of this paper is to understand the correlation between the degree of innovation and the degree of competitiveness comparing first the above mentioned dataset and mapping the most innovative and competitive regions. In the light of this comparison the differences and similarities will be highlighted, as well as the correlation between the index of innovation and to regional competitiveness. At the end are presented some policy indications on possible courses of action for innovation and competitiveness of European regions.
Income Distribution in Turkey during the Global Financial Crisis
Authors: Sefil-Tansever Sinem
Published: September 2017

The aim of this study is to examine mechanism responsible for the behavior of the income and earning inequality in Turkey during the global financial crisis based on data from the 2006 to 2014 Income and Living Conditions Survey. Gini decomposition by income source is employed in order to provide an analysis of the contribution of the various income sources to the evolution of income inequality and to assess the impact of a marginal percentage change in the income from a particular source on income inequality. For examining the contributions of specific variables (education, position in occupation, economic sector) to the interpretation of labor earnings inequality in terms of their gross and marginal contribution, we use static decomposition of Theil T index.
Visual acuity in children: The development of crowded and single letter acuities
Authors: Langaas Trine
Published: September 2017

Previous research has explored the development of visual acuity in babies and children, and it has been established that the measured acuities are dependent on the methods used to test visual function. In the present study the developmental trends in crowded versus single letter visual acuities were explored. 343 children 5 to 11 years of age, was tested using Glasgow Acuity Cards (GAC), and a significant correlation between binocular visual acuity and age was found using simple regression analysis (y=0.023x + 0.81, r2 = 0.32). Mean values on crowded visual acuity varied between 0.95 ± 0.6 in 5 year olds to 1.08 ± .09 logMAR in 11 year olds. One way ANOVA confirmed the developmental trend (F(1, 341)=160.45, p<0.0001). In a second study, this result were replicated in a smaller group of fully corrected children (regression analysis showed significant development with age, y=0.025x+.86, r2 = 0.429, one way ANOVA:  F(1,72) = 54.11, p<0.0001).  The repeatability of the GAC was tested using a test-retest strategy, 6 months apart. A significant improvement of monocular visual acuities at the second retest may be explained, at least in part, by the expected development during this period.  A single letter acuity test was constructed by matching GAC optotypes. Fiftyt two emmetropic children (mean age 8.21±1.76 yrs) were tested on both tests. Developmental trends were then compared for single and crowded acuities. Linear regressions were F(1,50)=23.87, p=0.0001, y=0.019x+0.915, r2=0.31 for crowded letters and F(1,50)=5.81, p<0.05, y=0.009x+1.07, r2=0.104 for single letters. Repeated measures ANOVA (test * age) showed reliable differences for both main effects. Single letter acuity was found to display a very slight developmental trend, and was better than crowded acuity. When deciding normal values and cut-off limits, one have to take into consideration which test is being used as normative data will not directly translate from one test to another.
The Oculomotor Systems Ability to Adapt to Structural Changes Caused by the Process of Senescence: A Review
Authors: Bruenech Jan Richard , Kjellevold Haugen Inga-Britt , Bak Ulla , Maagaard Marianne , VanderWerf Frans
Published: September 2017

Age-related binocular vision anomalies are frequently encountered during clinical examination of mature patients. Observations of both concomitant and incomitant restrictions in eye motility indicate that all oculomotor system levels are implicated, from cortical neurons down to extraocular muscles. The system can make adaptations in response to changes induced by growth and ageing, which it does by monitoring and adjusting its own performance. This adaptive mechanism, which is important for maintaining motility, spatial orientation, and perceptual stability, seems to rely on extra-retinal information about eye position in relation to the head and trunk. Receptors in the extraocular muscles and the vestibular system, assumed to contribute to this type of information, also undergo age-related changes. This may compromise their ability to assist in the adaptive process and in potential calibrations of other neural systems. Furthermore, recent observations of a dual, common, final pathway and double insertions of distal extraocular muscles suggest that muscle and tendon receptors may facilitate other, still unresolved, functions in the visual system. Consequently, age-related changes in certain mechanoreceptors may have more severe implications for ocular motility and visual functions than previously assumed. This review aims to detail some of the most frequent neurogenic and myogenic age-related changes that take place in the human oculomotor system and relevant pre-motor structures. It will also address clinical implications of these changes and the potential adaptive mechanism they initiate.
The effect of sustained VDU and Non-VDU nearwork on visual acuity and refractive error in emmetropic primary schoolchildren
Authors: Swee Chai Teoh , Ai-Hong Chen , Mohidin Norhani
Published: September 2017

Myopic shift in refraction following a sustained period of near-work is well documented among adult visual display unit (VDU) users. This crossover study investigates the effect of VDU near-work on visual acuity and refractive status among 7-year-old children. Thirty emmetropic and low-hyperopic schoolchildren (refractive error: -0.25DS to +1.25DS, astigmatism ≤ 1.00DC and anisometropia ≤ 1.00D) participated in this study. All subjects (15 males and 15 females) were involved in two 2-hour near-work sessions (at 40 cm), one with and one without a VDU, which were carried out in random sequence on two separate days. Distance visual acuity (monocular/binocular) and subjective refractive error were measured before and immediately after both near-work sessions. MANCOVA analysis showed that VDU work produced a significant myopic shift, -0.10 ± 0.18 D (F1,54 = 5.17, p = 0.03) in distance refractive status. This myopic shift was not found after non-VDU work. There was no significant change in monocular (F1,54 = 0.03, p = 0.86) and binocular visual acuity (F1,54 = 0.22, p = 0.64) after near-work with or without VDU. Emmetropic and low-hyperopic schoolchildren are susceptible to VDU near-work after-effect. Sustained VDU near-work causes significant myopic shift in emmetropic and low-hyperopic 7-year-old children. However, the myopic shift is not accompanied by a reduction in visual acuity.
Changing Students’ Approach to Learning Physics in Postsecondary Gateway Courses
Authors: Kalman Calvin S. , Shore Bruce M , Aulls Mark W , Antimirova Tetyana , Magon Juss Kaur , Lee Gyoungho , Coelho Ricardo , Coban Gul Unal , Huang Xiang , Ibrahim Ahmed , Wang Xihui , Tan Dang Diep Minh , Fu Guopeng , Khanam Wahidun
Published: September 2017

This study investigated if and how a combined set of specially developed activities can help students change their approach to learning physics. These activities included (a) reflective-writing activities, (b) critique-writing activities, and (c) reflective write-pair-share activities combined with conceptual-conflict collaborative-group exercises. Each of these activities was previously successfully tested as a stand-alone activity. This investigation was conducted at two different institutions over a three-year period. At each institution the same instructor taught students in two sections. At the first, a university with a substantial graduate school, sections were relatively large (over 100 students each) covering a typical introductory calculus-based mechanics course. At the second, a community college, there were relatively small classes (32 students each) covering a typical algebra-based introductory course in mechanics, electricity, and magnetism. The courses at the two institutions used different textbooks and had different formats. Measured data included student interviews and writing products. We developed rubrics for evaluation of the impact of the writing products and interviews of students. The main results of this study were the changes in students’ approaches to learning physics, especially as revealed in the interviews. Students who experienced the full suite of activities (a) changed their understanding of physics from solving problems to creating a network of interrelated concepts, and they also (b) modified their approach to learning physics from repetitious review to consideration of the interconnections of the subject matter and (c) related their new learning to key concepts in an overall physics framework.
Gravitational Induction as Analog of Amplification of Light in Active Medium
Authors: Dmitriev Alexander L.
Published: September 2017

Concept of gravitational induction the essence of which is in the change of gravitation force affecting test mass due to influence of gravitational field on this mass by other masses has been considered. Evaluation of coefficient of induced increase of the gravity in the titanium sample has been shown based on the measurement of weight of nonmagnetic metal rod by its vertical and horizontal orientation.
The Effect of Human Papillomavirus E6 Oncogene on the Radiosensitivity of Non-Oropharyngeal Cancer Cells
Authors: Hong Angela , Zhang Xiaoying , Zhang Xiao Mei , Rose Barbara
Published: September 2017

Background:We have previously shown that stable transfection of the human papillomavirus (HPV) E6*I oncogene can sensitize two HPV negative oropharyngeal cancer (OSCC) cell lines to radiation. In the current study, we extended our work on OSCC to determine whether the HPV E6 oncogene can enhance the radiosensitivity of non-OSCC cell lines.Methods:Three non-OSCC cell lines (melanoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma and large cell lung cancer) were stably transfection with the HPV E6 oncogene (E6 total, E6*I and E6*II) and treated with different doses of radiation. Clonogenic assays were used to measure the radiation survival.Results:Following transfection, there was a reduction in the survival of the melanoma cell line after 2 Gy (SF2) from 0.401 (untransfected) to 0.219 (Melanoma-E6 total). This reduction was not evident at higher doses of radiation. There was no significant change in the SF2 of melanoma-E6*I (0.303) and melanoma-E6*II (0.414). The SF2 colorectal adenocarcinoma and large cell lung cancer cell lines did not change significantly after transfection.Conclusions: The radiosensitizing effect of HPV E6 oncogene is cell line specific. We found no clear evidence of a radiosensitising effect of E6 in these three non-OSCC cancer cell lines.
ANN Modelling of Propane-Powered 4-Stroke Spark Ignition Engine
Authors: Yamin Jehad A. A.
Published: September 2017

An ANN model was developed by the authors and tested against experimental data available for an engine as supplied in the manual by the manufacturers. The model was found to perform excellently well by showing similar trends of performance for this engine as well as other engines for which the necessary data was available. This model was then used to perform some parametric studies to improve the performance of an engine using LPG (mainly Propane C3H8) as a fuel. This paper presents discussion on some of the parameters that affect the engine’s thermal efficiency with suggestions to improve it. The effect of equivalence ratio, compression ratio and spark plug location at different speeds on the thermal efficiency have been studied. Based on the engine and the range of variables studied it was found that the best spark plug location was 0.395 for all equivalence ratios studied at CR = 9.
A New Platform for Profiling Degradation-Related Impurities Via Exploiting the Opportunities Offered by Ion-Selective Electrodes: Determination of Both Diatrizoate Sodium and Its Cytotoxic Degradation Product
Authors: Riad Safaa M , Abd El-Rahman Mohamed K , Fawaz Esraa M , Shehata Mostafa A
Published: September 2017

Although the ultimate goal of administering active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is to save countless lives, the presence of impurities and/or degradation products in APIs or formulations may cause harmful physiological effects. Today, impurity profiling (i.e., the identity as well as the quantity of impurity in a pharmaceutical) is receiving critical attention from regulatory authorities. Despite the predominant use of spectroscopic and chromatographic methods over electrochemical methods for impurity profiling of APIs, this work investigates the opportunities offered by electroanalytical methods, particularly, ion-selective electrodes (ISEs), for profiling degradation-related impurities (DRIs) compared with conventional spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. For a meaningful comparison, diatrizoate sodium (DTA) was chosen as the anionic X-ray contrast agent based on its susceptibility to deacetylation into its cytotoxic and mutagenic degradation product, 3,5-diamino-2,4,6 triiodobenzoic acid (DTB). This cationic diamino compound can be also detected as an impurity in the final product because it is used as a synthetic precursor for the synthesis of DTA. In this study, four novel sensitive and selective sensors for the determination of both DTA and its cytotoxic degradation products are presented. Sensors I and II were developed for the determination of the anionic drug, DTA, and sensors III and IV were developed for the determination of the cationic cytotoxic impurity. The use of these novel sensors not only provides a stability-indicating method for the selective determination of DTA in the presence of its degradation product, but also permits DRI profiling. Moreover, a great advantage of these proposed ISE systems is their higher sensitivity for the quantification of DTB relative to other spectroscopic and chromatographic methods, so it can measure trace amounts of DTB impurities in DTA bulk powder and pharmaceutical formulation without a need for preliminary separation.
Comparison Between the Performance of Activated Carbon and Graphene in Removal of Reactive Red 198
Authors: Samarghandi Mohammad Reza , Poormohammadi Ali , Shanesaz Samane , Godini Kazem
Published: September 2017

The current study aimed at comparing the performances of activated carbon and graphene in the removal of reactive red 198. The experiments were conducted in a batch reactor and the effects of some operational parameters including initial dye concentration, pH, contact time, and different doses of activated carbon and graphene on the removal efficiency of dye were investigated. The results showed that the adsorption efficiency was affected by initial dye concentration. In general, with increasing contact time up to 180 minutes, the removal efficiency increased significantly. The removal efficiency of reactive red 198 increased with increasing contact time, and after 60 minutes of contact time, adsorption phase reached the equilibrium. When activated carbon was used, the maximum removal efficiency happened at pH 3. At this pH value, reactive red 198 was removed completely (100%) after 120 minutes, whereas the minimum efficiency was observed at pH 10. A similar trend was also observed for graphene as an adsorbent. Moreover, the removal efficiency of the dye by both adsorbents increased with the increase of the adsorbent dosage. The experimental data showed that the adsorption of reactive red198 on both active carbon and graphene fitted well into the second-order kinetic model. Active carbon and graphene fitted well Langmuir 1 model. According to the results, graphene acts as suitable adsorbent and can be applied in treating several industrial effluents and contaminated water in greater scales. The main upside of grapheme, in comparison with activated carbon, is that it reaches the equilibrium in a shorter time. Further, grapheme adsorbed the dye nearly completely (98% to 100%).
Mutagenicidade do naftaleno através do teste do micronúcleo: estudo em modelo animal (Astyanax altiparanae) e vegetal (Tradescantia pallida purpurea)
Authors: Disner Geonildo Rodrigo , Cestari Marta Margarete
Published: September 2017

Os hidrocarbonetos Aromáticos Policíclicos, como o Naftaleno, são considerados poluentes orgânicos prioritários em estudos ambientais. Alguns apresentam elevado potencial de toxicidade e podem ser precursores de efeitos mutagênicos e carcinogênicos. O teste de micronúcleo é uma ferramenta sensível na detecção de eventos clastogênicos e aneugênicos ocasionados por xenobióticos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a mutagenicidade do naftaleno após exposição aguda em um modelo animal e um vegetal. Os bioindicadores foram a espécie de peixe Astyanax altiparanae e a planta Tradescantia pallida purpurea. No teste de micronúcleo písceo nenhum dos tratamentos apresentou diferença significativa com o controle negativo. No teste em células-mãe do grão de pólen de Tradescantia a concentração de 0,3 mgL-1 apresentou mais micronúcleos em relação ao controle negativo. O Trad-MCN demonstrou maior sensibilidade na detecção de quebras e perdas cromossômicas ocasionadas pelo naftaleno.
Estudo experimental do impacto do cromo a partir de fertilizantes altamente energeticamente eficientes no solo
Authors: Ribeiro Elizete Maria Possamai , Cavani Luciano , Ciavatta Claudio , Mello Pedro Barbosa , Paulo Rafael dos Reis , Ribeiro Renata Possamai
Published: September 2017

A legislação ambiental brasileira sobre os efeitos de alguns elementos químicos descartados no solo ainda é muito recente, especialmente no que diz respeito às várias transformações de diferentes tipos de cromo que podem ser usados em conjunto com fertilizantes feitos de restos de couro. Este fato é principalmente devido à falta de dados experimentais que mostram claramente as várias modificações sofridas pelos vários tipos de cromo liberados na crosta terrestre, associados a fertilizantes. Este fato não ocorre em muitos países desenvolvidos, como a Itália, por exemplo, onde já existem vários estudos sobre os efeitos de vários tipos de cromo, que são usados em conjunto com fertilizantes de couro. Este trabalho apresenta um estudo experimental sobre o comportamento do cromo (III) em solo arável, utilizando fertilizante de couro hidratado como fertilizante eficiente em energia.
Caracterização histórico-ambiental da APA dunas e veredas do baixo-médio São Francisco (BA)
Authors: Pacheco Clecia Simone Gonçalves Rosa , Oliveira Niedja Maria Galvão Araújo e
Published: September 2017

O presente artigo busca traçar a caracterização histórico-ambiental da APA Dunas e Veredas do Baixo-Médio São Francisco, objetivando discutir aspectos gerais dos campos de dunas quaternárias existentes no Brasil e especialmente na APA supracitada, além de trazer ao debate as tipologias de dunas encontradas na região, o processo histórico-social da área e os principais impactos antropogênicos existentes na área de estudo. As dunas situam-se na ecorregião Dunas do São Francisco, é de responsabilidade do Poder Público Estadual, por meio do Decreto n. 6.547 de 18 de julho de 1997 e possui uma área de 1.085.000,00 hectares. O processo de ocupação no Brasil é caracterizado por total ausência de planejamento e pela destruição massiva dos recursos naturais, representada pelos diversos biomas, causando assim, uma gama de problemas ambientais, como por exemplo, a extinção de fauna e flora, alterações climáticas locais, assoreamento de cursos d’água, erosão dos solos e fragilização de paleo-ecossistemas, a exemplo das dunas fluviais em estudo, que margeiam o rio São Francisco no Nordeste brasileiro, e está ameaça pela ação desenfreada da prática de agricultura, pastoreio, retirada indiscriminada de areais, turismo (des)planejado, construções imobiliárias e desconhecimento da sua relevância pelos ribeirinhos. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, onde inicialmente postergou-se por uma análise bibliográfica sistemática e posteriormente, fez-se o trabalho de campo, fundamentando-se substancialmente na Teoria Ecodinâmica de Tricart (1977). Neste sentido, é urgente a intervenção ambiental e a execução de propostas de conservação destes paleoambientes, representativos das mudanças climáticas pretéritas e verdadeiro laboratório natural a céu aberto no cenário semiárido do Brasil.
As vulnerabilidades do geossistema paleodunar do médio Rio São Francisco (BA) uma proposta de conservação
Authors: Pacheco Clecia Simone Gonçalves Rosa , Oliveira Niédja Maria Galvão Araújo e
Published: September 2017

O presente artigo busca demonstrar os níveis de vulnerabilidades existentes no sistema ambiental em tese, visando apresentar propostas de conservação para esta ecorregião. Apesar de a área investigada situar-se na Área de Proteção Ambiental - APA Dunas e Veredas do Médio Rio São Francisco, o processo de ocupação e uso dos solos e a retirada da vegetação nativa, têm causado impactos de dimensões variáveis. Nesse sentido, o referido ecossistema apresenta grande risco de destruição progressiva, estando sujeito a diversos impactos por conta do uso inadequado dos pequenos vales que cruzam as paleodunas, das trilhas anastomosadas feitas por animais, da retirada de areias dunares e da destruição da vegetação nativa – a caatinga –. O referido ecossistema é testemunho fundamental para comprovações de paleoclimas e paleoventos pretéritos, bem como, é um laboratório natural para pesquisas que envolvam aspectos socioambientais e paleogeográficos. É primordial sua conservação, levando em consideração que à gênese e evolução dos depósitos arenosos nessa região, estão intrinsecamente ligadas as mudanças climáticas e ambientais ocorridas durante o Quaternário do Nordeste brasileiro, tomando como evidência suas características ambientais e disposição morfológicas encontradas no presente. Portanto, os resultados encontrados indicam a urgência na efetivação de políticas públicas estruturais e conservacionistas, focadas no princípio da sustentabilidade socioambiental e pautadas na essencialidade científica dos registros paleohistóricos e ambientais.
Ocupação, distribuição espacial e sazonal dos anfíbios anuros, em fragmento de mata atlântica
Authors: Pereira Edivania Nascimento , Lira Cristiane Salazar , Santos Ednilza Maranhão
Published: September 2017

Estudos sobre ocupação, distribuição espacial e sazonal são de suma importância para entender as inter-relações entre os indivíduos e as espécies numa comunidade faunísticas. Este estudo objetivou-se fornecer informações referentes à ocupação, distribuição espacial e sazonalidade de anfíbios anuros do Parque Estadual Dois Irmãos (PEDI), além de analisar a riqueza, constância de ocorrência, similaridade e correlacionar com parâmetros abióticos. As coletas ocorreram entre março de 2011 a setembro de 2012 com duração de oito horas semanais, em horários diurnos e noturnos, através de buscas ativas, em três áreas (A1= Edificações, A2= Mata e A3=Mananciais). O esforço resultou em uma lista de 30 espécies distribuídas entre quatro famílias: Bufonidae (n=3), Craugastoridae (n=2), Hylidae (n=18), e Leptodactylidae (n=7), totalizando 40 espécies para área. Quatro espécies foram consideradas constantes, sete acessórias e 20 acidentais. A maior riqueza foi para A1com 41% das espécies. As áreas A1 e A3 foram encontradas maior similaridade entre si (55%), elas funcionam como um ecotono entre áreas abertas e florestadas. Os meses com chuva obtiveram maior riqueza. Concluiu-se que a área edificada e os meses chuvosos apresentaram um número maior de espécies. A riqueza de espécie para o PEDI é representativa, representa 28,1% para Pernambuco e 4,04% para o Brasil. Constata-se que o PEDI apresenta elevada riqueza de anuros quando comparada a outras localidades para Pernambuco.
Avaliação dos efeitos de biossurfactantes produzidos por Bacillus subtilis LBBMA 4914 e Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBBMA 4951E e surfactantes sintéticos sobre larvas de Culex quinquefaciatus
Authors: Parreira Adriano Guimaraes , Alves Stenio Nunes , Totola Marcos Rogerio
Published: September 2017

Mosquitos da família Culicidae estão presentes em todo o território nacional podendo agir como vetores de doenças diversas, a exemplo da filariose. transmitida por Culex quinquefasciatus. A evidência de resistência aos inseticidas tradicionais tem estimulado o desenvolvimento de pesquisas com novos compostos com potencial ação larvicida. No presente trabalho foram avaliados os efeitos de agentes tensoativos biológicos, os biosurfactantes ramnolipideos produzidos por Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBBMA 4951e lipopetídeos produzidos por Bacillus subtilis LBBMA 4914, além dos sintéticos SDS - Dodecil Sulfato de Sódio, Twen 80 e Triton X, sobre larvas de 3 e 4 instar de C. quinquefasciatus. Os resultados obtidos mostraram-se bastantes promissores indicando grande potencial de ação bioinseticida por parte dos biossurfactantes avaliados, destacando-se a surfactina com ação larvicida sobre 75% do total de espécimes de C. quinquefascitus expostos àquele tensoativo ao longo de 96h. Em relação aos surfactantes sintéticos, observou-se resultado mais pronunciado para Triton X 100, seguido de Tween 80 e SDS, com valores de CL50 de 1,32x10-4M, 2,52x10-4M e 2,84x10-4M, respectivamente. Com isso, a partir deste trabalho abrem-se novas perspectivas para o uso daqueles tensoativos no controle da proliferação de C. quinquefascitus, atuando como bioinseticidas ou aditivos aos já utilizados, assim como para novos testes envolvendo a avaliação de seu efeito sobre outras espécies de Culicidae, a exemplo de Aedes aegypti.
Análise do descarte ambientalmente correto da produção do queijo coalho em fabriquetas do Sertão Sergipano
Authors: Fraga Érica Emília Almeida , Rodrigues Simone Maria da Silva , Vasconcelos Cleiton Rodrigues de , Santana José Ricardo de , Santos Mário Jorge Campos dos , Silva Daniel Pereira da
Published: September 2017

O queijo de coalho vem ocupando um lugar relevante na alimentação humana devido ao seu alto valor nutritivo, contudo, é responsável pelo fomento de uma grande quantidade de rejeito ou efluentes líquidos decorrentes da transformação do leite em queijo. O principal efluente proveniente desta transformação é o soro de queijo, este que é considerado um dos grandes poluentes da indústria de laticínios e fabriquetas de pequeno, médio e grande porte, rico em gorduras, lactoses e proteínas. Atualmente é muito pouco aproveitado para fins alimentícios e todo volume desperdiçado é enviado para nutrição de suínos, ou direcionados a mananciais de água ou solo, gerando problemas ambientais como alta demanda bioquímica de oxigênio. Neste sentido é de extrema relevância buscar alternativas para o descarte ambientalmente correto e tratamentos adequados do soro de queijo. O presente estudo objetivou investigar com as fabriquetas do Alto Sertão Sergipano destinam os seus resíduos ou efluentes provenientes da produção de queijo de coalho. A pesquisa é caracterizada como descritiva, realizada sob a forma de estudo de caso, com base de análise quantitativa, além da observação direta nas propriedades. Aplicou-se uma amostragem não probabilística por conveniência, utilizando o questionário estruturado como instrumento e aplicado na amostra de 18 proprietários de fabriquetas de queijo de coalho. No que se refere ao tratamento dos dados, estes foram compactados e exportados para o software Microsoft Office Excel, sendo analisados priorizando os aspectos sócio- ambientais. Os resultados evidenciaram que 16 proprietários responderam que os efluentes decorrentes do processo produtivo do queijo são constituídos de soro e 2 é constituído de soro e água de lavagem, que todos os proprietários responderam que o destino dado aos resíduos líquidos decorrentes do processo produtivo é voltado para alimentação dos suínos, todos os proprietários responderam que não realizam nenhum tratamento aos rejeitos gerados pelas mesmas, que 83% da amostra consideram que os rejeitos provenientes da produção não causam impactam em seu cotidiano e 17% são indiferentes aos seus efeitos. Identificou-se também que 10 proprietários responderam que desconhecem sobre os danos causados ao meio ambiente que o soro pode provocar, 5 conhecem pouco e 3 conhecem. Finalmente, cabe ressaltar a necessidade de demonstrar e discutir os impactos ambientes causados pelos rejeitos da produção do queijo coalho no Sertão Sergipano.
Os cientistas ambientais brasileiros cumprem o contrato social metafórico da ciência?
Authors: Pedrini Alexandre de Gusmao
Published: September 2017

A missão dos cientistas pelo Contrato Social Metafórico da Ciência (CSMC) firmado com o governo federal é produzir e difundir informações de modo que a sociedade que os sustenta viva adequadamente. Essa difusão é feita aos seus pares pela disseminação científica e a sociedade leiga pela divulgação científica. O que é disseminado precisa ser traduzido para a sociedade leiga. Foi selecionada a especialidade científica ambiental da ficologia para estudo de caso. Hipotetizou-se que os cientistas-ficólogos brasileiros não vêm realizando a divulgação científica adequadamente para a sociedade leiga. A amostragem objetivou identificar a produtos de divulgação científica (DC) pelos ficólogos no país de janeiro/1999 a outubro/2015. Como os produtos de DC mais conhecidos são artigos de DC foram buscados os que fossem sobre ficologia nas revistas Ciencia Hoje (CH) e Ciencia Hoje das Crianças (CHC) no mesmo período. Foram identificados dezesseis produtos, sendo dez relatados por ficólogos (30% de artigos escritos; 20% de Ciclo de Debates; 20% de Oficinas de Simulação da vida laboratorial; 10% de vídeos científicos; 10% de livros; 10% de comentários em blog internacional) e seis artigos escritos na CH/CHC. A produção de DC por produtos escritos de artigos de ficólogos representaram 0,004% na revista CH e 0,0056% na CHC. Então, 1,6% foram os produtos que cientistas-ficólogos contribuíram em quinze anos sobre DC relativo a algas em um universo de 1.000 ficólogos, sugerindo uma contribuição incipiente. A hipótese pode ser comprovada. Os cientistas ambientais (representados pelos ficólogos) só cumprem parcialmente o CSMC, não comunicando-se com a sociedade pela divulgação científica.
Licenciamento ambiental para postos revendedores de combustíveis no Brasil
Authors: Lino Eric Delgado dos Santos Mafra , Krepsky Natascha
Published: September 2017

A indústria do petróleo é um assunto importante, pois ao mesmo tempo em que abrange grande parte da matriz energética mundial, é também considerado um dos maiores males ao planeta quando o assunto é efeito estufa e sustentabilidade. Por este motivo, atividades que lidam com a extração, refinamento ou posterior revenda do petróleo e seus derivados, devem ser submetidas a licenciamentos ambientais específicos, de modo a minimizar da melhor forma possível os impactos ambientais causados por sua instalação e operação. Se ainda assim danos ambientais vierem a ocorrer, os responsáveis pelo empreendimento deverão ser punidos. O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar o licenciamento ambiental para postos de combustíveis no Brasil, além de identificar quais são as medidas necessárias para a manutenção de projetos desta natureza. Após estudar os principais documentos necessários para o licenciamento de um posto de combustível, ficou evidente a necessidade da realização de um licenciamento eficiente, pois uma possível contaminação de um lençol freático pode acabar chegando a um aquífero e comprometendo o resto da população na região.
Valoração econômica de recurso ambiental (VERA) da bacia hidrográfica de Guapi/Macacu (RJ)
Authors: Peixoto Diego Rafael dos Santos , Silva Elenice Rachid da , Almeida Josimar Ribeiro de
Published: September 2017

Os ecossistemas são muito importantes para a ocorrência de vida no planeta Terra, devido ao papel que eles desempenham. Esses ambientes são responsáveis pelo fornecimento de bens e serviços ambientais, que podem ser divididos em: serviços de provisão, como provimento de água e alimentos; serviços de regulação, como regulação da água e sequestro de carbono; serviços de suporte, como dispersão de nutrientes e sementes; e serviços culturais, como a recreação. Apesar disso, a população humana demonstra pouca ou nenhuma preocupação com a conservação e manutenção dos recursos naturais. É nesse contexto que se insere a valoração econômica dos recursos ambientais (VERA), que atribui valores monetários aos recursos ambientes através da estimativa dos valores de uso direto, indireto e opção desses recursos. Essa técnica se mostra como uma ferramenta efetiva para demonstrar a importância dos serviços ecossistêmicos para a qualidade de vida da população. Logo, o presente trabalho visa estimar os valores de uso direto e indireto dos recursos ambientais e dos impactos ambientais da bacia hidrográfica de Guapi/Macacu no estado do Rio de Janeiro. Os resultados obtidos mostram que é possível atribuir valores monetários e avaliar impactos ambientais usando o método VERA e dessa forma contribuir para que a sociedade entenda a importância dos serviços ecossistêmicos e consequentemente do uso sustentável dos ecossistemas.
Cell-specific gain modulation by synaptically released zinc in cortical circuits of audition
Authors: Anderson Charles T , Kumar Manoj , Xiong Shanshan , Tzounopoulos Thanos
Published: September 2017

In many excitatory synapses, mobile zinc is found within glutamatergic vesicles and is coreleased with glutamate. Ex vivo studies established that synaptically released (synaptic) zinc inhibits excitatory neurotransmission at lower frequencies of synaptic activity but enhances steady state synaptic responses during higher frequencies of activity. However, it remains unknown how synaptic zinc affects neuronal processing in vivo. Here, we imaged the sound-evoked neuronal activity of the primary auditory cortex in awake mice. We discovered that synaptic zinc enhanced the gain of sound-evoked responses in CaMKII-expressing principal neurons, but it reduced the gain of parvalbumin- and somatostatin-expressing interneurons. This modulation was sound intensity-dependent and, in part, NMDA receptor-independent. By establishing a previously unknown link between synaptic zinc and gain control of auditory cortical processing, our findings advance understanding about cortical synaptic mechanisms and create a new framework for approaching and interpreting the role of the auditory cortex in sound processing.
Evidences of Surface Rupture Associated With a Low‐Magnitude (Mw5.0) Shallow Earthquake in the Ecuadorian Andes
Authors: Champenois J. , Baize S. , Vallee M. , Jomard H. , Alvarado A. , Espin P. , Ekström G. , Audin L.
Published: September 2017

This study analyzes surface displacements generated by a low‐magnitude crustal earthquake in the Ecuadorian Andes by combining analysis of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry, geological field investigations, and seismological data. In March 2010, a significant surface faulting event occurred in the Pisayambo area (Eastern Cordillera), along the major dextral fault zone bounding the North Andean Sliver and the South America Plate. Interferograms were inverted to determine fault plane geometry and slip displacement distribution. The event affected a 9 km long previously unknown fault, referred as the Laguna Pisayambo Fault, with purely dextral movement reaching 45 cm and concentrated in the top 3 km of the crust. Geological investigations confirm both the fault mechanism and the amplitude of displacements. While these large displacements would be related to an event with a magnitude of 5.44 if using a standard crustal rigidity, we show that they can be convincingly associated with anMw5.0 earthquake, that occurred on 26 March 2010. Reconciling the apparent differences in magnitude requires the existence of a low‐rigidity medium at shallow depths and/or postseismic activity of the fault. However, considering only the latter hypothesis would imply an unusually active postseismic process, in which 400–500% of the coseismic moment is released in the 6 days following the earthquake. Our observations highlight that the scaling laws relating surface observations to earthquake magnitude, classically used for seismic hazard assessment, should be carefully used. This study also illustrates how systematic InSAR analysis, even in places where no clues of ground deformation are present, can reveal tectonic processes.
A Physical Model for Interseismic Erosion of Locked Fault Asperities
Authors: Mavrommatis Andreas P. , Segall Paul , Johnson Kaj M.
Published: September 2017

The conventional “asperity model” posits that faults are partitioned into fixed velocity‐weakening (VW) patches (asperities) that are locked interseismically and velocity‐strengthening (VS) regions that creep stably without accumulating stress. However, studies of GPS‐derived deformation in northern Japan have shown that interseismic strain in the Tohoku region did not accumulate at a constant rate (as expected) but gradually decreased from 1996 to 2011. This change in strain rate is consistent with locked asperities shrinking by ∼75% in area during this period. Here we consider a modification to the conventional asperity model, such that thermal pressurization (TP) is active over an area that encompasses a VW region and part of the surrounding VS region. In our quasi‐dynamic simulations, TP causes shear stress during rapid slip to decrease to very low levels. During the interseismic period, stress gradually recovers to steady state friction at the plate rate, at which point stable creep initiates. The creep front propagates inward, effectively eroding the locked asperity. For uniform properties, the locked area shrinks roughly linearly in time through the VS region. Locked asperities shrink more slowly with higher nominal friction coefficient or background effective normal stress in the VS region, lower hydraulic diffusivity, and larger TP zones. Lateral heterogeneity in properties can give rise to nonlinear erosion. Predictions from this model can be compared against GPS data to test whether the model can explain the observed changes in interseismic strain rate in Tohoku.
Study of Wave‐Particle Interactions for Whistler Mode Waves at Oblique Angles by Utilizing the Gyroaveraging Method
Authors: Hsieh Yi‐Kai , Omura Yoshiharu
Published: September 2017

We investigate the properties of whistler mode wave‐particle interactions at oblique wave normal angles to the background magnetic field. We find that electromagnetic energy of waves at frequencies below half the electron cyclotron frequency can flow nearly parallel to the ambient magnetic field. We thereby confirm that the gyroaveraging method, which averages the cyclotron motion to the gyrocenter and reduces the simulation from two‐dimensional to one‐dimensional, is valid for oblique wave‐particle interaction. Multiple resonances appear for oblique propagation but not for parallel propagation. We calculate the possible range of resonances with the first‐order resonance condition as a function of electron kinetic energy and equatorial pitch angle. To reveal the physical process and the efficiency of electron acceleration by multiple resonances, we assume a simple uniform wave model with constant amplitude and frequency in space and time. We perform test particle simulations with electrons starting at specific equatorial pitch angles and kinetic energies. The simulation results show that multiple resonances contribute to acceleration and pitch angle scattering of energetic electrons. Especially, we find that electrons with energies of a few hundred keV can be accelerated efficiently to a few MeV through the n = 0 Landau resonance.