Abstract Stresses can be caused by multiple biotic and abiotic factors and their effects can affect both the biology and the immune system of insects. American cockroach – Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus, 1758) (Blattaria: Blattidae) –besides being an excellent model species, has great medical importance because it can act as a mechanical vector of several pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of starvation, dehydration and both stresses on weight, and total and differential haemocyte count in P. americana adults. Each specimen was isolated in glass flasks containing or not food and/or water. They were weighed periodically. Another group received water for 24 h after the end of stress period. In the immunologic bioassay, we counted their haemocytes after the final weighing. All stresses reduced the insect weight, especially when the stresses were combined. Females of the control group gained weight and males had it unaltered. Different stress conditions and time did not influence on total haemocyte count. Insects without food and water had the proportion of prohaemocytes increased and plasmatocytes decreased. This study can serve as a basis of further studies of bioecology, behaviour and the ability of resisting insecticides, besides serving as a model to studies in other insect species.

Resumo Os estresses podem ser causados por múltiplos fatores bióticos e abióticos e seus efeitos podem afetar tanto a biologia como o sistema imune dos insetos. A barata-americana – Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus, 1758) (Blattaria: Blattidae) – além de ser uma excelente espécie modelo, tem grande importância médica, pois pode atuar como vetor mecânico de diversos patógenos. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a influência da inanição, desidratação e ambos os estresses sobre o peso e o número total e diferencial de hemócitos em adultos de P. americana. Cada espécime foi isolado em frascos de vidro contendo ou não alimento e/ou água. Eles foram pesados periodicamente. Outro grupo recebeu água por 24 h após o término do período de estresse. Nos ensaios imunológicos, foram contados os seus hemócitos após a última pesagem. Todos os estresses reduziram o peso dos insetos, especialmente quando os estresses foram combinados. As fêmeas do grupo controle ganharam peso e os machos tiveram seu peso inalterado. As diferentes condições de estresse e tempo não influenciaram no número total de hemócitos. Os insetos sem alimento e água tiveram a proporção de pró-hemócitos aumentada e a de plasmatócitos reduzida. Esse estudo pode servir como base para estudos posteriores de bioecologia, comportamento e da habilidade de resistir aos inseticidas químicos, além de servir como modelo para estudos em outras espécies de insetos.

Abstract Microalgae are considered as promising feedstocks for the third generation of biofuels. They are autotrophic organisms with high growth rate and can stock an enormous quantity of lipids (about 20 - 40% of their dried cellular weight). This work was aimed at studying the cultivation of Scenedesmus obliquus in a two-stage system composed of a photobioreactor and a settler to concentrate and partially recycle the biomass as a way to enhance the microalgae cellular productivity. It was attempted to specify by simulation and experimental data a relationship between the recycling rate, kinetic parameters of microalgal growth and photobioreactor operating conditions. Scenedesmus obliquus cells were cultivated in a lab-scale flat-plate reactor, homogenized by aeration, and running in continuous flow with a residence time of 1.66 day. Experimental data for the microalgal growth were used in a semi-empirical simulation model. The best results were obtained for Fw=0.2FI, when R = 1 and kd = 0 and 0.05 day-1, with the biomass production in the reactor varying between 8 g L -1 and 14 g L-1, respectively. The mathematical model fitted to the microalgal growth experimental data was appropriate for predicting the efficiency of the reactor in producing Scenedesmus obliquus cells, establishing a relation between cellular productivity and the minimum recycling rate that must be used in the system.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) de adultos com sequelas de acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) e identificar os fatores que influenciam os domínios da QVRS. MÉTODO: Adultos com AVC admitidos para programa de reabilitação de março a agosto de 2008, investigados com os seguintes instrumentos: SF-36, Medida de Independência Funcional e Inventário de Depressão de Beck. Foram estudados 64 adultos, média de idade de 58,8 anos. RESULTADOS: Os indivíduos com maior tempo de lesão, mais independentes e jovens tiveram melhor QVRS na capacidade funcional. Participação social foi associada com melhor QVRS, e houve diferença entre os grupos com e sem sintomas depressivos. CONCLUSÃO: QVRS foi comprometida principalmente em seus aspectos funcionais. Por outro lado, a presença de sintomas depressivos contribuiu para a piora da QVRS. A reabilitação deve buscar a melhora da funcionalidade/participação social, o que pode contribuir na redução de sintomas depressivos e a melhora da QVRS.

OBJECTIVE: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among adults with stroke sequelae and to identify the factors that influenced the domains of HRQoL. METHOD: The subjects were adults with stroke who were admitted to a rehabilitation program between March and August 2008. They were investigated using the following instruments: Medical Outcomes 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Sixty-four adults of mean age 58.8 years were evaluated. RESULTS: The individuals who had had their injuries for longer times and who were more independent and younger had better HRQoL regarding physical functioning. Social participation was associated with better HRQoL, and there was a difference between groups with and without depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: HRQoL was compromised primarily with regard to functional characteristics. Moreover, the presence of depressive symptoms contributed towards a decline in HRQoL. Rehabilitation needs to focus on improving functionality and social participation, which may stimulate reductions in depressive symptoms and improvement of HRQoL.

PtSRR1 foi isolado preliminarmente de P. tinctorius nas primeiras horas da interação com raízes de C. sativa. Análises de QRT-PCR confirmaram sua expressão positiva (12 h) e seu peptídeo putativo indicou forte possibilidade para proteína transmembranar. Estes dados estimulam o estudo do PtSRR1 durante a formação de ectomicorrizas.

PtSRR1 EST was previously identified in the first hours of Pisolithus tinctorius and Castanea sativa interaction. QRT-PCR confirmed PtSRR1 early expression and in silico preliminary translated peptide analysis indicated a strong probability that PtSRR1 be a transmembrane protein. These data stimulate the PtSRR1 gene research during ectomycorrhiza formation.