Abstract In this paper I will compare two conceptions of basic elements or units of living organisms from the second half of the nineteenth century: Goodsir’s cellular centers and Bütschli’s protoplam. The comparison will be made from the proposition of a nucleoplasmic form, and the referred conceptions are historical expressions of this general form. The nutrition center is a form that combines the functions of nutrition, germination and reproduction, responsible for the production of tissues (textures), organs, tumors and the whole organism from the fertilized egg. Microscopic foams produce organic differentiation through dynamic stabilization of the surface tension between the alveoli. I will conclude critically by discussing the relationship of these two expressions in terms of their continuity or exhaustion as scientific achievements of the biology of the period cited.

Resumo No presente artigo comparo duas concepções de elementos ou unidades básicas dos organismos vivos da segunda metade do século XIX: os centros celulares de Goodsir e o protoplasma de Bütschli. A comparação será feita a partir da proposição de uma forma nucleoplasmática, sendo as referidas concepções expressões históricas dessa forma geral. O centro de nutrição é uma forma que combina as funções de nutrição, germinação e reprodução, responsável pela produção de tecidos (texturas), órgãos, tumores e a totalidade do organismo a partir do ovo fecundado. As espumas microscópicas produzem a diferenciação orgânica por meio de estabilizações dinâmicas da tensão superficial existente entre os alvéolos. Concluirei criticamente discutindo a relação dessas duas expressões em termos de sua continuidade ou esgotamento como realizações científicas da biologia do período citado.

Abstract Our aim was to investigate if single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the 5′ regions of leptin (LEP, -2548 G > A, rs7799039), resistin (RETN, -420 C > G, rs1862513) and adiponectin (ADIPOQ, -11391 G > A, rs17300539 and -11377 C > G, rs266729) genes were related to changes in body mass index (BMI) and metabolic variables after bariatric surgery in 60 extremely obese individuals. At baseline, ADIPOQ -11391 A-allele carriers showed higher plasma adiponectin and lower total cholesterol levels when compared to G/G homozygotes. Approximately 32 months post-surgery, a mean reduction of 35% in BMI and an important improvement in metabolic profiles were observed. In addition, for the ADIPOQ -11377 polymorphism, a higher decrease in lipid profile was associated to the C/C genotype. Moreover, individuals bearing the A-C haplotype for the two ADIPOQ SNPs were more prone to show a reduction in low-density lipoprotein levels after bariatric surgery (-43.0% A-C carriers vs. -18.1% G-G carriers, p = 0.019). We did not find any association of leptin and resistin SNPs with the clinical parameters analyzed. In summary, our results indicate that the A-C haplotype is a predictor of better lipid profile post-surgery and the studied SNPs in ADIPOQ gene are associated to changes in metabolic variables in obese individuals.

ABSTRACT The effect of AOA (anaerobic, aerobic, anoxic) sequence was studied in the operation of a modified sequential batch reactor, at laboratory scale, under conditions of suspended and attached biological growth SAG-SBR, in order to verify the simultaneous removal of organic matter and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). An acrylic reactor was used with a useful volume of 10,2 liters, that integrated a stirrer, internal recirculation and aeration system; synthetic sewage (SW) was used for simulating a domestic wastewater of medium concentration and the means of contact were spheres and concentric cylinders of polypropylene. During the research, the AOA sequence was used with different cycles and duration times (A = 15.5 h, B = 13 h; C = 11.5 h, D = 9.5 h) applying at the end the sedimentation of mixture liquor. An accurate monitoring of the most important parameters of control process such as dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, temperature and potential oxidation reduction was made and significant results were obtained in the analyzed physicochemical parameters as chemical demand oxygen (CDO), nitrogen and phosphorus, particularly with greater efficiency in lower hydraulic retention time. It is like that removals were achieved in MO the order of 97%; 71% nitrogen and 40% phosphorus. The cycle with the best performing was D, with a total time of 9.5 hours and a removal of 96.6% of MO; 70% N and 51.2% P.

RESUMEN Se estudió el efecto de la secuencia anaeróbica, óxica, anóxica (AOA) en el funcionamiento de un reactor secuencial por tandas modificado a escala laboratorio, bajo condiciones de crecimiento biológico suspendido y adherido SAG-SBR (Suspended and Attached Growth Sequencing Batch Reactor), con el propósito de verificar la remoción simultánea de materia orgánica (MO) y de nutrientes (nitrógeno y fósforo). Se empleó un reactor de acrílico con un volumen útil de 10,2 litros, que integró un sistema de agitación, recirculación interna y aireación; se utilizó agua residual sintética (ARS), simulando un agua residual doméstica de concentración media y como medio de contacto se emplearon esferas y cilindros concéntricos de polipropileno. Durante la investigación, se empleó la secuencia AOA con diferentes ciclos y tiempos de duración (A=15,5 h; B=13 h; C=11,5 h, D= 9,5 h), aplicando al final la sedimentación del licor mezcla. Se realizó un estricto seguimiento de los parámetros de control más importantes del proceso como oxígeno disuelto (OD), pH, temperatura y potencial de óxido reducción (ORP, por sus siglas en inglés) y se obtuvieron resultados significativos de remociones de los parámetros fisicoquímicos analizados, como demanda química de oxígeno (DQO), nitrógeno y fósforo, en particular con mayor eficiencia en las corridas efectuadas con los ciclos de menor tiempo de retención hidráulica. Es así, como se lograron eliminaciones en MO del orden del 97%; en nitrógeno del 71% y en fósforo del 40%. El ciclo con mejores resultados fue el ciclo D, con un tiempo total de 9,5 horas de duración y con una eliminación de MO del 96,6%; en N del 70% y en P del 51,2%.

Resumen El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la dinámica de la producción de maíz y frijol en México. Se efectuó un análisis retrospectivo para identificar los puntos críticos, los cambios y ajustes dados en el sector como resultado de las políticas del gobierno mexicano. Los datos fueron obtenidos de SAGARPA, Banco de México, Secretaría de Economía y de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura. Se evaluaron indicadores de tasa de crecimiento media anual (TCMA), tendencia y precios constantes. Al realizarse el análisis nacional, se consideró como variable al país en su conjunto. Se analizaron los datos de superficie sembrada, producción, precios e importaciones de maíz y frijol en México entre los años 1980 a 2014. La superficie sembrada de maíz y frijol tuvo un decremento de 1,8 millones y 193 mil hectáreas, respectivamente; el rendimiento se incrementó para el maíz en 1,47 t/ha y en frijol 160 kg/ha, la producción de maíz tuvo una TCMA de 1,8% equivalente 10,1 millones de toneladas, el frijol tuvo una TCMA 0,89% con un incremento de 338 783 t. El maíz y frijol a precios constantes han tenido una disminución del 64,6% y 59,0%, correspondiente a 441,9 y 976,3 dólares por tonelada, respectivamente. Las importaciones de maíz tuvieron una TCMA de 2,8%, finalizó el 2012 con 9,5 millones de toneladas, las importaciones de frijol no mostraron ninguna tendencia. El punto crítico en las importaciones se dio con la entrada en vigor del Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte, pasó de una economía cerrada a una abierta, donde se incrementaron más las importaciones que la producción nacional.

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the dynamic of corn and bean production in Mexico. Retrospective analysis was conducted in order to identify critic points, changes and adjustments given in the sector, as a result of Mexican government policies. Data was obtained from SAGARPA, Bank of Mexico, Secretary of Economy and Food and Agriculture Organization. Indicators were evaluated, as annual average growth rate (TCMA) and growing indicators, trends and real prices were evaluated. When doing the analysis, it was considered as a variable the country as a whole. The data of plantings, production, prices and imports of corn and beans in Mexico between 1980 and 2014 was analyzed. The plantings of corn and beans showed a decrease of 1.8 million and 193 thousand hectares respectively, the performance of corn increased on 1.47 t/ha and for beans, and 160 kg/ha for corn production and had a TCMA of 1.8% equivalent to 10.1 million tons, and beans had a TCMA of 0.89% with an increase of 338 783 t. Corn and beans, at constant prices, had a decrease of 64.6% and 59.0%, the decreased was of 441.9 and 976.3 dollars per ton respectively. The imports of corn had a TCMA of 2.84% ending 2012 with 9.5 million tons, the imports of beans don’t show any trend. The critic point of imports began with the North American Free Trade Agreement, where Mexico changed from a close economy to an open one, in which the government stimulates more imports, than national production.

El interés en eliminar contaminantes de las aguas residuales se ha incrementado en los últimos años. Existe una constante búsqueda de nuevos y mejores diseños que permitan la implementación de sistemas de tratamiento confiables, de bajo costo y que ofrezcan mejores resultados. Esta tarea ha sido realmente un reto, debido a la generación de múltiples tipos de vertimientos líquidos, con diferentes características y composición y, en particular, al cumplimiento de estrictas y diferentes regulaciones que en los distintos países se establecen en materia de control ambiental. La investigación en el área de la ingeniería y las ciencias ambientales ha permitido el desarrollo de la tecnología de reactores discontinuos secuenciales (SBR, por sus siglas en inglés), como una variación del proceso de lodos activados convencional para la eliminación de materia orgánica y de nutrientes de las aguas residuales. El presente artículo de revisión describe la importancia de este tipo de sistemas, teniendo en cuenta las generalidades del tratamiento, la descripción técnica del sistema, los parámetros de operación más importantes, el mecanismo biológico del proceso de eliminación y las diferentes modificaciones al diseño original. Finalmente, se encontró que este tipo de sistema es de gran utilidad y ofrece muchas ventajas en la eliminación de nutrientes y materia orgánica, en comparación con los sistemas convencionales de tratamiento, además de que se puede aplicar para el tratamiento de gran cantidad y diversidad de aguas residuales tanto domésticas como industriales.

Interest in eliminating sewage polluting agents has increased in recent years. There is a constant search for new and better designs that allow reliable, affordable, and more efficient treatment systems implementation. This has been a challenging task due to the different characteristics and composition of wastewaters that need to be treated and, especially, to the variety of regulations that different countries set up in terms of environmental control. Research on the fields of engineering and environmental sciences has granted the development of sequential batch reactors (SBR) technology as a variation of the common activated sludge processes in order to eliminate the organic matter and nutrients in sewage sludge. This review article describes the importance of these types of systems, taking into account the treatment generalities, such as the system technical description, the most important operation parameters, the biological mechanism of the elimination process, and the different changes to the original design. Finally, it was found that this kind of system, compared to the conventional ones, is highly useful and offers numerous advantages in the elimination of organic matter and nutrients, as well as in the treatment of large quantities of both domestic and industrial sewage.

O objetivo do presente estudo é analisar a influência do treinamento pliométrico nas variáveis de potência de membros inferiores e de velocidade em tenistas. Participaram do estudo 11 atletas, sendo 5 do "grupo controle" e 6 do "grupo intervenção". Ambos os grupos realizaram treinamento em quadra e treinamento de força geral em academia. Os testes realizados foram: squat jump, salto contra movimento, salto contra movimento com auxílio dos braços, drop jump, impulsão horizontal e velocidade, sendo estes aplicados pré e pós treinamento pliométrico. A normalidade dos dados foi verificada pelo teste de Shapiro-Wilk e ANOVA para medidas repetidas para diferença entre o pré e pós-teste, p<0,05. O grupo de intervenção apresentou diferenças entre o pré e pós-teste para todas as variáveis, diferentemente do grupo controle. E entre o grupo controle e o de intervenção, verificou-se que, no pré-teste, não houve diferença entre as variáveis. A utilização do treinamento pliométrico de 10 semanas induziu a adaptações importantes no desempenho dos sujeitos acompanhados.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of plyometric training on the power of lower limbs and speed of tennis players. Participated 11 athletes, 5 were "control group" and 6 "experimental group". The both groups were conducted to training on court and strength training. The abilities investigated were: squat jump, counter movement jump, counter movement jump using the arms, drop jump, broad jump and speed. Shapiro-Wilk test for evaluating the normality and ANOVA two way repeted-measures for evaluating the differences between pretest and posttest, p<0.05. Results comparing pretest and posttest showed a significant improvement in all variables for experimental group, different of the control group. And between control group and experimental, verified no differences to pretest. The plyometric training by 10 weeks induced an performance improvement of the subjects.