RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar diferenças nos padrões morfogênicos de quatro cultivares de Urochloa brizantha (marandu, piatã, xaraés e paiaguás) durante o período de diferimento. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com três repetições, em parcelas experimentais de 9m². As avaliações ocorreram por dois anos. Os capins foram diferidos por 92 (Ano 1) e 95 (Ano 2) dias. A taxa de aparecimento foliar do capim-paiaguás foi maior, em comparação aos demais capins. No Ano 1, a taxa de alongamento do colmo do capim-xaraés foi superior aos demais capins. No final do diferimento do Ano 1, a densidade populacional de perfilho (DPP) foi maior no capim-paiaguás, intermediária nos capins xaraés e marandu e inferior no capim-piatã. No fim do período de diferimento do Ano 2, a DPP foi superior no dossel de capim-paiaguás, intermediária nos dosséis dos capins marandu e piatã, e menor no dossel de capim-xaraés. O capim-paiaguás tem maior crescimento foliar durante o período de diferimento, sendo, portanto, apropriado para uso sob pastejo diferido. O capim-xaraés apresenta elevado alongamento de colmo durante o período de diferimento, razão pela qual seu uso sob pastejo diferido deve vir acompanhado de ajustes no manejo da pastagem.

ABSTRACT The objective this study was to identify differences in the morphogenic patterns of four Urochloa brizantha cultivars (marandu, piatã, xaraés and paiaguás grasses) during the stockpiling period. A completely randomized design was used, with three replications, in experimental plots of 9m². The evaluations took place over 2 years. The grasses were stockpiled for 92 (Year 1) and 95 (Year 2) days. The leaf appearance rate of paiaguás grass was higher, compared to other grasses. In Year 1, the stem elongation rate of xaraés grass was higher than other grasses. At the end of stockpiling period of Year 1, the tiller population density (TPD) was higher in the paiaguás grass, intermediate in the xaraés and marandu grasses and lower in the piatã grass. At the end of the stockpiling period in Year 2, TPD was higher in the paiaguás grass canopy, intermediate in the marandu and piatã grasses canopies, and lower in the xaraés grass canopy. Paiaguás grass has greater leaf growth during the stockpiling period and is therefore suitable for use under stockpiled grazing. Xaraés grass has high stem elongation during the stockpiling period, which is why its use under stockpiled grazing must be accompanied by adjustments in pasture management.

RESUMO Objetivou-se identificar estratégias de rebaixamento da Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu no início do diferimento, as quais resultem em aumento da produção e em melhoria da estrutura do dossel diferido. Foram avaliadas três estratégias de rebaixamento no início do diferimento: manutenção do capim-marandu com 15cm por quatro meses antes do início do diferimento; manutenção do capim-marandu com 30cm por quatro mese, e rebaixamento para 15cm no início do diferimento; e manutenção do capim com 45cm por quatro meses e rebaixamento para 15cm no início do diferimento. O delineamento foi inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro repetições. No fim do diferimento, o número de perfilho reprodutivo e a massa de forragem foram superiores no dossel sob 15/15cm do que nos demais; a percentagem de folha viva foi maior no dossel sob 45/15cm do que sob 15/15cm. A produção de forragem durante o diferimento foi superior no dossel sob 15/15cm e inferior no sob 45/15cm. A manutenção do capim-marandu com 15cm por quatro meses antes do período de diferimento aumenta a produção de forragem neste período. O rebaixamento do capim-marandu de 45 para 15cm no início do diferimento melhora a estrutura do dossel diferido.

ABSTRACT The objective was to identify lowering strategies for Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu in the beginning of the stockpiling period that increase forage production and improve the structure of stockpiled canopies. Three lowering strategies were evaluated: maintenance of marandu palisade grass with 15cm four months before the stockpiling period; maintenance of palisade grass with 30cm for four months, and lowering to 15cm before the stockpiling period; and maintaining of palisade grass at 45cm for four months, and lowering to 15cm before the stockpiling period. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replications. At the end of stockpiling, the number of reproductive tillers and forage mass were higher in the canopy under 15/15cm than in the others; the percentage of live leaf was higher in the canopy under 45/15cm than under 15/15cm. Forage production during the stockpiling period was higher in the canopy under 15/15cm and lower in the under 45/15cm. Maintaining 15cm marandu palisadegrass for four months before the stockpiling period increases forage production during this period. The lowering of the marandu palisadegrass from 45 to 15cm at the beginning of the stockpiling period improves the structure of the stockpiled canopy.

Abstract Humic substances are increasingly being used as biostimulants and may even benefit the development of forage peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo MG 100), a promising species for the recovery of degraded pastures. The study aimed to evaluate different concentrations of humic substances extracted from vermicompost from cattle manure on growth and nutrient content in forage peanut plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in a randomized block design, with five concentrations of humic substance and five replications. The shoot dry matter, root dry matter, the number of nodules, the content of macronutrients in the shoot, total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a/b ratio, and quantum efficiency of the photosystem II were evaluated. The addition of humic substances increased the yield and nutrient accumulation of the forage peanut plants. The shoot dry matter responded in a quadratic manner to the addition of humic substances. The concentration of 40 mg L-1 of C increased 45.85% of the number of nodules compared to the control. There were improvements in efficiency of the photosystem II and the accumulation of nitrogen, potassium, calcium and magnesium by up to 12 % (37.1 to 41.5 mg pot-1), 8.6 % (35.3 to 38.3 mg pot-1), 13.5 % (21.8 to 24.7 mg pot-1) and 7.5 % (9.8 to 10.53 mg pot-1), respectively, in the shoot with the humic substances application, except for the phosphorus accumulation.

Resumen Las sustancias húmicas se utilizan cada vez más como bioestimulantes y pueden también beneficiar el desarrollo del maní forrajero (Arachis pintoi vc. Amarillo MG 100), una especie prometedora para la recuperación de pastos degradados. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el efecto de diferentes concentraciones de sustancias húmicas extraídas del vermicompost de estiércol de ganado en el crecimiento y contenido de nutrientes en plantas de maní forrajero inoculadas con Bradyrhizobium spp. El experimento se realizó en un invernadero, con un diseño de bloques al azar, cinco concentraciones de sustancia húmica y cinco réplicas. Se evaluó la materia seca del brote, la materia seca de la raíz, el número de nódulos, el contenido de macronutrientes en el brote, el contenido de clorofila total, la relación clorofila a/b y la eficiencia cuántica del fotosistema II. La adición de sustancias húmicas aumentó el rendimiento y la acumulación de nutrientes de las plantas de maní forrajero. La materia seca de los brotes respondió de forma cuadrática a la adición de sustancias húmicas. La concentración de 40 mg L-1 de C aumentó en 45.85 % el número de nódulos en comparación con el control. Hubo mejoras en la eficiencia del fotosistema II y la acumulación de nitrógeno, potasio, calcio y magnesio hasta en 12 % (37.1 a 41.5 mg maceta-1), 8.6 % (35.3 a 38.3 mg maceta-1), 13.5 % (21.8 a 24.7 mg maceta-1) y 7.5 % (9.8 a 10.53 mg maceta-1), respectivamente, en el brote con la aplicación de sustancias húmicas, excepto en la acumulación de fósforo.

Resumo Neste trabalho o processo simplificado de obtenção dos esforços finais utilizando o coeficiente γ z é estudado levando-se em conta a variação dos efeitos de segunda ordem ao longo da altura dos edifícios. Com este objetivo, diversos edifícios de médio porte em concreto armado são processados em primeira e segunda ordem utilizando o programa ANSYS. Inicialmente, mostra-se que o coeficiente γ z deve ser utilizado como majorador dos momentos de primeira ordem para a obtenção dos momentos finais. Assim, o estudo é conduzido considerando a relação entre os momentos obtidos pela análise em segunda e em primeira ordem, calculada para cada pavimento das estruturas. Esta relação entre os momentos é denominada de majorador dos momentos de primeira ordem, "γ", e, na situação ideal, deve coincidir com o valor de γ z . Entretanto, observa-se que a razão γ /γ z varia ao longo da altura dos edifícios. Além disso, mostra-se, por meio de uma análise estatística, que a relação γ /γ z apresenta-se geralmente inferior a 1,05 e varia significativamente de acordo com o edifício considerado e a presença ou não de simetria na estrutura.

Abstract In this paper the simplified method to evaluate final efforts using γ z coefficient is studied considering the variation of the second order effects with the height of the buildings. With this purpose, several reinforced concrete buildings of medium height are analyzed in first and second order using ANSYS software. Initially, it was checked that the (z coefficient should be used as magnifier of first order moments to evaluate final second order moments. Therefore, the study is developed considering the relation (final second order moments/ first order moments), calculated for each story of the structures. This moments relation is called magnifier of first order moments, "γ", and, in the ideal situation, it must coincide with the γ z value. However, it is observed that the reason γ /γ z varies with the height of the buildings. Furthermore, using an statistical analysis, it was checked that γ /γ z relation is generally lower than 1.05 and varies significantly in accordance with the considered building and with the presence or not of symmetry in the structure.

São discutidos nesse artigo alguns conceitos básicos relacionados ao clima espacial no ambiente próximo da Terra. Devido ao desenvolvimento tecnológico dos anos recentes, o clima espacial tornou-se um tema importante de pesquisa. Os avanços da área se devem principalmente à sua aplicabilidade nos sistemas tecnológicos tanto no espaço próximo quanto na superfície da Terra. Dentre os diversos temas abordados pelo clima espacial está a investigação de como perturbações no meio interplanetário, decorrentes da variabilidade solar, afetam o campo magnético da Terra. Os efeitos de tais variações podem ser observados em solo através de medidas de magnetômetros e no espaço próximo à Terra, por exemplo, as auroras. Alguns aspectos de uma perturbação solar em particular, a saber choques interplanetários, são brevemente revisados. Um evento real com atividade geomagnética intensa é simulado por um código magneto-hidrodinâmico (MHD). Resultados da simulação numérica concordam bem com dados observados por magnetômetros em solo. A importância de simulações globais MHD no desenvolvimento de modelos de previsão de clima espacial é enfatizada.

It is discussed in this paper some basic concepts related to space weather in the near-Earth space environment. Due to technological developments in the past years, space weather has become an important subject of research. The achievements in this area are mainly related to its applicability to the safety of technological systems in space and on the ground. Among several subjects of space weather researchers' interest is the investigation of how perturbations in the interplanetary medium, as a consequence of solar variability, affect the Earth's magnetic field. The effects of such variabilities can be observed on the ground through measurements of magnetometers on the ground and in the near-Earth space environment, for example, the auroras. Some aspects of a particular case of solar disturbances, namely interplanetary shocks, are briefly reviewed. A real event with intense geomagnetic activity is simulated by a global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) code. Simulation results agree well with ground magnetometer data. The importance of global MHD simulations in developing space weather prediction models is emphasized.

Neste trabalho busca-se avaliar a eficiência da inércia equivalente de Branson [1] para considerar a não-linearidade física das vigas de forma simplificada. Com este objetivo, são realizadas diversas análises numéricas de pórticos planos medianamente altos em concreto armado utilizando o "software” ANSYS. Inicialmente, os pórticos são processados considerando ambas as não-linearidades geométrica e física. Em seguida, são realizadas análises não-lineares geométricas, considerando a não-linearidade física de forma aproximada, por meio da redução de rigidez dos elementos estruturais. No caso dos pilares, a rigidez foi reduzida em 20% e, para as vigas, foram utilizados os valores de redução de inércia segundo a formulação de Branson [1] e aqueles recomendados pela NBR 6118:2007 [2]. Observa-se que a redução de inércia segundo a formulação de Branson [1] representa o comportamento das estruturas com maior precisão no estado limite de serviço. Além disso, mostra-se que a utilização da inércia equivalente de Branson [1] é mais eficiente para representar o comportamento dos pórticos mais flexíveis do que dos pórticos mais rígidos.

In this paper the efficiency of Branson’s equivalent inertia to consider the physical nonlinearity of beams in simple form is evaluated. For this purpose, several reinforced concrete plane frames of medium height are analyzed using ANSYS software. Initially, the frames are processed considering both physical and geometric nonlinearities. Next, geometric nonlinear analyses are performed, considering a physical nonlinearity approximated through the stiffness reduction in the structural elements. In the case of the columns, the stiffness was reduced by 20% and, for the beams, the inertia reduction values according to the Branson [1] formula and the NBR 6118:2007 [2] Brazilian Norm were used. It was observed that the inertia reduction according to the Branson [1] formula better represents the actual behavior of the structures at the service limit state. Furthermore, it was verified that the use of Branson’s equivalent inertia is more efficient at representing the behavior of the more flexible frames than stiffer frames.

Alpha-thalassemia is the most common inherited disorder of hemoglobin synthesis. Genomic deletions involving the alpha-globin gene cluster on chromosome 16p13.3 are the most frequent molecular causes of the disease. Although common deletions can be detected by a single multiplex gap-PCR, the rare and novel deletions depend on more laborious techniques for their identification. The multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) technique has recently been used for this purpose and was successfully used in the present study to detect the molecular alterations responsible for the alpha-thalassemic phenotypes in 8 unrelated individuals (3 males and 5 females; age, 4 months to 30 years) in whom the molecular basis of the disease could not be determined by conventional methods. A total of 44 probe pairs were used for MLPA, covering approximately 800 kb from the telomere to the MSLN gene in the 16p13.3 region. Eight deletions were detected. Four of these varied in size from 240 to 720 kb and affected a large region including the entire alpha-globin gene cluster and its upstream regulatory element (alpha-MRE), while the other four varied in size from 0.4 to 100 kb and were limited to a region containing this element. This study is the first in Brazil to use the MLPA method to determine the molecular basis of alpha-thalassemia. The variety of rearrangements identified highlights the need to investigate all cases presenting microcytosis and hypochromia, but without iron deficiency or elevated hemoglobin A2 levels and suggests that these rearrangements may be more frequent in our population than previously estimated.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an extremely important and versatile messenger in biological systems. It has been identified as a cytotoxic factor in the immune system, presenting anti- or pro-inflammatory properties under different circumstances. In murine monocytes and macrophages, stimuli by cytokines or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are necessary for inducing the immunologic isoform of the enzyme responsible for the high-output production of NO, nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). With respect to human cells, however, LPS seems not to stimulate NO production in the same way. Addressing this issue, we demonstrate here that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from schistosomiasis-infected patients and cultivated with parasite antigens in the in vitro granuloma (IVG) reaction produced more nitrite in the absence of LPS. Thus, LPS-induced nitrite levels are easily detectable, although lower than those detected only with antigenic stimulation. Concomitant addition of LPS and L-N-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) restored the ability to produce detectable levels of nitrite, which had been lost with L-NAME treatment. In addition, LPS caused a mild decrease of the IVG reaction and its association with L-NAME was responsible for reversal of the L-NAME-exacerbating effect on the IVG reaction. These results show that LPS alone is not as good an NO inducer in human cells as it is in rodent cells or cell lines. Moreover, they provide evidence for interactions between LPS and NO inhibitors that require further investigation.